Busy Feature in SL Doesn’t Cut It

Posted on February 26, 2010
Filed Under Newbie Help, Opinions/Gossip/People, SL Tech | Leave a Comment

BY EDITOR SHAUNA SKYE

Note to newbies: This commentary refers to the “busy” option you have available to you on the top drop down menu under “World” when you’re logged into Second Life. To use busy and block the main chat, click on “World” then choose “Set Busy.”

I’ve been in Second Life since early 2007. During this time I’ve wished Linden Labs would take a cue from the most simple IM programs and come up with a better busy feature.

Here’s what I’d like to see: Let us have the option to put “BUSY” beside our names on the friend list, and still allow us to see what’s happening in the main chat.

I have always found “busy” in Second Life nearly useless because of the way it blocks the main chat. Someone explained to me this feature hid the main chat because while a scripter or builder is working they need to concentrate, and text and items popping up can be distracting. Understandable, but what what about those of us who are not scripters?

To me being busy means I am too occupied to respond to IMs. I might be hanging out with friends, afk, or already have three people talking to me. Others may be trying to have a romantic time or listen at a business meeting. For almost all of these activities, it is important to be able to see the main chat.

My suggestion for Linden Lab: Make a feature that allows us to show people we are not able to concentrate on IMs, but which does not block us from seeing chat. Let the word “BUSY” appear next to our name on the friend list, so that people do not have to IM us to get a message telling them we are busy, or the alternative of getting no response at all and the person possibly feeling ignored or having to wonder if what they said got through.

For scripters, or those who do not want to see the main chat, the current “busy” feature is fine.

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