How do I know when a building is private?

[Inigo Catteneo]

If an owner wants his property to be private, he has several ways to do so. One is to limit access to his parcel to a limited number of people or a selected group. If you are not in that group, you'll see that parcel surrounded by the typical red ban lines. Other users (ie, tenants) use security systems which, upon detecting your presence in the area, will either give you the option to leave asap or eject you straight away.

 

Conclusion: if an owner has not taken any of the above mentioned measures, he has no reason to be upset (provided your avatar is fully dressed and otherwise adhering to the sim/parcel's particular rules, should there be any).

 

PS You are free to come to my (adult) sim any time you want

[Inigo Catteneo]

If an owner wants his property to be private, he has several ways to do so. One is to limit access to his parcel to a limited number of people or a selected group. If you are not in that group, you'll see that parcel surrounded by the typical red ban lines. Other users (ie, tenants) use security systems which, upon detecting your presence in the area, will either give you the option to leave asap or eject you straight away.

 

Conclusion: if an owner has not taken any of the above mentioned measures, he has no reason to be upset (provided your avatar is fully dressed and otherwise adhering to the sim/parcel's particular rules, should there be any).

 

PS You are free to come to my (adult) sim any time you want

[Angela Talamasca]

There is no standard means to tell, other than those who have ban lines set up (and you wouldn't be able to go in those, anyway), or security orbs (which generally, though not always, send out a warning, before ejecting you from their prop).

My rule of thumb is, if the building looks like a residence, then I won't go in. If it however has wide open doors and looks like a store, club, museum, or whatever, I'll venture in.

Another thing you might consider is to right click on the land near the building, and select about land. The information contained in the description box might be helpful.

For example, I have a hobbit hut that borders elderglen, I put an open invite in my land description for people to feel free to explore my little hut.

Not everyone who has these huts, however, will have their places so open. So, for the rule of thumb in that area, I wouldn't go into any of those places unless they are either on the elderglen sim, itself, are still owned by Linden (designated as Linden Home #blah), or there is an explicit invite (as in mine) in the land description.

All that said, over time, distinctions will become more intuitive as you adjust to the SL culture (which is vast and varied). And even then, there will be times where you might venture into a restricted area. But for the most part, as long as you do not dally around once you realize it's restricted, most, though not all,  will not have a conniption fit if you've accidentally ventured into their private space.

[Ellla McMahon]

Hello Rex, try the Land description in About Land Window General Tab Does it say it's someone's private area or residence?

Also use RL conventions, would you explore someone's garden/yard, home, without an invite ?

For places to explore try the Destinations Guide from What Next? at the top of this page or look for Blogs like SL Things To Do | Where do you want to TP today? or Not Possible In Real Life

I'm sure other Residents will have many suggestions

[Canis Hykova]

House = private unless its a display house, just use similar rules to what you woudl rl, after all , you wouldnt jjust walk into a total strangers home rl would you? not with the risk of being shot, stabbed or arrested, really its just common sense, something some people seem to lack, I once watched someone try enter a frinds house to be kicked by his security system at least 10 times before he got the message

 

not everyone wants to use the limited land tools to set access, some will use security orbs, some will simply ar you if you continue, the one place i rented had notices all over the sim that he houses etc were private and not to enter them withpout invitation, it still didnt stop ppl

[Tarina Sewell]

I would say a good rule of thumb is this, if you at a place and see a house with furniture and personal items PRIVATE..

You dont know how many time I signed in to see 2 naked ava's going at it in my personal house... This pisses me off.. You would NOT walk into a RL house and start making woopie in their bed.. In that now I have had to put up a security orb... It doesn tmatter I have a whole homesite sim open for just that sort of thing.... they still try to get in my home...

 

There are showcase houses to that people open and invite you to tour, usually there is a sign.

[Kinani Exonar]

IMHO, if someone is going to be upset if another is exploring their land, then they need to put up some security system to keep uninvited avatars out. There is no privacy in SL, and if you don't put (at the very least) notification that the area isn't meant to be public, then you're pretty much asking for people to wander in.

As others have said, if you can't get in, then it's private. If the description says it's private, it's private. If it appears to be a home, it's probably private.

[Vryl Valkyrie]

House usually means private.  I would knock... such as in text "knock knock" anyone there?

[Lorelei Mission]

I'm surprised at the variety of opinions on this question.  I've always felt that if I'm not home, why shouldn't other people be exploring and enjoying my house?  If I do show up and need my house for something, I can always ask an explorer (or an amorous couple) to move on at that time -- no harm done.

However, apparently there are some folks who feel differently.

So I suppose we should all take care to have our land description include "keep out" or "explorers welcome".  Or even have a cute little sign in front of the house.

[Angela Talamasca]

Lorelei Mission wrote in part:

So I suppose we should all take care to have our land description include "keep out" or "explorers welcome".  Or even have a cute little sign in front of the house.

Indeed. I plan to make a sign for my hut:

Abandon hope all ye who enter here

Think of it as reverse psychology bc it would make people all the more curious to take a look see! LOL

Seriously, though. I plan to put out some sort of welcome sign for my hobbit hut. Bc true newbies rarely know how to use the about land bit.

[ZenWarrior Fuosing]

First, as someone has already suggested, simply do as you would in RL.  Do you walk into homes or onto someone's lawn in RL regardless of a "Private" sign being present or not?  (Why do adults forget 99% of the same basic courtesies apply in SL as in RL?)  Second, what more do you need to see by entering someone's home or property that you cannot see by camming?  For indeed, there is no such thing as true privacy in SL.  So, cam away and enjoy!!!

[Rex Vordun]

Hey all:

I REALLY appreciate the help! It gives me good advice on what to look for.

The confusion was created when I was in an area that was supposed to be roleplay. The theming of the signage such as "Keep Out," etc. worked (a little too well) with the style of the abandoned buildings, etc. I was just very surprised at the attitude of the owner since mostly everyone else has been so great here.

 

Thanks again!

[Rex Vordun]

Wow. That's quite a response.

[Pheenix Janus]

My honey and I are pretty laid back about people wandering around our land.  We  always thought it's no big deal.  However, a few days back, we were cuddled up on the sofa watching a movie and some guy comes into our house.  We were both cammed into the television screen so we didn't notice him, both of us were on voice as well.  I don't know how long this gruesome looking AV dripping "blood" all over the floor stood there before we saw him say something in chat.

Now, neither of us were upset, at first.  Until we asked him a couple of times if there was something we could help him with only for him to start lauching rockets and shooting at me in my home. That honked me off pretty good.  Now sadly, we have a security orb set up.  We will shut if off most of the time, but when we want to be alone, it will be on.

 

It's too bad people can't be respectful even in SL. 

Phee

[Shiva Draconia]

Ah, homes on an RP sim can be a tricky issue imo.

 

I rp myself, and have a home on my RP sim...one that I would get miffed at people for entering uninvited. (out of character, i'm very welcoming. in character, i'm welcoming, but it also depends on relationships, plots, etc) Why would I get miffed?...because it's my PRIVATE home, and this is something that all tourists to the sim are told (there are many private residences because it's a city). Of course, if it's an rp sim, then it should be clearly stated in the rules that there are private residences, as well as where they tend to be.

however, if on an rp sim, and it doesnt say that the homes are private, then its up to the tourist how they handle them...i personally treat them as private homes, but that's just me. of course, individuals may have preferences.

 

oh, and when i say i get annoyed about people entering my private home...i lost it with a friend for going into my boyfriends home uninvited (for ic reasons, we always have seperate homes lol). i mean, the back gate AND the front door were locked...even i couldn't get in...lol (again, for ic reasons, we are not on the access list for each others houses...this might sound odd, but we're jsut serious about our rp, and like it to be believable...even my alt who rps as a servant on the same sim, and therefore doesnt need a house...she isn't on the access list, because it doesnt' make sense)

 

in summary: rp homes = tricky

if stated as being private...stay out unless invited, or knocking

if not stated, cam around, check the door, im someone nearby...all good ways to get an answer

[Angela Talamasca]

Even SL has its sour pusses. Happily, they're really far and few between! :-)

[Tolya Ugajin]

I disagree with the whole "do as in RL" philosophy on this.  In RL, you cannot stand a block away and cam in to look at someone's bathroom, or cam inside a locked room and click "sit here" to get in.  In RL, you can steal what is in the house, or burn it down, or mess it up.  In SL, you cannot do those things. In RL, you don't have people routinely buying castles for homes, and their are no skyboxes, while in SL what looks like a public building may be private, and what looks like a house may be a club.  The idea that RL conventions of privacy and personal space should apply in SL is quaint, but unrealistic.

My opinion is, if someone wants something to be truly private, there are a myriad of ways to make it so, and they range from completely free to merely very inexpensive. Don't want people to use your poseballs or bed?  Set them to group, or put in security scripts to limit who uses them if that is not an option.  Don't want people on your land at all?  Use the land access control to keep everyone, or all but a select few, out completely.  Or buy a security orb for $L300.  Want to eliminate even the potential for camming into your bedroom?  Well, I know a way, but it's not easy (maybe someone knows an easy way).  Or, how about simply putting up a sign, or even more effective a notecard giver/greeter, telling people "hey, private, keep out!"  There ARE lockable doors that are fairly cheap to buy, too.  And if you come home and find someone boinking in your bed?  Well, you don't have to wash the sheets anyway, and you should feel free to ask them to leave if you want (or have fun - get some popcorn and make commentary on their performance in open chat while you watch).

Respect signs or notes or greeters or any other types of messages, and follow any obvious rules or preferences on someone else's land (ie. if flying is disabled, don't override it, or at least don't fly much above the ground).  But if someone is too lazy to secure their land or home when there are so many cheap and easy ways to do it, and they don't even bother to post a "no trespassing" sign of sorts, then don't feel too bad if they get pissed off about you wandering around.  What are they going to do, ban you from their land that they don't want you on anyway?

[Eternus Soulstar]

and to make matters worse are people like me lol

i'm a gemini and i have as many moods as i do hairs on my head, so one day if you wander in my house you might get to guinea pig one of my silly toys like the one that throws things anything from coffee cups to pigs to toilets to volkswagens, another day you might just get to be my audience if i'm, um, amorously engaged, another day because i am a vampire i might feel a bit thirsty and try to bite you

but never will i be angry or irritable about it unless whoever wanders in deliberately instigates that kind of response

[Lissa Fimicoloud]

You like being ejected and banned? That is the general result from going into homes on most residential sims. We run them that way so that people can explore without running into banlines or getting yelled at/ejected simply because they went a little too close to security orb.

Those of us that like the freedom to explore understand that it comes with some responsibility. If you wish to be irresponsible, your freedom to explore my sims will be removed. The rest of the residents of SL will still be welcome to explore as much as they want, understanding that walking inside furnished houses that have name plates is a really irresponsible and childish thing to do.

[Kinani Exonar]

Why is this in response to me? When did I ever say I like being ejected and banned? Or that I'm "irresponsible with my freedom?" I don't know what your sims are, but if it's that big of a deal for ya, go ahead and add me to the list.

I, personally, do not go into homes. I'm saying with some of the people in SL, and as you put it, "childish" behavior, if you don't protect your home, you're leaving it open to them.

[Lissa Fimicoloud]

I probably misclicked - since I'm looking at this in flat mode I'm not going to hunt back to see what I intended to respond to, as your answer pretty much contains the good points of both sides of the issue anyway.

Respectful people leave houses alone. Some people don't. If the privacy is very important, something like a security orb - very tightly bound to only the inside of the house - is a practical solution.

Ban lines are not - my sim is aimed at being a "public" place first, "homes" second. I WANT people to feel free to walk around, fly around, etc, and enjoy the place. Ban lines are really intrusive and take away from the look of the place.

Using a security orb that also protects outside the house can also be disturbing to others - just ask someone who plays with boats. They get ejected because the wind didn't carry them past fast enough, which can result in their boat getting "stuck" in a place they can't get back to. Plus - a pleasant walk in the forest really loses its charm when you get popups telling you that you have 20 seconds to leave or get ejected, even though you aren't in anyone's house.

I think the point I was replying to, and I admit overly harsh, seemed to be advocating excessive use of privacy guards at the expense of the "freedom to roam".

 

Message was edited by: Lissa Fimicoloud to fix misused word. Oops.

[Monderas Bristol]

I tend to agree with pheenix and Eternus here.

My partner and I are pretty laid back.We don't mind people turning up usually,we like a good chat with our neighbors and explore ourselves.But we don't go into a private home while exploring even if usually we're friendly to someone who walks into our house.

We have a security orb. Usually it's just on scan and we set it up so unless someone comes right up to the door even on eject it doesn't go off.And they have time to walk away after the warning.

What annoys us is people coming in,clicking on poseballs or our TV and going up the stairs to look at our bedroom.

(no darling,wasn't me watching porn..must have had a visitor...ahem..)

I mean how rude are people who come in when someones home, does it hurt to say Hi ?

Recently she told me about one guy who was really polite and did say "knock knock". Someone like that is more than likely going to be made welcome.

So generally we leave it on scan,not worry about it,then just eject someone who comes in while we're there if they're rude.

Then we'll leave it on a couple of days in case they come back. It's quite fun counting down the seconds then watching them dissapear on radar lol.

 

wait..I'm supposed to be hugging and kissing more in 2010

 

/me sets security to kiss and eject mode.

 

huggz and kisses

 

Mondy