Can someone tell me how to start out?

[DeborahLW]

I downloaded the SL Viewer and Logged in, picked and Avatar and .... nothing. Can you please help? I don't have a clue what to do.

 

[Alwin Alcott]

Second Life is what you make of it yourself, there is nothing to do, and there is everything to do.

It is no game, no levels, no points nor any other goals.

It is what the name says, second life. You create it, you live it.

have a look here http://secondlife.com/whatis/?lang=en

click around on the website, or even better, inworld, meet others.. go explore

[Marigold Devin]

Welcome to Second Life, Deborah

When you log into the viewer for the first time, you should arrive inworld at a place where there are other new people, all very much in the same situation as yourself.  There will be arrows to follow, and should be tutorials on "how to ..." (do the very basic things). 

A very useful tool and starting point also is the official Second Life Knowledge Base (click on the Knowledge Base tab at the top of this screen).  You really do need to learn to walk before you can run, and for sure there is much to learn, but you are about to embark on a very interesting adventure, that will become as unique to you as your real life is.

 

[Syo Emerald]

Well the answer to your question is the same to "Why did you log in in the first place?"

[Rolig Loon]

Welcome aboard, Deborah.  As others have said, you can learn the mechanics of how to move around, communicate, handle your inventory, and manage your appearance by spending time with articles in the Knowledge Base.  I would also strongly recommend paying long visits to the Caledon Oxbridge University in world.  You can find them very easily by typing the name into Search or into the Map view in your viewer and then teleporting, once you learn those basic skills.  Caledon Oxbridge University has a wonderful set of self-paced tutorials for newcomers and they offer a rich assortment of classes too.  You'll also usually find helpful residents who can answer questions for you.

That's all mechanics.  There is an incredible amount to learn, and it keeps changing all the time.  I have been here well over 8 years and am still earning things.  Still, what you really want to know is how to spend your time in SL.  That is totally up to you, since this is a world without its own goals.  However, you can get a start at discovering the options by visiting places in the Destination Guide that is one of the clickable choices in your viewer. Those places are often some of the most intriguing, imaginative ones, and the selection changes all the time.  Aside from those places, start looking in Search for places or groups that sound interesting .... places or people that you might share a common interest with.  This is a social world, so a lot of your enjoyment will come from the people that you choose to hang around with.

A couple of words of advice:

1.  This is much like RL.  Most people are friendly, helpful, and honest.  Some aren't, and some places are like ones that you would avoid in RL too.  Just use your head.  Don't take candy from strangers. Don't agree to give anyone money (and certainly not permission to take money from you) unless you understand who they are and what you are agreeing to.  Don't give anyone access to your account or its login information.

2. On the flip side, remember that you cannot be hurt in SL.  You can be scared, offended, or shocked, but you can always teleport away at a moment's notice and you can always "accidentally" log out.  It's much nicer than RL in that respect.  One of the first things you should do is to find your own quiet "safe" area, a place where you can hide when you want time to yourself.  You can use the World >> Set Home To Here option to landmark that spot on public land, land that you own or rent, or land where a group you belong to allows it.  It's lovely to have a private spot to teleport to at the click of a button.

[Lindal Kidd]

Good answers from everyone!  You might also want to read this blog post that walks you through the registration process and your first sign in.  http://acrossthegridwithlindal.blogspot.com/2014/04/getting-started-in-second-lifean-update.html