Once you get into SL, trust us, the hours will just roll away. And suddenly, you'll realize that not only are you really hungry, you also really need to use the bathroom.

Now, you can just walk away from your computer for a moment, and leave your avatar standing there in-world until you get back. But this is risky, because if another avatar shows up and says hello while you're gone, your avatar won't respond. You run the risk of seeming rude.

So instead, as a courtesy to others, before you step away from your computer, open your Chat window and type: "afk". (This stands for "away from keyboard," by the way.)

When you do that, your avatar will slump over, like Kal is in the picture above. Now, everyone can tell that you're not there, and they won't try to chat with you.

When you return to your computer, just move your mouse, and your avatar will spring back to life, ready for further adventures.

(Incidentally, the afk is best for short breaks. If you're leaving your computer for more than a few moments, it's best to log out of SL entirely.)