In real life, when your phone rings, you have the option to screen -- or check out who’s calling before you actually decide whether to answer the phone.

Well, when you’re standing in SL, chatting with another avatar, you can also do a little “screening” -- to see whether it’s someone you really want to be chatting with.

Screening Trick #1: The Profile Check
When you meet a new avatar, it’s a good idea to look at his or her profile. They can’t see you doing this -- and they’re probably checking your profile anyway, so why not?

To look at someone’s profile, just right-click on their avatar, and select Profile. The Profile box will pop up, and tell you some important things:

- When were they born? The profile screen always tells you the date an avatar was created. If that’s a very recent date, you know you’re dealing with someone not as versed in SL navigation, or ettiquette. (In SL, people really can be "born yesterday.") They may mostly want to ask you questions about SL. Or they may come off unintentionally rudely. They might require a little extra patience.

Conversely, if the avatar was created months or years ago, then you know you’re talking to an experienced citizen of SL. Maybe you’ll want to ask them questions.

- Do they have payment information on file? There are two types of Second Life accounts: free ones and paid ones. When you encounter an avatar with the phrase “No Payment Info On File” in their profile, you’re dealing with someone who holds a free account.

We don’t want to come off as prejudiced here, but free-account holders should be treated with a bit of caution. Griefers tend to use free accounts, because they cannot be traced. Now granted, brand-new SL-ers also use free accounts while they check out the system, so it’s just as likely that you’re talking to a harmless newbie. Just keep your wits about you.

Are they rated? In the middle of the Profile box, you can see a set of Ratings. What are these? Well, they represent how other avatars feel about the avatar you’re chatting with. Ratings are like little gifts avatars give each other. If you meet someone in SL who’s exceptionally helpful or generous, you can give them a positive rating.

An avatar with lots of ratings is obviously a good SL citizen, and someone to treat with respect.

What groups do they belong to? Another great bit of information in an avatar’s profile is the list of what SL groups they have joined. Scanning this list is a good way to see whether you and this avatar have any interests in common. (You might also learn about a good group to join!)

And of course, if you see that the avatar is in a number of groups that make you a bit uncomfortable -- like, say, the “Predatory Avatar Stompers” group, you might want to say your goodbyes and move along.