Feral Heart

Game & Forum Discussion => Game Discussion => Topic started by: SoulRevenge on November 25, 2013, 12:49:18 am

Title: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: SoulRevenge on November 25, 2013, 12:49:18 am
  Many are likely aware that 'insane' characters, or characters that be titled as sociopaths (those with a past of some sort that causes them to act in some manner), do indeed exist within the FeralHeart roleplaying community. However I know that me and a few other users are often concerned of just how accurate certain mental disabilities are portrayed and whether or not they're taken seriously.
  This mainly goes in-hand with the 'psychotic killer' bunch.
 There are so many situations whereas mental disabilities or a certain train of thought is misunderstood, especially when the past is involved. So there are a ridiculous number of cases where 'Someone had loving parents but they were killed/slaughtered in front of them when they were very young' or 'Someone didn't have parents and were adopted' and stuff along those lines. Now the mind works in incredibly mysterious ways, and no-one's train of thought is the same as the next. Some people may be offended easily, some may not be, and the list goes on thereafter. Naturally some might react to certain events in different ways, but there are certain irrational ways, too. Some that make little or no sense when in relation to how we often remember or see something as.
  So when some grow up, and a horrific event happened at a young age, why are they psychotic killers, hallucinating every minute of the day, or paranoid by everything?
 Naturally this does not apply for ALL storylines with characters, as some are very well constructed and logical, but there are many I've come across over my time not only in the game, but also on other sites that are entirely irrational. People seem to forget that, at a young age, you aren't likely to remember horrific events, and moving on is an entire possibility. Things not issued for a duration of time are also common to forget, as it might be considered just 'one bad moment in life' by some. Not to mention, in most real-world cases, you don't go on a psychotic and direct killer rampage towards all who offend you or suddenly trigger something of the past.
 This is what I am often seeing here.
 Of course there are also misinterpretations of actual mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, you get the basic list. Often things like this aren't even given a quick 'google', nevertheless have a professional or at least a plain article read through.

 So now, FeralHeart what are your experiences with inaccurate/illogical portrayals of mental disorders? If it was caused by an event in the pass, how did it go? In-fact, what are you portrayals or ideas on these sort of things? Do you simply detest it all together- the existence of making a character with such a mental status, because you deem it unnecessary to add, or are you a-okay with it as long as it is accurate in some sense? Or maybe you really don't care at all?



Update: Click this (http://teenagemutantninjaslut.tumblr.com/post/45226226097 (http://teenagemutantninjaslut.tumblr.com/post/45226226097)) for an idea on what Schizophrenia might feel like. This is just one mental disorder amongst many out there, but I'd like you guys to get  abetter understatement on what certain things are. - Also YES, sorry if the url is slightly inappropriate. I'll edit it if I have to.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: Smilodoncat on November 25, 2013, 01:34:31 am
I see this all the time with "insane" characters.

I have a few characters that could be classified as "insane". But I try to portray them more realistically than this.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: longjump on November 25, 2013, 02:39:21 am
I hate people who rp disorders inaccurately. In my opinion that's a sign they just want a reason to have a character that fits that sterio-type.

People will have characters that 'dont have emotions'.  Obviously those are 'phycopaths'. Nope. No research done. Characters that are slightly skittish? Anxiety. Anxiety isn't skittishness, it's complex.

Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: meeeea on November 25, 2013, 08:14:07 am
I've seen these kinds of things a lot- from killers for no reason to "emotionless" characters and such. To be honest, it doesn't bother me, but when "Killers" are "killers" for no apprent reason or backstory is sometimes annoying even though I don't pay much attention to it.
My only character classified to be "insane" is Viola. She's schizophrenic and it led to cannibalism- but at least she was constructed as a character.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: Killian on November 25, 2013, 02:44:45 pm
My character Killian is meant to be a socially inept (not any mental health problem), but it can be really hard to role play at times because people tend to not enjoy role playing with me. I think it can be that way with people who just want to act silly or insane. I wouldn't want to role play with someone who just want to eat or kill me for no reason.

Insane or psycho characters to me are getting a bit old. People think of "schizo" and see some kind of Gollum/Smeagol thing, one nice side and one nasty side but that really isn't what schizophrenia is. It can at times be annoying when people role play mental illness and get it all wrong, I don't understand many mental illnesses so I don't role play any.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: jay warfang on November 26, 2013, 04:52:52 am
I know what you guys are talking about, people basiclly walk in say "Oi, my character is a psyco. How does that affect them other than them being super violent? In no way at all". As someone with a few mental issues it pains me to see people decide that everyone from the most minor case of -say- social anxiety to the most extreme cases of paranoid skitzophrenia must be super agressive, disturbed individuals ever.

Now if you role play a mental disorder properly kudos to you, for the next four minutes you can be my favorite person. 
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: BlackLuna06 on November 26, 2013, 11:14:44 am
Plenty of people behind those screens see 'insane' characters as unusual and rare - which they totally aren't nowadays. LOTS of people have insane characters for that very same reason, which in turn makes said reason worth nothing and- Yeah.

I, to be fair, have encountered people who can RP the blanket term 'insanity' in an original and entertaining way, thumbs up there! Schizophrenia, Bipolar and other mental diseases, diseases with a DEFINITION, seem to be much more effective than an 'insane' character. At least from an observer's point of view, anyway - people have guidelines, so to speak, to base their character's behaviour off.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: SoulRevenge on November 27, 2013, 09:23:47 pm
'Insane' can fit into the same classes of a variety of mental disorders you are simply born with. Thus someone with schizophrenia can be described as insane.
 What I DON'T like is when people are JUST insane, no specific reason or research done behind it. Sometimes it's creative and reasonable, yes, but other time it is merely irrationally portrayed with, once more, constant hallucinations throughout the day, the wanting to 'hurt people' or stuff like that, and I've seen a lot of stuff in here about the emotionless being psychopaths.

 I don't believe you were comprehending my full point with the psychopaths part, BUT here's a bit of an explanation of what they are (through research)
 
-Psychopaths are often times manipulative. One of the most common personality traits.
-Psychopaths signify that they may be mentally weaker than others, thus more likely to 'break' as the term is commonly used, are hallucinations a possibility? Yes, but with this lot there's gonna be reason behind it. A memorable, possibly repetitive in some form or long-term event is sometimes behind this.
-Psychopaths are NOT 'emotionless'. No-one is emotionless, and all things display emotion. In fact, the term 'emotionless' would signify that the character does not show any sign of anger, happiness, or other emotions in any way possible. This means that movements that may express any form of emotion, facial expressions, or voice (i.e: opinions would not be stated) would not be of existence within this character or person, for that matter. Something entirely emotionless is simply not here!

I'd also like to mention there are other mental disorders other than the 'main three' that seem to be mentioned (more or less schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and anxiety disorder). Multiple personality disorder, aspergers or other forms of autism, post-dramatic stress disorder (naturally would possibly appear after a stressful event), and you get the lot are also existence. Oi, also-

Quote from: longjump on November 25, 2013, 02:39:21 am
Characters that are slightly skittish? Anxiety. Anxiety isn't skittishness, it's complex.


Skittishness is a SYMPTOM of an anxiety disorder of some sort. So those super-shy characters that are skittish around a lot of things or don't like sticking to crowds? Whether intentional or not, they are accurately portrayed with accuracy in comparison with the actual mental disorder itself.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: Silvertide on November 29, 2013, 09:05:07 pm
I don't like this either. A few years ago, I RPed my character becoming suddenly insane from something pretty stupid. It wasn't very realistic and I'm sure I annoyed the other RPers. I did this once again with another character of mine, and it still didn't make sense! It was stupid, but then again, I knew nothing about these disorders and still know very little. I don't know what the disorders you listed above truly are even now.
As for emotionless characters, I have one but at least she has a good background and she actually gained emotions through RP. She was raised by a group of wolves that were very strange, and they were all emotionless as well. It was very entertaining to see her character develop from someone who is indifferent when taking the life of another to someone who ends up crying when her only friend ends up hanging out with another chic. You get the idea.
I agree with you on this, people just don't know. As for me, someone who has done the same annoying thing as others, I understand where they are coming from. I don't really think it is an issue, but it'd make for much more interesting RP if these people were enlightened.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: SoulRevenge on December 02, 2013, 01:07:01 am
Update.

A little something that let's you guys get a good idea on what Schizophrenia in particular may sounds like.
(Link here)
http://teenagemutantninjaslut.tumblr.com/post/45226226097 (http://teenagemutantninjaslut.tumblr.com/post/45226226097)

Also will be edited in the big, first post so it's not lost in possible future pages.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: wolvesaregreat on December 02, 2013, 12:36:57 pm
I'm not really into insane characters, but it can be interesting, sometimes even challenging to fit them in storyline without being categorized as a person that is impossible to play with. Many think insane means unable to RP with, but it doesn't. It depends on the player through. If the character is unable to RP normally with it means it's powerplaying by many dodges, never being hurt, killing everyone he can the players will roll their eyes and probably head to block button. The worst thing then isn't the player's fight for pixel life if the player is being annoying by going to every single person and trying to kill. But if character kills/attacks for reason, with realistic movements and actual plan it makes the RP interesting. I hope you understand what I want to say- insane characters aren't bad if the floof behind the screen knows how to use them to mess up with storyline, still managing to produce some kind of fun to others since it's much interesting to deal with killer than describe how you sit on rock.
Title: Re: RP: A Mental Misunderstanding
Post by: Lukas245 on December 09, 2013, 12:46:13 am
Honestly i have one insane character, instead of saying something like someone died in there life or was adopted i have my wolf characters insane caused by disfunction and the wrong brain cells shutting off, making him insane. In a way real life works.