Judgmental attitudes towards other roleplayers

[ZombieKitteh]

I know topics of this have existed, but I hadn't seen one within the last three pages, so forgive me if I missed one. But I feel something needs to be talked about and I'm generally curious on others' views, opinions and own experiences.

We've all been here ourselves at least once during our time on FeralHeart; experienced it, seen it or even done it ourselves. When it boils down to it sometimes it's human nature to judge someone else. But what I don't believe is right at all; is the legit hostility and rudeness. And honestly I've seen this all to well within this community and it's down right awful. People with varying roleplay 'levels' or styles is what I'll be focusing on. Though a lot more then solely roleplaying can end up being in this topic.

I'm not going to lie; I was a pretentious **** back a some years ago when it came with roleplaying. I put down others that weren't 'literate' enough. I turned away potential roleplayers because their samples weren't 'good enough' to my standard. I shunned people and was generally not a very nice person up on their high horse. Looking back on it now days I feel awful. It really bugs me to think about possibly how many people I scared away from roleplaying in general. How many people did I literally make feel horrible by acting the way I was? Probably a ton and that really pains me to know.

There are various forms when it comes to roleplaying that are legit styles that are accepted in the roleplaying world. That includes the simple scripts using 'action marks' or the full blown out novel like paragraphs. And hey if a certain styles not your cup of tea then that's fine. There's no need to be rude to others for their preferred style.

Some people don't know how to roleplay in other styles and they wont learn if someone doesn't teach them. Everyone starts out somewhere and grows from their experience. How are they going to grow from negativity? They wont. And that's the ideal I've taken into my own roleplay I started recently on Feral Heart. We're primarily a paragraph roleplaying group, but we welcome all styles. (As long as they fit with the lenient character criteria.) We try to help people understand roleplaying more and guide them as they move along with how to paragraph roleplay. It's really nice to see someone ask for help and have multiple people volunteer and then eventually that outcome when they do get the hang of things.

Today I was recruiting and had someone join. Now we're a bit of a 'gorey' roleplay at times as the theme deals with cannibalism.  But there's a disclaimer on our webpages front page that every new member is directed to. And I can understand a roleplay just not quite being for someone. Like that's totally ok and I get that not everyone likes the same type of things.

What I'm honestly upset about is their negative attitude. Not towards the theme of the roleplay; but at our roleplayers. The people online at our 'camp' weren't posting extremely long, but they were decent at least one paragraph posts. We had one player that was newer and we had been her first group; as such we were helping guide her gently. (Which she did improve a ton during her single day and I'm really proud of her.)

You don't like our roleplay? Fine. You feel the roleplay "quality is crap" due to us not taking roleplay samples? Rude, but fine. What purpose does being rude about it solve? I'm honestly relieved someone so pretentious ended up leaving so we didn't have to deal with them in the future.


(Names not blurred due to no username being shown of the offender.)

This is almost a rant and I apologize. But this whole thing really bothers me. Like why be so negative to people?

[Preach]

If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all.

That quote is what I was taught by my mother. I just don't know why people have to be so rude.  Though, then again, people do need to be mean at some point. (if that makes sense) Other than that, all I can say is just ignore because even if you tell them something, their behavior isn't going to change. However, this should be reported to the staff.

[GlaydrChyle]

If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all.

As stated above with that^

However I have noticed (In your situation especially) That what was said was rather Ironic. Either way I personally believe that role-play samples don't need to be given. IN FACT, not even over complicated syntax or vocabulary could entitle someone or a group to "High role-playing standard"

In the English language and literature department now-a-days it no longer focuses on length or vocabulary though instead does so in punctuation, spelling and syntax (To an extent). This is coming from someone who is only in their GCSE's at the moment mind you.

It does irritate me to see people be so judgemental over the silly little things; of course you must be to an extent but in your case it's absolutely ridiculous. I remember a time where I was role-playing a character with a black country British accent (My accent, we often say Ai, or Ain't, or nothin or dun instead of don't and so on) and I got ridiculed for " Improper use of Grammar"

Either way, I agree with what you'e saying, YES we should have a level of judgement but to NEVER take it too far.

And no, I thought this was a good topic to discus! Great job!

[ritat]

So many have complained about topics like this and thank you for your honesty, because to speak up about this is something that will make people more alerted. I myself also come across problems like this, but the only thing you can do is help people who are stereotyped as much as possible. You cannot tell the world what horrible things that person did to solve it, but the only way for people to solve their mistakes is to realize what they said and this is a common problem that happens: To defend yourself when you give rude messages or did something wrong, then getting away with it. I don't know what the actual reason is to being rude, because I have never been rude to anybody, ever.

If people will reply to you like that, don't be so weak to pull back and wing it. You have to go up to the person and tell them that what they said isn't to your likes and affects the image of your group. Letting the person go doesn't improve who they are, but worsen in their attitude that's why it's important for people not to continuesly do actions like this.

In the end, if they want to be the person they are, let them suite theirselves because when you're the ones warning them and they'll be the one to get the consequences. I agree with your post, but remember if you have things like this you must be stronger because the person who got away didn't benefit anything from what they did and you weren't any happier about it either.

I just hope this is understood. <3

[Jango_Fett]

Honestly I'm not the kind of person terribly bothered by this sort of thing.

Yeah it's rude but, really it's over something so trivial it's not really worth(for me) fussing over.

Really if they don't like the 'style' that you roleplay, then ok. Move on, don't talk to them, don't acknowledge them, and just move along.
really all i gotta say

[Wyldercat]

I must agree with those preceding me.
I personally am not too bothered by people like that, though it is a shame that they must be so rude to others.
If they wanted to leave, then they could leave; but there is no need for them to make such a rude remark before leaving. Just ignore 'em if they do this though. They probably just want to put down others to show off and feel superior.

[xXQueenXx]

Honestly I'm not the kind of person terribly bothered by this sort of thing.

Yeah it's rude but, really it's over something so trivial it's not really worth(for me) fussing over.

Really if they don't like the 'style' that you roleplay, then ok. Move on, don't talk to them, don't acknowledge them, and just move along.
really all i gotta say

I was thinking the same thing as WarKat... Your RP obviously didn't seem to be worthy enough so that's their problem. :/  Sure, it's rude. But I wouldn't bother too much about it. Unfortunately, there are many people like that in the game.

[Scornhound]

There are too much of these people in the game and to be frank about it, it makes me sick.
Yes I said it...
Because it doesn't matter how long or detailed your role play posts are or the way you use grammar.
Everyone is different with their grammar and style of RPing, and to ridicule people who are of the assumed "lower standards" are probably people who are either:
1. New recruits to Feral Heart (which we should welcome unless they are not following the rules)
or
2. Have another language as their first language.
or
3. Are of a young age (but age doesn't really matter when it comes to literacy).
or even
4. Not in high spirits so they are not coming along well with writing.

There are SO MANY people in Feral Heart who judge people by the way they role play.
I am sure this happens in other role play communities too.
But Feral Heart is a game for everyone to have fun and write till their heart's content, no matter their style.
I know there is a thing known as constructive criticism, but not a lot do that; they straight-up tell the person basically that they are bad because of the way they write.
The meaning of Literacy is the ability to read and write, it does not mean to write in large amounts of detail.
So when I see groups who say they are literate and want an RP Sample, it angers me.
I have been in groups that require an RP sample and they have turned out really well-mannered, but there's also the unfortunate that I've seen as well. They judge in a way where they cut down, or "correct" people's spelling/grammar just to get a kick out of it. I tend not to correct people because for that very reason, I find it rude. Now if someone asks if they spelled it right I will tell them if they did or not.

But yeah. Sorry for the ranting and think I kind of gone off topic a bit. ^^;
This is just a real pet peeve for me.
Hope this doesn't anger anyone. ^^;

[hcj2000]

You gotta be kidding me I am in that group and my rps looks stupid compared to most of the players in the group they are good at rps

[-WhereSunRises-]

Thanks for posting this!!! We had exactly same thing in my group! First, we accepted a newbies in, they were just like me- illiterate and non-experienced. We also accepted one newbie, who kept with us for some time too, not for long but it was some months. He grew away from annoying drama (and to be honest, it was real drama queen and some members asked me to remove that person from the group, I didnt cuz I knew it would hurt, I often think about it and nowdays I often regret I didnt warn that person, now its me who is actually hurt.... I mean it :/ ) and became literate. Then one day while roleplaying, that person spoke up and told us all someting that really hurts me... That person said that he dislikes illiterate people and wants to leave becouse he doesnt like our "style" He didnt say it straight but we all saw what he wanted :/ Then he tried to "teach" us how to be like him by saying us to try to speak like him. We didnt like it as most of us cant write marks and we are NOT from America or England. It bugged us. Then he left becouse he wanted to be with literate and "experienced" members. It was one of worst things I saw in Fh and believe me... I wish I could be literate..... Since that person left I always say, literacy is unimportant!