Hot Take: Forum Replies

[Athelois]

Hello, friendly Lore Staff & Crime System Manager here to drop a hot-take on y'all right quick. Keep in mind this is coming from my personal feelings and does not in any way, shape, or form, reflect or represent the thoughts of other Staff members and should not be considered an official guide by any means. So take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, given I'll be focusing purely on the crime posts, but I believe it needs to be addressed.

There's been a sudden influx of proclamations and declarations of territory since the release of the new crime system. Which is great! It's awesome, it allows people to be informed of what's going on without necessarily being directly involved - it reaches a larger audience that may otherwise not know or otherwise be left in the dark.

What I've noticed, however, is the derailing of a lot of these posts if you're an "enemy" of the person posting or otherwise "don't care ICly". Either through complete vandalisation of the parchment, butting in with edgy replies that don't offer anything but a sour taste, etc. I've sat back and watched for a while now and have come to the following conclusion: there's a problem. And the problems are these:

• The character is anonymous or undetectable - leaving no signature or indicator of who they are so no one will be able to properly react ICly aside from "good golly gosh, guess that's such a shame someone was bold enough to mess up my poster but too scared to sign their name!" Doesn't lead to much roleplay.
• A fear of consequences prevents meaningful interactions in the future with the original poster and the character in question.
• And last but certainly not least, as it's been the worst offender alongside the first point - trying to monopolise the spotlight on the post to build themselves up as if bragging on a forums post on an unrelated thread does anything but make you look like you're trying too hard.
  

So! I decided to sit down and think about a "when should I or when shouldn't I respond on an IC post?" and had about six questions in here before I got a much better, summarised question that clearly, and concisely, addresses every single one of the three main problems that have been made apparent:

Is what I am posting reasonably going to lead to any sort of interaction between OP and my character, with my character recognizable and responsible, and with roleplay that is rewarding for both of us?​

No? Then don't post.
Yes? Post away!​

Aaaaaand discuss!

 

[nath_n]

Well thought out. With that being said I agree with all of the listed points especially with the point that states ripping it down leads to little to no roleplay. That and I feel the point of the "regalian roleplay" section is to create roleplay through various possible notices, declarations and recruitments etc. I honestly believe if you want to make somewhat of a statement against or to the person who is posting. Post your own thread with your correspondence that way as you stated it doesn't "steal the spotlight" so to say from the original point.

 

[Nixces]

I very much agree. What's the point if any of the characters can't actually see what you're icly doing? Its kind of a mock in the face if i'm honest. Take action or don't. You don't need to react icly out of sight to show you've acknowledge something.

 

[fantuinn]

a certain ailor smirks at this message from the comfort of his home and walks away "stupid athelois... lol."

 

[Athelois]

a certain ailor smirks at this message from the comfort of his home and walks away "stupid athelois... lol."

Click to shrink...

i love you, fetus

 

[TalkChat]

There is only one rule of thumb in my mind toward replies to declerations or anything under the 'Regalian Roleplay' tab. Just use common sense, OOCly, meaning that if your character were to say rip a post down and defile it, don't respond. Now sassy comments I don't really have an issue with because that really doesn't cause any harm, and probably only hurts the person posting said reply. Everything atlas said is a good rule of thumb, but I really don't think there is much to be said all-in-all. Idk if this was helpful by any means but there you have it folks.

(Second thought) Replies to anything under that tab is an expression of your character, what they would say or do in that moment. I don't think it any guidelines should be put in place due to that reason, I think just the general unspoken rule of 'do not be an idiot' guarantees enough self-responsibility needed.

 

[studsonsc]

I entirely support because it is crushing to post a thread to only receive meme worthy replies that degrade the entire point. Good job, wifey.

 

[AtticCat]

I stand by the thought of if a character has been doing things that would be deserving of disrespect on things they post, then if should be allowed for there to be minor vandalism. Though, I do agree that ripping down a poster entirely is uncalled for.

 

[FireFan96]

I tend to never respond to any forum declarations or posts. The last one I responded to was with regard to the church takeover by the gang, which led to three in game roleplays between my monk and the gang. They provided me with roleplay, and I provided them with it as well. While my responses may/may not have directly reached them IC, I think it gives closure to a roleplay scenario that existed in game.

That scenario was an exception rather than the norm. I don't respond frequently to forum announcements, preferring to have my reaction done in game to generate some conversation. I had very strong opinions regarding the colonial wars, but I didn't respond to all the declarations because that would just be an easy way out. I probably attended all these weddings, but I don't comment because I'd rather react out my spectator rp in game.


TL;DR I don't always respond to forum posts, but when I do, it's because in game roleplay will be/was had.