Recent issue with chat and emoting

White Warlock · Post by **White Warlock** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:29 am

In addition to Dergon showing there to be an existing standard presented, there are logical reasons for standards. Just because 'one' person can pull it off is no reason to ignore the potential problems it could encourage.

I have been to many other PWs, and when people don't stick to standards, they jump around so many times trying to 'match up' with what the other people in the group are doing, that eventually you just can't tell ic from ooc without a decoder ring. Standards serve a purpose. Generally speaking, IC is done straight out, OOC is in double parenthesis or prefaced with slashes, and emote text is placed between asterisks. Just about every roleplay server i have been on uses this approach.

However, in places like Everquest, yes, they do use quotation marks to indicate IC. And that's because roleplay in such places is a rarity, so it's a means to differentiate between all the l33t speak casual OOC chatter that dominates the screen.

Roleplay Persistent Worlds don't have that problem, and since the vast majority of chatter in such places is IC, it is only reasonable to not require additional notations. That's why we, and just about every other roleplay pw, does it this way.

But, the more important reason why it is necessary for 'everyone' to do it this way is to ensure you're not disrupting THEIR roleplay. Doing it your way, when it disrupts everyone else, isn't considerate, it's stubborn. And, it could confuse newcomers as to how things are supposed to be presented, which can turn into a larger problem (as i indicated above). So quit grandstanding and step in tune. Besides, it is far more difficult for the entire community to change their tune to accommodate your step.

And, frankly, ALFA has far bigger problems to worry about...

KalevD · Post by **KalevD** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:02 pm

I've RPed with the individual in question and was able to pick up on their different style fairly quickly. Its not radically different but I can see how it might throw some people off at first.

That being said, I don't see how adding in a couple of asterisks for an emote or using italics is such a chore. I remember when I first started playing on ALFA I had a slightly different chat syntax as well, but I adapted to the form my fellow players used to make our interactions easier.

Those are my thoughts on the matter at any rate. This really isn't a big enough issue to get folks as riled up as they appear to be getting.

MorbidKate · Post by **MorbidKate** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:33 pm

Seriously, what's the big deal in adding a single character to your dialogue so there's no confusion for your fellow players? If a new member won't make even a slight adjustment in their typing style over something so trivial you can't help but wonder what other problems are on the horizon. This should be a non-issue.

Kate

Magile · Post by **Magile** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:09 pm

This is slowly becoming a public lynching based on disapproval of someone's RPing. Everyone seems to state they enjoy the person's RP, even if a bit abstract. Does this thread really need to continue? It's slowly feeling like it's detracting from the main point of acceptance into the realm of chastising.

edit: I think it's the constant, "I approve of their RP, but..." style that's going on. If you don't see a problem with it, but then start talking about how simplistic it is to change... you see a problem with it, y'know? This is probably doing more harm than the good intentions it may have.

Kest · Post by **Kest** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:15 pm

Did say that I didn't mind it.

Demson · Post by **Demson** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:17 pm

I don't know, Magile. I feel the response so far has been well-reasoned and honest.

I don't personally have the problem, but I can see how it can be a problem for someone else. Their personal experience and perception is something I am inclined to respect.

Thank you all for taking the time for this. I hope it will be made worthwhile by the parties involved.

Magile · Post by **Magile** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:21 pm

Demson wrote:I don't know, Magile. I feel the response so far has been well-reasoned and honest.

I don't personally have the problem, but I can see how it can be a problem for someone else. Their personal experience and perception is something I am inclined to respect.

Thank you all for taking the time for this. I hope it will be made worthwhile by the parties involved.

Perhaps I took it the wrong way, Demson. I just have a feeling that, with everyone discussing one person's manner of roleplaying and, essentially, having at least a small negative thing to say (normally around the lines of, "why can't they just change?")... it could really take a toll on the person they're discussing. I mean, a helpful suggestion or at least a request is fine, but we're on page two of this matter which could've been taken to a PM.

Like I said, I don't suggest you had bad intentions at all, or any of you. It just seems like it's coming across a bit worse than people may have intended, at least when I read this. I'd feel pretty hurt if everyone did this over my roleplaying.

Demson · Post by **Demson** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:29 pm

To clarify - this had been taken over private channel before I posted this.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:32 pm

It is not about their role-playing. Ultimately, its not even about communication. Its about who should do the changing - one new person coming into the community - or the entire community? Several people have related how easy it was for them to make the adjustment to the way this person types ... but why should everyone in the community have to make that adjustment, rather than having the new person simply conform the accepted way of doing things in ALFA? I've not seen a single argument about why this person needs to continue their communication style rather than adopt ALFAs. Think of it as a question of mathematics - one person makes a tiny change to their style, versus every other member of the community who comes into contact with that person having to go through a moment of disorientation, then communication about what is going on, then adjustment to that person's style - rather than that one person adjusting to the style of the community. And as has been alluded to so eloquently by MK, the inability or unwillingness of a person to make such a small change in their style to fit into the community may say volumes about how they see their relationship with that community.

MorbidKate · Post by **MorbidKate** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:01 pm

This thread shouldn't have been. A simple PM to bring it to the attention of their HDM should have been plenty. They or a member of their crew could have then easily taken the person aside for a OOC chat to get things settled. Most people new to a community want to fit in and be agreeable so it should have been a Please, Thanks 60 second chat. I have no idea if this has happened but it should and the new player should want their RP understood by all. It shouldn't be a big deal at all.

Kate

JaydeMoon · Post by **JaydeMoon** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:14 am

The piece Dergon posted doesn't address how the community expects IC text to be spelled out. It simply says not to bother other people's RP by OOC chatter and the like.

It says that OOC should be prefaced with ((or something else to let everyone know it's OOC. But it certainly doesn't address how one should dilineate between emotes and dialogue.

While I agree that it may be better for one to conform to the many in this case, it really is a non-issue.

Post by **paazin** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:07 am

We've had people use this style of narration before and somehow ALFA survived it, despite the odds.

This thread serves no further purpose as it's only drawing out flames. Locking.