Postby nateflory » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:31 am
I think the whole point of this, outside the "vulger language" is one of perception.
I've noticed some people play their characters as if everything is only in-game, and they are rather forceful about it. They never, EVER mention objects or concepts that exist in the real world, and someone building a project they have not seen in this location is met with surprised curiosity about "What's that sharp pointy thing? A knife you call it, what's it used for?"
Others, have described holding hands, splashing in the water to swim, hair cascading about, and generally acting as if Cantrians are human, with human physical features, and emotions. If one of these characters arrived where one of my first two characters spawned, there would be a flurry of "You see [everyone else in town] talking to Joe Newspawn" to let them know that such strange behavior is inappropriate for this game.
To me, that's taking IG -vs- OOC division a bit too seriously. I mean I was encouraged that the manufacture list represented "common knowledge" in CANTR. There is a certain level of common sense to translate "True Cantr" into something us human players can comprehend, and certain assumptions just HAVE to be made, lest we all sit there quietly not knowing if we can even emote pointing with our hands. The game just shows we point, who's to say we don't point with purple tentacles, or Squigglyspooges?!
Likewise, even speaking English is perhaps, by extension, a completely OOC interference. Who's to say that CANTRians do not speak in $#SDG456r, or use pheramones to convey words, or are like fireflies and use something ankin to morse code as their native language? Granted, this leap is a bit too large, but I feel using words like "An icy stare" are a given. They may not be entirely InGame, but as stated, these are more to give the player reading the words a better sense of the situation so they can react in character.
Otherwise, we would all be reduced to saying things like "The two stood in a manner condusive to the co-positioning of their respective mandibles enableing the area of dermus covering macular enamel to exert a temporary force against each other." You know, a frickin KISS.
And while the above example also breaks this point about OOC info (do Cantrians have lips or teeth?!?!!, it's not coded, OH NOES!), it illustrates what I noticed has happened in-game when I tried to learn the rules and setting.
No offense intended for those fully in-game players, I can appreciate that level of immersion is fun too, but don't be all pissy about the details.
Long story short, it seems everyone has an opinion on this type of topic, and surprise surpsie, they don't all equate. The truth is we will never all agree totally on the "correct" answer. But at least the discussion of the answer will guide those who even read the forums towards a mutual understanding and perhaps temper any hostility if a mis-used RL word sneaks into a conversation by some at times.
Sleepy-ehck indeed!
