Number of players reaches all time low

[Finchington]

It's an in game thing, let it be an in game thing?

That is what I am trying to get clarification on. If the player quit because they couldn't handle bad things being said about their character over the radio, then obviously this isn't the game for them, but if they quit because of things not in game, we should know about it.

There wasn't anything even remotely OOC about this

[BeepBeep]

There's also the case of characters/players actively trying to drive people out or accidently driving people out of the game.

I would like to focus on this part...not the example, because unless the unsubbed player from the example contacts PD to explain their reason for unsubbing there's no way to prove/disprove the intention of that incident.

So, regardless of that incident, the first sentence written by Miedein (quote above) IS valid. I've witnessed it often enough to now think of it in my head as "RP bullying." It takes several forms, but nobody really speaks about it directly and it's impossible to prove whether it's done IC or OOC. It's easy for a clique to RP bully someone they decide not to like and it does sometimes make people wish to leave the game and could be contributing to decreasing player numbers.

Just my twopence.

*Edited to try to keep myself on topic...

[Reaction]

In terms of the real world, I agree, but in the game I feel like we need all sorts.

Maybe some people take it too far, but I wouldn't be interested in playing in Stepford Cantr, where everyone is nice and cheery and civil.

I've lost interest in characters before because of how frustrating the circumstances around them were, and some days it's harder to play than others, but I don't think it's an attack on me personally.

We need pirates and thieves, we need jealous men, nagging girlfriends and the odd compulsive liar. Throw in a cantankerous fellow and an abrasive and bitter couple.


Unless I've completely missed your point, anyway.


Edit:
And I've had a character involved in a rage quit incident, where my characters and others were acting on the information they had in the game, and treating a woman as a theif. I don't recall the details, and I didn't know the player, but they felt it was unfair persecution and quit mid chase.

And I'm sorry we lost a player, but we were only playing our characters, who were actually a group of respectable, nice guys, just trying to get their things back.

[Otherside]

I've seen it happen in the past, and I also figured out that it was done by the same players more than once, in different combinations. But, I don't think so many of those combinations exist now. Also, people have quit out of spite because they haven't agreed with an IG decision (I've seen one quit because of something I did, I'm sorry whoever that was.). Neither of these situations should get as far as unsubbing...

Everyone should be aware and feel free to report it, especially if someone is thinking about quitting as a result. Cliques exist, they can use OOC and are just as annoyingly shitty to most as they are anywhere else. If you suspect it, report it.

BUT! As said before... This game needs turmoil, peace, heroes and villains... Murderers, thieves, prudes and sluts. Do-gooders, academics, boffins and nerds. Eccentrics, schizophrenics, wallflowers and self made gods.

Some of them -will- piss you off. But they don't have to ruin your game. You can always do something...

[BeepBeep]

In terms of the real world, I agree, but in the game I feel like we need all sorts.
Unless I've completely missed your point, anyway.

No, you didn't. Aside from my rambling concern over other people's feelings, my only point was that this sort of behavior could be a factor in decreasing player numbers.

[Cdls]

Aside from my rambling concern over other people's feelings, my only point was that this sort of behavior could be a factor in decreasing player numbers.

If the players quit because they cannot handle a situation their character is involved in (minus thing that should not be forced upon them, of course) then this is certainly not the game for them, as they will find that to happen a lot. I know two of mine can be total jerks when provoked (and one who doesn't even need to be provoked) and will continue to act as they do because that is who they are. Changing who they are and how they act because of someones 'sensitivities' is OOC and should not be tolerated.

[BeepBeep]

Changing who they are and how they act because of someones 'sensitivities' is OOC and should not be tolerated.

That's an excellent point and I couldn't agree more.

Incidentally, I've been meaning to say for some time, I like your posts/replies in situations like this Cdls. You always make me see the OOC side of things from the PD perspective a little more clearly and you answer questions I didn't know I had at the same time. Thank you.


Oh, and I also agree with you, Otherside and Reaction that the game needs turmoil and evil. I have a couple of characters who are very good at that and have no intention of changing them for sensitivity to their brand of it either.

[Cdls]

Thank you, and you're welcome.

I don't want to come across as some insensitive jerk who promotes making people cry or anything, but in Cantr, such things happen. I understand people get attached to their characters, and I can empathize with them as a player, but there always needs to be a distinction between the player and the character.

There have been times my characters have been on the bad end of the 'bullying' and yes, it sucks, but I don't let it get me down. If the situation is bad enough, I will leave that character for a couple days and focus on the others.

Maybe there needs to be a better way for players to vent what is going on with their characters that isn't against the rules, but at the same time able to keep them from feeling overwhelmed. Any suggestions?

[BosBaBe]

There's also the case of characters/players actively trying to drive people out or accidently driving people out of the game.

I would like to focus on this part...not the example, because unless the unsubbed player from the example contacts PD to explain their reason for unsubbing there's no way to prove/disprove the intention of that incident.

So, regardless of that incident, the first sentence written by Miedein (quote above) IS valid. I've witnessed it often enough to now think of it in my head as "RP bullying." It takes several forms, but nobody really speaks about it directly and it's impossible to prove whether it's done IC or OOC. It's easy for a clique to RP bully someone they decide not to like and it does sometimes make people wish to leave the game and could be contributing to decreasing player numbers.

Just my twopence.

*Edited to try to keep myself on topic...

This. This happened to me a couple of months ago, and I just KNEW it was because the clique/group/friends or whatever had decided they didn't want me or my character around. Drama broke out in game to drive said character out, for no reason, and I was so pissed by how incredibly obvious and stupid it was that I was ready to quit, not because I was offended, but because it was so against what I thought this game was about. It was like their characters were alienating another just because they...gods, how about just because they had blond hair? Not that much different from Nazi's if you think about it. And for what, because it didn't fit their clique/plot/character group? That sort of thing is appalling. I'm glad I didn't quit, but I almost did.

[NancyLee]

Wow, I don't know about the situation your character was in, but bringing out that comparison sounds pretty excessive, to say the least. So if some characters don't like yours they're part of a shady clique that are secretly plotting to piss you, the player, off or make you feel alienated? I don't know about you, but I don't like everybody in real life, nor do my characters. Some are pretty discreet about it and others are more open. If another character happens to share the same friends and foes, does it mean they're trying to make someone quit the game?

I must be really weird, but when a character doesn't like mine, I don't take it personally.

I worry more about other players' feelings when I read stuff like "I don't bother in roleplaying with characters that don't have a description" on the forum, since that's the player speaking there and trying to inflict his/her ways on others.

[Alladinsane]

I am inclined to invoke Godwin's law on this thread.
In fact I am going to close it for a few hours so we can all take a collective few breaths.

Speak up now, because this is headed for a lock. We don't need this kind of animosity here.

Be well,

[SekoETC]

If some people are trying to smoke you out of the game, report them to PD. Vaguely insinuating that there are people like that in the game while being unable to call out any names just makes everyone mistrust everybody else and poisons the air.

[Chroma Key]

Wow, I don't know about the situation your character was in, but bringing out that comparison sounds pretty excessive, to say the least. So if some characters don't like yours they're part of a shady clique that are secretly plotting to piss you, the player, off or make you feel alienated? I don't know about you, but I don't like everybody in real life, nor do my characters. Some are pretty discreet about it and others are more open. If another character happens to share the same friends and foes, does it mean they're trying to make someone quit the game?

I must be really weird, but when a character doesn't like mine, I don't take it personally.

I worry more about other players' feelings when I read stuff like "I don't bother in roleplaying with characters that don't have a description" on the forum, since that's the player speaking there and trying to inflict his/her ways on others.

As someone who has been subjected to belittlement (IG), and patronising OOC messages because of a lack of a char desc, I wholeheartedly agree. You convey all of that through RP, and get this wall of "you're a blank char just because you don't have a line about your desc and so I'll ignore everything you've posted, even though it included full details of your appearance". It is harder to crack prejudice and all that...

NancyLee, you're not weird... or quite a few of us including me are, as that's my stance also, and I know a few who feel the same way.