I'm beginning to suspect that this issue is one more based around the more casual RPers (especially those who don't get too involved with things such as these forums etc). The other day, I witnessed some pretty casual RP in the Quicksand during which an Au Ra treated a lalafell in a silly, cutesy-wutesy way and the lalafell behaved in a silly cutesy-wutesy manner in return. It made me facepalm as I witnessed it, but it wasn't something I'd expect to see from serious RPers.
And although I have yet to RP since coming back to these forums, people here who have come in contact with me thus far have been pretty mature over the whole lalafell thing. And from my past experiences, most of the RPs I've been in, I don't recall being treated childishly except when my character warrants such treatment. And Riku isn't even an adult lalafell (by far), yet he's been treated as an equal by adult characters (who have also been patient with his immaturities). There were one or two more casual RPers back then who might have been a bit meh, but as I said, from serious RPers, I've had little to no problems.
If this was an issue that was to bleed through to the series RP scene, then yes, it would be something to work on. But from my perspective, it isn't. Fact is, casual RPers just RP to pass the time and have a bit of fun. They see an adorable lalafell, they treat the lalafell that way. You really just have to expect this sort of thing from walk-up public RPs.
And although I have yet to RP since coming back to these forums, people here who have come in contact with me thus far have been pretty mature over the whole lalafell thing. And from my past experiences, most of the RPs I've been in, I don't recall being treated childishly except when my character warrants such treatment. And Riku isn't even an adult lalafell (by far), yet he's been treated as an equal by adult characters (who have also been patient with his immaturities). There were one or two more casual RPers back then who might have been a bit meh, but as I said, from serious RPers, I've had little to no problems.
If this was an issue that was to bleed through to the series RP scene, then yes, it would be something to work on. But from my perspective, it isn't. Fact is, casual RPers just RP to pass the time and have a bit of fun. They see an adorable lalafell, they treat the lalafell that way. You really just have to expect this sort of thing from walk-up public RPs.