I agree IC/OOC is an ideal and that there are sometimes small harmless ways where things blend slightly. For example: recently Tiergan was speaking with a friend who was leaving in a way that suggested she was essentially going on a suicide quest to prevent others from being hurt and he couldn't talk her out of it. The conversation between the two friends was heartbreaking and I may or may not have teared up a little because of all the FEELS.
That is a minor example of IC affecting me OOC. However, at no point did I suddenly start feeling ACTUALLY as heartbroken and despairing as Tiergan as though the friend were actually a real person that was going away. I didn't harass the player to MAKE her character stay the same way Tiergan was trying to demand that his friend not go walking to her death. Things affected me the same way a sad part of a book would affect me.
No one, including myself, was hurt in the process and I think THAT is the important key thing people are talking about when they say "Keep IC separate from OOC at all times." To do no harm to each other.
IC might affect OOC or OOC might affect IC in small harmless ways (ex: That cheerful moment between my character and her friends made me feel really happy!" Or "I am feeling really tired today so I will RP my character being tired and lethargic as well so I don't have to think too hard during RP. :V") -- but ever to the extent where it negatively impacts other people or myself.
All the examples we give of bad ic/ooc mix are examples of harm. Making a player uncomfortable by falling in love with them in real life at the same time as falling in love with their character. Being OOCly aggressive and demanding of someone's time and who they hang out with just because they are in a relationship with your character IC. Hating someone OOC because you hate their character OOC.
I also agree that when people run into issues where the IC actions resulted in OOC unhappiness, it is a result of not communicating and not really thinking through the IC consequences of your IC actions. If your character tries to murder several people in broad daylight in front of the Quicksand - it is a little extreme to be upset that all the Brass Blade/Flames/Sultansworn characters ever would suddenly be SUPER aggressive towards your character IC
That is a minor example of IC affecting me OOC. However, at no point did I suddenly start feeling ACTUALLY as heartbroken and despairing as Tiergan as though the friend were actually a real person that was going away. I didn't harass the player to MAKE her character stay the same way Tiergan was trying to demand that his friend not go walking to her death. Things affected me the same way a sad part of a book would affect me.
No one, including myself, was hurt in the process and I think THAT is the important key thing people are talking about when they say "Keep IC separate from OOC at all times." To do no harm to each other.
IC might affect OOC or OOC might affect IC in small harmless ways (ex: That cheerful moment between my character and her friends made me feel really happy!" Or "I am feeling really tired today so I will RP my character being tired and lethargic as well so I don't have to think too hard during RP. :V") -- but ever to the extent where it negatively impacts other people or myself.
All the examples we give of bad ic/ooc mix are examples of harm. Making a player uncomfortable by falling in love with them in real life at the same time as falling in love with their character. Being OOCly aggressive and demanding of someone's time and who they hang out with just because they are in a relationship with your character IC. Hating someone OOC because you hate their character OOC.
I also agree that when people run into issues where the IC actions resulted in OOC unhappiness, it is a result of not communicating and not really thinking through the IC consequences of your IC actions. If your character tries to murder several people in broad daylight in front of the Quicksand - it is a little extreme to be upset that all the Brass Blade/Flames/Sultansworn characters ever would suddenly be SUPER aggressive towards your character IC
