The danger of elitism is that you run the risk of alienating those around you, perhaps even people you do not know who happened to have a front row seat for one of your less than stellar moments only to have it ingrained in their minds going forward. First impressions are crucial, and I'm not going to lie, if someone is actively insulting another person for how they roleplay and especially doing so in a public forum then I in turn want nothing to do with them. With that said however, we all have our moments no matter how we might like to preach otherwise. While the above sentiment might be my gut reaction, I know that if I engage in such behavior I'm really no better and have simply taken another route towards being exclusionary.
I truly do believe that people have every right to their own preferences, but that shaming others for not adhering to your own brand of the koolaid is the fastest way to burn bridges there is in a game such as this. Be it for roleplaying or otherwise. Have preferences! Stick to them! But please do not insult others for - say - only posting dialogue because you see it as lacking, or in turn for posting paragraph long responses because in your mind it's elitist to do so. Yes, I have seen both arguments made, and while I personally prefer to write longer responses I don't see how writing less or more makes you a better or worse roleplayer. Like ArmachiA mentioned, it's all just stylistic differences at the end of the day. Such as the preferences for tavern scenes or grand adventures, or even something completely different. Wanting one over the other does not make you any less of a roleplayer, much like how it doesn't diminish others for holding those preferences. You don't -have- to interact with people whose styles do not match your own if that is your wish, but respect is still a crucial component at the end of the day. Being exclusionary to the point of insult really benefits no one at the end of the day.
Within the game itself, I really don't care so long as people do their jobs to the best of their ability. Sure, my FC mates can attest that I'll frequently start swearing when someone stands repeatedly in an AOE without trying to move or makes certain mechanics harder, but I'm not going to forcibly kick anyone from a party for not "pulling their weight". Everyone is in the process of learning this game, even those who have reached Final Coil might not know all there is to know about a specific class. Unless you have gun to your head, taking a few moments to talk with the other person if they need help or redoing a dungeon mechanic isn't going to be the end of the world. Is the latter annoying? Ooooooh yes. However I've found that most people who aren't "up to par" are simply in need of a little help and are actively trying to learn how to do things effectively. Sometimes I forget, to my shame, but offering help is still the best way to go in my mind. Conversely, if you're new and/or are struggling don't hesitate to ask for help!
I truly do believe that people have every right to their own preferences, but that shaming others for not adhering to your own brand of the koolaid is the fastest way to burn bridges there is in a game such as this. Be it for roleplaying or otherwise. Have preferences! Stick to them! But please do not insult others for - say - only posting dialogue because you see it as lacking, or in turn for posting paragraph long responses because in your mind it's elitist to do so. Yes, I have seen both arguments made, and while I personally prefer to write longer responses I don't see how writing less or more makes you a better or worse roleplayer. Like ArmachiA mentioned, it's all just stylistic differences at the end of the day. Such as the preferences for tavern scenes or grand adventures, or even something completely different. Wanting one over the other does not make you any less of a roleplayer, much like how it doesn't diminish others for holding those preferences. You don't -have- to interact with people whose styles do not match your own if that is your wish, but respect is still a crucial component at the end of the day. Being exclusionary to the point of insult really benefits no one at the end of the day.
Within the game itself, I really don't care so long as people do their jobs to the best of their ability. Sure, my FC mates can attest that I'll frequently start swearing when someone stands repeatedly in an AOE without trying to move or makes certain mechanics harder, but I'm not going to forcibly kick anyone from a party for not "pulling their weight". Everyone is in the process of learning this game, even those who have reached Final Coil might not know all there is to know about a specific class. Unless you have gun to your head, taking a few moments to talk with the other person if they need help or redoing a dungeon mechanic isn't going to be the end of the world. Is the latter annoying? Ooooooh yes. However I've found that most people who aren't "up to par" are simply in need of a little help and are actively trying to learn how to do things effectively. Sometimes I forget, to my shame, but offering help is still the best way to go in my mind. Conversely, if you're new and/or are struggling don't hesitate to ask for help!
