(04-17-2015, 08:43 PM)Hammersmith Wrote: Real easy. Â RP with someone. Â Get them involved in your stuff. Â Get them wrapped up in your plotlines. Â Get them in your orbit and start making sure all their other stuff comes into your orbit. Â Make them orbit you.
Isolate them.Â
Them promise you'll shut down all their fun, ever, if they don't [do as you say]. Â Promise to turn all your friends (And now theirs, because they're part of your group) against them if they don't do what you say.
Grooming, blackmail, extortion.
See what I said about emotionally manipulative assholes. Â It's a common tactic even against adults, and it's a known tactic used against minors by predators a LOT. Â You see this sort of shit with charismatic sociopaths as well.
You don't forget it after you see it happen to someone. Â It's why I said make a lot of friends. Don't focus, don't orbit one person. Â If you aren't being allowed to or are being manipulated into avoiding contacting/playing with others outside a clique by one person, it's a red flag.
...I've actually seen a lot more of this happen among non-ERPers than anyone I've known to engage in ERP. I've seen friends get completely ousted for "reasons" without any proof, and seen friends of that friend stop because of tumblr posts gone wild.
Ultimately, it comes down to confronting the person. Does the [potentially] emotionally abusive person know what they're doing? Are they aware of it? Is there malicious intent? I won't make judgements based on hearsay anymore because I've seen accusations come from every direction, in cases where sometimes the accused was innocent.
Communication's an important tool in these things. It can make or break all relationships.
