I'm gonna piggyback on top of Tiergan's piggybacking (oink oink) and just say this:
I'm not even popular, and I can understand where Tier is coming from.
I used to be on the other side of the fence: a new rper, in a strange new environment, thinking to myself: omg! pit of despair! why don't these popular folks wanna rp with me!??? And I would see other new rpers have the same struggle, and churn, and churn, and churn inside.
Until I decided to do something about it. I started to have rp classes and events SPECIFICALLY for new rpers. And because of it.... became popular (of sorts). And then... aha! I saw things from the other side.
Recently, I opened up my character Claire as a sort of 'making connections' character personified. She would meet with your character, make notes on their interests, and try to set them up with other characters who have similar interests. It was great! She had all kinds of rp! Always meeting someone new, trying to get that connection for them, reveling when it succeeded, trying harder when it didn't.... until I began to notice something.
Claire no longer had time for Claire. She was so busy connecting everyone else, she hadn't connected with anyone herself. All her friends... barely got to rp with them. It left me feeling drained, burnt out.... and like I had separated Claire from actual IC friendships and relationships. And now... I'm on a break from her until I can sort her out again!
Cliques really aren't a bad thing. And yes, I see countless new people make the same mistake many of us have when we first start rping.... instead of going out and making a clique of their own, they keep throwing themselves against the wall trying to break into a pre-existing clique. Find your own posse, gang. You can do it! I swear! I very much enjoy meeting new people, and am, in fact, quietly trying to do just that on my new character.
...but I'm doing so organically. I'm no longer going to schedule rp out days in advance, only to have to keep putting people off because RL comes up or... *shocker* ... I just don't feel like rping that day.Â
And I'm going to take the time to forge deeper, more steadfast friendships with my new character. Cuz honestly, both she and I deserve it. She should have a small group of people she wants to spend lots of time with, and I'm going to give it to her. I look forward to her adventure, and maybe seeing some of you in it
I'm not even popular, and I can understand where Tier is coming from.
I used to be on the other side of the fence: a new rper, in a strange new environment, thinking to myself: omg! pit of despair! why don't these popular folks wanna rp with me!??? And I would see other new rpers have the same struggle, and churn, and churn, and churn inside.
Until I decided to do something about it. I started to have rp classes and events SPECIFICALLY for new rpers. And because of it.... became popular (of sorts). And then... aha! I saw things from the other side.
Recently, I opened up my character Claire as a sort of 'making connections' character personified. She would meet with your character, make notes on their interests, and try to set them up with other characters who have similar interests. It was great! She had all kinds of rp! Always meeting someone new, trying to get that connection for them, reveling when it succeeded, trying harder when it didn't.... until I began to notice something.
Claire no longer had time for Claire. She was so busy connecting everyone else, she hadn't connected with anyone herself. All her friends... barely got to rp with them. It left me feeling drained, burnt out.... and like I had separated Claire from actual IC friendships and relationships. And now... I'm on a break from her until I can sort her out again!
Cliques really aren't a bad thing. And yes, I see countless new people make the same mistake many of us have when we first start rping.... instead of going out and making a clique of their own, they keep throwing themselves against the wall trying to break into a pre-existing clique. Find your own posse, gang. You can do it! I swear! I very much enjoy meeting new people, and am, in fact, quietly trying to do just that on my new character.
...but I'm doing so organically. I'm no longer going to schedule rp out days in advance, only to have to keep putting people off because RL comes up or... *shocker* ... I just don't feel like rping that day.Â
And I'm going to take the time to forge deeper, more steadfast friendships with my new character. Cuz honestly, both she and I deserve it. She should have a small group of people she wants to spend lots of time with, and I'm going to give it to her. I look forward to her adventure, and maybe seeing some of you in it
