(09-28-2013, 11:47 AM)Fates Skein Wrote: I kind of have an interesting take on this.
IRL I moved from one of the largest cities in the US to a very, very small midwestern town. Â I was in a grocery line and the lady in front of me turned to me and, smiling, said, "Sure is a nice day!"
I panicked. Â Why was this person talking to me?? Â What did she want? Was she going to follow me to the parking lot and mug me? Â It was a culture shock moment.
Now, after living in small midwestern towns for 10 years and having moved back to a somewhat large city, I have brought that culture with me- I smile at people and ask how their day is going. Â I say hello to my neighbors and people I meet walking the dog. Â I initiate.
I find it important to keep that perspective in RP. Â I roleplay publicly- my character speaks in say and /em and when someone indicates in emote or say that they are listening, I respond to that- because it's polite to acknowledge people around you. Â It's rude to ignore everyone around you- a glance, a nod, a somewhat strained smile if you're having a semi-private conversation or talking about something personal. Â These are all realistic, imo.
People have different roleplay styles and that's cool, variety makes the world go around. Â But different perspectives are out there and I don't think it's...right to downplay them just because you don't see things that way.
Haha, I've been contained in one such town for the whole of my existence and then moved to a big city, though only briefly it was... an experience. So I can relate to that. Well, relate in reverse... And I sort of moved into a ghetto... Bringing that back to your small midwestern town makes life very difficult.
Upbringing is probably the most important factor when it comes to interpersonal relationships though, not just location. A nice family in a bad town can still raise nice, normal kids. Or vice versa.
I grew up in the age of teaching your kids to run screaming away from strangers, and in a home of 'Children should be seen and not heard'. I am the kind of person who keeps to my own devices and won't initiate contact with others unless it's something important pertaining to them. However, I'm very receptive to others and am all too happy to drop whatever I am doing for the convenience of someone else.
All in all it goes back to programming. Some people are just the way they are. You don't know why and you can't presume to know why because you are not them. So saying a behavior is unrealistic is like saying having a mental disorder is unrealistic.
I also realize in retrospect I made being friendly sound like it was a character flaw. I absolutely didn't mean to imply that and I apologize, my wording in that former post was awful.