Only slightly off the current topic of 'popularity vs. new people getting RP', since this isn't really about people getting RP.
But in terms of who might be considered 'popular', I think it boils down not so much to the actual numbers themselves (post count, rep, etc.), but how recognizable someone is on the RPC specifically.
I was trying to figure out who it was I considered 'popular' here, and why the reasons for that were, and.. it wasn't so much that I'd seen any of those people in game. It wasn't because they impacted me negatively (in a number of cases I find them really neat, and would certainly like to try RPing with them at a time I'm not crazy busy IRL, though other cases less so, so that wasn't really a factor), or because of the amount of RP they get, because I don't even know how much RP they get, given never seeing them IG... but because I recognized them from a lot of different threads.
They are people who post frequently that people reply to, who can shift discussions and have others react, and who I remember seeing in enough other places on the forums to get an idea of their 'personality' from what they say. That's in no means to claim that I really know any of them. But I've made some connections about them based on their posts in various places that may or may not be the case. I feel like I have a sense of at least one part of their personality. And some people I considered 'popular' had much lower post counts than others, it was just a matter of personal recognition, actual activity, and probably chance; the topics I look at happen to have these people posting in them. I'm sure if I looked at different topics, my perception would be completely different.
That said, I figure those who are considered 'popular' vary from person to person. I also figure it isn't bad either, they are the ones who seem to have their hands in the community the most. That, or make a number of memorable posts, and then continue on to make more.
So for those worrying about it... I mean, I'm sure this can be taken both ways. It could be taken positively, that you've really made a difference, or that people pay attention to what you're saying for one reason or another, but that could also be disconcerting if you don't like that kind of attention. I suppose it's mostly just something about you, for whatever reason, has made you stand out and be recognized.
Just in hopes to clear up the 'I don't want to be popular' / 'am I popular?' thing. At least that's how it works for me.
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And I suppose a bit on the 'getting rp vs. not' bit, it might be the perception that, because these folks are recognizable, and seem to get any number of reactions from other people, that obviously they must be just as 'successful' in game. .... When it really isn't like that at all. Or at least, not necessarily like that. I think there's a distinct difference in many cases in terms of the RPC and in terms of IG-RPing, and while some of the same people might be RPing a good amount, sometimes people just assume that all of them are, when it really is unlikely to be that way at all.
The sheer distinction that I can identify people I personally consider subjectively 'popular' on the RPC vs. having not once seen them in-game, and have no idea how much they RP, attests to this.
But in terms of who might be considered 'popular', I think it boils down not so much to the actual numbers themselves (post count, rep, etc.), but how recognizable someone is on the RPC specifically.
I was trying to figure out who it was I considered 'popular' here, and why the reasons for that were, and.. it wasn't so much that I'd seen any of those people in game. It wasn't because they impacted me negatively (in a number of cases I find them really neat, and would certainly like to try RPing with them at a time I'm not crazy busy IRL, though other cases less so, so that wasn't really a factor), or because of the amount of RP they get, because I don't even know how much RP they get, given never seeing them IG... but because I recognized them from a lot of different threads.
They are people who post frequently that people reply to, who can shift discussions and have others react, and who I remember seeing in enough other places on the forums to get an idea of their 'personality' from what they say. That's in no means to claim that I really know any of them. But I've made some connections about them based on their posts in various places that may or may not be the case. I feel like I have a sense of at least one part of their personality. And some people I considered 'popular' had much lower post counts than others, it was just a matter of personal recognition, actual activity, and probably chance; the topics I look at happen to have these people posting in them. I'm sure if I looked at different topics, my perception would be completely different.
That said, I figure those who are considered 'popular' vary from person to person. I also figure it isn't bad either, they are the ones who seem to have their hands in the community the most. That, or make a number of memorable posts, and then continue on to make more.
So for those worrying about it... I mean, I'm sure this can be taken both ways. It could be taken positively, that you've really made a difference, or that people pay attention to what you're saying for one reason or another, but that could also be disconcerting if you don't like that kind of attention. I suppose it's mostly just something about you, for whatever reason, has made you stand out and be recognized.
Just in hopes to clear up the 'I don't want to be popular' / 'am I popular?' thing. At least that's how it works for me.
--
And I suppose a bit on the 'getting rp vs. not' bit, it might be the perception that, because these folks are recognizable, and seem to get any number of reactions from other people, that obviously they must be just as 'successful' in game. .... When it really isn't like that at all. Or at least, not necessarily like that. I think there's a distinct difference in many cases in terms of the RPC and in terms of IG-RPing, and while some of the same people might be RPing a good amount, sometimes people just assume that all of them are, when it really is unlikely to be that way at all.
The sheer distinction that I can identify people I personally consider subjectively 'popular' on the RPC vs. having not once seen them in-game, and have no idea how much they RP, attests to this.
