Wall of Text incoming.
I think when it comes down to issues like this, there are two facts one has to remember about the human race in general. One is that as a species, humans are collectively selfish (though there are exceptions). When one feels they've been slighted, even if they actually haven't been, impulse takes control and they go on a (generally nonviolent) rampage. The second fact is, convincing said humans of something they are already very convinced of in opposition of how they have convinced themselves it is, well..it is nigh on impossible. I think most, if not all of us are guilty in jumping to conclusions at one point or another in our lives. And unfortunately, when you put a bunch of creative, opinionated people in one big space together and tell them all to get along, someone's peanut butter is going to get into someone's chocolate, and one of them will invariably hate peanut butter or chocolate. Throw that in with the gang mentality of a lot of people, and the cliques that form (Yes, they do form, don't deny it. A lot of you may be in one and not even realize it because you're on the inside looking out), and you have a recipe for a lot of hurt feelings and misunderstandings among people who should all just be building together.
IC behavior can trigger negative OOC feelings if someone feels they're 'doing it on purpose', or 'it's being done to personally slight someone'. Unfortunately, this can be a misled judgment at the best of times, because nobody really knows the players behind the characters. I for example, can be very vitriolic OOC, but I also have a short temper (Working on it), and I do warn people of that when I meet them. I've never made it a secret I'm a confrontational person a lot of the time and I don't hold back my words when I feel something needs to be said..however, I have some sweet characters IC, and I do try to RP even with people I have issue with if I have no choice due to cross-FC friends or similar situations. But that's really not on topic.
If you're playing a bad guy, dark type, someone with a familiar background trope, or even just an asshole IC, because those do exist who are really cool people OOC..you'll find a lot of judgment. Judgment is the first impulse of a lot of roleplayers nowadays I'm finding. The snide little terms and words 'special snowflake' and 'edgy' get thrown around a lot, and honestly, after some scanning of some of the people that have been accused of such, that doesn't even mean someone's character is bad. A lot of the time in the community it just means 'I don't like your character/concept/etc because it doesn't suit my opinion of what it should be', and the ones that are disliked because someone doesn't like what you've made without even getting the chance to talk OOC or go further into detail get shamed or ridiculed because someone wants to start a humiliation conga. GG. It happens more than you think. A lot of roleplayers are judgmental people, and drama can often start from just one snarky little remark because they couldn't keep their judgmental words to themselves. Try roleplaying with the 'snowflakes' sometimes. Some just like to play things really off the wall and garner negative drama or get shamed for doing so, yet I've met some really good people in giving them a chance regardless of where their creative process goes. Protip: Don't hug tightly to your idea of roleplay as gospel. Expand. Drama actually decreases when you drop judgment.
Like Glioca, if I've experienced personal drama, I will inform the people I'm close to or that are within my personal circle of actual friends. I don't really spread it all over the world. I just like to keep my friends from having to deal with the same shit I went through. I also make it a point to let them know not to spread shit around. And generally the people I stay close to listen. As far as the drama goes though, it's unavoidable. Some individuals will always believe their opinion is fact, and while it's their right to roleplay their own way, OOC they're often bent on forcing what they believe is fact down your throat, and calling you a bad roleplayer or taking what you say out of context because what they hear is not what you say, and shaming you to the whole community about it. See the whole 'snowflake' talk above. I find this is especially common of individuals who have some clout or are recognized in a lot of communities who've had their ego stroked by others. Being 'recognized' or 'famous' is often a huge doorway lead into drama. Doesn't matter how many people recognize someone, an individual's internet/community fame isn't a right to walk over others.
Drama will happen. That's all there is to it. Someone who causes it without just cause eventually gets their real face shown to the public, and a karmic debt is paid. People will only put up with bullshit for so long, because if there's one thing people hate more than constant drama, it's being lied to; and when a pattern is recognized, doubt comes into play. Genuine problem causers will only last so long, even among their friends because drama snakes tend to eat their tails. So your best bet if you're the victim of drama is to game on with the people you do know and trust, and hope that the rest of the community will use their own reasoning skills and experiences from roleplaying with you to continue to do so. If someone listens to someone else's opinion before forming their own by interacting with you? Eh, no big loss. The community's a big place. Even if one group doesn't like you, there's bound to be another group that doesn't like that group. The best way to think of any RP community is like a high school. Find your niche and go with what works. You'll find good people who don't listen to the gossipy BS, and a few are all you need.
I think when it comes down to issues like this, there are two facts one has to remember about the human race in general. One is that as a species, humans are collectively selfish (though there are exceptions). When one feels they've been slighted, even if they actually haven't been, impulse takes control and they go on a (generally nonviolent) rampage. The second fact is, convincing said humans of something they are already very convinced of in opposition of how they have convinced themselves it is, well..it is nigh on impossible. I think most, if not all of us are guilty in jumping to conclusions at one point or another in our lives. And unfortunately, when you put a bunch of creative, opinionated people in one big space together and tell them all to get along, someone's peanut butter is going to get into someone's chocolate, and one of them will invariably hate peanut butter or chocolate. Throw that in with the gang mentality of a lot of people, and the cliques that form (Yes, they do form, don't deny it. A lot of you may be in one and not even realize it because you're on the inside looking out), and you have a recipe for a lot of hurt feelings and misunderstandings among people who should all just be building together.
IC behavior can trigger negative OOC feelings if someone feels they're 'doing it on purpose', or 'it's being done to personally slight someone'. Unfortunately, this can be a misled judgment at the best of times, because nobody really knows the players behind the characters. I for example, can be very vitriolic OOC, but I also have a short temper (Working on it), and I do warn people of that when I meet them. I've never made it a secret I'm a confrontational person a lot of the time and I don't hold back my words when I feel something needs to be said..however, I have some sweet characters IC, and I do try to RP even with people I have issue with if I have no choice due to cross-FC friends or similar situations. But that's really not on topic.
If you're playing a bad guy, dark type, someone with a familiar background trope, or even just an asshole IC, because those do exist who are really cool people OOC..you'll find a lot of judgment. Judgment is the first impulse of a lot of roleplayers nowadays I'm finding. The snide little terms and words 'special snowflake' and 'edgy' get thrown around a lot, and honestly, after some scanning of some of the people that have been accused of such, that doesn't even mean someone's character is bad. A lot of the time in the community it just means 'I don't like your character/concept/etc because it doesn't suit my opinion of what it should be', and the ones that are disliked because someone doesn't like what you've made without even getting the chance to talk OOC or go further into detail get shamed or ridiculed because someone wants to start a humiliation conga. GG. It happens more than you think. A lot of roleplayers are judgmental people, and drama can often start from just one snarky little remark because they couldn't keep their judgmental words to themselves. Try roleplaying with the 'snowflakes' sometimes. Some just like to play things really off the wall and garner negative drama or get shamed for doing so, yet I've met some really good people in giving them a chance regardless of where their creative process goes. Protip: Don't hug tightly to your idea of roleplay as gospel. Expand. Drama actually decreases when you drop judgment.
Like Glioca, if I've experienced personal drama, I will inform the people I'm close to or that are within my personal circle of actual friends. I don't really spread it all over the world. I just like to keep my friends from having to deal with the same shit I went through. I also make it a point to let them know not to spread shit around. And generally the people I stay close to listen. As far as the drama goes though, it's unavoidable. Some individuals will always believe their opinion is fact, and while it's their right to roleplay their own way, OOC they're often bent on forcing what they believe is fact down your throat, and calling you a bad roleplayer or taking what you say out of context because what they hear is not what you say, and shaming you to the whole community about it. See the whole 'snowflake' talk above. I find this is especially common of individuals who have some clout or are recognized in a lot of communities who've had their ego stroked by others. Being 'recognized' or 'famous' is often a huge doorway lead into drama. Doesn't matter how many people recognize someone, an individual's internet/community fame isn't a right to walk over others.
Drama will happen. That's all there is to it. Someone who causes it without just cause eventually gets their real face shown to the public, and a karmic debt is paid. People will only put up with bullshit for so long, because if there's one thing people hate more than constant drama, it's being lied to; and when a pattern is recognized, doubt comes into play. Genuine problem causers will only last so long, even among their friends because drama snakes tend to eat their tails. So your best bet if you're the victim of drama is to game on with the people you do know and trust, and hope that the rest of the community will use their own reasoning skills and experiences from roleplaying with you to continue to do so. If someone listens to someone else's opinion before forming their own by interacting with you? Eh, no big loss. The community's a big place. Even if one group doesn't like you, there's bound to be another group that doesn't like that group. The best way to think of any RP community is like a high school. Find your niche and go with what works. You'll find good people who don't listen to the gossipy BS, and a few are all you need.
![[Image: ihatehim2.jpg]](http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc129/Inverse_Entropy/ihatehim2.jpg)
