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(08-21-2015, 11:15 AM)Kaiz Wrote:(08-21-2015, 11:01 AM)Ignacius Wrote: Part of your statement bolded for emphasis. Â You're already the gatekeeper you fear, and that's exactly what I'm saying. Â If a player RPs in a way you don't like, a LOT of people end up doing anything to avoid them. Â The blacklist is, by far, the most popular (and least rude), and you'll see that any time you bring this up. Â "Just ignore them and move on."
Well, the problem is with the first part of your statement. Â Even the player being shunned will feel like the problem is you, not them, and that in and of itself is a big problem. Â If you're shunning people who aren't RPing in a way that you like, but you never bring up what it is they're doing wrong (or, better yet, en masse like this so that people understand it), they'll never learn. Â And they'll be shunned by a larger mass.
And, believe it or not, the actual effect of someone trying to exceed their limit of wit and intelligence becomes a big problem, very fast. Â Not the least of which because, as the OP suggests, this is metagaming at the very least to say other characters should have a certain reaction to a character rather than engendering it and giving them a chance to react. Â It's also exceptionally grating for someone to be playing someone who, for example, throws out a wisecrack that isn't wise and barely counts as a crack, it's just a poor interjection. Â This is the kind of thing we're talking about, and it's exactly the kind of thing that will make sure you sit alone at a table in a bar.
We can ignore the problem, or we can try to teach the discipline, but we can't command the audience to respond a certain way. Â It's no different than having a guy auto a punch on your character and then say, "Well, he's fast, so you can't dodge it."
How do you identify and differentiate between what is someone's 'limit' and what is just the product of a lack of research or understanding?
Generally speaking, if you're talking about research, you're talking about knowledge, which isn't a function of intelligence. Â Now, a lack of research is one thing that can get aggravating, but that's a pretty forceful display of ignorance (like when someone says they're playing a jeweler, you are a jeweler, you correct them about a fundamental problem with the way gems are set, and the person tells you that you don't know what you're talking about and ignore it).
The limit of "wit" is generally an issue of dissonance. Â As pertains to the OP, we're talking about someone having to tell someone their character is a genius or witty. Â That's a very significant problem, when the player has one view of their character and the audience (the other players) have another. Â If you're talking about the limit, it's the point you're playing your character as a genius but all the problems are solved by the thug in your group because you can't actually solve them. Â Or when you have the worst comebacks in the group but you want your character to be "witty". Â That just can't be washed over by metagaming in the idea that your character is what you can't manage.
Now, most experienced RPers learn not to play to the result, you play the traits. Â Smart RPers don't even let the limit become an issue. Â You say your character is sarcastic, vocal, biting, defensive, nerdy, insensitive, etc. Â You end up with a character that makes nasty responses. Â They're as witty as you are, but you aren't aiming at "witty", you're aiming at a certain tone of character. Â Then the audience can discern whether your character is "witty" or not.
At the very least, people won't have the issue of having to deal with someone playing an "intelligent" character that isn't intelligent, but a "knowledgeable" and possibly "arrogant" character. Â If they sound intelligent, so much the better, but you can't force the issue.
So the limit is very much personal. Â Generally speaking, you shouldn't write a character you yourself can't personally carry out, but that is very much something you track by asking for and honestly receiving the feedback from other players. Â You don't dictate the reaction and call all feedback hateful. Â That's the responsibility of the community, to be respectful but honest so people aren't just being frozen out without being given a chance to know why.
The problem is that most people don't know their own limit, and if they're to the point they're ordering you to receive the character as a genius, they aren't generally in a receptive mood. Â But is the statement that you can't really play a character wittier than you true? Â Sure, your character can't be wittier than you can write (obviously, your character is only the sum of the reaction to what you write).
And if you just aren't snappy, you don't have to be. Â It is okay to not be a genius and to therefore not play one. Â It's fine, and we shouldn't treat people like not having that mental acuity is a disability, it's just a character trait. Â Your engineer or mage isn't in any way hurt by the character not being a genius, in fact you tend to have more respect for the guy who worked hard and became great rather than the guy for whom it came naturally.
But if you really push the character beyond your limits, you're biting off more than you can chew. Â Your genius will lose a ton of arguments and lose credibility IC, and soon OOC if you demand that the genius be recognized regardless.