(09-21-2015, 11:35 AM)Aya Wrote: I find the tense rather annoying to read, and it is nice no know that the intent is to be polite. I suppose I feel that emotes should read like a book, which are typically written in the past tense unless there is a good reason not to. Just because an action is written in the past tense doesn't mean it is somehow written in stone ^^
In actions that are expected to be opposed it is easy to shift either to present tense or use wording that makes it clear the described action is an attempt, rather than slipping into the very unusual realm of the Future Perfect. To me it just instinctively rings on the ear to as an attempt to sound more formal, and just never felt right (which is why the actual intent is helpful now to know ^^). But writing style is a highly personal matter.
Yeah, that's usually where the dissonance is. Â Books aren't generally written in the future tense or present tense (even if they're meant to take place in the future or present). Â Narratively, we are conditioned to accept all stories happened in the past (otherwise, how would you tell them?) so we don't often narrate in the present tense.
Honestly, if no one ever takes a swing at you that you didn't know is coming (or if you never intend to RP with people who would do that and plan to ignore anyone that tries) it never becomes an issue. Â I'm certainly not out there yelling at people typing posts in the past tense. Â Not that anyone's been inclined to take a swing at Orleans yet. Â He's a kind of intimidating guy.
However, Kage did ask why he would have seen that, and I wanted to answer him. Â He's probably never had to worry about tactical checkmating yet (and may never have to). Â However, if you see present or future tense, particularly in the manner he typed it in the OP, the history of tactical checkmating is why. Â It was the traditional form of IM and open forum RP for the purposes of contested actions.
If you aren't going to be drawn into life or death combat with strangers in your RP, it won't come up. Â People should feel free to do so. Â Like I said, nobody is going to care about what tense your character says hello in.
