RP is an imperfect representation of interactions happening in a virtual world, being created by imperfect writers.
MMO rp is happening in a restricted visual representation of a fully imagined virtual world.
People who write have different ideas about how character actions should be written (ie, if you're whispering, you might write it once and then assume people know).
Those three things make walking into public rp something that, in my opinion, should always be done with a respect to the idea that someone's idea of things may not be your own.
MMO rp is not regulated by any central governing body. That means that the most any of us can do is try to be as polite to each other as we can, and try to be understanding that sometimes different views are just gonna clash so badly that y'all might not be able to intersect.
Let's take that example you gave of the conversation about illegal deeds.
I'll use my character Zhavi for a few examples.
Example One
Now, let's say I'm in character, RP tag on, but I don't actually emote her listening in on the conversation. I stand her nearby, and read all of the details of what these people are talking about.
Later, because Zhi is this type of person, she approaches them for keeping quiet money, and they oocly object.
To them, unless you emote your character listening in, your character is not icly present no matter what other indications said otherwise.
Because you came in on their rp, in the end you can't force them to change what they believe to be rp etiquette.
Example Two
Zhi's listening in on this conversation, and I do some emotes along the lines of Zhavi Streetrunner is hanging out all skulky-like with booze in hand.. I've emoted that she's there, so to me it's a given she's aware of everything happening in the area.
Later, she goes to get that sweet, sweet hush money.
But to them, unless I specifically emote at them, my character is not interacting with their characters and thus isn't necessarily close enough or aware enough to listen in. They object because they would have changed their character's behavior if I had emoted at them, but since I didn't they took it as an ooc sign that there was no ic interaction between.
Example Three
This time, I rp that Zhavi keeps glancing at their table, and giving body language signals that she's aware of them and paying attention.
But when Zhi goes to extort the shit out of them, they claim to have no notion oocly of my posts!
Turns out they were so focused on their own posts that they flat out didn't see mine. They then tell me that they wished I'd sent them a pm, since they would have changed their rp if they'd oocly been aware of my ic posts.
It's their rp, so I can't force them to change what happened.
Example Four
I see people rping, and I emote Zhi showing up and listening, and the whole shebang goes down.
Zhi approaches them later to shake them down, but they tell me it ain't gonna happen.
Turns out that prior to my arrival they had described a whole scene that was different to what was physically represented in game. For one, it was in the dead of night, in an abandoned alley they had thoroughly checked out and posted lookouts for, including a bunch of npcs they didn't have characters to physically represent. For two, they were chattering nonstop oocly about what was happening, and were so limited on time that they just couldn't immediately clue me in on what was happening. Meanwhile, my posts were so glaringly contradictory to what was happening (since I'd rped Zhi strolling up sweating in the blinding sun, in an otherwise empty alley), that they decided to just be a little rude and ignore me.
Since I never sent them an ooc message, they didn't think it necessary to send me one.
Rude? Maybe, but it's their rp and I was unaware. In any case, I can't force them to change.
What's my point?
Everyone is different. What is blindingly obvious to you is not blindingly obvious to someone else. Your definition of something non concrete like 'public rp' is based on your perceptions and beliefs -- and other people are likely to have other perceptions and beliefs.
People who RP often have histories where they started out in specific rp communities off in their own bubble, and that's where they learned social rp etiquette. John's experience learning how to rp in some Naruto Yahoo group way back when might have shaped him to believe that you need to post when your character is present, while Mary's experience learning how to rp in WoW might have shaped her to believe that if your character is standing somewhere, that means they are present.
You won't automatically know. And because there is no centralized governing body dictating rules and regulations of FFXIV rp, one way is not necessarily more correct than another -- even if it seems to you that one is better.
We all have opinions. Figuring out why one opinion should be followed over another has lead to conflict throughout human history. You aren't going to get everyone to agree in this corner of the internet. The best you can do is try to compromise, or just live and let live -- even if you think someone else is silly or being stupid.
edit because I forgot to finish a sentence.
Further edit, another thing - even if their rp in say might not be something they want you to join in on right then, maybe they want you to read it. Maybe it's their hope that you'll be interested, and ask what's happening. Maybe they want to advertise that they exist, but want to rp people in rather than have blind walkups.
You really gonna tell them they shouldn't do that?
You really gonna discourage them for trying?
MMO rp is happening in a restricted visual representation of a fully imagined virtual world.
People who write have different ideas about how character actions should be written (ie, if you're whispering, you might write it once and then assume people know).
Those three things make walking into public rp something that, in my opinion, should always be done with a respect to the idea that someone's idea of things may not be your own.
MMO rp is not regulated by any central governing body. That means that the most any of us can do is try to be as polite to each other as we can, and try to be understanding that sometimes different views are just gonna clash so badly that y'all might not be able to intersect.
Let's take that example you gave of the conversation about illegal deeds.
I'll use my character Zhavi for a few examples.
Example One
Now, let's say I'm in character, RP tag on, but I don't actually emote her listening in on the conversation. I stand her nearby, and read all of the details of what these people are talking about.
Later, because Zhi is this type of person, she approaches them for keeping quiet money, and they oocly object.
To them, unless you emote your character listening in, your character is not icly present no matter what other indications said otherwise.
Because you came in on their rp, in the end you can't force them to change what they believe to be rp etiquette.
Example Two
Zhi's listening in on this conversation, and I do some emotes along the lines of Zhavi Streetrunner is hanging out all skulky-like with booze in hand.. I've emoted that she's there, so to me it's a given she's aware of everything happening in the area.
Later, she goes to get that sweet, sweet hush money.
But to them, unless I specifically emote at them, my character is not interacting with their characters and thus isn't necessarily close enough or aware enough to listen in. They object because they would have changed their character's behavior if I had emoted at them, but since I didn't they took it as an ooc sign that there was no ic interaction between.
Example Three
This time, I rp that Zhavi keeps glancing at their table, and giving body language signals that she's aware of them and paying attention.
But when Zhi goes to extort the shit out of them, they claim to have no notion oocly of my posts!
Turns out they were so focused on their own posts that they flat out didn't see mine. They then tell me that they wished I'd sent them a pm, since they would have changed their rp if they'd oocly been aware of my ic posts.
It's their rp, so I can't force them to change what happened.
Example Four
I see people rping, and I emote Zhi showing up and listening, and the whole shebang goes down.
Zhi approaches them later to shake them down, but they tell me it ain't gonna happen.
Turns out that prior to my arrival they had described a whole scene that was different to what was physically represented in game. For one, it was in the dead of night, in an abandoned alley they had thoroughly checked out and posted lookouts for, including a bunch of npcs they didn't have characters to physically represent. For two, they were chattering nonstop oocly about what was happening, and were so limited on time that they just couldn't immediately clue me in on what was happening. Meanwhile, my posts were so glaringly contradictory to what was happening (since I'd rped Zhi strolling up sweating in the blinding sun, in an otherwise empty alley), that they decided to just be a little rude and ignore me.
Since I never sent them an ooc message, they didn't think it necessary to send me one.
Rude? Maybe, but it's their rp and I was unaware. In any case, I can't force them to change.
What's my point?
Everyone is different. What is blindingly obvious to you is not blindingly obvious to someone else. Your definition of something non concrete like 'public rp' is based on your perceptions and beliefs -- and other people are likely to have other perceptions and beliefs.
People who RP often have histories where they started out in specific rp communities off in their own bubble, and that's where they learned social rp etiquette. John's experience learning how to rp in some Naruto Yahoo group way back when might have shaped him to believe that you need to post when your character is present, while Mary's experience learning how to rp in WoW might have shaped her to believe that if your character is standing somewhere, that means they are present.
You won't automatically know. And because there is no centralized governing body dictating rules and regulations of FFXIV rp, one way is not necessarily more correct than another -- even if it seems to you that one is better.
We all have opinions. Figuring out why one opinion should be followed over another has lead to conflict throughout human history. You aren't going to get everyone to agree in this corner of the internet. The best you can do is try to compromise, or just live and let live -- even if you think someone else is silly or being stupid.
edit because I forgot to finish a sentence.
Further edit, another thing - even if their rp in say might not be something they want you to join in on right then, maybe they want you to read it. Maybe it's their hope that you'll be interested, and ask what's happening. Maybe they want to advertise that they exist, but want to rp people in rather than have blind walkups.
You really gonna tell them they shouldn't do that?
You really gonna discourage them for trying?
