Antisocial and Emotionless characters.... why so many?

[Semblance]

I think people like those characters so much because you can't act like that in real life without serious social consequences. For example, if you tell someone to fuck off in real life, you'll be considered rude and no one will want to be friends with you. But if your character does the same thing, then he/she will be considered rude, but other characters will still be forced to interact with him/her.


Also, I think that these types of characters have a cool, macho, "bad boy", vibe to them that a lot of people wish they could pull off in real life. One thing about roleplaying is that people get to be someone they're the complete opposite of, and this whole mysterious, "don't give a fuck" character is very appealing in that sense.

 

[Pariah Stark]

I personally believe that a lot of people are attributing this trend to a single cause, when it fact, there are plenty of them.


Yes, the anti-social character is a crutch.


Yes, the anti-social personality has become popularized.


Yes, the anti-social dynamic does often cause problems within a roleplay.


Yes, many anti-social characters are anti-social Gary Sues.


Yes, anti-social characters can be done correctly and be healthy for a story.


I could go on and even hit many, many topics in far more depth. I know a lot of people have, especially in regards to what the characters attempt to achieve in their niche for the roleplay and h ow it can be done better. But, I won't. The point is, the trope is done a lot for a lot of different reasons and you probably need to investigate each one in a case-by-case basis. A lot of them will be a crutch, a lot of them will be preference, a lot of them will be fledgling writers trying to find their place and identity in terms of writing, but they will not all be the same.


You see the trend because there are in fact so many reasons that the trope is used. For the most part, every post I read here I can agree with, but they all complete part of a picture that is the answer to the question. This trope is one of the most used (and at times problematic due to it) because of all of the answers provided in conjunction. If it weren't for all the answers, you wouldn't see the prevalence of the trope because it wouldn't be used nearly as much.

 

[Myot]

I don't see a shy character insulting everyone. He would actually be afraid of what people think of him.


What about a character just doing his job with no interest in stuff like friendly chat.


I like the see arguments in groups. Questioning orders is good to some extent.

 

[Daiagnosis]

Using antisocial and/or emotionless characters and completely avoiding interaction between others is a sure fire way to kill a roleplay. So it's best to avoid doing it.


Now to get something else across, antisocial isn't the right word for what you're trying to convey. Antisocial means "against society" or "anti-society"; hostile and antagonistic toward society. This includes behavior that disrespects and violates the rights and feelings of others as well as the order and principles of the society. This trait can actually be useful in character who you actually WANT to be violent and rude towards those they don't know or those who try to talk to them, like villains or antagonistic characters.


Asocial, which is the appropriate word, is for someone who simply doesn't like socializing, which may or may not mean an introverted character. They seek to avoid society, somebody who can't or refuses to interact with others. The latter can actually make for interesting character development. Forcing someone into a social situation so much that the asocial character eventually becomes used to their presence, and possible that character figures out the reason the character is so asocial, and slowly helps them come out of their shell.


Emotionless characters are usually people who stoic, but this can lead to character development as well. The emotions just don't vanish into thin air, very often they bottle up and it could lead to violent or depressing meltdowns when it all gets too much for the character to handle. This can occur during or after a stressful event, and it's not uncommon for people in real life to this way as well. I myself am like this, and while I can certainly agree it's not healthy, I don't really think it's an aspect of me that I could change if I wanted to. I've had numerous people say something along the lines of "I've never seen someone who never seemed to have an emotion on their face"/


They're ways to get these characters to work in the roleplay setting, and while it often can be used as a crutch, it's not impossible for them to work in the hands of the right person.

 

[Kylesar1]

My characters tend to be less social than the average person, but never completely anti-social. That isn't to say that they don't talk, but they're like me, who isn't exactly good at small talk. I'm more of a "don't speak unless spoken to" person, and my characters kind of reflect that

 

[Mitheral]

I run all sorts. I am well known for my antisocial characters though. Mine DO interact ... Antisocial does NOT mean they can't interact. That's a misconception. But to effectively RP one you have to make them a part of the story.


One of my recent ones was a metahuman who has effectively been locked away in a basement and is being introduced to the public finally. He is socially awkward to say the least. However, I designed him with an obsession with one of the ladies in the group. Another guy bugs her and he steps forward ... trudges more like it. (The guy is built like the Hulk.) Then he stutters and asks the simple question, "Squish?"


True I spend more time describing his actions and he ends of speaking a total of three whole words - to a girl no less. But he practically steals the scene. I was so looking forward the the scene where he rips a rose bush out of the garden to take the girl some flowers.


Of course, this guy wasn't emotionless. Trying to do both is a good way to kill a thread.

 

[Vellichor]

Hm...


I would say I'm emotionally distant but optimistic.


A loner, that tries.


Sort of like an old book that uses lingo and phrases that a modern man might not understand but when read it can still connect just as well as it did so long ago.


What I'm saying is, as a loner, the last emotion i would show is anger towards someone talking to me, in fact i'm not even a loner just introverted. Though groups of more than three, who are not even somewhat intellectual tend to bore me. Loud, obnoxious people are not easily tolerated. Though to some degree people might find me weird with odd habits... Hmm.. What was I talking about again? Oh right..


The qualities given to an antisocial loner are often the projection of the writer, what they deem cool and the picture of the character in their head. Often wanting to be the anti hero, the cool one and the badass... But often they come off as looking lame or uncool for trying too hard. I think it's an experience thing, as i believe someone said earlier but also a maturity issue. A cool edgy character to someone that is mature will be vastly different to the 15 year old or as I like to say "Sasuke."


I'd say, let them use that character to a fault, they'll eventually want to NOT be antisocial and edgy, they'll see there are better qualities that make a more useful and interesting character. Basically, they'll hopefully stop being selfish.


 
It seems, writers as a whole, have grown to be introvert, locked inside their head talking to imaginary characters inside an imaginary world: It's not hard to see the similarities to a writer and the Anti Social One.


Not all of course but as you can see, enough.


 
P.s. As A detective based around "L" from Death Note, I use emotionless and deadpan as a mask to hide those thoughts and feelings...


But It's all build up, he'll crack a smile, his eyes might become bright and childlike, the mask eventually starts to crack and all those thoughts and emotions will shine even brighter. Kind of like a light in the darkness, or a bolded and underlined word in a sea of writing.


If this is really a huge problem, state it at the start of the roleplay, only one max anti social and emotionless character allowed. xD Hopefully there's not that many here.

 

[simj26]

It's simple. Every cool kid knows that seinen heroes are all aloof and cool-headed to the point where they dont care about others. Apathy means you are the coolest ice block on the block, because MY ANIME SAYS SO. LOOK AT HOW COOL THE DUDE SITTING AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS IS, WOW HOLY SHIT, HE DOESN'T FLINCH WHEN SOMEONE DIES, BECAUSE HE'S THAT COOL. MUH ANIME TAUGHT ME HOW REAL PEOPLE BEHAVE, AND NOT MY ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD.


Jokes aside, it's because every amateur here draws "inspiration" from popular manga/anime/shows because face it, we were kids once, and we tried to copycat tokusatsu shows and doing weird random poses like Ultraman's really iconic cross. Or that could just be me. In any case, I've gone and mentioned this a few times on other threads, but people just don't seem to know how to be...well, actual people, because I can safely say that a majority of the writers here just think that antisociable characters are cool just for their aloof behaviour, because if our media is to be believed, they still get da pus1, b0ss. I probably didn't answer any questions, but there you have it. Media. Always blame media. And writers just fucking getting "inspired" by characters. I put inspired in quotation marks because usually, these aren't inspirations as THEY ARE FUCKING, IRONICALLY UNINSPIRED BLATANT CARBON COPIES.


 
@Vellichor


don't cut yourself on that edge there, friend.

 

[Vellichor]

Try to stay away from my jaw, wouldn't wanna make you bleed