Other Roleplay Pet peeves

[chaotic cat cutie]

 

[Sir Les Paul]

1. When players &/or GMs don't pay attention to simple details in the Lore or people's posts and it creates these stupid inconsistencies you then have to edit or retcon after the fact, when they could've been avoided if everyone had simply bothered to read through things properly.

2. In group RPs, players who refuse to plot anything with anyone and who, when the RP is started and set up specifically so that the opening scene gives all characters a chance at interaction and involvement, deliberately choose to write their characters away from the scene and everyone else.

3. GMs who, if there is a dispute between players in their RP that starts to make things unpleasant and kill the vibe, sit back and watch it kill the RP instead of doing their job, stepping in, and intervening.

I'm told, and this could just be a rumor—who really knows for sure, that if you create enough lore, you in fact become the problem by in turn adding too many of these alleged small details.

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[chaotic cat cutie]

I truly find it disgusting when people have expectations of people playing this hobby as a job. You want it to be a job. You pay your GM's. You pay your players. ( in fact this is not a bad idea and have been saying a long time gms deserve to be paid like dms)
My hugest pet peeve. No, I detest, those people, who insist you be their boss. Are you over thirteen years old? There terms of service on this site? Okay, good. That's literally all you need. I'm not ruining my mental health to fluff your ego feathers.

Just a little peeve vent

 

[Ploegy]

I don’t even know why people complain about this but when you’re told “you write too much” for a post. I’ve always seen that as someone feeling inspired and it makes me happy but others complain about it. Is it really a problem if someone wants to write detailed? I’m not gonna tell someone how they should post so why complain when I post the way I want to? I can understand if you want to do short, rapid fire post but then don’t interact with someone who prefers the opposite. It’s no fun for either side

 

[Sir Les Paul]

I don’t even know why people complain about this but when you’re told “you write too much” for a post. I’ve always seen that as someone feeling inspired and it makes me happy but others complain about it. Is it really a problem if someone wants to write detailed? I’m not gonna tell someone how they should post so why complain when I post the way I want to? I can understand if you want to do short, rapid fire post but then don’t interact with someone who prefers the opposite. It’s no fun for either side

While I agree with you in principle, I do think it important to "step into the shoes" of others sometimes. I, too, have struggled with the conflict or friction that comes with "writing too much" or simply being outside of the "norm" on a thread. I have found quite a few people don't really communicate well why this is bothersome, but in my time, I have found some really good answers from those that could piece together solid reasons.

A lot of casual players/writers don't want to have to read a wall of text to progress. This is the single biggest reason I see for this conflict and once it was explained to me, I do believe it's reasonable. There is a pretty large majority of people that do want to write a few good paragraphs, but don't want to have to read a novella to progress. Something to remember is that anything you write, someone else must read. It's a two-way street.

Another reason is that some people may feel insecure writing alongside someone who can write beautiful, novel-worthy slabs of text in little-to-no time. I have plenty of friends, on and off RpN, whose writing I think is leagues superior to my own. There is a flicker of insecurity even for me, at first, upon seeing it, especially in collaboration. For me, that flicker is quelled by the thrill of the challenge and the desire to get better. Iron sharpens iron, after all. That isn't true for everyone, though, and it can douse their desire to write at all.

I personally find those two explanations completely understandable and valid, even if in principle I agree with you regarding inspiration and details.

But, I also think you circled back to the part that really matters: matching expectations. I preach this like its gospel: GM's and players should clearly and politely outline their expectations from what is ideal, what is acceptable, what they can compromise on, and what is a deal-breaker. Because you're right: when people with wildly different expectations try to write together with no compromise (or desire to), then it's no fun for either side. Some people just aren't compatible, and there's no shame in that. As they say: it takes all kinds.

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As to actually remain on theme, a growing pet peeve of mine is virtue signaling. I see a lot of people jumping on bandwagons, trying to fight inevitable changes, and behaving as if it is some moral high ground. Some of these more egregious acts have led to me being more aware of the behavior, and judge it more harshly. It's super frustrating because it leads to some people criticizing you over the bandwagon of the week while you're personally working on long-term projects.

 

[SolarisCrescent]

I don’t like when the other person doesn’t add to the story, i.e. their character just sits in a corner and waits for things to happen. Unless there’s an agreed-upon GM/Player relationship, I prefer more collaboration between rpers. We’re working in a collaborative art form, add your own little tune too!

 

[GrumpySwallow]

Forum RP is a collaborative hobby centered around creative writing. If an individual does not want to read, or has such deep insecurities in regards to folks making larger, grander posts, how is that the problem of the player making the large posts? If this is such an issue for a person, I'd wonder why they're in this hobby to begin with. It seems to me like it's not a good match for that individual and they should seek out a different hobby. I'd love to do some table-top RPGs, but I have issues that make it difficult for me and it would just bring stress to the group as a whole, so I don't do it. It sucks, but that's the way it is. It is unfair for me to expect everyone else to have to put up with my problems when they're trying to relax and enjoy some escapism as much as I am.

Just like my past peeve post about folks trying to control RP through the excuse of "trauma" or "boundaries," a person's insecurities and inability to effectively communicate is a "them" problem that they need to deal with, not the GM or the other players. That said, and I've said this before, folks need to learn to read the room before joining a RP. Look at the rules and see what the expectations are. It is ultimately on the individual to take the time to look through potential games and find one that suits them, or to make one themselves if it is unavailable. If the match is bad, they have the freedom to remove themselves from the game; they're not trapped there. It is NOT on the GM or the other players to have to alter their way of playing to accommodate you (the general you).

As a GM, if someone came into my game and complained about a player writing too much, I'd tell them that my game is not a good fit for them and that they need to look elsewhere.

 

[Caroline1539]

My pet peeve has to do with the more background stuff that needs to be taken care of before writing even starts.

Sent PM in response to an active interest check > nothing
Reply to someone who might be interested and who has sent me a PM > nothing
Start brainstorming with someone > no real idea of what they'd like to do, having me plan most everything
Get into brainstorming a bit > no response after a few back and forths
Actually start a roleplay > partner evaporates after two posts

I know people are busy nowadays and I can understand the millions of reasons people may have for vanishing, but my god is it demoralizing when all I get for all my reaching out is hot air ;-;

 

[Daisie]

Forum RP is a collaborative hobby centered around creative writing. If an individual does not want to read, or has such deep insecurities in regards to folks making larger, grander posts, how is that the problem of the player making the large posts?

Just my two cents, but I don't think anyone ever claimed that a RPer's insecurities about post length are the responsibility of people who write long posts. Nor that everyone in a RP needs to bend the knee when one person complains. Nor than a GM needs to change the format of their RP when this problem rears its head.

Ploegy said they didn't know why people did something, and so a few common reasons were provided to help explain the thought process and maybe shed some insight and empathy.

I feel like saying that folks who struggle with insecurity should just cut out the hobby as a whole is maybe a bit extreme. I don't disparage any GM for setting boundaries and booting someone when they aren't taking things well - I agree that there are right and wrong ways to handle that insecurity - but a lot of people are still learning how to regulate their emotions. A lot of people will always struggle with it. Booting from a RP? Okay, reasonable. Telling them to leave the hobby as a whole? Idk. That seems far. These hobbies are often instrumental in helping people learn how to self-regulate, which can take years.

Sometimes it's worth it to make mistakes, stick around, and improve.

Edit: that's all I really wanted to say and I don't want to derail the thread at all lol. Everyone continue!