Experiences The ins and outs of ghosting

[wild.flower]

I have a question for my fellow writers:

If someone’s writing style is completely at variance with your own, and if minimal effort has been put into a response, do you think that it is worth explaining matters to the partner in question, or is it better to cut one’s literary loses and walk away without so much as a digital peep?

My sense of decency says the former; my exasperation gauge, the latter.

 

[Daisie]

I don't know that it's something worth letting people know why I'd be leaving, but I generally ascribe to the idea that ghosting is just a bit rude, and most people really deserve better.

So yeah, I would neither explain the full matter (unless specifically asked), nor ghost without a word. Just let them know that I won't be able to continue and thank them for their time.

 

[Wildcard888]

I’ve been ghosted a lot on here already, and It’s hurt me for a bit, but the pain I felt has lessened now. I understand that people are either celebrating their holidays right now, but ghosting still happens.

On topic again, sending a kind message about not wanting to role play doesn’t hurt.

 

[nerdy tangents]

Yeah I don’t think you have to explain why your leaving just give the person a heads up

“Hey I’m so sorry I won’t be able to continue this roleplay. I hope you are able to find someone else to write with in the new year.”

Short, simple, and doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

 

[Idea]

You should never ghost. Ghosting is something that is at most understandable if someone does depending on circumstances, but never something one should do.

Like everyone and their grandmother said at this point though, you don’t necessarily need to say that’s the reason, you can simply tell them you don’t things will work out. I would say if they insist on a more precise reason then you explain it, but hopefully they’ll accept that you don’t want to go into that if you tell them.

 

[AaronMk]

If you're roleplaying scenes that require minimal responses you're maybe better off on Discord or something. If at least to compile one big post one of you can post as a collaborative effort before going off to do any independent scenes for whatever reason.

Not all responses need to be stretched to their breaking point. Lines of dialog don't need to be so over-written as to look like a worthwhile post. So at least to clean up the problem of one-line posts if that's the actual issue here, change mediums for a moment to compose something more fitting of a post. Because your partner may just find themselves in a moment where there is no justifiable reason to expand on, "X scratched their head [and said,]"

 

[xanax]

i feel like u should at the very least give them a headsup to let them know. i just dont think some people realize their replies are too minimal and itd kinda suck to ghost them leaving them wondering where they went wrong

 

[BuggaBoo]

I have a question for my fellow writers:

If someone’s writing style is completely at variance with your own, and if minimal effort has been put into a response, do you think that it is worth explaining matters to the partner in question, or is it better to cut one’s literary loses and walk away without so much as a digital peep?

My sense of decency says the former; my exasperation gauge, the latter.

Hi!

Yeah do talk with them. It's the decent thing to do. Yeah I'm guilty of ghosting too but i have tried to let my partners know I'm withdrawing. Like if it ain't easily resolved then like a simple "I don't feel this RP is a good fit" is a decent enough reason. If pressed you can admit as much or as little as you want really.

But as an aside it's why I can't stand into Chks with no EXPECTATIONS listed. So many headaches avoided IME.

 

[Steve Jobs]

People will be more hurt by ghosting than being direct. Tell your partner you don't wish to continue and wish them the best for the future. Usually people don't push further but if they do you can say you lost interest.