Anyone else ever put off by a title or the content of a RT?

[Tanakalian]

We've had a thread in here for people who were put off by an avatar, but I wonder if there are more people who are put off by the title of a RT or the content?

Either way? A title that is either off or on-putting but the content doesn't match it. As in, a very seductive title, to lure you in, but when you read it you think? Really? Seriously? Or you think, the title is a bit vague and then you read the thread and am like, how far can I run?

And also, are there titles that you thought, I shouldn't look, but the content of the thread surprised you positviely?

I see a lot of (female) RT's saying it's the best RP I'll ever be part of, and when I read it, I think it's piss-boring. Similar to people making me want to believe that they are dark and when I read it, it's about dragons and vampires. That's not dark to me, that's just as boring. Ann Rice writes fabulous books about vampires. I cannot even think to duplicate them, I don't want to. Stephen King writes magical books about horror, why on earth would I think I can do that too? We're all here because we cannot write a book alone (give or take a few who can, and I am in awe of you, well done you few). We're all here because we love to build a story, a world, characters, together with another person. Whatever relation you're up into, whatever mix you care for, we want to do it together.

BUT, BUT, and to come back to what I started with, do you feel like me? That you think, when reading a title you think, I must have you and it's not that. Or when you read the content and think? Really?

 

[swedishfish]

In my quest to create an RT of my own I have been browsing a lot of them today and yesterday. In a way I am trying to figure out what I should put in one, because even though I have about nine years under my belt on Elliquiy I have actually never made a request thread.

In the end it all comes down to preferences. Sure, book don't always match the cover, but I have never gone away from an RT feeling betrayed or anything.

My peeve in this regard is quite the opposite. I have come across a lot of RT threads that seem bland, poorly syntaxed, structured like one big block of text... but the plots are great! And then I decide to give them a chance and start plotting and they are great eloquent people! And then we start writing and they are great writers!

Makes me wonder if RT's are just... hard for some. I certainly think so. Maybe we put too much value on the looks of RT's.

 

[Dirty Fingers]

I like story line, interesting characters that are challenged by what they are doing, conflict etc. So with that in mind..

* Titles/Threads that suggest that the person just wants a smut fest.
* Titles/Threads that suggest the person is exclusively into Fandoms. Not my thing.
* References to rape, non con, coercion as I find it more interesting when characters are consenting to being treated poorly/be humiliated/objectified or just challenged.
* Weird creatures.
* Cliche character types played in the same cliche ways. I like putting twists on tropes when possible.
* Threads that only have a list of cliche pairings.
* When face claims do not represent the character eg: Mid 40's housewife https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e4/a1/b1/e4a1b1dd32d60e76b460904c170cdfc4.jpg

As per the OP I too get disappointed when a title doesn't match the content. When they say they want something "literate" or different/complex etc and then you open it and see a few lines with no ideas or the usual cliche ones. Same with references to "Dark themes" only to find the usual stuff and far too much "light".

Last but not least, my fave what I like to call "The Riot Act Thread" this is the thread that has a long list of rules and regulations, "Must respond daily, must write "x" amount, don't ghost me!!!" etc etc etc. Not only do they fill the page with expectations they don't provide any story ideas, maybe not even pairings so high expectations plus zero insight into what they like to write about, if they can write = no interest.

Not to mention, regardless of how much it pisses us all off, people will ghost. You have no control over it no matter how much you write it in your thread.

 

[Machiavellian]

Not to mention, regardless of how much it pisses us all off, people will ghost. You have no control over it no matter how much you write it in your thread.

I'm often curious to how many people end up ghosting on these players and feel like it says more about the RT OP than the players that ghost.

 

[Silver Screen Fiend]

I'm often curious to how many people end up ghosting on these players and feel like it says more about the RT OP than the players that ghost.

From other threads I've read, the general consensus is ghosting is, while annoying and rude, an expected aspect of the hobby. If a person is ghosted often enough to complain about it in a RT it seems indicative of their faults and quirks as a player. Having to explain to someone that they bore you, that they creep you out, that their writing is uninspired, or that you've simply gotten burned out with the RP is painful. You can't just tell them "I don't want to do this anymore" because then they'll want to know what they did wrong, or what they can change to keep it going. By that point I just don't have the energy or drive to keep playing with them. It can come off as rude, or even cruel, so it's simply easier to just ghost them, or even block them, and move on to a potentially better role play.

Certain avatars do turn me off. Face claims and image references can also turn me off. The inclusion of certain fetishes or story themes can also turn me away from a RT. I think those are more likely to kill my interest than specific quirks in a person's thread, but here's a list of things that come off as red flags for some reason:
- wolves, in avatars or character names
- anime anything
- pornstars for character art. For some reason these photographs of real people just come off as gross. They usually seem tired, worn out, weary, dead inside, and generally don't represent how I imagine people look like in the fantasies inside my head.
- pairings, such as "teacher x student" without anything else to build an idea on
- excessive ellipses
- Using "char" instead of writing out the word "character"
- Using "MC" for "My Character" instead of coming up with a character name

Though, I don't think you can have these sorts of discussions without coming off like a judgmental prick. I mean, I am one, and I'm trying not to be, but then again I'm here to have fun, and I know what isn't fun for me, which happens to be a lot of things.

 

[Dirty Fingers]

I'm often curious to how many people end up ghosting on these players and feel like it says more about the RT OP than the players that ghost.

Probably no more often than it happens to anyone else. They just make a song and dance about it. It just amuses me because they state it like they can call the RP Police if you do ghost them. Writing it will not stop it from happening. In fact you may even provoke it if the person is a smart ass and wants to ghost you just because you said not to!

From other threads I've read, the general consensus is ghosting is, while annoying and rude, an expected aspect of the hobby. If a person is ghosted often enough to complain about it in a RT it seems indicative of their faults and quirks as a player. Having to explain to someone that they bore you, that they creep you out, that their writing is uninspired, or that you've simply gotten burned out with the RP is painful. You can't just tell them "I don't want to do this anymore" because then they'll want to know what they did wrong, or what they can change to keep it going. By that point I just don't have the energy or drive to keep playing with them. It can come off as rude, or even cruel, so it's simply easier to just ghost them, or even block them, and move on to a potentially better role play.

Certain avatars do turn me off. Face claims and image references can also turn me off. The inclusion of certain fetishes or story themes can also turn me away from a RT. I think those are more likely to kill my interest than specific quirks in a person's thread, but here's a list of things that come off as red flags for some reason:
- wolves, in avatars or character names
- anime anything
- pornstars for character art. For some reason these photographs of real people just come off as gross. They usually seem tired, worn out, weary, dead inside, and generally don't represent how I imagine people look like in the fantasies inside my head.
- pairings, such as "teacher x student" without anything else to build an idea on
- excessive ellipses
- Using "char" instead of writing out the word "character"
- Using "MC" for "My Character" instead of coming up with a character name

Though, I don't think you can have these sorts of discussions without coming off like a judgmental prick. I mean, I am one, and I'm trying not to be, but then again I'm here to have fun, and I know what isn't fun for me, which happens to be a lot of things.

The theory I have is that these sites can be very cliquey and poorly run. It is often better to avoid confrontation than to court it. So yeah, what are you going to say, "I don't want to do this RP anymore" if it was just that than fine. But the person will probably want a reason as you say. So then you either ghost the OOC without giving them one or you do give them reasons and if they are buddies with a Mod or are a Mod they go crying to them. I have seen this kind of thing happen before and have had it happen to me.

Porn stars make terrible character representations I agree. They look fake and as you mention dead inside.

I think being able to discuss the hobby in a critical manner is important and interesting. Does it make us "judgmental pricks"? Probably but in the end this all takes up time and energy so of course we would prefer it be enjoyable.

 

[china-doll]

I think it's good for the soul to be dismissed (ghosted) by others from time to time.

It is certainly painful, in a small way, to find that the person you were doing your very best to entertain, has shaken the dust off their feet and left you behind.

Instead of becoming bitter and twisted, I try to think that occurrences such as these provide me with an opportunity to

• think about the reasons why I write
• consider what I mean to others in this place
• review what I've written and think about what I might have done better
• move on, like a breeze.

Another consolation which is worth remembering: I sometimes spend *way* too much time in places like this. Entertainment from activities like this can only always be secondary pleasures. Real life (music, family, friends, reading, travel, bush walking and the like) should generally be the primary pleasures of life. If being here was unalloyed joy, and if I was never misunderstood and cut loose, I might never leave.

Best wishes to one and all

 

[Solo]

So as I'm sure everyone can notice, this thread has been locked.​

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After staff discussion, it's been decided that while this began as a general discussion, some posts could easily be read as singling users out, and while no names have been mentioned, we wouldn't want people to come in and feel like this thread is about them.​

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I would also like to note that staff does not interfere in matters between users unless outright harassment has been performed. The only time we have ever intervened in matters between users is when an interaction is reported, and in that case, we review the case as a group and come to a decision based off what has been said. Never has a user been penalized for ghosting or rejecting or ending a roleplay, unless that user has been explicitly inflammatory, harrassing, or insulting when doing so. As long as you treat other users with respect, no staff action will be taken against you.​

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Please feel free to reach out to me or another staff member if anyone has any questions/concerns.​