RP Etiquette

[Izzy Lucas Steel]

RP Etiquette

So, there's a few unspoken rules of role play, mostly to do with courtesy and things like that, but I thought I'd make a little list of things to share with you all, especially to any newbies that might join us, about what is considered impolite in role play:

• Do not repost your partner's post. It's technically a form of plagiarism, so don't do it. It's fine to copy and paste a few lines of direct dialogue from their post here and there, but don't do it with entire lines or paragraphs of stuff. Try to paraphrase, or reword. Make it your own. It's less your post if half of it is someone else's writing. Now, if you have permission from your role play partner to do this, that's fine, but make sure you have permission first.
  
• Try to match your partner's word count. Now, you don't have to be on the dot right every time, but if your partner is churning out 600+ words every post, at least try to get four or five hundred words. It's just nice. Pulling 600 words from 300 is not easy. Trust someone who managed to take a less-than one-hundred word post from a newbie and managed to turn it into a 500+ word reply. It really kind of sucks.
  
• Don't nag. It's the most annoying thing ever to be nagged about a response. There's nothing wrong with asking about it every now and then, but people do have lives, other things to work on, and they will not always have the time or energy to post on your schedule. It might be dull, but that's what the OOC boards are for, as well as plotting. The c-box is also an option as well.
  
• For the love of all that is holy, do not randomly change your character's plot in a way that will mess up a plot you have planned with someone else without talking to them about it first. Ideas change, and we can all understand that. However, it is completely rude to have a plot idea running with one person, then ditch it for a plot with someone else without making sure it's okay with the original person first. You'd be surprised how often this happens.
  
• Do not take a want ad and then just never use that character. They're wanted for a reason. If you wanted to fill that want, then fill it. It's rather common sense.
  
• Plot with others. Don't just expect everyone to plot with you. It's rude, conceited, and a sure fire way of making sure no one wants to plot with you. RP is give and take.
  
• Don't take it personal. Your character's boyfriend dumps him/her for someone else? Don't take it out on the person who plays the character. It's not cool.
  
• Do not invite someone to join your thread and then exclude them. It's pretty much like saying "here, join us" only to basically slam a door in their face. Harsh stuff.

So, this has been a short, condensed notice about things that new role players should be aware of. I've personally dealt with people over the years who have done each of these things, and it's never fun. Basically, keep in mind: if it's something you would not want someone to do to you, don't do it to them.