Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know

Before anyone complains, I'm not talking about rping itself, I'm talking about formatting. Not the graphics or icons, because those are just things you make ahead of time and just post it, I mean those people who edit the text itself to make it look "fancy" and fit the "aesthetic".

And then turn around and go play on discord because it's "easier".

??? Of course it's "easier", you're not spending 30+ minutes on your post to make it look pretty!

If you wanna make it fancy that's your choice??? I don't care what you do to make yourself happy??? But if you're literally going to another platform so that you don't have to worry about it, then you're REALLY blind.

Here's a solution: make some pretty icons. Maybe post borders. Focus on your writing. Done.

I garantee that if discord had "formatting" options like tumblr did forever ago, this stupid elitist attitude would still be running rampant, and you people would be making that "harder" too.

And before anyone whines at me, I don't mean fleeing to discord to avoid tumblr drama. I totally get that and don't blame you, this is JUST about formatting.

Nothing drives me nuts more than someone posting "you know what would be fun! This plot (a) here with my muse! Anyone wanna do it with me?" And of course I get excited like "yeah, that sounds like fun, my muse can do that!" and they go "cool, thanks!"

Radio silence after that. A few days later? "you know what would be fun! This plot (a) here with my muse! Anyone wanna do it with me?"

Like wow, okay, fuck you too.

I've seen a lot of posts trying to reassure people that they're not ignoring them when they don't answer asks, or make starters from starter calls, or whatever, etc etc. with the whole "I promise I'm not ignoring you!" They're meant to reassure people, and to release the pressure from people's expectations. And that makes total sense for people who get a bunch of asks/likes/interest and just don't have it in them to do them all. Writing is hard, definitely understandable. (And of course, if you're on the other side of this and see the person you sent it to had a bunch of others do the same, please understand it really is an "energy" issue, not an "interest" issue.)

But we have to admit that the only reason most people have this fear is because this has happened in the past.

Honestly a part of me wants to say "don't use callout posts ever" but I don't want to open the door for a legitimately abusive person to get away with stuff.

Look, I get how it started. Good intentions to warn people of dangerous, manipulative individuals. But the thing is that more and more people are using it for drama, not actual toxic behavior. There is a huge difference between someone legitimately abusing you, or someone who just happens to trigger you because they do something you don't like.

Unfortunately, most people on here can't tell the difference. And everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

So this isn't aimed just toward the people making the callout posts, it's all the people who get swept up in the emotions and drama and help spread the fire- without evidence, support, or even one iota of common sense.

Before anyone freaks out, I don't ACTUALLY care how you portray your muse. If I don't like it, I move on and find someone else, and that's how I feel people should act. So do NOT use this post to excuse any bullying or harassing over someone's portrayal. If you want to go canon divergent, that's your choice! And if your portrayal is different due to headcanons and the like? Then hey, no hate here! Go ham and let your flag fly!

But for Pete's sake, actual OCs and self-inserts get so much hate and flack even when they don't deserve it. And worse, people who decide they want to play villains or "problematic characters" will get so much harassment, because people have gotten so used to people only writing about things they "like" or "want" or "condone" that they don't understand the concept of exploring plots or themes or characters- which is integral to budding authors to sharpen their skills.

Chances are the people who harass people for writing "problematic" things do so because they and all their partners only write characters they directly relate with. Which is fine. But they forget that other writers don't always work like that.

Here's something people need to remember: we need writers and actors to portray villains in order to write stories- that's the reality.

I know there's a lot of posts already trying to remind roleplayers they don't have to feel obligated to their partners- especially when life gets in the way and health concerns prop up. This is aimed towards the people that make them feel that "obligation" in the first place.

Look, if you've read my last posts you already understand how I feel about bothering people for replies. Go do other hobbies so you can pass the time doing something else.

But here's the other thing you need to remember: you can't be in this hobby and expect people to cater to your every desire and inspiration.

We are different people with different wants, needs, and desires. A lot of people have different partners and a lot of different threads, and certain things just "scratch the itch" differently for people, that's just the truth.

So lately people have been using the phrase "You're not a machine" to remind people to be gentle with themselves, and to counteract capitalism's toxic productivity culture. But when I stopped to think about it, I realized that comparing myself to a machine actually did make me feel better.

Machines need fuel. They run on electricity, oil, hydropower, whatever in order to work properly. If they don't get the right fuel or the adequate amount? They won't even run let alone work right.

A lot of machines need ventilation. This is to help regulate temperature so the parts don't overheat and fry. So really, even machines have to be kept at the right temperature to be ideal.

Did you know a lot of machines need lubrication? I can't list every machine and how they work, but there are many that need an oil or grease along the parts to keep everything working properly, otherwise the parts with seize and it will stop working.

This is aimed at the people who feel the need to criticize roleplayers who do "problematic" plots, or even play villains. Why? Because they think they're actually doing good in the world.

First off, roleplaying is not the same thing as published media. Threads are made only for the player and their partner, no one else. If someone else HAPPENS to come across and read it, that's not on purpose, that's just how the internet works. Don't blame the players for that.

And second, even if you spend the time to lecture someone about some toxic relationship they play, or an evil character, or even just some dumb plot that isn't instantly "happy and wholesome", that does nothing to help people who are actually in that situation.

You want to make the world a better place? How about you get up and go do something. Volunteer in an abuse victim shelter. Go move to a dangerous neighborhood and join programs that help troubled youth. Go donate books to prisons and offer to foster animals from overcrowded shelters.

Or, better yet, go join task forces built to catch actual child predators. They will literally pay you to catch the bad guys and make the world a better place. Yes they're real, look them up. See? Win win for everyone!

Now I'm not talking about people posting wishlists, or shipping calls, or memes or whatever, because then it's pretty obvious what you're looking for, and good on you for making that easier for the rest of us! What I mean is telling us why you made the rp blog in the first place.

Some people don't have specific plots in mind yet, and that's cool. Some people just want to make friends, get some ideas, and see where the plot takes them. Alright, anything goes!

Others are budding writers who want to expand their repertoires and test their skills, and hey! more power to them!

But some people make their blogs just to ship with others, or just to write smut, or just do cute domestic stuff- and there's nothing wrong with that! You do you and have fun!

But if someone who lives for heavy, dark themes and complex plots happens to find a "muse" that looks fun, but they're actually someone who only wants to do silly dialogue interactions with others? It's just a headache for both parties waiting to happen.

This is aimed at the people who feel the need to criticize people's portrayal- even when it's not wanted. They have some bizarre, self righteous delusion that it is their duty to tell people when they're portraying someone "wrong" or "differently" or even purposely divergent from canon to... I dunno, protect the source material? Have their wish fullfilment? Or, I dunno, remember that we're all fans and not the official writers?

Fic writers do so for their own enjoyment. They have an idea and write it out, and show it to other people in the hopes that they enjoy it too. They are not obligated to keep it true to canon, and they sure as heck aren't obligated to try to write it as "perfectly" as possible. But they may do so anyway to share it with the understanding that they're opening themselves up to criticisms. They share it and understand that some people will enjoy it and some won't, but either way they are basically trying to "entertain" people enough to continue reading their material.

Roleplayers are not here for that.

Guys...everyone on tumblr is messed up. Vast majority of us have some form of mental illness. We can support each other, and use this site as an escape, but the sad reality? We just end up triggering each other.

No one wants to admit it, but it's the truth. People can be vicious online, or we wind up walking on eggshells around each other because we don't know how to act. If you're struggling and you need serious mental help, do not rely on tumblr to fix it.

Try 7cups.com. It's literally a mental health site with listeners, forums, and even has a log of therapists you can choose from for relatively cheap. It even has step by step wellness programs that are designed to help in your recovery.

Pretty sure this will make half the rpc leave lol but I am DONE with this so I've got to say it:

Roleplaying is an interactive hobby. It's two people taking turns writing, planning, and creating a plotline that both people can enjoy. You literally cannot do it by yourself because roleplaying, by definition, is the interaction between two or more people.

But what I am INCREASINGLY seeing is people constantly reblogging memes, posting commentary, asking for plots, interaction, etc etc and then not reaching out to anyone else- and worse, ignoring them completely.

I have seen AMAZING roleplayers leave their fandom or this site because all their partners sucked them dry. Even when I tried to send them in memes, or askbox things, or even just interaction memes, they still had to leave because I was literally one person out of, like, twenty. And I got it because I understood. I cannot stress enough how exhausting it is to constantly reach out to people, and send stuff, and try to have fun, only for a majority of your so called "partners" giving nothing in return.

This has gotten so bad that people literally have to put it in their rules now. "Please don't bother me for replies", "once or twice is fine", "if you harass me over replies I will literally block you".

If that's the case, then we've got a problem.

Look, I get it, roleplaying is fun, and when you see a reply from a mutual you get that little spike of excitement and eagerly read whatever beautiful, glorious addition they have made to your plot, and then you get to add on and continue the story. It's the whole reason you've started this hobby, and why you followed them in the first place. I get that! I feel the same way!

But

But

No one can dedicate all their time to writing.

This one is going to be hard. Writers, artists and creative people in general are naturally sensitive, and don't always like criticisms. Totally get that. But when it comes to roleplaying, you have to remember that people will "judge" your character, writing style, or even graphics, but not you specifically.

We don't know anything about you. We don't know about your likes or dislikes, your other hobbies, how you talk or how you dress or act in your day to day. The only thing we know about you is that you love this character, and that you enjoy rping.