of the silver fuller;

edit to add: I understand that strangers possibly seeing your characters in ways you don’t like can make you uncomfortable but in the end 90% of modders if not more mod only to see their own character and their friends in consensual screenshots and don’t care about others. The vast majority do not take screenshots of other people’s characters and I have not seen that happen in either modding Discord I’m in.

There is nothing more discouraging when your character is trying to converse, but the other character keeps shutting you down or alternately, does not reciprocate.  It can be disheartening, exhausting, and no fun.  Even more importantly, it’s bad RPing. 

Examples of shut downs:

the character keeps giving negative responses

the character belittles or dismisses the other character’s thoughts, suggestions, questions, then does not add anything

the character is too shy or afraid to speak or take any action; waits for the other character to take initiative

the character challenges the other character to impress them somehow, before they decide to engage

the character refuses to engage in any way: refuses to consider ideas, shows no interest, abruptly leaves

the character will answer questions but then will offer no follow-up

there is a lot of internal exposition, but then the character only responds with a word or two

If you realize your character consistently uses a few of these tactics, you may think: “but my character is grumpy/an asshole/anti-social/really shy/scared/bitchy/a loner/hates people/has issues!  It’s natural for them to act that way!“

This might be true, but the Mun/Player does not have to write that way.  There is a difference between the Mun’s character’s personality, and the Mun’s writing. RPing is interactive and it’s a two-way street.  As a Mun, it is your responsibility to figure out how to be engaging and encouraging to your partner, regardless of your character’s personality.

Below the cut are some suggested ways to improve RP interaction, and make things fun for both RP thread partners.

There are three sections:

Classic Improv

‘The Best’ vs ‘Show Your Work’

Are You Not Entertained?

Forever in our hearts