#inkimportant

It’s probably fairly obvious that we’ve lost muse -- it’s hard to continue logging onto a main when there’s never any new traffic in our inbox despite changing up the plot and making joining an absolute breeze for new members. We LOVE the loyal members we have and that you want to take up new characters here but it’s hard for a group to stay open and interesting without an influx of fresh members which is why we’ve made the following decision:

INKED PETALS is now a CLOSED GROUP.

We don’t mean closed as in you all have to stop roleplaying. In fact, you’re all welcome to continue roleplaying for as much as you’d like. I know I personally will be keeping my characters and coming on when I can. We will just no longer be promoting for new members. Activity limits are being lifted so you can all come on and write entirely as a hobby without fears of being reopened. If you want to drop a character, feel free to post your own unfollow to the #inkunfollow tag. Taking up characters and major plots should still be run by me or Kasey just so it doesn’t get too out of hand but it’ll be less formal. You’re also welcome to invite your friends personally -- they will have to apply as standard but once they’re in, they’re in. You know? 

Basically this will just a more lax way of roleplaying and writing and just having a good time as friends. Most of us have been here months if not years. We don’t want to permanently say goodbye and we know you probably don’t either. It’s just hard to generate interest with longstanding groups, despite our best efforts here and on the promo blog. And maybe that’ll change in the future but for now, I hope you’re all as okay with this decision as possible. If you have any questions feel free to k i k me at sammystylinson or drop a message to the main! 

Also tumblr reverted us to our old graphics; thanks for that tumblr. Love you too.

Alex

Arizona

Ford

Kaden

Melody

Perrie

I don’t know why you felt the need to send this on anon but it doesn’t come across very well to admins who are working hard to keep a group open and have been for over three years. On your last point, if you’re not feeling the group, you’re not obligated to stay. In fact, I’d prefer it if people with negative attitudes weren’t around because knowing someone feels like this doesn’t sit well with me as an admin. Groups have slow times -- that’s a given and so long as people stay within the activity rules or put in for a hiatus they’re fine. Threads get dropped or aren’t interesting -- that happens too and it’s up to you to message people who have dropped threads if you’re desiring them to continue.

However, I DO want to comment on the clique issue. It is getting cliquey. As an admin, I have posted a starter and gotten TWO people replying when there were at least four or five people online in the hours after I posted it. I can point to specific people breaking our starter rule and posting starters without responding to any or people who only respond to their ship partners. There are players who literally only respond to characters played by certain other people OOC and that’s so incredibly wrong. These problems have been driving people away and killing peoples’ muse, including my own. I WANT to keep this group open but to do that I need players who are dedicated to including EVERYONE.

We’re not going to be able to stay open if we continue to disregard the actual plot in favor of ships and menial subplots. We’re not going to be able to stay open if people only respond to certain others OOC and (knowingly or unknowingly) exclude everyone else and ignore starters. We’re not going to be able to stay open if people only address these problems ON ANON and don’t help me fix it by encouraging the opposite behavior instead. I’m an admin, yes, but it’s not on my shoulders alone to change something -- it’s on all of us to step up, respond to starters, include new people and not harbor negativity. I hope you all understand that I’m not happy. I'm tired; I’m losing muse myself and as much as I love inked and hate getting messages like this on anon, there is a good point being made. Please READ THIS WHOLE POST and like it when you do. Anyone who doesn’t read and like this post will be reopened this weekend. There’s a few of you I could message OOC to call out but I’m posting this first in the hopes you’ll correct your behavior. I’m going to work on my own rping to set a good example but I need you all to do the same. PLEASE.