Freeform RP: The Open Door Inn [Setup]

[Raelifin]

Regardless, ElDo's rule still stands. It would not be wise to encourage breaking the rules, even if you find them constricting. That's what debate is for, my friend.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Sometimes the options from other settings just aren't interesting enough.

none[/i] of it is particularly interesting to you?

I don't have the patience to look through ALL of it (and don't mock me because I'm like that, it's not something I'm proud of but there seems to be no way to change it), but of what I have looked through yes.  I'm sorry, but dragon-descended reptiles convinced of their own superiority, the endless parade of aloof elves, playing things like that would grate on my nerves.  My worlds and their races have always been designed as if there is some sort of subtle cosmic joke underlying the whole thing, and I have yet to find that in any of the other settings.  The other settings aren't bad, and I'd play by their rules within them. but in a free environment I have to express myself.

Like I said, I can leave the Inn if you want.

[Lmns Crn]

I'm not about to ask anybody to leave a freeform CBG activity, and I'm not about to mock anybody, either. I'm just asking questions because I am honestly confused. I can't imagine skimming over the settings here without ever saying to myself, "Hey, that's really interesting," so you're coming into this discussion from an angle that is completely foreign to my experience.

but in a free environment I have to express myself.

with which to express themselves.[/i]

Are you suggesting that you cannot write a unique and self-expressive character unless you have written the entire world that goes with it? If so, I'm really curious as to why not, because that's something that other people do all the time.

My worlds and their races have always been designed as if there is some sort of subtle cosmic joke underlying the whole thing, and I have yet to find that in any of the other settings.

anything at all[/i] in other settings unless you read them.

I'm not saying you need to read through everything on the whole site, because nobody has done that. But it's sort of hard to have much sympathy for your situation when your justification for going outside the parameters of ElDo's event basically boils down to: "My own work is the only material on the whole site that is even a tiny bit interesting to me, because I won't read enough of anyone else's work to actually find something interesting in it."

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Regardless, ElDo's rule still stands. It would not be wise to encourage breaking the rules, even if you find them constricting. That's what debate is for, my friend.

I'm going to have to agree with this.  If we started a game here on the site that said, "Halflings are disallowed in this game," it would be pretty silly to just assume you could come on in and play a halfling anyway, just because they're your favorite.  Even as free-form a game as this is, it still needs rules (as all games do, other than Calvinball), and breaking the rules just because you don't agree with them is not really a very mature way to act.  I doubt anyone's going to tell you to quit playing, but on the other hand, I'd be surprised if anyone decides to play along with your character either.

[Elven Doritos]

I'd just like to add that really, at its most core level, I just want everyone to have fun with this. I'm sorry if you disagree with the ground rules, but I don't feel the rules are that steep or difficult to follow.

Sorry that you disagree.

[Lmns Crn]

but on the other hand, I'd be surprised if anyone decides to play along with your character either.

Going to disagree here, Ishy. I feel pretty comfortable assuming that the average member of our cozy little community knows better than to turn the results of OOC discussion like this-- even when there is disagreement-- into IC ostracism or conflict.

I trust that as a community, we can have mature, intelligent discourse, and that includes being able to express disagreement and dissent without turning nasty or resorting to personal attacks.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I'm not about to ask anybody to leave a freeform CBG activity, and I'm not about to mock anybody, either. I'm just asking questions because I am honestly confused. I can't imagine skimming over the settings here without ever saying to myself, "Hey, that's really interesting," so you're coming into this discussion from an angle that is completely foreign to my experience.

You aren't me.  That might sound harsh, but it's true.

The process of worldbuilding is the process of giving players a context and a set of tools with which to express themselves.

Yes, yes, yes, I understand that, but you also have to remember that when people sign up for games they deside beforehand whether they wish to work within the system of the world given or not join up at all.  I assumed that this being freeform that I had some leeway, and I wanted to try it out enough that one rule that can't detract from the enjoyment of the game didn't matter.

Are you suggesting that you cannot write a unique and self-expressive character unless you have written the entire world that goes with it?

No, I am capable of creating characters within other peoples' worlds.  But I must say that I do always feel limited.  I'm willing to be limited in a certain way, and that way requires many more restrictions on concepts than given for this freeform.  You could tell me exactly who you want me to play and how you want me to play them, basically provide a script for me, and I'd enjoy playing that part.  But saying that the only thing I'm not allowed to be is myself means I'm adrift in a sea of confusion because I don't know how to be anyone else.

I would guess that you won't find anything at all in other settings unless you read them.

I'm not saying you need to read through everything on the whole site, because nobody has done that. But it's sort of hard to have much sympathy for your situation when your justification for going outside the parameters of ElDo's event basically boils down to: "My own work is the only material on the whole site that is even a tiny bit interesting to me, because I won't read enough of anyone else's work to actually find something interesting in it."

How much of each thing am I supposed to read?  Usually I just search for the races' section because that's what this thing is about at the moment.  I read them, I really do, but at about 80 threads, some of which contain multiple pages, and some that don't have information on races I don't have the attention spand to read all of them.  I've read some.  Yet they haven't interested me enough to want to play as one of their characters.

Let me try to summerize: I'm willing to play what you tell me to play, but I can't do that unless you tell me something much more restrictive than "not something you wrote into one of your own settings".  I still want to play, but I have to improve the way I want to improve because I have no way to know how to do it as anyone else.  Please stop assuming things about me.

[Lmns Crn]

You aren't me. That might sound harsh, but it's true.

trying[/i] to understand.

From what I have seen of your social interaction in this community, I can conclude that you are not an antagonistic person, nor a spiteful one. That is why I do not understand what would prompt you to come out and say, in a community full of writers, that nothing anyone has written here is interesting. Surely you can see how that might give people a negative impression.

Please stop assuming things about me.

I do not believe I have been making assumptions, and I do not believe I have been unfair. I have merely been reading what you have written and responding with questions. If you would like to point out to me, specifically, statements that I have made that are unfair assumptions about you, I will retract and correct them, with humblest apologies.

I have said before, and will continue to say, that I bear you a great deal of respect, even when we disagree. That is why I am trying to give you the honesty and sincerity that I believe you deserve-- which is all I have been trying to do today. If my words have wounded you, I apologize. I am only trying to understand where you are coming from, and to help you understand where others are coming from, not to put you on the defensive.

[Elven Doritos]

I would remind everyone to keep a cool head about things and that personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Both sides of this debate have been made. I would appreciate that everyone follows the rules for this game, and if you are not willing to, then I suggest that you don't participate in the game. It's that simple. As mean or as cold as that may sound, it isn't too much to ask.

This isn't an argument about your character, an argument about your willingness to look at other settings, or any of that. This particular debate is, plain and simple, about the casual suggestion to break one of the rules of this thread.

There aren't very many rules on this site. I wouldn't want there to have to be. All I ask is that the few rules that are in place, specifically those on games, be followed. I can't see how that's a very hard thing to ask.

Please, please, please. Do not encourage new members to break rules set by moderators and staff members of the site. That sets a bad example, and it's not the kind of relationship the staff likes to have with posters here.

~ElDo

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

I don't know why I'm like this right now.  Maybe I'm tired, maybe going off my meds was a bad idea (and I'm not joking around about that).

@Luminous Crayon: I say what I said because I wanted to make a point.  However, the point was not that if I can't take interest in something that anything's wrong with it.  I have very unique tastes, so much so that I should never be taken as an indicator of what other people will think.  I also said what I said the way I said it because that was the short way to say it.  To really express what I meant I'd have have to write a huge post about how while pieces of each thing were okay and interesting, the way they were put together just didn't motivate me enough to want to take it up.  Everyone must have felt that way about something, for me it's just very many things.  But, stupid me, I wrote a short version which wasn't what I meant.
I get on the defensive because I don't get why other people can't read me like a book.  This is not an insult: I really can't understand this because everyone around me always seems so much more aware and so much faster and processing things than I am.  And it leaves me stumped when they don't, so i feel like they just aren't trying.  I keep telling myself that's not how people are, but it doesn't change me.

@Elven Doritos: Sorry, I thought this freeform was going to be like the other one I play in, where it's all about having fun and getting laughs, and the only rule is don't rewrite someone else's character unless they don't mind.  You want to be more serious here, so I'll leave.  I wasn't trying to encourage the sort of rule-breaking that takes way from the fun, I was trying to loosen things up.

[Elven Doritos]

@Elven Doritos: Sorry, I thought this freeform was going to be like the other one I play in, where it's all about having fun and getting laughs, and the only rule is don't rewrite someone else's character unless they don't mind.  You want to be more serious here, so I'll leave.  I wasn't trying to encourage the sort of rule-breaking that takes way from the fun, I was trying to loosen things up.

Sorry that you feel that way. If you change your mind, we would all enjoy your participation.

[Lmns Crn]

Don't sweat it. We all have off days.

I regret this little verbal scuffle, and I hope there is no lingering resentment or hard feeling because of it.

Perhaps the both of us would benefit from taking a little time off the internet and doing something constructive and relaxing in the real world, to unwind a bit. Think I'll do a little cooking, then retire to the hammock with public radio and a cup of coffee. Here's hoping you have a peaceful and enjoyable evening, however you decide to spend it.

-LC out.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

but on the other hand, I'd be surprised if anyone decides to play along with your character either.

Just for clarity's sake, and not for continuing the discussion, I was merely suggesting that people who were interested in playing by the rules would not necessarily be interested in trying to play two games at once:  one that included the rules, and one that didn't.  It was in no way any sort of condemnation about the intelligence or maturity level of the members here.  Sorry for the confusion.

Perhaps the both of us would benefit from taking a little time off the internet and doing something constructive and relaxing in the real world, to unwind a bit. Think I'll do a little cooking, then retire to the hammock with public radio and a cup of coffee. Here's hoping you have a peaceful and enjoyable evening, however you decide to spend it.

I have to do this every now and then as well.  In fact, I've already done it once today; my fiance and I went out to look at houses for sale, then we washed both our cars, then we went out for an excellent dinner and a few beers at Natty Green's.  It's been a perfect day, and I feel better about coming back to the site now.

[Darkxarth]

it still needs rules (as all games do, other than Calvinball)

I disagree.  Calvinball does too have rules, they just change constantly.

[Raelifin]

Except you're in the negative zone, so it doesn't have rules!