I’m usually pretty nice and welcoming to people. I normally try to RP with as many people as I can. I sometimes overshare plot with people. I like to get people up and running and I like to connect people to other people that I think fosters their stories. That said…
No one but me gets to decide how I spend my energy and who I RP with or don’t RP with. That feels so toxic to me to tell another adult who they have to RP or how they have to RP. I’m sure that’s not the intend but…
Right now for a lot of people RL is severely fucked up. People are uncertain, scared, struggling, etc. Our hobby is meant to be a safe haven from that. One where we get to meet people and tell stories and write stories and hide in our escapism for a little bit before we go back to our RL demands. I don’t want to co-author a book with everyone, so why would I want to write a story with everyone?
Does this make me elitist? I don’t think I’ve ever been called that. Does that make me mean and rude and unwelcoming? Still don’t think I’ve been called that, but maybe. What it does make me is protective of my calm. Forcing anyone to interact with anyone is bad in my book. If people want to log in and hide in a fake online place with one other person writing a fake online storyline with them because it gives them a moment of peace in their chaotic real life? Let them.
I give you a server so you have to do what I say ranks right up there with the working spouse telling the homemaking spouse that they have no say to their identity. They can’t spend any money because they haven’t earned the money. It’s different, but it rings at the same level.
I don’t run games. I avoid staffing like I owe it money. I just think that with the world being as it is for a great many people right now, just let them find their peace where they can find it. You are free to ask them to leave your game if you want, but you do not get to tell a person who they must interact with like you own or control them.
Just my thoughts. Doesn’t make it right. Doesn’t make it wrong. Just makes it my opinion.
