Something I've been seeing going around the site and on other sites as well is that some people prefer to take their rps into PMs and/or such formats that are out of public view. While there are others who rather keep their rps in threads. Now, my question to you guys — especially for those of you who are exclusively 1x1 rpers — is what do you prefer? Do you prefer to keep your roleplays with someone private or do you prefer threads?

I was formerly an advocate of thread RPs exclusively, but at present I'm in three 1x1 RPs, all of which are via PM. At least here on newguild, the PM layout is very simple so it feels almost like posting in a thread. You can also get away with lots of things in PMs that you can't do in a thread, since nobody is reading.

But if your intent is to put on a good show for others, then definitely go thread. It really depends on your intent with the RP in question.

I've run into this issue as well since some writers can be adamant about being public or private. I do groups but am more known for 1x1s and I prefer things public. I don't read RPs and I don't expect mine to be read either. Why I keep things public is because it's easier to keep track off. And say I'm offline but on a private browser lurking, I can still see if someone posted and read it when out and about. If I had something in PMs, I wouldn't be able to keep stalker tabs on my ongoing RPs. Those are my main two points. I forget PMs far too easily and it makes looking at them offline for any progress, easier.

Now sometimes people are shy if say the content is entirely smut and while this site prohibits it being public, some sites are solely based on such themes and even then, people have been known to shy away from displaying threads publicly.

So it boils down to comfort and personal preference. I think it's easily to be public and also lends itself well to logging post samples for others to see, should someone want to check out a potential RP partner's typical posting habits.

Those are my thoughts on the matter but I am interested to see why some feel better doing things in the dark shadows. :3

A lot of people on this site don't PM out of preference but necessity.
The Guild get's ad funding/support for the site which keeps it running, but if the people paying for that find too much smut/mature content on the site then that funding goes, and the site goes.

So people who do such RP's are required to do it by PM or they risk getting banned.

As for me personally? I stopped taking part in those kinds of RP's since I was about 16, so I have no reason what-so-ever to go to PM for RPs.
I'd much rather do the forums, simply because it's easier to keep track of.