IRL socability and RPing

[Sypherkhode822]

So, RPG.

Are you an introvert, who likes to Rp because it means that they can pretend to interact with people while not actually being around them?

Are you an extrovert, who Rps because they're so damn addicted to other people that they have to pretend to be different people to get the same fix?

Or are you a real person, who is all along the sociability spectrum?

I'm curious to know how people's meatspace relationships influence how and why they Rp.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Well on passing the thread title led me to remember this video, so I'll post this as a reference as I feel its topical.



Fundamentally being sociable - or even being able to observe people being social - is a pretty big skill to have on some level. In my daily life I'm pretty forced to be social on a costumer service basis and then often engage in casual conversation with people. So I'd venture to say my otherwise introvertedness is broken down. But still: I'm not going out of my way to solicit random conversation with people, even if I should try with my classmates.

[Ellri]

Not a real person. Definitely not a real person.

Introverted and proud of it.

RP and RL are, despite both starting with R, very different worlds. They overlap only a very little.

[Vilageidiotx]

Realistically, an introvert in the pure sense of the word, in that I don't mind socializing or any of that but it is definitely draining on some level and I feel my natural state is when I'm not around people. I think most people on here will fit in this category, but a lot of people imagine these things as purely superficial. Like, you can have an introvert who is the life of the party, or conversely you can have an extrovert who is socially cut off. It's all about which situation - a social event or a day alone - sounds more draining.

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

I am an introvert at heart, albeit my occupation demands that I have constant interaction for an extended period with a small, select group of individuals. This is tolerable because I can adapt and become comfortable with the majority of my cohorts, but this comes with the downside that between the time, the tasks themselves and the people, it brings out the fact that I truly am the sort who would enjoy interacting on my terms and having the opportunity to fade away and come back as I see fit. I become exhausted by it, despite having not really done much interaction.

The more individuals present, the less familiar and the more activity, the less comfortable I am.

In roleplaying context, this fits the theme of my characters and my general personality; I roleplay because I can be creative, do "mostly" as I will in context, and continue to write and think. Interaction is just a quality of it - more dynamic and natural than linear individual fiction.

[Ruby]

Bit of both, honestly.

Though it has nothing to do with why I RP: I do that for the pure love of writing.

[Strawberry425]

Though it has nothing to do with why I RP: I do that for the pure love of writing.

@Ruby

Same.

I would say, "A real person, who is all along the sociability spectrum,"

I once took a psychology test where they figured out, by a few lame questions, weather you were an extrovert or an introvert, not taking into consideration people's personal preferences and habits. This dumb as hell test rated me as an introvert, because I answered "not likely," to "not at all," on all the partying questions.

Because I hate parties. Which was so unfair. Because I love going out with my friends, as much as I love staying home by myself. I can't pick one more than the other which was why I chose your third option. I mean, what I consider a party is hanging with friends and guzzling down loads of good food, and going for drinks. I just do not like college parties. They're not my thing. More than likely, me and the bestie would go to one and spend all our time eating. Yum. Food is my first lover.

Either way, real life interaction has definitely influenced my roleplay to some extent or another. My small, 5' tall body, can't encompass every personality in the world, and it's always refreshing to draw inspiration from the sweetie pies and douches you meet in real life.

Err...though the fact of the matter is, by the time you're an adult, it doesn't matter how varied you see yourself, from the outside perspective, lots of adults look at you as being equally dull and boring to themselves, until you actually interact.

So varied, and glaringly obvious personalities fit more tightly into the Young Adult genre, where you're apt to meet about twenty characters, all of varying and starkly different personalities, all of who the main character can pinpoint from the beginning of their interaction as being "X" way...

But either way, I mean, yeah, again, social interaction or a lack of social interaction can totally fuel writing. It can let you see how uniform everyone acts on the outside, before you get to know them intimately, if ever. And can give you neat little starting points to create your characters around.

I would be lying if I didn't admit, that, when I wasn't quite as good at juggling my time, I used to put real world people over online people, including Guild. But, now, I think I have a healthy dose of both

[Hank]

I'm a flaming extrovert and proud of it. Being alone is nice once or twice a year, but I get lonely quickly.

[spearofhope]

Actually, Roleplaying has helped me become a more sociable person as it turns out. When I started, I was a really surly young guy with almost no friends. Through Roleplaying I was able to find a way not only to interact with people and make friends, but to actually find something I was GOOD at and enjoyed, and find a little bit of value in myself. It really puts you in the position of trying to figure out how other people think; how the character would react, how their past informs their present. Doing that on a day to day basis really helps with your empathy, makes it easier to understand the people around you. It's really helped me connect with people as the years have gone on.