I have noticed a large amount of "cliquishness" on the server on the few occasions that I have bothered to log in this week. It really is annoying. And no, I don't just mean in-character, because in-character it would make a lot of sense. It is a school packed with teenagers, after all.

But could we at least stop the massive amount of ooc meanness? It doesn't make the server a nice place to play, which can hurt player numbers. It's one of the reasons I stopped playing the server actively. And that I stopped putting effort into what I do here.

It's sort of like the issue about Nikblade and Roibo Lannald's player. By roleplaying here, we are entertaining you other players. If you keep up with mean comments, excluding people or sitting in your own little group and ignoring them, why the hell should any one who isn't in one of those cliques bother roleplaying?

It's a roleplaying server, you say? It certainly doesn't seem like it when almost every bit of effort you put in goes ignored.

Now, the sad thing is, another player asked me to bring this up because he was afraid he would be banned if he said some thing. When I asked him why, he said it's because he isn't in "one of those little groups," either no one would care or he would be laughed at and banned.

This kind of thing usually hurts player numbers. That may be why it's always the very same rotating cast of characters all the time. Or am I just in a clique?

_________________
OMG! I WANT 2 B A VAMP1R3!!11!!!SHIFT!!!!ONE!11!ELEVEN!!! .

*Laughs anyways*

_________________
"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room.
There was a knock at the door."
-Frederic Brown

Hmm...I'm not quite sure which character you are in game, but I don't think I belong in a clique and I get along just fine. As long as you aren't overly annoying and understand that sometimes, you're gonna get ignored, then people won't oocly dislike you. If you want tips on starting roleplay...ask for help if your character is one of the younger, or offer help if your character is older. That gives you an open door to rp with the person/people, whence forth you can prove your roleplay skills and hope they enjoy it enough to include you in further events.

_________________
Brennan Brask: 7th Year Slytherin
Ryuzaki Tanaka: 7th Year Ravenclaw

Otherwhere, I'm afraid since you aren't in a clique, I'm gonna have to
ban you.


- - -
But back on topic, I won't say that I do show negativity against people
simply for not being in my group. When I'm on as DM, I genuinely try
pretty hard to respond to people when they ask me questions, even if
their spelling/grammar/RP makes me shudder.

I also think that I actively try to include newer players. I -will- say that I
will avoid you if you start a.) tokking l1k3 d1$ b.) Can't RP, and obviously
still don't understand after people have attempted to help you c.) Bug me
annoyingly (we all know that there's a boundary between asking for help
and bugging, so please lay off me for this one).

I still don't think I do what you're describing. If I am, and an example of
it is pointed out, I would attempt to stop, however.

_________________

Okay, I've got to add an example of a possible "clique"

... Use your imagination to fill in any missing blanks, please...

A group of seventeen year old wizards, out on the grounds... They're all chatting and decide, heck, let's go drinking at the Hog's Head. As they are making plans, a new eleven year old first year saunters over and tries to tag along. They politely, but firmly, say it would be inappropriate for an eleven year old kid to hang out with them while they drink.

I ask you, does this constitute a clique? I can think of a few other times this has happened, but it's not necessarily a clique... it's because younger years simply CAN NOT/SHOULD NOT do some of the things the older students are doing. I'm fairly certain an older student would have been invited along for the fun in the example given. It's not leaving them out to be spiteful, it's just the way the world works.

Exactly, Ree.

Let me add another:

A small group of seventeen year old wizards, in the Hospital Wing... they're all chatting and decide, heck, let's go talk to Madam Pomfrey about our one friend's strange and possibly embarrassing affliction. As they are heading for Pomfrey's office, an eleven-year-old First Year saunters over and tries to tag along. They politely, but firmly say it would be inappropriate for an eleven year old kid to hang out with them while they discuss circumstances which might alarm and frighten the little kid, not to mention allowing him to intrude in their personal business.

I ask you, does any situation which by the natural course of events excludes [A certain someone*] from inserting his characters into someone else's RP constitute a flaw with the server? I think it just might! Nik, you'd better get on that.

* Both logins replaced with generic placeholder to protect the privacy of Our Favorite Emo TM.

New rule:

You MUST accomodate first years. End of story! There you go, JB. :3

_________________

Not sure that's specific enough, Nik.

I hope he can take a joke.

But in the meantime, I dare anyone to create new, fitting examples based on Ree's original formatting!

As you demand, JB!

**************************
... Use your imagination to fill in any missing blanks, please...

A pair of seventeen year old wizards, out on the grounds... They're all chatting and decide, heck, let's go bury this body before it starts to stink...erm...and then go drinking at the Hog's Head. As they are making plans, a new eleven year old first year saunters over and tries to tag along. They politely, but firmly, say it would be inappropriate for an eleven year old kid to hang out with them while they bury the body...and drink.

I ask you, does this constitute a clique? I can think of a few other times this has happened, but it's not necessarily a clique... it's because younger years simply CAN NOT/SHOULD NOT do some of the things the older students are doing. I'm fairly certain an older student would have been invited along for the fun in the example given. It's not leaving them out to be spiteful, it's just the way the world works.

_________________
You go your way
I'll go your way too

A pair of seventeen year old wizards, out on the grounds... They're
chatting and decide to go up to the dorms to engage in light BDSM and
afterwards head over to the Hog's Head for a drink. As they're making
plans a new, eleven year old first year saunters over and tries to tag
along. They politely, but firmly demand that he accompany them because
they get off on being watc--... forgot where I was going with this.

_________________

A pair of eleven year old wizards, out on the grounds... They're all chatting and decide, heck, let's go play Wizard Guess Who. As they are making plans a Seventeen year old saunters over and tries to tag along. They politely, but firmly, say it would be inappropriate for a Seventeen year old kid to hang out with them while they play a hard and thought comsuming game of Wizard Guess Who.

I ask you, does this constitute a clique? I can think of a few other times this has happened, but it's not necessarily a clique... it's because older years simply CAN NOT/SHOULD NOT do some of the things the younger students are doing. I'm fairly certain a younger student would have been invited along for the fun in the example given. It's not leaving them out to be spiteful, it's just the way the world works.

_________________
Yohoho.

No. A clique is...
A first year approaches a group of seventh years, who are chatting about some thing or other. He politely says hello... They don't even emote ignoring him, just continue with what they are doing. The first year says some thing again... To the same result. The first year throws some thing at them... To the same result.

_________________
OMG! I WANT 2 B A VAMP1R3!!11!!!SHIFT!!!!ONE!11!ELEVEN!!! .

I have alts that (I'm pretty sure) nobody besides myself knows about.

I have a few first years. I've never recieved that sort of reaction,
Otherwhere. I don't know what to say to you.

_________________

Sometimes people lose text, especially in groups.

_________________
Brennan Brask: 7th Year Slytherin
Ryuzaki Tanaka: 7th Year Ravenclaw

That's people being busy, which happens - especially if you're just walking in without knowing what's going on. They MAY actually be doing something important.
And then it's people ignoring you 'cause you're being a twit and throwing stuff.

And btw, none of my first years have had this reaction either. Including the one(s) that aren't under my Sagira log-in.
Of course, they tend to not go up to groups of people to start conversations either.... If they go up to anyone, it'll be one or two people who are standing by themselves.


I'm pretty bad for this. Or for sudden afk's due to pets and/or fiance. Or I'm getting bombed by tells - which *are* okay, btw.... it just makes for slow response time.

_________________
Bread crusts are directly responsible for all forms of evil. - Elan the bard