A Discussion on Metatrust

[Torchwick]

Reading through all of these; I think it's important to remember that while you can't control the actions of other players, you can control your actions and your responses to situations. If you make a bunch of silly lore and people take interest in it? That's great! Its up to you however to make sure that people aren't being excluded because others take that interest in your character. I would have small clouds of people follow me back in the day, due to my habit of speaking to everyone in a room. That's how I avoid exclusion personally, I *will* talk to everyone in a room with me. And all who walk in. That led to people seeking me out, and I had this worry of "People are going out to their way to talk to me, which might affect others negatively in ways I can't see." So I started to have this belief that I should push away people. But how do you fight exclusion with exclusion?

The answer I found is that we're all responsible in including others. If you're gonna make a story and you wanna include someone you frequently interact with? That's great, and something very unique to the style of this game medium. However, you better include everyone. Your friend? That random new player sitting in the corner with no idea what to do? John Syndicate the baddie who showed up to kill you?  All of them.

You shouldn't beat yourself up for making a fun character that people interact with. I dont think thats on "you". But how you react to the patterns you notice around you are. I never pushed people away from interacting with me. But I always tried to never let it become an exclusive "two-player" interaction.

We all wanna just play a game. We all wanna sit down and do goofy mechanics with a small slice of roleplay. We make characters, we hope people explore them. All of us. Reading peoples posts, none of these concepts are groundbreaking or new. I've played practically one character for 5ish years. It's very difficult for me to gauge how people's interactions with me would have changed if I wasn't that character. But I can reach out to all of those around me and involve them, regardless of if they are someone I've recognized for years, or a fresh character I just met. And so can anyone reading this.

I wanna end on saying, that it can be an issue; and that I hope this doesn't come off as preachy or diminishing or whatever. I just wanted to share my two cents and urge people not to beat themselves up for being liked. But work to make others feel accepted and seen. We're all just here to have a good time.

It’s comforting to hear this! Well said tbh. I have found myself pushing away RP opportunities with people I know because it’s always a thought in the back of my mind that maybe people feel excluded, but this also just isn’t fun anymore. Making lore and being creative is the best part of RP servers and discouraging interactions with that aren’t the way to go imo. For me, it’s definitely all about involving other people. Have your drama in the open, let other people give their opinion about the argument your character is having. 

To the point of Syndiesonas, I think they’re fun. Hell, I have one, and it’s discouraging to hear that people find that to be exclusive or lame too. I don’t know everyone’s Syndicate alter ego, but it’s fun to meet the lore energy they bring with similar energy of my own. Monologuing about how they relate to in round characters? I’ll step up to bat on the radio for the good guys whether or not I know you personally or not. It drives conflict and feels more RP and fun. Using them as an excuse to exclude people isn’t cool, but I don’t think having them and making lore around them is bad.

The metatrust and leniency surrounding them is just something people need to work on over time. I will absolutely call for execution for anyone that deserves it in round, friend or not. The lore is just a bonus, not the endgame. I just have to hope and assume that I haven’t done anything outlandishly exclusive, as nobody has poked me over it. That’s the only solace I have I suppose. Try to do good, and all that.