Most of you know I am not one to get involved in the drabble that can commonly occur through a community. However, I think it is finally time I make my peace and hopefully give the few people that read this something to think about. I hope some of you will see reason. I hope some of you will be reassured. I hope some of you feel better about your choices. I hope some of you learn empathy. I hope some of you learn patience; if anyone gets just a taste of such, taking the time to write this will worth it. First and foremost, I have been on server pretty much since day one. I have been on the Horde and the Alliance. I have seen many great and famous guilds, and people come and go. Most of all I have heard "This community is dying." The community will never die, I don't even think its damaged - in fact, it is a mirror image of what was a few years before, and will repeat itself again, and again. It is a cycle, like most things. There is no damage, there is no dying, there is nothing wrong - if anything, it is growing pains. I used to feel the same way, I used to talk in the same negative mindset. But one day, a switch just flipped - and now, I live and breath (While online that is) to help better and grow the community. Rather than preaching the end times, I recommend strongly to be the change you want to see - or simply be quiet; negativity has literally never in the history of any and all things been a helpful mindset. Help the new roleplayers - really help them. Take the time to roleplay with them, or just new people to the server/faction. Roleplay with ESL folks, oh no they missed a period in your own language, how dare they. Most ESL folks I have met have been an absolute joy and blessing and have been very eager to learn and to roleplay. No one ever walks up to me! - Then walk up to others, be the one to inspire roleplay, be a leader not a follower. If you want roleplay, 90% of the time it will not fall in your lap. You -must- look for it. "But I have anxiety" most of us do. Like, honestly every nine out of ten people I've spoken to has anxiety to one extreme or another; at least work up the courage to oocly whisper folks for roleplay, express an interest. For those of you without anxiety; be inclusive if at all possible. I think we all start working into a comfort zone of friends and unknowingly create a clique. It is natural. But please, take the time to simply have a five minute roleplay with someone you've never met. -------- Opt-In ------- I will be the first to say, I am not opted-in to anything thus far. Does that mean Opt-In is bad, good? Perhaps neither? The short answer is: Doesn't matter if we/I am or not. What matters is that you support every Opt-In that comes your way. Why should I support the Opt-In? It's an exclusive clique! Literally by definition, it is not. What an Opt-In is good for is things like the Stormwind Guard. Are you looking to be a guard? Want to be involved in the law - good or bad? Okay, great opt-in. But, Elstine... Okay, then don't and continue to roleplay a Guard, no one is going to tell you not to; you're not going to be excluded from the Guard roleplay because you are not opted-in. The only time someone should ever be upset with an Opt-In is when you are physically told that you cannot do X, or you must be in said opt in because you are doing X. Once that is said sure, be upset - but don't throw a fit, don't be a coward and run to tumblr to whine as an anon and make idle threats. Instead, let me introduce a ground breaking idea to you. Communicate with the leaders or some of the members of the opt-in and resolve the issue. Communicate. That simple, honest to Light it will make your life and others a lot easier and better. Rather than ranting on tumblr or sending hate mail that: 1. Does nothing. 2. Just makes the community 'worse' 3. Makes you a bad person. But El, you're not opted-in why should we listen to you. Because I am not opted in and still roleplay and communicate with the guards, and HoN at times. If you are not opted in that doesn't mean you can't roleplay with them, nor does it mean they won't roleplay with you. Even a poorly done Opt-In is good for the community, it is a learning experience. It shows new people that we are still alive and eager to work together, thrive. -------- Communication ------- Finally, lets talk about communication. Honestly, just straight up not enough of it. If there was anything that I could argue to be a make or break of a community, it would be the aspect of communication. Every day, I roleplay with people that I have had a negative OOC or IC experience with; and you know what? No issues arise, no drama, no smoking guns, no exchanged harsh words. We roleplay to roleplay, we roleplay to forget, most importantly we roleplay to have fun. Okay, but El there are super toxic people here. Right, you are right, there are simply just shitty people. Straight up, statistically some of you are here just to cause a bad time, just to cause issues, stir the pot, cause drama, and start shit. From spreading rumors and lies to manipulating people, it happens. It happens more than it should - best thing you can do is say, okay. OOCly this person is not healthy for me, they have metagamed, godmodded, done inappropriate things, stalked me, etc. Tell those around you your experience briefly, but do not speak it as the gospel. What you had was one experience, and you should share only what you have had as your experience, not what you have heard. Say your warning, your honest opinion, and allow those around you to make the opinion of their own. If they befriend so and so, let it be. Do not shame them, or harass them - be empathetic and understand that everyone has different opinions and that is okay. Not long ago, there was a dispute I and another party had. What could have turned into a bitter, ongoing distaste for one another ended in an OOC discussion speaking for both sides of the aisle to learn what we both thought of the situation; we came to a conclusion quickly, we did not speak ill of one another, we did not belittle one another. We met a middle ground, and understanding and now - hopefully still, we look forward to working with them again should time permit. It is really that simple. ------ Closing ------ Let people do what they want. Understand the world does not revolve around you, understand that it is 100% okay for others to have different opinions than you. Let people opt-in, opt-out, whatever. Let people roleplay as Nobles, prostitutes, demon hunters, 'edge lords', peasants, ass holes, good guys, so on and so forth. There is no wrong answer when it comes to IC. Don't like an adult theme? Don't do it; no need to rave and rant about it. Don't like an opt-in? Don't do it; no need to rave and rant about it. Don't like what I have to say? Don't listen; no need to rave and rant about it. ------ To those of you being bullied, harassed, excluded, manipulated, or simply in a situation you wish you weren't in. You have my support. To those of you that feel like the best option is to use anon hate mail, stalk people, etc. Well, I hope you find something in your life that can fill the void in your heart and make you happy. Thank you for the read, I hope this helps some of you; just one of you.
