#rockford:admin

[rockford-rp]

Hey all! Just two short things...

I just finished the event stuff so now all we need is a date! I know that we have all been extremely busy so things have been a bit slow but I’m hoping that we will be able to participate and get a fresh kick of muse with an event! So please vote below asap as to what dates you would prefer. Since we are small in numbers I really want to see what works best overall. I will be closing it early on Sunday and going with the best results!

https://www.poll-maker.com/poll3826795xD7214d87-119

The second thing. As you know I am not doing activity checks anymore and just kind of going off you saying if you want to be here or not. That being said, I don’t want to hold on to dead accounts if you have no intention of being here anymore. This isn’t any pressure to be active at all! If you are still not able to rp right now that is fine but again if you have no intention of being a part of this group anymore then I just don’t want to hold the accounts and fcs. So I am asking every single member, whether you were active today or haven’t been active for weeks, to please like, comment, post an emoji, whatever on this post to see your interest in staying. If you haven’t been active in a long time but still want a part of this group that is no problem! But for those who don’t respond by Sunday I will be posting an unfollow for you.

That’s all I got!

Thank you,

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

Rockford announcement time... This will get long as a lot needs to be said so bear with me.

Many have seen the anon that was sent along with the comments made by past members of the group. I didn’t respond last night because I needed to take a step back, reflect, and just get some advice and thoughts out. I think that it is fair to say that I have always let this be a place open to criticism. I have never hidden an issue or not addressed things. When someone has come to me with an issue in the group or with me I hope that you can all attest to the fact that I have been open and listened and been fair? I am definitely not a guilt free person of my shortcomings as an admin and player. I will not rollover what was said in that I have too many characters and the energy gets distributed differently. That is absolutely fair to call out. It is never intentional or personal but if anyone has ever felt slighted by that I take responsibility for it. I am sorry if there have been hurt feelings through my actions. I fall short of things and I am not the perfect writing partner but I also think it is fair to say that I have put the effort in to connect with everyone here? I cannot think of a current member and majority of past ones that I have not put energy into developing something with a character. An actual important relationship. Maybe you did not see it that way but it was there. 

I just wish that with how open I have been as an admin that people would have come to me personally instead of bringing these things up after the fact in post comments and not giving me the chance. I know I don’t do well with messages on personal accounts. I’m just not a talker. I never have been and with my different accounts I am very forgetful with going back to IM’s but I have always answered when an issue has risen and been there to see through the issue and have a full conversation. I think that I have been respectful in being there to listen and understanding where people have been coming from. So many times people have been right about what they are bringing to me. Just like now I do see some of the points made. I’m not going to get defensive when there are truths said. I just wish if there was a reason that involved me as to why someone left the group that they would have respected me and come to me instead of me having to read it on a post. It kind of leaves me at a lost. I never want anyone to leave Rockford for bad reasons. It will happen but if you don’t come to me I don’t know what I am supposed to do.

 Addressing that... As Rose said in her response to some of the things said, I feel the last couple years that there has kind of been an expectation on solely me to make a lot of people’s time here a fulfilling experience in writing and with ships. I love shipping with you all. I love creating so many different dynamics. I don’t want that to change at all. I have a lot of characters and a lot of males so I am going to get a lot of connections. I love those connections. I don’t want to change them and I don’t want to stop making new things with you all. But while at Rockford I have gone through a lot in my life and sadly they have all been bad things. Some major things I think most members know about and some other things you don’t. I am not saying that for sympathy or as an excuse I don’t want it to be that but why I am bringing it up is because the last two years my time and energy here has made a huge shift. I am not the admin I was the first half of this group being open. The responsibilities of being in charge of a group and the amount of time writing have taken a lot of time on the backburner. When I had the time I tried to come on and put the same efforts in for everyone but that didn’t always happen. And I have felt guilty because I know a lot of the groups activity revolves around mine. There were times that I should have taken a step back from the group but I didn’t want it to die and I didn’t want to lose the character relationships that I had been writing for years. The group has suffered from me lacking in both the roles I play here. I really do apologize for that.

The truth is, that energy is just still not there like it used to be. My life has changed a lot, I have more responsibilities then when I started this group. My hope was that I could eventually return to how I was. I have been waiting for that but the truth is I can’t. I wish that I could. I wish I could give everyone the same energy. I know that I have too many characters for the amount of time I have but it has also allowed me to be able to make sure I do have connections with everyone. That I do give more people deeper connections. But with that being said while I always want to make an effort to be better for the members here, and I will try my best even now, with life how it is, there just isn’t going to be a huge shift back to how I was before. I am sorry for that but I want to be honest. I think you guys deserve that.

This a lot to read but all of this has been leading up to is this... 

As I said I have spent time reflecting on Rockford. It has had its flaws. I have failed it many times when I never meant to but I love this group. I love the characters here. I love the connections I have made. I love the people I have met even if I am probably the most anti-social here that is never a reflection of what I feel for this group or the members. I have been here 5 years. Dedicated a lot of time and energy to the writing connections with everyone. I don’t want to lose it but I have faced the fact that it’s just not going to be what it was. I am a nostalgic person so many of times I wish it could be the same but it isn’t. So with that I had to make a decision. It has one I thought about and talked over with a couple people to get some wisdom and moving forward with Rockford I think the next step is to close it as an open group. What does this mean? Basically we will be a glorified mumu. I will make a post with more details about what this will look like when I have the time but to quickly explain now... I will be closing the option for the open public to apply here. It will be about the members that we have currently and will keep it a small private group.

I know some may disagree with that decision and I understand that. I don’t want to see anyone else go but if that is not what you want in a group then I absolutely get and respect that. I know that some people might be thinking aren’t you just being more exclusive now? And I understand that as well. I get how it may look it but this isn’t about leaving people out. It’s that I have looked at the group as a whole and it is not just me that cannot put the same energies into it. Real life takes over and that is okay! Never should you feel guilty about that. RP is a hobby. It’s an escape. It should be a small piece of your life. Days are super slow on the dash because of it but I know that there aren’t a lot of groups out there that you can join and stay in with activity limits so I tried to make Rockford different. But I don’t think it is fair to keep it open anymore when the high level energy that is sometimes needed can’t be there when people come in. This is not a decision I have made lightly but I feel like it is the only realistic one to make. My only other option would be to close completely and I don’t want to stop writing with the people here. So again current members, if you don’t agree with this please know that I understand, but I would love for you to stay. I would love the chance to continue writing the relationships we have made together. So I hope you do stay but will respect your choice either way.

Again, this is not personal. This is me seeing the issues that are brought up and thinking about the best thing to do and this is what feels right to me. It is just the new chapter I think that Rockford needs to take right now. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it was for the best. I just am not what this group needs to be an open group anymore. It’s my baby and I don’t want to lose it and lose all the amazing connections here that I love writing. It’s not easy for me to make the choice but I hope that everyone can understand where it is that I am coming from with this. Members, as said I will be writing a more detailed post on what this looks like for us that will hopefully work for everyone here, but if you have any questions just reach out here and I will reply when I am able.

Again, sorry this is so long but I think that all of this needed to be said. I am sad about closing the current chapter but love the chance to continue writing with you all.

Thank you for allowing me to have been your admin these past 5 years and thank you to the current members and the past for making Rockford an rp home.

Much love,

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

Hey there, lovelies. Every once in a while I have to write a note that is not so fun but needed. I do this because I think it’s important to address issues to keep an rp going. And after 5 years I think it has proven to be good to have the awkward posts. I received an anon about something that I agreed with and have been seeing myself for a bit so instead of publishing the ask I wanted to talk about it cause I feel like it’s something that I should take responsibility for in pointing out and correcting.

There has been some bubbling going on especially with what starters people are choosing to reply to. I saw it a bit before the Valentine’s event then usually at events activity is pretty good but we have fallen back into it after a few weeks after the event. It has been a pattern for a bit. I’m not going to go on about bubbling. We all have been a part of groups for a long time and know what it is and what it can do. The fact is, is that Rockford is a small group. I personally love that. It’s always been my preference in rping through my years of writing but with it being small that means that we cannot be excluding members in our replies. It’s just not going to work  if we do. Now I am not saying that you have to have every single character have a thread with every one else, that isn’t maintainable, but especially with most of us having more than one character you should be able to look through all those blogs and see different members you are replying to. Look at the starter blog and see who it is that doesn’t have notes from you. I’m not going to sit here and guilt so I just ask that you take a look at your replies and such and see if this is something that you can do better on. Y’all have always been receptive when I bring this to light and I have always appreciated that and I am asking you to do the same here. We don’t want anyone to feel overlooked.

I was trying to think as an admin how I can help create a better flow of replies and this is what I have come up with... Starting today I am going to make a change to the starter rules. No more than two open gif chat starters a week per member no matter how many characters you have. This way I think it leaves more of a focus on the starters there and harder to overlook some. And when it comes to open texts I am going to say no more than two as well. I am also going to require that every member (barring a full/semi hiatus) post an open starter once a month. That can be any type gif or text but it does need to be an open one. I don’t think 1 starter every 4-6 weeks on one character is a big ask from me so hopefully this can work for everyone. I will try my best to keep a lookout to make sure the rules are being followed but I might miss things at times so I ask that we mostly keep ourselves accountable.

Lastly, I just want to say I know that we are a group of busy members. I believe everyone here is basically a full time worker and you all have family stuff. That is why I have always been super relaxed here because I want Rockford to be the place that people can call their rp home even though they can’t be on as much as we used to be. So while I am asking for us all to do better with keeping up threads with everyone, I also just want to say that remember that people have a lot going on during their week and replies to your starters (especially gifs) may not come for a few days. Cause I know for me personally sometimes I just try to get some replies in that I do have already or answer texts because they are easier when busy and then hit the starters on my weekends. So sometimes it just takes people some time to get to starters.

I am going to ask that every member either comment ‘read’ or like the post so I know that we have seen it. And again, y’all have always responded with kindness when I have to post these things and I truly appreciate that. Thank you for being a group where I don’t have to feel dread bringing these things up. You have been such a wonderful group of members that I am very lucky to have and this is all to make sure that every member here feels at home.

Thank you!!

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

The year was 2016... Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Oscar, Stranger Things came out, Closer by The Chainsmokers graced the radio... and Rockford opened. There are times when it feels like this group has been around forever but knowing that today hits 5 years since I opened Rockford is so crazy! There aren’t many rps that reach a year let alone five! I remember opening it, not very hopeful, and happy if it just lasted a few months and if I was able to just enjoy that then I’d be okay with it. Well, 60 months later and here we are. I have been so blessed to have this group. Life has brought a lot in these past years. Some good, some bad. But through it all this group has been a constant in my life and I am so thankful for it.

 These years in this group has been a creative outlet, a needed distraction, an encouragement through the lows and highs. I couldn’t be luckier to have been given such a great group. It has lasted this long because of the amazing members who have stuck with me through everything. I haven’t always been the greatest admin but you have been the greatest members. I am sure that this will be a repeat of past things said but every time it remains true. You are all so talented and I am so glad that you have chosen Rockford to display some of the gifts that you have. To be able to create characters and develop them the way you have is something special. When reading all of your replies and just getting the chance to create with you is something special. I have spent so many hours getting to see your gifts on display and it’s been a blessing for me.

Yet, as amazing as your writing is, you all have such wonderful hearts. There has been so much kindness and laughter brought into my life because of you all. Whether just checking in with me for little conversations or the words of love and encouragement during tough times, you are such genuinely kind group of people. That may seem like just a general comment but I think we have all seen that online there is a lot of negativity and pettiness out there, so to be sincerely kind really is rare thing at times but something I have admired you all for. So thank you so much for making Rockford not only a wonderful place to write but a place to escape to and find friends. I feel blessed to have you all in my life. Blessed to take part in the gifts that you have and thankful for getting to know so many of you that I get to count you as a friend.

If you have been here since day one or since this week, I am thankful that you are all a part of this group and everything you have done to keep it open!

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY, ROCKFORD!!

Much love,

Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

Hey all! I will try to keep this brief. Just want to go over the few changes of Rockford now that we are officially a private group. 

There really isn’t going to be that much of a difference in the day to day things. Starter rules will remain the same with no more than two a week per member. And at least one open starter every 6 weeks. There will still be the occasional event thrown in the mix and remember you are always welcome to throw out ideas!

The changes...

Activity: Basically there isn’t going to be too much rules around it. Everyone in the group is basically staying in it as long as they want to. I just ask that if you are gonna be off more than 2 weeks or want to leave just shoot me a message. I don’t need an explanation or anything just a heads up so we aren’t holding on to a dead connection if you want to leave or if you just need a long break so we know that you haven’t left us.

Adding/Dropping characters: This isn’t anything new but I had someone asking about this. Still feel free to bring new characters in! Just cause we are switching to a private group member wise doesn’t mean you can only play with who you have currently. Just be accountable for yourself and the multiple character’s you play activity.

Applying: The new app is just going look like this:

Name: Age/Date of birth: (must be 18+) Gender: Sexuality: Occupation:  Neighborhood: (see options HERE) Faceclaim: (must be 18+)

You can either send this in an ask or via messaging. Please send your account with it when you do. There is going to be no acceptance posts just follows! There will be no certain days just whenever you send it. If I am unable to get on in a day feel free just to post it in the ooc!

Character page: I will be taking down the bio page and just be putting up a character page that will strictly be more like a directory with the info from the new app form. If you have characters whose ages you want updated send me a message otherwise I am just going to go with what was either on the original app or what I see on your character’s blog. I will work on it this weekend to hopefully get a huge chunk of it on there.

Wanted Connections: I am still going to put up wanted connections in case people want an idea for new ones. However, I am going to have it start fresh and make it it’s own page instead of posts. So please take a look at your wanted connections that you have up there! I will leave it for a couple days. IF you want yours on the new wanted page message me to paste it in. If you don’t message me I am going to assume I can just delete it.

That is really it that I can think of. Like I said, nothing really major that will change the flow of things. I am still going to be here as admin to post the follows, events, and update the character page. I will be here if you have any concerns or issues. And I ask guys that if there is a concern you have just come to me. Talk to me. We are now a closed group and I think we can all have a level of respect for each other not to play the anon game to really just make this group work! I will be here for y’all however I am not going to be super active as admin. Moving to this new chapter is more about keeping yourself accountable. Just do your best to rp with everyone and be mindful of stuff. We’re all adults and this is just rp so just enjoy the writing!

So happy to have you all here and I am excited to still be writing with you! If you have any questions please let me know!!

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

The day is practically over but I just wanted to get on here and say Happy Thanksgiving! Now I know that not everyone is from the US and not everyone celebrates but it is something I do celebrate so I just wanted to take some time to say that I am grateful for this group. It is no secret that this year has been tough on just about everyone. We have had a lot of ups and downs in 2020. And for me, it has been the hardest year of my life. From my dad getting sick to passing away it has been a nightmare at times but the truth is I am so thankful for this group. I am thankful that I had a place to escape to when times it was so gravely needed and get to enjoy getting lost in creating things with you. I am thankful to you members. From all your encouragements and support to just the times that you have made me laugh or held a conversation with me that made my hard night better without you even knowing. Thank you for the kindness you have constantly shown me. I see groups and admins that have members that don’t show half the amount of support and grace you have shown me through the years and please know I never take that for granted. I fail many ways as an admin but you all have stuck with this group and continued to share your amazing characters here. It really is a blessing for me to write with you. To get to share in the gift of your creativity. Writing is such a gift to have and the fact that I get to enjoy seeing your talents has been so fun these past years. I am lucky to be an admin of such a talented and chill group. We are almost at 5 years and that is crazy with how other rps come and go. So thank you so much for making Rockford an rp home to develop your muses. Thank you for personally just being a light to me. You are all such a blessing. I hope that those who celebrate had a nice holiday with loved ones and I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend ahead of them!

Much love,

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

Hey there, Rockford residents!

So for a while, I have been trying to figure out a better way to display characters and after going through what feels like 80 different codes I landed on one. Instead of having individual posts, it’s now going to be a one character page. There is a side tab where all characters will be listed in alphabetical order (first name) that will hopefully make it nice and easy for everyone to navigate and that way you don’t have to scroll through trying to find a certain bio. Simply just click on the name on the side and it will reveal all the characters' info and bio. I have put a screenshot below to give you an idea with what this will look like: 

Now with this, I do have a little request (or big depending on how many characters you have). With these new pages, I am including some personality traits. Just 4 or 5 of a mixture of positive and negative traits. If you wouldn’t mind taking the time to send me an ask or a submit of the traits of characters I would very much appreciate it. If you have multiple characters you can just send one submit with everyone listed if that is easiest. There is no rush to sending them as it is going to take me a bit as I have had to play with code and change quite a few things. So whenever you get the chance that would be great!

I am not sure how long it will take to get everyone added, but if there is anything you want to add or adjust to your character and the info listed just let me know!

Thanks all!

-Admin Rey

[rockford-rp]

Hey there, lovelies!

As said in the ooc I apologize for the lack of activity as admin and a member. That should change in the middle of the week. Things have been slow and muse has been low with everything and as always I plan on continuing to being relaxed with activity. Honestly, I don’t really need a hiatus form or anything but I don’t want to be holding on to accounts here that aren’t active anymore and won’t be again. So if you haven’t been active on a character I have no problem with that but if you still want to keep them either comment below or shoot me a message to let me know! I’ll post an unfollow in a few days for those who don’t comment.

Also, I do plan on keeping acceptance open every day for the month of May! So feel free to send in new apps at any time!

Thanks,

-Admin Rey