01-26-2020, 11:34 PM
[align=center][div style="width: 450px; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 9pt;"]also jumping in here, though i haven't been around very long! i've always been a lurker. sorry if i don't make sense lol there's a lot i want to talk about and don't know if i can keep this organized? it's a mess
on the topic of cliques--since that might be coming up a lot--i in no way think anyone here is PURPOSEFULLY excluding anyone else. everyone here is super friendly, even if they're not super social. i prefer to describe the OOC community more as tight-knit, because that's what it is. most of the members on bb in one circle overlap with another, so you're all very familiar and well-acquainted with each other.
to an outsider, a tight-knit community is intimidating as all hell. you get nervous and wonder if you're intruding. you wonder if you'll be accepted as part of the family, or if you'll just be an outsider the whole time. trying to get past that barrier, for lack of a better word, is kind of difficult!
i understand that it is ALSO difficult for people INSIDE that community. it's hard to just suddenly accept a newcomer into your little bubble--there's an awkward period where people are still getting used to you and you're still getting used to them. people tend to stick to what they know and what they're used to, and that's okay. nine times out of ten, it's not malicious.
i love you guys, and i would not believe for a second that any of you have ill intent.
i think that discord does play a big role in making the community seem a bit "cliquey." discord, unlike BB, is faster, more private, and typically not subject to the same rules on the forum, so people are using it more than OOC boards or chatting threads. this isn't necessarily a bad thing--i personally prefer discord, since it's easier to access on mobile and more "on the go" IMO, but i do agree that discord can also foster a kind of "exclusive" atmosphere. we as a whole should definitely make an attempt to revive the OOC board! this isn't to say those using discord should abandon it entirely, but maybe try to use both.
i've noticed this too! i don't really have any suggestions to try and resolve this, but i will admit that i am definitely guilty of doing this haha sorry!! i think this might tie into people being too focused on personal plots or development, posting just to write a story about THEIR character. i get super excited about my character and want to gush about them, even in someone else's thread, but realize now i'm discouraged when someone does the exact same thing. this is definitely something i will try to work on in my posts from now on. i didn't think anyone else really put that much thought into it--thank you, hoot, for bringing this to light.
speaking of the bluestem/flintlock tensions, might i just say i LOVE this idea? personally, i think there's a potential to strengthen the group's IC bond via mutual hatred/prejudice for bluestem haha i'd love to see the toll these tensions will take on trade and diplomacy.
i'm terrible at coming up with ideas, moreso for group-wide plots than personal plots, but i'd like to see the toll the bluestem tensions takes on flintlock's resources?? if that makes sense?? idk if bluestem provides any valuable resources that flintlock can't get on their own but i imagine if they DO then trading would be hit pretty hard?? idk i'm so bad at this
overall in IC i love everybody's characters and their dynamics. i'm so interested in all of them and really can't wait to get to know them. i don't have much to add about the IC community? sorry about that :pensive:
on the topic of cliques--since that might be coming up a lot--i in no way think anyone here is PURPOSEFULLY excluding anyone else. everyone here is super friendly, even if they're not super social. i prefer to describe the OOC community more as tight-knit, because that's what it is. most of the members on bb in one circle overlap with another, so you're all very familiar and well-acquainted with each other.
to an outsider, a tight-knit community is intimidating as all hell. you get nervous and wonder if you're intruding. you wonder if you'll be accepted as part of the family, or if you'll just be an outsider the whole time. trying to get past that barrier, for lack of a better word, is kind of difficult!
i understand that it is ALSO difficult for people INSIDE that community. it's hard to just suddenly accept a newcomer into your little bubble--there's an awkward period where people are still getting used to you and you're still getting used to them. people tend to stick to what they know and what they're used to, and that's okay. nine times out of ten, it's not malicious.
i love you guys, and i would not believe for a second that any of you have ill intent.
i think that discord does play a big role in making the community seem a bit "cliquey." discord, unlike BB, is faster, more private, and typically not subject to the same rules on the forum, so people are using it more than OOC boards or chatting threads. this isn't necessarily a bad thing--i personally prefer discord, since it's easier to access on mobile and more "on the go" IMO, but i do agree that discord can also foster a kind of "exclusive" atmosphere. we as a whole should definitely make an attempt to revive the OOC board! this isn't to say those using discord should abandon it entirely, but maybe try to use both.
(01-26-2020, 09:55 PM)Hootowls link Wrote:...sometimes when people respond to Brendan’s threads, Brendan isn’t mentioned at all in their posts—he isn’t interacted with whatsoever. It’s like Brendan’s not even there, and to put it quite bluntly it feels like I’m being left out of my own thread. That’s part of the reason why I find it hard to respond to my threads, because it’s like people aren’t even responding to me. It hasn’t happened as often recently, but it’s been an issue since early 2019, and ig this is my chance to bring light to something that’s been bothering me.
i've noticed this too! i don't really have any suggestions to try and resolve this, but i will admit that i am definitely guilty of doing this haha sorry!! i think this might tie into people being too focused on personal plots or development, posting just to write a story about THEIR character. i get super excited about my character and want to gush about them, even in someone else's thread, but realize now i'm discouraged when someone does the exact same thing. this is definitely something i will try to work on in my posts from now on. i didn't think anyone else really put that much thought into it--thank you, hoot, for bringing this to light.
speaking of the bluestem/flintlock tensions, might i just say i LOVE this idea? personally, i think there's a potential to strengthen the group's IC bond via mutual hatred/prejudice for bluestem haha i'd love to see the toll these tensions will take on trade and diplomacy.
i'm terrible at coming up with ideas, moreso for group-wide plots than personal plots, but i'd like to see the toll the bluestem tensions takes on flintlock's resources?? if that makes sense?? idk if bluestem provides any valuable resources that flintlock can't get on their own but i imagine if they DO then trading would be hit pretty hard?? idk i'm so bad at this
overall in IC i love everybody's characters and their dynamics. i'm so interested in all of them and really can't wait to get to know them. i don't have much to add about the IC community? sorry about that :pensive:
[sub]the artist formerly known as hal[/sub]
Hoot gives Hal’s body a hug