Forums » Smalltalk » Your view on RolePlay

Now, I see Roleplay as a way to both make up for what we lack and desire (Like the awesomeness in everyday life that characters in Roleplay get) and an indirect way of talking about problems, feelings, difficulties, happiness, etc. What I mean about an indirect way is, well, like, putting it all into either a third person view (and then altering it a bit) or personifying it. With the things that we lack thing, it's not only ourselves, but also our world and stuff, if you can get what I'm saying.

Anyway, I'm interested, how do you guys view Roleplaying (Other than basic story building)?

Roleplaying can certainly provide that kind of catharsis for me when I'm in need, but mostly it's just for general enjoyment. I often think it's strange that we actively encourage imagination in children, yet frown upon it in adults. Telling stories is part of what makes us human.

For me, it's in the same category as listening to music: spiritual nourishment. I'm quite happy in my every day life, but I still love a good story. ^^

Check out the Essay contest we had earlier this year! Entrants were encouraged to write about how roleplaying changed their lives. I think that ties in very well with the topic at hand -- to see the effect such a seemingly trivial hobby has on one's life is a good reflection on their views, for sure.

To be honest in my life I play two faces. Village idiot, to keep work place fun, entertaining, and to help pass the day quicker. In that I'm not seen as creative, bright, intelligent, or even remotely wise. The other is the bad guy. Playing people's feelings to make them realize things, biting heads to show they did wrong, letting others believe I've done them wrong just to hide that I actually do care. Weird I know, but my past has left things... Complicated. So for me Roleplaying is that outlet, it's where I don't need to play false faces, I don't need to hide emotions. Every character I make is an aspect of me in some way. If you actually gather all my characters and mash them together you'd have me, minus the powers but even those have meaning to them, and most people looking at them wouldn't even see that. It has only recently come into my life, about three years, but it has been an outlet I can't live without anymore.

I feel like I have this bubble in my head, and that bubble will grow and grow until I poke a little hole into it and let out some of the air, if you understand. It may sound weird, but I feel like all my RP scenes/ideas might make my head explode if I don't use it!
I had a period, before I discovered RPR, were I didn't get to air out my little bubble, and I felt like I was going crazy! Just a minor addiction here...

I entirely feel this. Sometimes I will be laying around and I will get these ideas. For stories that need to be written or characters that need to be made. Events that could happen and how people would respond given different situations. It will nag in my brain until something is satisfied and that usually comes in the form of rp. That, or typing away by myself for a few hours to write a story.

I also find, personally, that it is a great form of escapism. When I am stressed or needing a mental vacation, I slip into the mind of one of my characters. I let myself be taken away in a similar way as reading a book or watching a movie, except this is my own personal favorite brand of getting away from it all. Since, you know, beaches and unlimited bahama mamas at an all inclusive resort don't exactly fit my lifestyle.

I’ve always loved writing and stories, and while I write books and poetry and all of that, I love rp because it’s collaborative. Sometimes thinking of everything yourself in a story is exhausting, and with rp you can bounce ideas off of other people to create something that none of you could create by yourself.

It’s a form of escapism for me, like videogames or watching tv, though I view it as more creative and productive. And things that are true in conventional writing hold true in rp most times- it’s a way to explore the different types of…. humanity, or lack thereof, in different characters and situations, which I find pretty interesting.

I dunno. All theories aside, I love rp, and don’t think I could ever give it up. Somewhat addictive, for sure! Like reading a good book you can’t put down, only you are actually a part of it.

Damn, I feel ya!

To echo much of what has already been said, when I actually do rp, it is to either relax and get away from my day to day life. Writing a story offers a way to escape into anywhere: you aren't limited to just your surroundings.

Stories are also possibly the best form of self expression in my opinion. They can help you get out what you might have difficulty saying to a person face to face. Beyond that, any storytelling at all furthers your imagination and creative abilities - it doesn't matter if you're an English major or somebody with crappy grammer (u c wut I did thar?), you can always find someone here to relax and have fun with.