Roleplay is something I've often put a lot of focus on, and it's gotten to the point where each day I choose between reading and replying to threads, or playing a video game with my other group of friends. I am okay with roleplay taking up most of my free time, but what happens when you realize that time was spent doing anything but roleplaying?
Unlike most recreational activities, roleplay has the property of being able to get one emotionally involved. And it can be nasty, too. For someone who often preaches the need to be detached from one's characters, I often get attached to other things; especially things I've made.
"Well, I worked for it! I'll be damned to see someone ruin that for me." I've had that train of thought more times than I care to admit.
Which all brings me to my question. How do you roleplay without all the undesirable aspects that seem to come with it?
In my experiences, I've never been able to avoid it. Certainly I've been able to delay, but end up involving myself in something that cannot possibly result in any positive outcomes. So maybe I need to ask myself, "why do I get involved in the first place?"
The answer to that question brings me to my initial point; roleplay has the unique property of being able to get one emotionally involved. I've had mornings ruined because I was still angry about something that happened in a make believe world. I've put aside my precious free time just to help settle an argument between members in an invasion.
I know it's not worth it, I know there's absolutely no value to be gained from doing it, but I do it anyway. Honestly I probably enjoy it in some way or another, although I'm not sure why.
So when it comes down to it, I've always struggled. Yet I'm not willing to give up the activity entirely. For me roleplay gives me a creative fix, I am writing stories with others in a way that I've never been able to do before and I love it. I just wish I didn't get so caught up in it that I forget the most important thing is not your character or the story, but having a good time with those sitting behind the computer screen.
I have no real advice on this, and I'm not even sure what the purpose of this blog really is, but this is something that's been on my mind for a long time now and I'm curious to see what other people think; which is why I'd appreciate comments.
Unlike most recreational activities, roleplay has the property of being able to get one emotionally involved. And it can be nasty, too. For someone who often preaches the need to be detached from one's characters, I often get attached to other things; especially things I've made.
"Well, I worked for it! I'll be damned to see someone ruin that for me." I've had that train of thought more times than I care to admit.
Which all brings me to my question. How do you roleplay without all the undesirable aspects that seem to come with it?
In my experiences, I've never been able to avoid it. Certainly I've been able to delay, but end up involving myself in something that cannot possibly result in any positive outcomes. So maybe I need to ask myself, "why do I get involved in the first place?"
The answer to that question brings me to my initial point; roleplay has the unique property of being able to get one emotionally involved. I've had mornings ruined because I was still angry about something that happened in a make believe world. I've put aside my precious free time just to help settle an argument between members in an invasion.
I know it's not worth it, I know there's absolutely no value to be gained from doing it, but I do it anyway. Honestly I probably enjoy it in some way or another, although I'm not sure why.
So when it comes down to it, I've always struggled. Yet I'm not willing to give up the activity entirely. For me roleplay gives me a creative fix, I am writing stories with others in a way that I've never been able to do before and I love it. I just wish I didn't get so caught up in it that I forget the most important thing is not your character or the story, but having a good time with those sitting behind the computer screen.
I have no real advice on this, and I'm not even sure what the purpose of this blog really is, but this is something that's been on my mind for a long time now and I'm curious to see what other people think; which is why I'd appreciate comments.
