Discussion AI in Roleplay

[Kaila Irons]

I can't read 99% of AI posts.

It's fluff, not writing. It artificially inflates descriptions into run on sentences and turns what should have been a 200 word post into a 500 word salad that is rarely even relevant to the current scene. I genuinely feel bad for people who use it because they think they aren't good enough writers because 9 times outta 10 it's not true AND the AI makes your writing worse.

It makes roleplay tedious to read and I will admit I just ignore obviously heavy chatgpt posts because it's confusing, it's tiring, it's boring, and my adhd literally means a lot of these posts cause me physical pain in my head. I do not write with heavy chatgpt users by choice, full stop.

There are a couple light AI users I still write with because it's clear they either edit the shit out of it and just use AI for ideas or see everyone else using the "(character name) did not X, but Y" formula (which btw is a huge give away) and just use it occasionally because that's what ppl around them are doing. That I can tolerate, especially if It's someone I see actively improving over time. The ones that don't even do that? glossing over, I'll find a different writing partner to share my stories with. I'm really sorry, I just physically can't. I came here to have fun.

 

[Braith Achlys]

I've used it to play around with stuff like "what would be my character's theme song be" and things of that nature, I don't really need/want/have an interest in using it to write things for me (it'd kind of defeat the purpose for me) but I don't really care if someone else does. I also don't really use it for ideas because I don't write things from prompts (middle school has ingrained a special hatred for them) but, again, don't care if someone else uses it for that.

 

[Tefka]

Amen, bro. Don't shove my content into a self-learning robot designed to eliminate human creativity in fields like writing. Actually sickening.

Nobody tell this guy about scraping bots, which has been happening for 30 years.

Resisting the advent of AI is futile, regardless of your moral beliefs. We don’t possess the mental capacity to stand on morals against it. It is a tool, like photoshop, like Microsoft Word, one that is reindustrializing in ways similar to other technologies before it.

When you use this tool it is like using any other. Do reading glasses dehumanize literature? Does the lamp alter the shade of color in which a painting is intended to be viewed. Does listening to an audiobook change the experience the author intended for the reader, do the words feel the same, does the speech change the reception.

It is easy to approach the subject with fear and anger. That’s usually how the overton window starts, and it is shifting, whether you follow or not.

 

[Blorpodungus]

dont like it

care about the planet too much to enjoy it

: (

 

[Fervos Kej]

I don't personally use any AI when creating my writing, but it is a tool like anything else. Use it how you see fit. So long as the back and forth is entertaining, I don't care if the post was written by you, an ai, or a trained rooster.

 

[Koda Fett]

It's a creative writing site. Write.

 

[Razmir Tezhyn]

It's a creative writing site. Write.

This guy gets it. AI writing is a crutch, and not a good one.

Whenever I recognize AI writing my interest dies immediately and I elect to skip. It's not even necessarily about whether it was AI-made or not. It's not even really about privacy concerns, or about whether it even qualifies as art.

It's about my time economy. I want to spend my time on here with other writers, not with an LLM.

 

[Ben Khal]

see everyone else using the "(character name) did not X, but Y" formula (which btw is a huge give away)

I just read a thread recently where they kept saying “not X but Y” and thought it was odd. Now it all makes sense. Their posts were weirdly repetitive and vague, too. Used a lot of fancy language but weren’t actually saying much…

 

[Ben Khal]

Screw it, I have more to say.

I made my position on writing with AI clear in the first discussion thread. I know Tef just issued an edict about scarlet lettering people who use it, but I need to tell a story in order to make my point. I just won’t name names nor make any references which would give away the identity of the person involved.

I believe the (over)use of LLM was the cause of a disagreement I had with another writer earlier this year. From what I understand, AI can't always tell the difference between dialogue and thoughts in the text you feed it. This unnamed writer had quoted my character's internal monologue in their character's dialogue. I was not comfortable with this. It felt like metagaming. I messaged the writer about it, thinking it was probably a mistake. And it probably was, in the sense that they had missed it while they were editing what the AI spat out, but I digress. The writer sent me several paragraphs justifying their character's apparent ability to read minds. The quoting my character’s thoughts was just a coincidence, they claimed—but it was also some sort of clever literary device, which was of course done intentionally. “I am very intentional in how I write,” they said.

At that point I got frustrated and told them I didn't want to continue writing the thread if they were going to brush off my discomfort. They responded that I was "childish" and "unwilling to engage in basic literary discussion" etc., for several more paragraphs. I thought man, this person sounds incredibly pretentious, especially for an online roleplayer. Also, damn, they sure do post a lot. Long, wordy posts, no less. How can anyone write that much? Aren’t they new? Wait a minute…

Yes, it's hard to tell who's actually writing and who's using an LLM. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times it’s not. I thought the “not X, but Y” thing was a tic or a weird stylistic choice. The people who do use AI won't admit it, of course. Some because they fear they’ll be shamed for it, but for most it’s probably because they’re ashamed of themselves. They think they aren’t good enough, that their writing is bad and they need AI. The AI is a crutch, but it’s also a lie. Every time someone innocently praises their AI-augmented writing, they feel like a fraud. It ironically feeds their insecurity.

It appeared I had caught this writer in the act of using LLM to write their posts. That was why they got so defensive. The more I looked at their writing, the more my suspicions were confirmed. Even their responses to my PMs were, for the most part, generated by AI. All of a sudden they seemed more pathetic than pompous. I almost felt sorry for them.

I gave their final message (the one calling me childish) a Laugh react out of spite. I was pissed. I felt like I had been ripped off then called stupid by the person who tricked me. It felt surreal too. Roleplay had been my main hobby for the past five years, and there I was realizing I couldn’t tell the real from the artificial anymore.

This happened a couple months ago. The person in the story is still active on the site. I am not. I write here and there with my friends, but I may never be truly active again. Part of that is because my life has gone through major changes this past year, which makes it hard to devote time and energy to Chaos. But I also don’t like feeling paranoid about whether or not my writing partner is using AI, nor do I like what it turns people into. Myself included.

 

[Nyva Shei]

This is already the second or third topic on the subject, I have already expressed myself in another topic, perhaps we should think about moving on to something else, no? Dont make witch hunt, with AI. That's made me tired.

 

[Tamsin Graves]

Now for the most part the few AI posts I have interacted with I have found boring, uninspired, and don't hold my attention. My ADD that doesn't really act up that much anymore literally turns on and is like oh look over there that shadow on the wall is more interesting. It just reads well robotic to me and my brain just can't engage it well or creatively.

I'm sure with time just like with most AI art it will get better and almost indistinguishable. I just don't think it's there yet and it's fairly noticeable at the moment.

That said besides my brains current problems with it, my personal thought is well it's lazy, uncreative, and it seems to defeat the purpose of creative/cooperative writing that is chaos.

My reasons for this is I started my journey in this experience that is star wars play by post over two decades ago way before Chaos existed or AI in it's current state did a nearly illiterate kid. A friend suggested this as outlet to get better and to help me improve with my struggling reading and writing skills. I had imagination up the wazoo, loved star wars, but didn't have much of an outlet. This style of writing made me want to get better, be better, and have fun. It was about creating a world I could make my characters/creations grow in and self improvement for me.

To me AI defeats that purpose instead of creating for yourself and escaping reality for a few creative writing posts, one is automating it taking the fun and enjoyment out of it. What is the point? That's the question I always come back to a person who enjoys golf doesn't make a machine to golf for them cause there is no joy in that. Unless they aren't about improving their own skill and succeeding through there own initiative, all they want to do is win so why not just automate it so one doesn't have to lift a finger.

Now I don't really care what other people do, do as thou whilst I won't hate you or shun you for it. It's just not my thing but I see no need to label it or mark it for others to shun. Let it be, doesn't mean I agree with it, it just is.

I'm just an old fart with opinions on the internet.

 

[Kaila Irons]

I just read a thread recently where they kept saying “not X but Y” and thought it was odd. Now it all makes sense. Their posts were weirdly repetitive and vague, too. Used a lot of fancy language but weren’t actually saying much…

I will say just because I probably should have earlier, it's the OVERUSE of that formula that is a giveaway. it's always been there, the AI just uses it way too much, takes the magic from it.

I will also say that being paranoid about who you write with isn't the way to go. Just keep the writing partners you have fun with, leave the ones you don't or you'll just burn yourself out. that goes for non-AI posting too. It's either fun to read or it's not, and I will excuse myself from a story written by a human too if it becomes a chore.

Anyway that's my final piece before the thread gets locked, we've probably gotten off topic and vented enough as is lol

 

[Thressik Marn]

I used it to help me create a language model for the Mantari and to help me stylize his vocal pattern when he speaks basic.

 

[Ben Khal]

I will say just because I probably should have earlier, it's the OVERUSE of that formula that is a giveaway. it's always been there, the AI just uses it way too much, takes the magic from it.

Sounds like too many authors lack individuality if they're all doing the same formula. They need their own personal unique style, rather than following the fashion. All the AI can do is replicate what's been done before. Maybe the overuse of AI will encourage real writers to buck the trends in order to differentiate themselves from it? Kind of like how art got abstract and "weird" after cameras came along.

I will also say that being paranoid about who you write with isn't the way to go. Just keep the writing partners you have fun with, leave the ones you don't or you'll just burn yourself out. that goes for non-AI posting too. It's either fun to read or it's not, and I will excuse myself from a story written by a human too if it becomes a chore.

Anyway that's my final piece before the thread gets locked, we've probably gotten off topic and vented enough as is lol

Lol, well, I probably should clarify that AI isn't the only reason I've gone (mostly) inactive. Over the years my circle of regular writing partners have either left the site or don't post much anymore. My attempts at finding new friends/partners on Chaos were already hampered by, uh, drama, and now this AI shit has hammered the final nail in the coffin. I feel like I'm just wasting my time here, putting effort into posts only to either get ghosted or have them be replied to with AI slop generated by someone who thinks they're hot shit because ChatGPT enables them to post more than Valery Noble.

And even though it's off topic, I'm also getting sick of all the negativity and I'd like to end this on a positive, triumphant note: Yesterday one of my original short stories was published. I plan on writing more and getting them published too.

 

[Makko Vyres]

I've found ChatGPT is excellent at:

• Summarising threads you want to join late.
• Coming up with character names.
• Suggesting thread ideas after consuming character biographies.

 

[Amea Virou]

This community takes its co-operative fan fiction in Star Wars face paint that seriously, huh?

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

Use AI. Don't. I don't care. Anyone who tries to to bring a moralistic bent to the discussion? Really? This is your hill? Find a worthy hill. Writers won't die out, artists won't vanish. Quit it with the rhetoric and fearmongering, and honestly to those saying you can tell when a post was written by AI? Good for you, even if true so what? You just sound like you are bragging about a useless skill.

 

[Kain Aldore]

Guess Imma just indulge my ADHD urges and just beat this rug this morning.

Do I use AI to write my posts on Chaos? No.

Have I, for the fun of it, tried simply to see the outcome? (Privately with my own prompts) Yes.

Do I use AI for other things in my life quiet often? Oh yeah. I'm in the middle of a ten year long DND campaign and I can't describe how useful it is to build NPCs on the fly, especially when I can feed them a name, a purpose, and then ask it to give me a personality for them, and short useless burst of background info (Yes my players are aware I do this.)

BUT All three of my characters are very distinct and I have an internal vison of how they would act, and what they should say. I'm also very particular of my own writing style. I write it paragraphs with my dialogue mixed in. Ai can't really replicate that, and when I've tried there's so much editing that needs to be done, it just ends up wasting more of my own time, than it would take for me to just write up a post and proof read it over the 30min-an hour or two if I'm hitting multiple story beats.

Kain is also pretty distinct. He's a character I write with humor, but he's not comic relief. He's someone who's been scared and has a single defense mechanism. His jokes. This is something that AI has a hard time balancing when I've seen what it's capable of. It will either lean too heavy into the humor, or too heavy into the theme of his humor when trying to decide what to use for his deflection. Which is something that comes naturally to me because I, as a person, have the same defense mechanism. It becomes a balancing act. One that I'm subconsciously aware of because I'm used to it. I think.

Now to bring up a bigger discussion. People form habits. Most people barely register what these habits are. People with ADHD tap their foot, this is a common habit, because it keeps the body in motion, even when sitting still. It's a focus, a stim. People without neurodivergence do this too.

But people also form habits in their writing. I don't think it's fair to another person, to accuse them of using AI if they're doing the (Did not X, but Y)

There is just honestly no way to discern the difference between human habit (Especially if they're new to writing RP) And what rears as an error in software.

---

Now for a separate but similar thought. Does Ai have it's uses here. Yes, without a doubt. I already defended the people who use it in the other discussion, so now I think It's time to defend it's uses in particular.

Art for your character picture? Go for it. I'm guilty of this. I'm a very busy, and very broke college student. I'm also a writer and not a concept artist. I don't have the funds to commission headshots or things I want to make in the factory. What I do have is knowledge of photoshop, and how to use a very helpful tool. So when I or another person who is aware of the wording needed to manipulate their tool, can put a few words in and pump out a picture. As long as they don't claim themselves an artist who cares? Art is the one place where AI has it's short comings. Especially because of the uncanny valley. It's not hard to tell.

You want to put your character traits into an AI and then when you write up a post, ask it if your writing is consistent with the tone you've constructed? Again, yeah that's a fantastic use of AI. It's ability to recognize patterns and learn the tone of writing is an area that it shines in. So when you write something sarcastic and then ask an AI if its consistent with your character (Who in this instant is reserved and quiet) It can tell you your off from that original idea. That's great! Unless of course you're trying to change their personality, in which case you'd tell the AI that fact and it will adjust it's understanding of your goals. This is sort of a self tonal check and I can definitely see that being useful. And if you tell it to not alter your input then it wont, it's no different than having a peer check your work for tonal consistency.

Having a word block? Throw a short sentence in there, but specifically state that you want multiple examples it might think fits the rest of the sentence best, but in an un-numbered order. This makes it function more as a "smart" thesaurus, because it can read the tone and what your trying to convey, giving you words you might either not have though of, or cutting out ones that might not fit right.

There are hundreds of good uses for AI that go far beyond, "Spit out a five hundred word post to this person, using what you know of this character."

However I am of a unique mindset. I write because it is not only a hobby and an art form, but an outlet. I also love writing prompts. So if you wanna make and Ai post in a thread for me, as long as you can read it aloud and it sounds coherent when you send it, go for it. I'll still respond with full effort, because while I respect others in a collaborative setting, I respond because I enjoy the act of writing, improv, and most importantly it's something I do for myself. Someone else's writing style, and habits should have no effect on my own response (If it is coherent). That's one of the beauties of doing collaborative writing.

Ok that's all. If you made it this far Hi. Have a good day.