AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Okay, I'm bringing this up because I've seen a LOT of it during my time on Amia. I don't know how to explain it, or simply how to say "Don't do this", but it may get sorted via a discussion of sorts.

First off, let me try and explain what I'm getting at. A vast amount of people on Amia have it in their heads that other people have it in for them. Now not in character, as this would make sense perhaps, but we are talking pure OOC paranoia. This paranoia is espically common with player to DM relationships (DMing for players etc, not romantic), but it's a hazard and known, but it's also infecting the playerbase.

I'm seeing a lot of people thinking others are out to get them. People analyzing every forum post, every opinion stated, every single tiny thing someone does, and thinking it's directed at them in a negative manner. I've suffered from it in the past, but not for a while.

Why is it that RPing causes some people to become this paranoid out of character? It causes overly aggresive behaviour and a tendency to judge everything someone say's? Is it something inherent within' rping as someone different to yourself, in a world wrought with danger in light and shadow? Or is it simply people being nutter's?

What's your opinion on this? Have you noticed a rise in Paranoia in players, yourself or other long term RPer's? Or do you think this isn't even an issue and me just ramblin' on about bull?

Discuss please, as I'd like to hear if everyone else has noticed this trend.

Is this directed at me? What did I do to you?

*snip*

I do not! Stop picking on me!

My opinion on this is that nerds habitually are alone with the internet too much.

I'm not paranoid, since I'm great and everyone loves me... I may be a bit narcissistic and delusional though.

Seriously though, I'm really not paranoid about even the likes of meta-gaming let alone about people being out to get me.
You guys are all pretty good people in my experience so what is there to worry about?

I've be noticing the exact same thing, Selvec ... if you think someone is out to get you, chances are they aren't.

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't means they are not after me!

No one is ever out to get anyone else. They just are who they are, and nothing changes that.

Yossarin wrote:

No one is ever out to get anyone else. They just are who they are, and nothing changes that.

"Lies and Slander! The whole world's in a conspiracy against me, and I must suicide to take care of it!"
- A quote I can see being used by someone with depression before they suicide, which is also very strange and sad.

But before this topic gets out of hand and moved into the Off Topic forum for insanity, I'd like to say that I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. I can only assume that you're thinking of most of the forum chatter that goes on. If so, then yes, I suppose what happens in the 'things to change' threads about soon-to-be-implimented game changes in which heated arguments can erupt over a few disagreements.
I'm not sure, however, if this has happened much in the past or if it has always been like this. At the moment, I think I've been seeing topics with arguments over this or that about changes over the last year of Amia, and thus I'm not sure if it's such a major problem. It's like how something clicks when you start to play some drow matron in Ultrinnan - sometimes your bitchy behaviour IC carries over into your OoC.

EDIT: Hopefully this post isn't too confusing and you can actually make sone sense out of it. Sorry!

Is it really paranoia?

The short answer is no. On a forum many people gather and trade information and opinions about topics they care about. Opinions in general are peronal views and as such have a certain amount of emotional investment. Sadly it is human nature to read "I dissagree with your statement", as "I hate you, your opinion, and the fictional horse you rode in on, because you probably don't have a horse anyway." It's difficult for most people to not take comments about their opinions personally.

As well it is worth noting the average age and emotional maturity of theose who post on this forum. So, is it paranoia, or just not being able to take criticism?

I'm a shifter so its not paranoia, its a fact everyone is trying to screw us over

I think I'm a guilty of this sense of paranoia.

But it's not that I believe somebody, or somebodies, are out to get me- I secretly hope they are because I think it would be a great little event. I mean for what kind of interactions it causes.

And yeah, I mean OOC too in being aware of it present in IC. Because I like having a few points of conflict, a few, and I've done a decently good job of not having so many. I'm talking in-character. If somebody is out to get me, well, whatever. I'll only take issue to it when it's a greifing ordeal- otherwise I'm back to secretly hoping they are. >.> Bwhahaaa.

Seriously!

((That makes you wonder, does that mean I am after them?))

Torzeng wrote:

But it's not that I believe somebody, or somebodies, are out to get me- I secretly hope they are because I think it would be a great little event. I mean for what kind of interactions it causes.

"You can measure the honor/strength/Fame of a man by how many enemies he has." Some guy whos name I forgot.

But I think deep down we all crave that attention that someone might just be after us because of something, to show that what we said or did did indeed leave an impact that other people care about.

I started noticing people taking text out of context and taking it personally when I joined my first message board in 1995. It was about Italian cooking.

Inevitable on every forum that ever existed. People do it, or they don't. If you're the type that's gonna be paranoid, ain't much can be done.

People being people, someone somewhere will always have a problem with someone else and take OOC issues into IC, or vice versa.

I expect that if you've had issues with DMs before, or been warned/banned for rule-breaking, then the DMs might look a bit more closely at your behaviour, but that seems reasonable to me under the circumstances. Just because they're watching doesnt mean they're out to get you. Necessarily.

It's also likely that, unless you're a real pain in the butt, the DMs dont care as much about you as you think.

Selvac, judging from the amount of jokes and sarcasm here...

I think your point was noted. :lol:

It's always been there, it always will be, you can't stop it, you can't change it, and if you try to fix it you'll make it worse.

hmm...Do you mean Paranoia or Paranoid schizophrenia?

Is it still called paranoia if they're actually out to get you?

I'm totally Paranoid.

Someday in the future Mago is going to punch me in the face.

I know in my own case I am just somewhat/mildly fearful and nervous as a rule. *why, I have no clue*

D-Finitiy wrote:

Is it still called paranoia if they're actually out to get you?

See my quote on the top

Its the weed i tell you, people wouldnt be so damn paranoid if they wernt stoned all the time.

Put the joint down and just enjoy the game as it was intended.

TormakSaber wrote:

It's always been there, it always will be, you can't stop it, you can't change it, and if you try to fix it you'll make it worse.

Almost sounds like GS.

Tihi.

Can I delete all of you?

I know for a fact that Disco is out to get me. Thats not parnoid, thats just accepting he hates austrians and has a problem to understand their -significant- difference to germans.

MoshingChris wrote:

I'm totally Paranoid.

Someday in the future Mago is going to punch me in the face.

LOL

Some people have a natural ability to make it seem like they're after you. Like Tormak. It's just, at some point you learn, he's after everyone! :wink:

Generally, I try my best not to read anything into anything, and on the rare occation that I can't help not to, I usually laugh it off. If it's bad enough, I'll say it straight out, but I'll certainly do my best to remain polite about it, rather than create a vicious circle.

In any case; who cares? Go play and have fun, gits.

Phearnun wrote:

I know for a fact that Disco is out to get me. Thats not parnoid, thats just accepting he hates austrians and has a problem to understand their -significant- difference to germans.

everyone is out to get austria, thats not just disco or germans, we just dont like the idea of those leather pants combined with classical music...its scary and should be stopped

Visit Austria

Built with German Ingenuity.

Granted not everyone is out to get everyone else but there are ppl on Amia that hold grudges, manipulate others & take IC issues & make them OOC issues.

It happens. It sucks. I ignore it.

I don't see what most people can possibly be paranoid about. I mean they mostly just do emo play on codor square or amia forest...
Well suppose they could be paranoid about people like me, who are out to get EVERYONE! Heck if you lived near me I'd be knocking on your door to demonstrate that you can't take multiple hits with a long sword without dying. Yeah real life means everyone is a devcritter! And trust me I will find you, I will spend that time and money to seek you out, come to your home and do just that. You know why? I'll tell you why! Because I hate each damned single one of you! (except the chicken and other dm's) You disgust me in every single way, with every single post, the way you look in game and they way you look out game, I even hate how your IP adress looks.

Just so that there is no confusion I WILL COME AND GET ALL YOU EMO'S!

(Add plenty of sarcasm, water, shake and enjoy)

Silvarus: You can't always ignore it tho. Personally I tend to avoid ppl that do that, but sometimes you can't, for one reason or another you just can't.

Teufel Eldritch wrote:

Silvarus: You can't always ignore it tho. Personally I tend to avoid ppl that do that, but sometimes you can't, for one reason or another you just can't.

True. It doesn't always work, but over the years I have become quite damn good at avoiding OOC drama.

The question is not whether you are paranoid, but rather, are you paranoid enough?

I'm sure there are certain people who are on this server that have a personal grudge against another player and take it to an IC level. Even when the two characters in question have never met before. However, I don't think it's very prevalent.

Having been neck-deep in the high school drama that is playing a drow for years now, I've seen one trait that may explain some of this paranoia.

When someone has a particularly nasty character, their just downright IC awnry-ness can be taken on an OOC level. "Oh, this person just reamed me a new one... that must mean that they don't like me." I've seen numerous situations where the lack of an IC/OOC separation made people react with a little more fervor and what should have stayed an IC rivalry became quite nasty OOC, too.

I'm sure that these same kinds of things happen all over the server and it is a real shame, but should definitely be handled when it comes up and not just ignored. When a problem is ignored it only grows bigger and bigger and bigger until it's not fixable anymore.

Selvec if you have a problem with me, you PM me. You don't have to make a whole thread about it. :evil:

I've never thought any player was out to get me OOC... But now I'm not so sure... O.o

*hides in the corner, back to the wall nervous eyes slanting about*

They always be afta me lucky charms!

I'm not worried so much about paranoid people, after all they can still be kinda funny. I'm worried about this sh*t-mood that the forum seems to be currently in.. at least I perceive it like that. Personal attacks all around (that wouldn't be so terrible if it hadn't been said before on many occasions that stuff like that is not for the public. Now players and DMs alike engage in it. Wtf is up with that?) and on the other hand.. little redeeming. I hate those obligatory "let's all calm down and be nice" threads, but I think it's about that time of the year again.

I hate everyone, I hate everyone's style of roleplay. People should roleplay like me - or I will kill them with a Hellball and give them OOC griefin'.

It is true. The proof is this very post. 3 times I wrote my oppinion and deleted it completly. Paranoia it is.

Did I also mention, I hate fat people - I am paranoid that one day, they'll eat me.

lathandier wrote:

Did I also mention, I hate fat people - I am paranoid that one day, they'll eat me.

I can understand that. Ever fought Darthion?

Yes... And I've lost 3 times, 2 on the same character.... 1 on another character where I could have attacked all day and never even damaged him if he wasnt fighting back...

xordae wrote:

I'm worried about this sh*t-mood that the forum seems to be currently in..

In my defense, I always call Lathandier Dr. Cox.

xordae wrote:

I'm not worried so much about paranoid people, after all they can still be kinda funny. I'm worried about this sh*t-mood that the forum seems to be currently in.. at least I perceive it like that. Personal attacks all around (that wouldn't be so terrible if it hadn't been said before on many occasions that stuff like that is not for the public. Now players and DMs alike engage in it. Wtf is up with that?) and on the other hand.. little redeeming. I hate those obligatory "let's all calm down and be nice" threads, but I think it's about that time of the year again.

I don't tend to worry about those overly much, usually. People can be nasty in one topic about something in particular, and carry on as if nothing happened in the other topic. It's OK for matters to argue even in a heated way, if the people keep it nice.

But yeah, there's been quite a few quite personal attacks lately, from many directions and to many different individuals. That's unnecessary for the discussion itself, and does little else than contributes to the negative overall feeling.

Dead wrote:

lathandier wrote:

Did I also mention, I hate fat people - I am paranoid that one day, they'll eat me.

I can understand that. Ever fought Darthion?

Difference being, he WILL eat you. And your babies too.

We <3 u, fatty.

AxlLeigh wrote:

Dead wrote:

lathandier wrote:

Did I also mention, I hate fat people - I am paranoid that one day, they'll eat me.

I can understand that. Ever fought Darthion?

Difference being, he WILL eat you. And your babies too.

We <3 u, fatty.

Don't spread love in paranoia thraed

Amia Paranoia

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