All the World's a Stage: Delicate subjects, handle with care
by Michael Gray 
Jul 13th 2008 at 9:00PM
When you decide to roleplay, a whole new world of imagination opens up to you -- soon you realize that all the World of Warcraft is a stage, and all the orcs and humans merely players. Michael Gray fills in this week for David Bowers to talk about how you can handle delicate subjects while achieving your roleplay goals.I can't speak for anyone else, but one thing Momma always warned me about is that there are a few topics you just don't talk about over dinner or in polite company. Sex, drugs, money, politics. If you're like me, your sweetheart gives you that look if certain subjects are brought up. "Don't even get started," that look warns me.
I admit, I can be a powderkeg about feminism, racial equality, and general "do the right thing" subjects. But these issues do come up during the course of roleplay. There are more than a few victims among WoW's characters, and there are certainly some bad guys who'd do despicable things.
If you're going to play with hot-topic issues, there some things you can do to help keep everyone's sensitivities in mind.1. Do not use real world language to describe your character's attitude.
Let's be clear. I'm not talking about George Carlin's infamous Seven Words. I'm not talking about the most common four letter words. I'm talking about those foul, vile racial slurs, the demeaning and dehumanizing language targeted at women and minorities.
A good rule of thumb is that if Blizzard's language filter blocks the words your character is using, it doesn't belong in WoW. Hell, Blizzard blocks that language for a reason. Why would you work to circumvent those rules? What's more, even if your character is evil and demonic, the players who view your work probably aren't.
By using this kind of real-world language, you're also losing your roleplay-driven message. People seeing your roleplay aren't going to think "What a deep and meaningful interaction." Whatever communication you may have had in mind, all your audience is going to see or hear is the slur. And poof, you've defeated yourself. It's just not helpful.
2. Spend a bit of time being sure this is the path you need for your story.
Some subjects are stickier than others and also best avoided. Rape is almost never necessary in stories. If you're trying to portray someone who's been through a forcible, horrid violation -- don't fall back to rape. Can't you formulate a similar story based on some kind of telepathic violation, or maybe a demonic possession?
While you may be able to interact with rape as a valid, consensual storyline -- others may not. And you'll again finding yourself losing your message in the shock and horror of your subject. Not to mention, maybe digging up painful feelings in other people. It's usually just not worth the negatives.
3. Spend a little time out of character.
Out of character time goes against the veins of pure immersion, but a high level of trust between players is required in order to handle delicate subjects. Especially if you're about to betray another character, or do something vile. It could be in character for you, but you should take the time to do the communication with the other player(s) and establish a trusting rapport.
Mutual out of character trust and understanding is probably your best defense in any situation. It's especially critical if you're putting yourself or another player in an uncomfortable situation. Sure, they can log out whenever they want. I hear that a lot. But why would you want them to? Wouldn't you rather have an understanding, and both of you have a good time?
4. Don't joke about serious subjects.
If you wouldn't say it in church, around your family, or at work -- don't joke about it. Why not? Well, even tiny little slips of humor communicate information. And if you set yourself up via quips and remarks as being the person comfortable and okay with inappropriate commentary -- when things get serious or uncomfortable, that perception is going to remain in place.
Sure, everyone should (hopefully) get the benefit of the doubt. But each of us has the responsibility to ourselves to maintain that benefit. If you're looking to lighten a mood, self-deprecating humor usually gets me by, personally. I know I'm not going to hurt my own feelings. But a lighthearted jab at someone else may be overanalyzed by the human being behind the other computers.
Summary
Of course, these four tips really just boil down to "be considerate of others." Remember that there's a real live person sitting behind the other computer, and treat them as you would like to be treated yourself. But, if we could all manage to do that, our roleplay would be a little better off.
Good luck out there!
All the World's a Stage brings you all kinds of roleplaying tactics and strategies: from finding other roleplayers to avoiding annoying pesterers, to overcoming the Mary Sue within all of us -- even to roleplaying the opposite sex!Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, RP, All the World's a Stage (Roleplaying)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PimpyMicPimp Jul 13th 2008 10:09PM
I'm not a roleplayer, but do people actually RP as a racist? That boggles my mind as that seems like something very real and RPing would be an escape from reality.
Then agian, this is the internet. If it can be done, it has.
Azyriel Jul 13th 2008 10:28PM
To be honest all my role playing experience comes form D&D which to be quite frank is VASTLY more open to what you are capable of. I really don't approve of censorship to role playing because it only inhibits creativity. However, due to the fact that WoW is not among close friends and things can EASILY be taken out of context i can understand people being cautious and what they do and say.
On a side note because i play with a friend and we recently came back to Twisting Nether (RP-PvP). We are contemplating making a crusade/inquisitorial themed guild that well quite frankly is racist towards the Horde. Also, we are both working on a story for the guild and as it stands only races that worship the Holy Light completely are allowed in such as Draenei, Dwarves and Humans. In that case you are not allowing races to join but its not because of racism or favoritism its just because of keeping with the feeling of the game and the lore of the holy light.
vwvstarboyvwv Jul 13th 2008 10:54PM
in roleplay, i can understand how these rules can be applied courteously to preserve the experience...but i get the sense you are attempting to guilt characters and the people behind them into behaving 'politely.'
everything CAN be funny; and in an open, free-speaking environment like WoW, those who abuse the power to speak freely WILL be ousted for acting like idiots [consult Penny Arcade's formula]
not really an issue, but i can see how it is an easy subject to write a quick post about.
Nati Jul 14th 2008 2:37AM
I don't think racism is very prevalent in roleplaying, but most fantasy worlds feature something we don't have in real life - multiple sentient species. Intra-species conflicts are a staple of a lot of fantasy literature and games, so it's only natural to include that in roleplaying as well, ranging from the haughty elf looking down on the "filthy dwarves" to the hatred between human and orc.
I've never seen actual real life racism being roleplayed out though based on the color of a character's skin, which I'm happy about. Besides, it sort of makes sense - bigots would likely find better targets for their prejudice in other species because of greater physical differences.
PimpyMicPimp Jul 14th 2008 3:30AM
To clarify, I meant real life racism, not ingame. I can totally understand roleplaying as a grizzled Human vet who hates Orcs with a passion or some other varient. I just can't imagine how you could RP your hatred for, say, Blone-Haired Canadians with freckles or some other real life nonsense.
Malos Jul 13th 2008 11:05PM
Very nicely written Michael. And I think this is pertinent to all players not just RP’s.
A Nonny Mouse Jul 14th 2008 1:38AM
I totally agree about the inanity of rape stories. The worst example that comes to mind comes from a woman who had always seemed sweet, kind and gentle, in character and out. Then I got a chance to read some of the backstories for her character, which were full of brutal, even ceremonial rape scenes perpetrated on her character and other innocents by Alliance soldiers and cultists. Apparently this was all as a catalyst for her night elf character to disguise herself as a blood elf, which is a terrible cliche in itself, but there are so many less repugnant and needlessly emo ways to manufacture such a plotline.
Sean Riley Jul 14th 2008 1:55AM
The extra point to make, though, is that the better you know your audience, the more you can get away with.
A hardcore, Scarlet Inquisition plotline involving torture, brutality and paranoia? Only in your guild, and even then, only if you know the participants well.
In a pick up group? Keep it light.
That said, here's my other commandment of serious topics: Don't be afraid of them. If you are going to do them, do them RIGHT. Hit hard, be uncompromising, and make those issues as complicated, difficult and tricky as they are in real life. Play the bastard, play the racist -- They're good antagonists and good roleplay needs conflict.
That said, if you can, try to complicate, if only for originality's sake. The Human Paladin whom is a Scarlet Inquisition firebrand and regards the other Alliance races with suspicion and little more than scant regard as thinking creatures has been done. (Mind you, I've seen it done very well, but none-the-less.) But how about the gentle human priestess whom helps the poor of Stormwind, is loving and considerate, which makes it all the more shocking when she notes, "But you do have to admit, the undead are a horrifying problem. The Scarlet Inquisition have that right. No no no, I'd never condone what they do, but those Night Elves just aren't right, are they? Worshiping a moon spirit rather than the power of the Holy Light -- You can't trust them."
Racism, sexism, rape, torture, horror and nastiness of all sorts -- These are all great subjects for roleplay in the proper context. But know thy audience. Choose your spots carefully. As Michael notes: Be considerate.
Nizari Jul 14th 2008 11:40AM
From my experience on an RP server, the vast majority of people don't have the depth of understanding to deal with a subject as complex as rape or racism. If you haven't either experienced yourself, or have a close relationship with someone who has, you're going to either sound offensive, or incredibly clueless and it'll be obviously you have a shallow grasp on the topic.
Nati Jul 14th 2008 2:39AM
Also while I liked your article, I can't believe you actually suggested that people fall back to demonic possession, Michael. Though I understand the distinction you make (and it's one I agree with), there are few cliches more tired and boring than the demonic possession tripe.
Sean Riley Jul 14th 2008 4:24AM
As with any trope, even the most tired, it can be done well. It helps if you make your demonic possessions not be of the "And now I control you" kind and more of the "gibbering insanity at inconvenient points" kind.
Cynra Jul 14th 2008 8:30AM
As others have noted, the key here is to be mindful of your audience. In a group of close friends and guildmates you can typically be much more open in your roleplay and explore topics that would otherwise be considered taboo. Familiarity builds more tolerance and respect can go a long way. I love exploring these kinds of topics in my writing or in roleplay, but I recognize that not everyone wants to have that thrust into his or her face. Plus be mindful of the fact that that kind of information isn't usually casually shared with others.
On that note, one thing I'd like to point out is that unless you're regularly in a group with some people most of this information isn't going to be readily available to every person that you encounter in-game. If a character has been raped, do you think that he or she is going to spend a lot of time discussing it with random strangers? Or that a deep loathing of another race is always going to be the predominant thing on that character's mind? In exploring these topics (which I think is a viable form of roleplaying and actually have implemented in part with some of my own characters), you don't have to broadcast it to the world. Introducing yourself to a complete stranger and then announing your entire life story -- your woes, your pains, your hatreds, your faults -- leaves VERY little room for growth and story progression.
One of the worst cliches that I see is the travelworn hero who sits down at a bar and shares his life story with every person he encounters. There's no growth; there's no rapport -- there's just this spewing of backstory without any thought as to how it's presented, when it's presented, and how people would react to it.
Oh, and I LOVE half-demons or demons possessions. They're everywhere and seem so trite. Bleh. Plus I always seem to get whispers by them about why they have that story, can I hunt them down, and do THIS thing to help push my story forward, kthxplz?
Badger Jul 14th 2008 12:17PM
"Oh, and I LOVE half-demons or demons possessions. They're everywhere and seem so trite. Bleh. Plus I always seem to get whispers by them about why they have that story, can I hunt them down, and do THIS thing to help push my story forward, kthxplz?"
I have seen this so often recently that the following scenario plays through my head every time I witness it:
"Crikey! We've found ourselves a Powah Gamah - and she's a real beaut, she is! This one seems ta be tryin' ta take control o' those poor souls ou'side da Stormwind Bank! Let's watch an' see 'er at work."
Doomzy Jul 14th 2008 10:20AM
I agree with all of his points. He does not say not to do it at all, but to be sure that when you do use these points in your story lines to be as respectful as possible to those people who play the characters. Which really is a message that the entire WOW community needs to hear.
On the subject of rape though I don't think it is ever needed in someone's story. It is too personal. With as many people in the world who have been raped you run a risk of bringing immense pain to a person who might come to this fantasy world to escape just that topic. Yes, I know that this is not FBC (Fuzzy Bunny Craft), but it is still supposed to be a marginally safe environment for people to express themselves. Would you sit and talk about rape in a casual setting if you knew that a person in the room had been raped? In WOW we do not have the luxury of knowing everyone's real life story, respect that.
Cynra Jul 14th 2008 10:50AM
Along those lines, some people turn to the game not only to avoid those topics but also to explore them or as an outlet. A fellow roleplayer once had a very morbid background for a character that involved quite a bit of sexual abuse and rape. It was something that caught us off guard when we finally learned about the character's history after some months of interaction. However, this individual was exploring those topics because she had been in some of those very same situations and for her writing these stories and roleplaying this character was an outlet for her. She found strength in roleplaying a strong, independent, and skilled woman who was able to recover from the trauma that had been inflicted on her during in her past.
It was an important first step for her that allowed her to eventually seek help outside of the game. I can't say that she found peace in playing the game, but it did help her immensely.
Mind you, she wasn't brazenly open about what happened and didn't often share her character's background. And that's probably what distinguished her even further from others who would use that as a plot device.
Syme Jul 14th 2008 3:36PM
In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Rosencrantz snarls at The Player, "You die a thousand casual deaths!" Too often in an attempt be meaningful, roleplayers in WoW suffer a thousand casual atrocities. I think if people reflected more on the nature of the things they trot out to make their characters seem to be deep, they would abandon such readymade horrors and try something really creative.
Adrian Jul 14th 2008 3:49PM
I vastly agree with the comments posted, and the article is both to the point and well written, I have so far NEVER RP'd on WOW though, Yesterday I started a new character on the "Sisters of Elune" server so that I could get my story and background and everything as a BELF ready, and lo and behold I got greeted by "barren's chat" on the main start area; so I got to thinking, most people starting RP have no clue what this is about.
I cannot understand taking "fanfic" rape stories into WOW, although it can lead to some interesting reads, I can't really fathom the need to get that subject into the game, it may just be me though.
Racism? Sure, Orc vs Human, Troll vs Elf, I can see that, the lore even backs it up, look at the "Gods of Zul'Aman" trailer, it's part of the game, but some of this racism will take you really out of character.
Cynra Jul 15th 2008 3:04PM
Rape is a theme even in the Warcraft universe. Consider the character Taretha "Tari" Foxton, who was Aedelas Blackmoore's unwilling lover. There are references to the woman's bruised wrists. When Blackmoore discovered that Tari had betrayed him by sneaking away to speak with Thrall one evening, he had her beheaded and tossed the dismembered limb at Thrall's feet. This story appeared in the novel "Lord of the Clans," which was a written adaptation of the cancelled Warcraft Adventures game.
This was from a Blizzard sanctioned novel that is assumed by many in the community to be canonical (despite the company's disliking of the word "canon"!).
COncerning your attempts at joining a roleplaying server, in my experience it can be very difficult to locate roleplaying. Many servers have degenerated to normal servers that are slighly above the cut of other PvE servers; I've found that the names are a little less dewd-speaky (especially since we do have the grounds for reporting), that people are a little less immature, and the occasional roleplaying community. This is a result of Blizzard's reactive stance in enforcing many violations of their policies; they rely on the community to report and maintain the standards of that server and as more non-roleplayers join a server it becomes more difficult to do so.
I've heard of a lot more success on newly created roleplaying servers, since typically you end up with many more rerolls from people who are actively seeking roleplay. Either way, roleplay DOES exist on these servers, no batter how buried it may seem!
Juliah Jul 30th 2008 5:02PM
Good post, Michael. I wish more people would heed this particular sentence:
"If you wouldn't say it in church, around your family, or at work -- don't joke about it."
Ragen Aug 23rd 2008 2:39AM
I do agree you can go too far. But let's count a couple of things:
1. Your in a game where your killing things. By the time your are 70, you have finished off thousands of creatures great and small.
2. Your in an imaginary world where some things do fit, no matter how your morals take it. Rape, Pillaging, Murder, and Bad language were all part of the time periods where fantasy originates from.
3. If something bothers you, roleplay it out. I bet you a dollar you can make something great out of someone's comment, and then OOC them with " Please don't say that, it really bothers me".
As for bad language, put on your filter. There is also addons which will sort out custom works for you. Don't punish the many, even if you feel strongly about it. We all want to have fun.