Character Complaint - Solomon Shaw

[CourierBravo]

BYOND Key: CourierBravo
Game ID: cpV-aF7J
Player Byond Key/Character name: Solomon Shaw
Staff involved: N/A
Reason for complaint: Concerns of over-abrasiveness
Did you attempt to adminhelp the issue at the time? If so, what was the known action taken by administration/moderation? No, in the moment I was busy. I only resolved to after considering how I felt after the round.
Approximate Date/Time: During round listed, but also a related instance a few weeks ago.

I've played a few rounds with this character, and I keep walking away with them feeling frustrated. I know what the character archetype is supposed to be, the mean boss/executive/observing person who's supposed to make sure everything is being run right. My problem right now is two things. One, the bigger of the two: Several of the nitpicks the character makes are things where belief needs to be suspended. What do I mean by that?
When I and my character Samga first met Solomon, the character berated me for being late to work. I had late joined the round. He would not leave me alone about it. I think latejoining is something where the suspension of disbelief needs to exist that the character isnt late. Unless they state themselves they are. I cant revolve my life around Aurora, nor can anyone (sustainably) really. I gotta late join now and then. It didnt feel good to have this brought up in that moment. This was a few weeks ago now, I wish I kept the round ID just for logging sake, but, oh well.

To reference the listed round: Solomon berated the commander for a long period for not sending in her officers to just deal with a stowaway that moment, and throw them in the brig or maroon them. The suspension we need to make here is that we're here to roleplay. An antag's job is to facilitate roleplay by being an antagonist. They cant do that if the moment security sees them, they just attack them and arrest them. Security has to walk a line of not just letting antags do whatever they want, but also letting them explore their gimmick. Up to the point where its unavoidably dangerous for the crew. At least to me, thats how I see it. Being belittled and harassed for giving these characters the space to do their thing instead of just robusting them instantly isnt fun. it blows.

Additionally, Solomon seemingly suggested that the bridge crewman should be in the bridge unless doing another job function. The character claiming i abandoned my post in the bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge is only accessible to a very short list of characters. I'm here to roleplay. I need to leave the bridge so i can interact with characters beyond talking on the radio or texting. I think its an acceptable suspension of disbelief that in this setting the bridge crew isnt always on the bridge. Yes, in real life, if I was a bridge crewman the expectation would be that I'm always there when on the job. It doenst feel good to have this brought up to my character, when im just trying to roleplay.

The smaller of the two points, as mentioned in the first paragraph, is the nature of the character. The way that Solomon gives criticism feels very demeaning and rude. And it always is. To the point that I the player am getting upset with it. The command radio is regularly breaking down into bickering between everyone who wants Solomon to just shut up, and Solomon. I think this needs to get toned back a bit. Jerk characters fundamentally have a place both in roleplay and on our server.  But a line needs to we walked with it. And im feeling like it might be over the line, because im just not enjoying the rounds where I work with them. I dont like that the radio is just requests for Solomon to please shut up. It doenst feel good for me to do that, and I cant imagine it feels good for the other player. But I dont wanna engage with that character.

I'm gonna close this by saying that I think Solomon as a character has a place, but not in his current form, in my own opinion. Which is why I'm making the complaint. I just think some chill needs to be put on. Pulling it back a bit. Id really like to see a place where I want to engage with this character. We dont have enough corporate liaisons who play these hours, and I like that someone is trying to play a liaison. I especially like that they're playing a liaison that is getting out of their office and poking into the going ons of the round. I just dont like how it currently is.

[Evandorf]

Hey, Solomon here, I'm truly sorry for making you feel frustrated. If it helps, the entire point of the character is that we know from an OOC perspective that what he's harping on about are things that we suspend for the sake of RP and fun. Whether it's you being late, the commander being light handed for the sake of antags, or any other operational nitpicks, Solomon's purpose is to cause strife and he uses the realistic, bureaucratic, and mundane aspects of the job which are normally ignored by unspoken consensus. No rational command player is going to demand the bridge crew stay at their posts but, as you said, realistically it would be required. His position as representative and the strange nature of our suspension of disbelief makes him difficult to dispute but ultimately he has no real power. He's an asshole to be ignored or interacted with as you prefer.

[Roostercat]

As the HoS that was getting scolded, I will say that it would be nice to tone down the command radio arguing. It's pretty hard to stay involved with whatever is going on when the entirety of command radio is people arguing with Shaw. 

[Evandorf]

On 23/09/2023 at 16:36, Roostercat said:

As the HoS that was getting scolded, I will say that it would be nice to tone down the command radio arguing. It's pretty hard to stay involved with whatever is going on when the entirety of command radio is people arguing with Shaw. 

I think, in hindsight, the round that preceded this complaint was one where I was extra ornery but wasn’t an antag. I try to only get super combative (relatively) as an antagonist so I’ve got no issue toning down the command comms barbs during normal rounds.

[CourierBravo]

On 22/09/2023 at 10:18, Evandorf said:

Hey, Solomon here, I'm truly sorry for making you feel frustrated.

Hey, no worries! thank you for apologizing  : )
 

On 25/09/2023 at 12:50, Evandorf said:

I’ve got no issue toning down the command comms barbs during normal rounds.

That's pretty much my main concern addressed, just toning it back a bit during normal rounds.

I think that resolves it. Unless moderation has anything else to add, I'm content with closing the thread out.

[ReadThisNamePlz]

Okay, cool. I was going to recommend making an incident report for any other incidents, because nothing here was really an OOC issue. But, glad you guys could reach an understanding. 

Locking and archiving.