Being Left Out

[Skull132]

Have any of you ever been in a situation where you join during the deadhour (definition) you join, you do your initial duties, and then you just... Sit there?

And you keep sitting.

You sit there, whether it be the engineering monitoring desk, security entrance, or the medical bay lobby desk. Of course, you wouldn't happen to have anything better to do: your own department is empty, the radio channel is all but barren, or you cannot raise/locate your fellow department members: they just don't seem to be about.

Okay, sure, nothing to do in your department, so you decide to take a walk about the station. The bar is empty, the chapel even more so. No one appears to be moving about.

Odd.

You go back to your previous post, and sit down.

And you just sit there.

 

Well, it's a situation a few people have been in. a few times, yeah, it happens. But it becomes a problem when this happens on a regular basis, on a daily basis. And the frank way to put it, right now, it has with certain people. The issue comes in the form of certain people feeling rejected, neglected. And, obviously, beyond that point, they no longer feel apart of our community. But where does the fault lie? As always, it's a two-sided issue. First off, obviously, if all the dude does is sit in his post, then he is not going to get anywhere or anything done. But if the character actively asks if anyone's about, and everyone is too engrossed in their personal storythreads to reply, then, it starts to shift a little.

One cannot expect to become apart of a storyline by just sitting about, and gawking. And I am not talking about those people.

But there are people who do their thing, roleplay, but are just not incorporated because they aren't taken notice of.

People huddle up in their little corners, focusing on only the small assortment of characters that they know, and not really expending beyond that. And from there on out, it goes into odd places, while excluding new faces at times. Or not even new faces, just faces who aren't considered apart of the group, so to speak. On higher population rounds, the issue isn't as evident, because the population is more fluent and mobile. But the deadhour crowd is most usually the same, unshifting group of players.

I don't know, but I've felt this way at times. I've discussed this matters with a few others, or rather, they have raised this issue with me, so it's kinda just there. Any thoughts that we would have on this, as a community?

[Baka]

I know that feel all too well.

[Tenenza]

It would be nice if people talked to the people at counters more often.

Especially if their job forced them to hang around a certain place all round.

[Frances]

I noticed one main reason why my characters have troubles making friends: they're at work. Work isn't necessarily the place to socialize. I might strike up a conversation with a nearby coworker during downtime - otherwise, my introverted characters busy themselves with a book or writing, while my extroverted ones try to join up with a pre-existing group. But that can be difficult, sometimes. Here's why:

We need a better communal area.

Right now, we have two main hubs. The bar, and the holodeck/pool that never gets used. While groups do form up in the bar (roughly 30-50% of the time, maybe less during deadhour), the holodeck rarely sees use, and even the bar is a less than optimal location for some, especially if it's not your character's kind of hangout. The lack of actual coded activities also makes things difficult, with the holodeck essentially featuring only fighting games (again, not everybody's kind of deal, unless your characters are especially sporty), and the bar being the location for chair RP and not much else. Decks of cards will be added soon, which will open a new avenue for IC gaming, but I think as a whole we need to think of more social activities we could implement.

This is a problem the new map sort of tries to fix, by creating a more open, high-traffic communal area with an open bar and restaurant. The addition of a central hub should facilitate the formation of groups, and make them more approachable - and while there's going to be some more secluded and calm areas for people who prefer privacy, I don't think that the large public facilities should be placed very far away from the main avenues of the station.

[Farcry11]

Here's an idea for some new meeting places:

At my private school, we have two little rooms called "conference rooms". Their purpose is essentially to provide students with a private place to work/talk/read/whatever. They're pretty useful, giving you a place to go when you need to chill out.

There's unused space on our station. Every major hall can have a little conference room, 2X3 perhaps, with a table and two chairs, plus wooden/carpeted floors. Would give people cozy little places to hang out, gamble with cards or dice , and maybe even make some new friends.

[Frances]

Here's an idea for some new meeting places:

At my private school, we have two little rooms called "conference rooms". Their purpose is essentially to provide students with a private place to work/talk/read/whatever. They're pretty useful, giving you a place to go when you need to chill out.

There's unused space on our station. Every major hall can have a little conference room, 2X3 perhaps, with a table and two chairs, plus wooden/carpeted floors. Would give people cozy little places to hang out, gamble with cards or dice , and maybe even make some new friends.

The library has one, the 2x2 table with 8 chairs in the back of the area. It's simply not separated by a wall, but since the library is pretty quiet, it doesn't really matter. The new map also has two small conference rooms, inspired by that.

This doesn't really help for meeting new people, though - it favors preexisting hangouts, but you're not exactly going to walk into another group's study room while it's in use.

[Jakers457]

Pretty much the reason why I created Revvy Black. A pretty much obnoxious and a little ignorant character that I use to interact with the crew. I mean, she isn't the most refined character but I've found myself finding things more enjoyable when playing a character who shameless butts into private affairs and the lark.

[Valkrae]

Some characters just aren't meant to be forced into those groups. My character, Shiela, is a very timid character, and doesn't function well in situations with strangers or uncomfortable ones. She doesn't do well when forced to choose a group to join into.

It's up to the groups to open their arms and let people in.

[Nik]

I try so sodding hard to keep things busy in game. I will do illegal things, pick fights, goad people, ANYTHING, in an attempt to get anything occurring IC.

It doesn't always succeed. in fact, it usually doesn't.

The complicated solution is to re-design the map to force more social interactions. Less path's, more chances to encounter people. However, that's a lot of work.

[Jakers457]

I try so sodding hard to keep things busy in game. I will do illegal things, pick fights, goad people, ANYTHING, in an attempt to get anything occurring IC.

It doesn't always succeed. in fact, it usually doesn't.

The complicated solution is to re-design the map to force more social interactions. Less path's, more chances to encounter people. However, that's a lot of work.

 

I did propose using a smaller station for dead hour, one that has a crew of twenty or so. But we don't really have one and Skull didn't like the idea of piling more things onto the already heavy workload for that of Frances or the other Developers.

[incognitojesus]

The best firms if interaction end up being the ones that just come together. A scene that comes to mind is when a few people wandered into the library, and that somehow ended up in a strip-riddle contest. Point is, the best role player is an active one who isn't afraid to do small things ranging from saying hi in the middle of the halls, or even offering to help move things, or even doing random acts of kindness like bringing someone coffee. I recall Lockie Green bringing my character Senri coffee every once in a while and then he would return the favor, and that just became a thing. Even when you're sitting in the lobby, pick up a newspaper and read the news aloud to the people around you. Even smoking in the halls and giving a few emotes with it can lead to a conversation or role play opportunity. I know that several people have come up to Senri during one of his smoke breaks and asked why he, as a doctor, smoked.

[Chaznoodles]

I get this feel nonstop. I try to engage with others, but the only time this has actually worked is when I am part of an antag team, such as a cult or nukeops. So, I usually just sit in the bar and tab out.

[Frances]

I did propose using a smaller station for dead hour, one that has a crew of twenty or so. But we don't really have one and Skull didn't like the idea of piling more things onto the already heavy workload for that of Frances or the other Developers.

Not really - I'm waiting for the bulk of the new code and for some new spriters to help with the new map, so that's not keeping me busy at the moment. However, it's quite difficult to create a smaller station than the already very space-efficient boxstation, because everything that's there serves a specific purpose. There's very little to strip away, and dead hour will still leave you with 1-2 people in each department.

[Guest]

I'm going to be truthfully honest.

You all pretty much missed the point.

This is not about people finding it hard to RP with people.

It's about the low population rounds where people are ignored or neglected because they are not in the 'group' of the people who are playing.

One example and the one that caused this thread to be made in the first place. I joined the round, there was no power, lights were out all over the place. I got contacted on the radio telling me to avoid a person in purple. So I go set the engine up, get power working. Then I go looking for people, everywhere I went, there was no one. So I call on the radio, no answer, I call again, no answer. Then I decided to just wonder around, saw no one. Not one single thank you, or reply on the comms because people were too busy with their own 'group' RP that they couldn't type 3 or 4 words. So OOC'ly I say screw this and head to cryo as a crew transfer was called.

That made me feel like complete shit, feeling unwanted or needed, and this is not the first time. It put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day, knowing I would have to spend it working on the code which everyone is reporting and moaning about not working the way [mechanic] should all the time, or dealing with people who MESSAGE IN CAPITALS IN AHELPS BECAUSE SOME REASON.

No, a smaller map wouldn't help, if anything it would cause more hassle of the staff who have to change the map over each day. More little hideaway rooms is not the answer as that would just cause people to hide away in their groups more.

The problem is people only talking or being in places that their group's members can get to (Captains office, inside medical, mining outpost, in engineering.) or when their fiends have gone off, sitting in one place and tabbing out to do something else while still being ingame.

Yes you have a job to do while playing, but at those times you rarely need to do them. Dead hour is the time of chairRP, there is never any high action in deadhour, if there is it doesn't last long. There is never an excuse in deadhour for someone to be left out like that.

It is the players obligation to make sure everyone is included in some way.

[Guest]

I want to participate in one of these dead hour rounds. Just to feel and hear the eerie, cold hums of spess wind brushing up against the plasteel walls of the station, to call out into the darkness, and get no answer. Or even to chatter into my headset, and hear nothing but a hiss for a response.

I want to sit in medbay reception, one of the most travelled areas of the station, and see nothing sitting at the desk save for some dust, cobwebs, perhaps a mouse dragged in there if I'm lucky.

I want to pound on the windows of the brig and not even get a "Hey, fuck you, get out of here", or perhaps even sit in the brig reception, hoping a Punjab Sec Officer will grumpily chat with me. But there will be no one but the shadows to speak to.

I want to steal off into the abyss with one of the EVA hardsuits, and have no one notice one is gone. I want to sit for hours and watch as the stars twinkle and shine, and hear nothing.

I want to sit in the chapel, make a prayer to God, hoping it will be answered. But there are no Gods, no Masters, from where I would be sitting. Not even a neurotic chaplain would console me, because he would not be there. Only a candle or two would burn endlessly, hoping for someone other than myself to stare at the wick melting.

I no longer want to hear the echoing screams of terrified crewmates being cajoled by terrorists, crazy genetic experiments, self-proclaimed sorcerors from the great byond, or even being consumed by the Anti-ERP spooders. I want to know that I'm alone.

I want to hear praise, love, caring. I want to experience ease, and peace. I want to be alone.

But it's a faithless whim, and faithless whims mean nothing.

[Guest]

Stuff...

What o.O

[Guest]

I DON'T KNOW IM FUCKING TIRED

[Rechkalov]

Everybody feels that way from time to time.

Everybody sometimes happens to be on a shift with nobody he really knows, and with people who already know each other and are preoccupied with their friends.

However, I insist it is not the reponsibility of other players to go out of their way, reach out to you, and make you feel at home.

Come on. Life doesn't work like that.

Every one of us certainly entered a collective new to us at one point or another, be it job or class, that was already estabilished and running, and the best we get is the teacher/boss saying "Fellas, say hi to Bob."

While I suppose I am in all likelihood one of the 'villains' of the situation at hand, I've worked hard to get to the point where I get to chucklefuck around, jousting in wheelchairs, instead of being just another sad sob sitting at their designated position with nobody to talk to.

I'm not entirely sure how I did it, but... it wasn't by waiting for others' to reach out to me.

My point being: RP activity. Activity shows. It attracts attention.

[Guest]

Please read my third paragraph, I did go looking for people.

This has happened to me for more than 5 6+ hour rounds.

The way people talk about it not being their responsibility to make people feel welcome is honestly, bull.

That is shifting the blame and saying that I (for example) are not doing anything to get RP.

I will /not/ turn my character into a chucklefucking, selfantaging, nusense just to feel welcome, because those people are not welcomed, they are moaned about.

The last 2 weeks I have been made to feel like crap OOC'ly and IC'ly, through OOC, LOOC, IC, and the forums.

That's my fault? No! I do so much behind the scenes to make sure you all get a game to play, I do it because I like seeing people happy and enjoying themselves. I do it because it keeps me from wanting to do whatever it is I would have done instead.

I have a list of 8 or 9 big bugs that need to get fixed and 100 more little ones, + new future things you guys suggest.

I don't get much time to play, when I do, I would like to be treated better than your average bald female named "The Hulk" working as a guard setting up the engine.

Is that too much to ask?

[Rechkalov]

First of all, I didn't exactly mean self-antaging, chucklefucking baldhead. The remark was merely composed that way because I was under the impression that players who 'have fun together' instead of 'doing their jobs' are generally blamed. So, I was rather referring to the people who tend to form seemingly closed circles.

(which from my experience is often harsh, since I can clearly remember chars like Kaekel or Swamantha asking random passer-bys to join their activities on the holodeck. The same thing for which I have received criticism - when I had that infamous jousting match - I made a public announcement, asking anybody to join.)

Well, I guess there are two points I'd like to make on this topic.

First of all, I think it should be taken into account that certain professions are less likely to get 'popular'.

In fact, there appears to be a certain pattern, or curve, as in - the more your designated profession interacts with game mechanics, the less likely are you to get to socialize, and vice versa.

While doing your job as an atmos is difficult beyond my imagination, I still think it isn't entirely fair to claim to be putting in the same efforts as succesful, popular priests or journalists. There are no baywikis for that.

So, that should be taken into consideration when you join in. Perhaps it's because I mostly play a psych and CSI, but I've never come into contact with engineers, unless they were needed - and in such times, there's little time for chit-chat. (same applies to scientists - and security... well, they interact with people, but... REDSHIRTS! SHITCURITY!)

The other thing would probably be - I understand that you've had a real bad round where you literally didn't find into anybody; I've had such, too, and I understand how off-putting it can be. But do you really insist it would be the same if the server was slightly more populated? And if so - what would you have us do, really? What do you propose? Should we all gather around because 'that's Scopes' character'?

Again, I don't intend to be mean, but I really fail to see how this could reach any constructive conclusion.

Edit: Perhaps it is in place to point out the difference between making people feel welcome and actively and continually devoting attention to others' characters - the first implying being nice and willing to respond to people if they reach out to you, the second implying that you constantly look out for people who might be lonely and reach out to them.

Edit no.2: And perhaps it is not the place, and I am making matters even worse.

[Jakers457]

Socialising in the game is socialising in real life, you put yourself out there and try not to be a complete bastard.

For example, two of my characters will get involved like nobodies business. That being Peter Stone and Revvy Black, who've made friends and enemies quite quickly. And that was only achieved by engaging other characters.

[Tainavaa]

I think I was in that round, Scopes. I don't remember if anything was happening in particular with my character but I often feel the same way. As someone said before, everyone feels that way; though I feel recently that I could be contributing to the problem.

I remember not long ago that I actively tried getting random people involved in my going-ons. It has been much less so as of late and I've noticed that myself but I've still expanded my list of familiar faces; the majority of them in the medical department, because that's basically all I play besides the occasional Warden. People gravitate towards others with some sort of common ground.

Like, Tina notices Fai around but has so far been given no real reason to interact; I don't like forced interaction, it feels awkward and well... Forced. She doesn't even know Fai has a spider named Waffles; Anna does because of a pAI but she's never had the opportunity to meet Fai after that one time.