It's Okay To Not Like Things

Look, I'm going to make this short and sweet because I'm sick of jerkasses on the forums being jerkasses to new people just because they don't like something that newcomer said or did. I won't name names or anything because I have no proof of who did this. But it needs to be said.

First, watch this video. It's the ideology I live by on the internet and everywhere else when I see things I don't like, because I try to have an open mind about everything and I like to think that even dumb ideas can turn to gold in the proper hands:



Now that we've watched that, I'm going to explain how it pertains here.

You see, here, it's okay to have opinions. That's our right as people who have free speech here. Sometimes, people have ideas or opinions that don't mesh with ours and that's alright, because we value that here. We value discussion, and differing opinions and ideas promote that. Because of that, it's okay to not like what someone is doing here. It's okay to think that idea is dumb. It's even okay to say so. You don't like that roleplay idea? Fine, say so, and ignore it. You don't have to play it, and just because it sounds like a shit idea doesn't mean it can't be turned into something far better. A good writer or roleplayer can do just about anything with any concept, even a shit one, and at least make it a little better. So even if I think a concept is shit, that doesn't mean I think the person who thought of it is shit. I just think they need to have better ideas, and I'd hope by RPing with them and trying to make the story better along with them, everyone can enjoy the roleplay more.

But see, it's not okay to shit on someone just because you dislike that idea. It's not okay to downvote that person because you dislike their idea. JUST because you dislike their idea. Roleplay concept, ideology about Slendy, beliefs on taxes, I don't care what it is. Don't downvote people just because you disagree. That's shitty, childish behavior and you all know it's shitty, childish behavior.

Is downvoting people because we dislike their roleplay idea really what we're about here at Slender Nation? Is that really the kind of message we want to send to newcomers? You don't know who that person is or why they came up with that idea - say they want to roleplay as teens, and then make their character an emo/hipsterish teen. Why is that so offensive? What if they ARE a teen themselves and just want to roleplay in their age range? I fail to see what is wrong with someone who wants to roleplay within their age range, as long as their characters aren't god-modding or being horrible Sues. The beauty of roleplay is that you can be whomever and whatever you want, within reason of whatever plot you're doing. You don't have to like the idea. But then again, I don't have to like your roleplay idea either. That doesn't mean I'm going to downvote you for having THE GALL! to post something I don't wanna roleplay.

Maybe this stems from the idea that newbies are shit, and guess what? We were ALL newbs at some point. Even the oldest members here were newbs at some point. Would you have wanted to be treated that way when you were a newcomer?

Maybe this stems from the idea that teens can't roleplay well, or have shitty ideas. If that's so, then that's ageist, and last I checked, discrimination like that was pretty much not considered okay here. NOBODY was a perfect writer as a teen. Even the best slenderblog author was probably not that great a writer as a teen. Even Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Douglas Adams, whatever author you like... I can bet you at age 15, they probably were not perfect authors. But that means that those younger roleplayers need to learn what makes a good story. And a roleplay story needs only a basic idea of an outline to get started, it doesn't necessarily HAVE to have all these huge complexities. Those come later. The purpose of roleplay... is to improvise and roleplay. How anyone could misunderstand that is beyond me.

Maybe this idea stems from seeing too many Mary-Sue characters from teens. I hate Mary-Sues too. But when you assume things, it makes an ass out of U and ME, and when you assume especially that someone's character is a Sue JUST because they're a teen, then well, that's sad; please see my above point on ageism and not being perfect when you're a teen.

Bottom line is, shitting in toilets is okay. Shitting on people via the post vote system is not. And we're all old enough to learn the difference.

Now grow the fuck up.

...OH. This is about role-playing.

(I thought Etero and I were in trouble or something.)

Anyway, I do agree with you that being opinionated is a bad thing. It tends to happen on forums like these. (It's worse on Unfiction.) And it is something that I feel should be adjusted.

Nah sethlapod, I couldn't stay mad at you or Etreo and it's not you guys anyway. It's not being opinionated that's a bad thing, sethlapod. It's the fact that people are being jerks while they do it.

Let me reiterate - opinions are okay. You're entitled to it. But don't use your opinion as an excuse to act like a jerk.

And now I'm certain it's someone trollin' the RP forums because yet ANOTHER person has had their RP idea downvoted for no reason. Just because someone doesn't like it. And it's not even an idea that's bad, just an idea that's basic.

There's nothing wrong with basic ideas. Basic ideas can grow into something really different, unique, and fun, and even if not RPing is fun. You don't have to agree but don't use your disagreement as a way to crap on other people's fun.

True story: My very first vote given on SN was a downvote on a random post because I didn't know what I was clicking. I felt so bad after that, I upvoted the guy on another post to even it out.

My point being, I believe in finger-slips and accidents. Also, if people are just senselessly downvoting shit to be spiteful, the staff usually catch on and have ways of rectifying it.

I'll admit that I'm often frustrated with people who join SN just for the roleplay section, who never branch out into any other sections of the site. I mean, we're not exclusively a roleplay site so it confuses me when people treat it as such. And when you've got literally twenty threads in the "Slender Roleplay" subforum, all entitled some variation of "slender roleplay", the lack of originality can get a little exhausting. To be honest, I'm in favor of doing away with the roleplay subforums altogether for these reasons.

Really though, I think we need a sign or banner or something that says "Welcome to Slender Nation, where everything's made up and the winpoints don't matter!"

DarkShadows wrote:

There's nothing wrong with basic ideas. Basic ideas can grow into something really different, unique, and fun.

Pretty much. "What if me made a website where we could all log in and talk to eachother about things that interested us?"

Half the things in the world wouldn't exist if it weren't for simple ideas. It's important though to realize that despite your best intentions - some people are still gonna be a pain about their opinion and never offer any constructive criticism. It's all we can do just to ignore these fine fellows and feel good about ourselves anyway.

Sure it's good not to encourage it. It's even better to smite those who are complete asswagons with a ban hammer. But preparing yourself mentally for the worst is never a bad step either. Having a thick skin is good for having great self esteem. Because as long as you think your idea is great and you're willing to accept positive input, nothing can really bring you down if you don't let it. It's pretty much how I live and I haven't had a problem with it yet.

Yeah, but it just seemed like people were downvoting for the sake of it, and I don't support that.

I think it would be nice to encourage people to branch out, but people are people. Maybe include a question on the signup stuff like, "Are you just here for the roleplay or are you actually gonna contribute and give a damn?" XD

DarkShadows wrote:

Maybe include a question on the signup stuff like, "Are you just here for the roleplay or are you actually gonna contribute and give a damn?" XD

Dude, if I had it my way, the sign-up process would be a complete fucking interrogation xD

I certainly agree with not abusing the winpoint system, however. That only leads to trouble, and getting on my bad side. The current situation has been remedied as necessary, though. It is certainly okay to not like things, but you don't have to go out of your way to make sure people know you dislike them. That's where "having opinions" crosses over into jerk territory.

DarkShadows wrote:

Yeah, but it just seemed like people were downvoting for the sake of it, and I don't support that.

I think it would be nice to encourage people to branch out, but people are people. Maybe include a question on the signup stuff like, "Are you just here for the roleplay or are you actually gonna contribute and give a damn?" XD

Actually when I read through the rules before I registered I was under the impression roleplay was pretty much frowned upon. That coupled with the "Do you think slenderman is real? Cause we don't" had me surprised to find a roleplay section. I don't roleplay because I don't feel I can be online as often as the commitment requires and I hate disappointing people. xP

Making the "Hey... you should post stuff and talk to us cause we think you're cool. :3" part a bit more pronounced couldn't hurt. That's personally how I'd word it xD, i'm sure someone else has something better.

Mashuga31 wrote:

Actually when I read through the rules before I registered I was under the impression roleplay was pretty much frowned upon. That coupled with the "Do you think slenderman is real? Cause we don't" had me surprised to find a roleplay section. I don't roleplay because I don't feel I can be online as often as the commitment requires and I hate disappointing people. xP

There's a huge difference between acting like you legitimately believe Slenderman is real on a specifically OOG forum, and roleplaying (which is recognized by everyone as fictional and creative) in a designated section. There's no harm in RPing to your hearts' content in the proper place, but if you try to convince us that Slendy is ACTUALLY OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW ZOMG, then we're gonna have issues.

Ok really good point. I'm just saying that's the impression I got.

Edit: A not so correct one though. nevermind I got nothing haha. I'm gonna stop myself before I start to look dumb xD

Steven I'm confused! Why would we be in trouble?

And I agree, the RP section as a whole really frustrates me. I joined two threads once, and I won't be doing it again. It goes too fast to keep up with for a few days, and then drops off the face of the planet. I agree with Banana on knocking the RP section over the head entirely. It's little more than a pain, though I'd be be fine if more people used it and stayed active.

Yeah. It's basically the difference between pretending Slendy is really outside your window in the proper area of the forum, and actually trying to get us to think he's outside your window.

You guys wouldn't believe what I just saw out of my window though.

He's just standing there, totally still. His clothes are so eery looking, and even though he doesn't have any eyes or facial features he seems to be staring deep into my very soul. It's genuinely frightening, but then I fight back the fear, and I look some more. It's not easy to look, to try and stare down this monstrosity, but I try my hardest. It's then that the thought occurs.

"I wonder why that kid didn't finish his snowman?"

What if he was just facing away from you? *strokes chin*

What if he just wanted to give you some ice cream or something? XD

I was too busy being grateful for snow to think about that. Real snow! Actual crystallised water, around my house! It was fabulous. I say was, because now the cold is just plain annoying.

Etreo wrote:

Steven I'm confused! Why would we be in trouble?

I... don't know. I guess because we're always usually involved in threads with DarkShadows and the thought came to my head. .-.

DarkShadows wrote:

What if he just wanted to give you some ice cream or something? XD

Ice cream from a man made of ice? That's like forced Shia Labeouf-ism.

You two are like my groupies or something. XD

Etreo, over here it's been so damn cold and so damn snowy that I had ice growing *inside of my car*. >:c

DarkShadows wrote:

You two are like my groupies or something. XD

Nah, just active members of the forum.

God I wish it would snow every once in a while here.

It's so freaking cold where I am. The snow from mid-december hasn't melted yet. xP It's all crunchy and unenjoyable. Though I don't really enjoy snow anyway. I like looking at it though xD

Mashuga31 wrote:

It's so freaking cold where I am. The snow from mid-december hasn't melted yet. xP It's all crunchy and unenjoyable. Though I don't really enjoy snow anyway. I like looking at it though xD

Exactly.

The analogy I like to use is this:
Snow is like a beautiful person who is dumb as a post and has the personality of a rabid dog: great to look at, but I don't want to have to deal with them in any way.

We get one shedload of snow a year in January, and then just bone-chilling winds for the rest of the years. Then the snow melts, and just sludge is left. I hate it so...

I was married to a woman from Alabama for two years. She had this strange fascination with snow: loved it, couldn't get enough of it.

I still don't fuckin' get it. Snow sucks.

And as a person who is mostly notable for flying off the handle at basically anything at all, I'll point out that I think that just shitting on someone for the sake of doing it isn't doing anyone any favors. If I rant at someone, there's a goddamn good reason I'm doing it.

We totally just derailed this thread.