CLIQUES & INCLUSIVITY DISCUSSION

[roman]

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I’m not really sure if I have anything beneficial to add to this conversation but I’d like to input that while I feel left out in the discord, it’s mostly of my own doing. I check it maybe once a day? And when i do want to talk, people usually always started a conversation. I personally find it easier to plot or chat on the character channels because there’s less traffic and it’s more direct. As someone who has dealt with an unbelievable amount of clique discussions on wcrpg, ff, and now here, all i can say is that when a group starts growing and people begin forming their circles of friends, the best way to combat problematic cliques is just to encourage yourself and your friends to have private threads with newbies and even pay closer attention to other people’s posts so you can include/react to certain aspects. Even if it’s in a small way like having your character’s unique necklace acknowledged in a post or someone asking about their backstory, it’s nice to feel included.

And honestly, what I’ve started doing since I’m really awkward when it comes to plotting with others, I just have my characters show interests in others or form crushes without asking permission?? Like nothing too over the top, but i just make it obvious that my character has interest in another and that usually helps me get myself included and it enriches the role playing experiences.

The clique problem is a two-way street. Because everyone here is really kind (as far as i know), the solution is more of being aware of how you are including others. Do you try to interact on the chats all the time? Do you go directly to the person most relevant to the plot you have in mind? Do you notice that a new character has a unique quirk and do you include your own character reacting to it? Do you feel left out in ic situations? If so, do you interact less and less or do you make your character noticeable by having them talk to others without being invited? I hope this doesn’t come off as too unempathetic but I’ve had a long experience with being excluded (usually unintentionally) and it’s really helped to make myself impossible to be ignored rather than get too upset about it. No one really excludes people on purpose unless they’re mean, so all it takes is a little bit of direct action.