Petition to stop interest checks.

[Ender]

I don't know about you guys, but these interest checks are driving me crazy, and I'd like for them to be made "illegal" in this forum

Here's one vote for the banning of interest checks.

[Ktan]

Actually, I see the issue. A lot of the time, people do an interest check and it seems to be without a solid and coherent idea just 'I'm thinking of doing a StarCraft RP, do you like StarCraft too? We should RP and get married'.

As such, I withhold my vote for the moment, especially given that I'm not a frequent visitor here. However, I can see there being solid reasoning for such a petition.

If you want an interest check, make your RP and then if people are interested, they'll join. Fair enough if it's a massive idea, but a lot of Interests Checks are made up of posts that say 'I will, if it's a good idea', which sort of defeats the point. If a good idea is there to start, then so be it.

However, equally, interest checks can be useful so that someone does not throw themselves in at the deep end. Maybe we should instead encourage interest checks that are almost a full RP to start with, no simply posting: 'I like this topic. If you also like it, I'll make an RP...eventually.'

Banning interest checks outright may be harsh though. Used responsibly, I'm sure they can be applied well.

[Kazeofwinds]

I was under the impression interest checks fell under jurisdiction of the scratch pad. Especially those of the "I dont really have an idea yet, but I'm starting an RP sometime soon and I'm wondering who would join" variety.

[Ender]

That's what I would think too, Kaze.

[Black.Ice]

I think I brought this issue up a while ago, but I'm not too sure. This was one of the reasons the Scratch Pad was formed, for people to develop ideas and stuff for their RP's. I used to be against interest checks, however, I have found them to be useful. For example, if you have a well formed idea, I'd recommend starting an interest check. It lets you gauge if it's worth your effort to put in the idea.

I think I'm to blame here though, by advertising Interest Checks in my sig. I posted my original thread to see if I could conjure any old school RP'ers, because I had been toying with this idea in my mind. If I were to actually apply the rules to myself (ha), I should have posted in the Scratch Pad. However, my interest check kinda spawned a bunch of them and for that, I take full responsibility.


I'm rambling here, so let me get to the point. The forum isn't very active, therefore, I feel interest checks are ok. If we had so many interest checks that normal RP's were getting pushed back to the 2nd page, then I'd agree. However, there's only 4-5 active RP's, and maybe 2-3 interest checks, so I think it's fine.

Perhaps we can all make a conscious effort to use the Scratch Pad more, now that I'm clearing it out every month to keep it fresh.

[Ender]

I dunno, BI, twice as many people think they're annoying as fuck compared to those who don't.

[Black.Ice]

That's true, but I have mixed feelings about them. I hate seeing them just as much as everyone else, however, I love making them because they're so useful.

I dunno, if we get like so many of them they're killing off the 5 active RP's that are going, then I'll consider banning them. Otherwise, I don't see a reason to ban them. While we may not like them, it's not helpful to really ban them.

[Jaxander]

I'd say put them, as was outlined before, in the Scratch Pad, obviously where they are intended to go. As a newer face to the RP Forum, it is kind of annoying to be scanning through the list of threads and get the Interest Checks mingled in with the RP's themselves.

I do find interest checks useful, however, and seeing that I myself have been toying around with an RP idea, I may just start one myself. However, I would do it on the Scratch Pad, and not in the RP Forum. So, no I don't think they should be banned, just moved.

As far as I'm concerned, Scratch Pad=Ideas, Online Roleplay=RP's. End o' story.

[Black.Ice]

The thing about the scratch pad is it gets confusing. For example, say 2 people decided to post a RP within a relatively short amount of time of one another. If a lot of people are commenting on one, the other one might not get attention. Or if both of them are really good, it'd be annoying to skim through new messages to meet one.

In short, there's simply not enough threads to warrant combining. If there were like 10 active RP's and 10 active interest checks at one point, then I can see combining but I little scrolling won't kill you.

[Jaxander]

What if the Scratch Pad were converted to another subforum of Online Roleplay? I don't even know if we can do that, but wouldn't that be an answer to everyone's problems?

EDIT: Sorry, by 'we' I mean you all as the 'admins'

[MattTheFighter]

I'd just like to point out that It doesn't really bother me. Ok so someone wants to see if an RP works, so what? Not every body looks at the Scratch Pad though.

I'm neutral in this...Switzerland FTW!

[Black.Ice]

What if the Scratch Pad were converted to another subforum of Online Roleplay? I don't even know if we can do that, but wouldn't that be an answer to everyone's problems?

EDIT: Sorry, by 'we' I mean you all as the 'admins'

It's an option, but AJ is usually against sub forums unless they have enough activity. The RP forum only gets about 10 threads a month or so, so it's pretty dull in itself. I doubt he'd want to create another sub forum, nor do I really think one is necessary.

[Jaxander]

It's an option, but AJ is usually against sub forums unless they have enough activity. The RP forum only gets about 10 threads a month or so, so it's pretty dull in itself. I doubt he'd want to create another sub forum, nor do I really think one is necessary.

I see. I was unaware of that. Thanks for the info. I can see how a Scratch Pad subforum would make both itself and the RP forum a bit...bare.

Well then, I'd say that I'd be fine with keeping the interest checks in the RP Forum as long as they give a good synopsis and an idea of what players can expect from the RP itself.

[Vhaeraun]

Some of the interest checks can and should go into scratch pad. I'm talking about the ones that go "If I make something, would you join." There's NO reason to be posting that unless you have a good idea what you're actually gonna do, not none or a very vague one. Vague ideas should go into scratch pad, and no idea shouldn't be brought up.

Oh, and two different threads for the same RP is annoying as well, unless the two different threads are just that; different threads. I've seen 3 or 4 RP's lately post two threads for little to no reason. I can understand if you make the second thread long after the first to consolidate characters. For instance, when you make an RP, and so many people join you have to make a post saying who's who, and what's going on, and shit. But there's no reason for a thread for joining and a thread for IC posts; I hate that, and I'm probably not the only one.

[Ender]

Amen to the "In Character" and "OOC" thread ban. Those are just annoying and stupid.

[Jaxander]

Yes, I agree whole-heartedly with Ender and Vhae for that one.

[BIGDB]

I think a nice, simple, logical approach to the whole issue is to set aside the topic of the thread.

In a normal discussion thread, would you post a thread to see if people wanted to discuss a topic, and then if there is enough interest post another thread to talk about what you inquired about talking about? No. Of course not. One of those threads would probably be locked. And, I think, for good reason.

There are very few instances where two threads for the same RP are necessary. And we only get one of those twice a year at best.

A role-play is based around a topic, just like any other thread. And you only need one thread to discuss one topic. I'm pretty sure that sums it up.

Edit: Scratch pad = my best friend.
And in my opinion OOC is generally not appropriate anyway. That's what PMs are for.

[Black.Ice]

Thanks for the input and suggestions guys. I was being a little lenient w/ the multiple threads just to see how it'd go, but I don't like it any more than you guys.

[RavenCrusade]

The thing about the scratch pad is it gets confusing. For example, say 2 people decided to post a RP within a relatively short amount of time of one another. If a lot of people are commenting on one, the other one might not get attention.

Which obviously wouldn't be the case with say, four Interest Check topics. Most people seem to go to one thread, post there, then leave; leaving the other threads with nothing. I think it should be reserved to the Scratch Pad, because the Scratch Pad is the 'go to' place. If an RP idea never gets off the ground, people tend to forget about it because the thread rots. If all ideas were posted in Scratch Pad, there's a bigger chance somebody will remember and say "Hey, what ever happened to so-and-so?".