Using Your Character as a Negative Mouthpiece

fuckyeahroleplayadvice:

This is something that I’ve seen throughout my years of being in the roleplay community, but even more so here on tumblr. A roleplayer submitted a question to me about this, but I thought I’d address it as a whole.

What I mean when I say ‘using a character as a negative mouthpiece’:

Using a character to say negative/hateful/harrassing things, saying that ‘it’s just how the character is’ or blaming it on a roleplay situation, when in actuality, it is how the mun feels about the character/other mun and they’re attempting to use the character to escape the consequences of their actions

This seems to be a growing issue in the community. 

It’s important to understand that using a character to spout negativity instead of it ‘directly’ coming from you does not make anyone exempt from consequences (i.e. People calling you out on your behavior).

For example (this is coming from the ask that was sent to me that brought this up. Slurs are used for examples only):

Two roleplayers are roleplaying a homosexual couple.
Another player comes in with his character. This character uses slurs such as ‘faggot’ or ‘fairy boy’ at the couple. 
The two roleplayers confront the mun about this behavior, and it is brushed off with it being ‘a part of his character’.

This is where it is unacceptable. If a roleplayer has approached you saying that a character’s manner of speech is insulting/offensive and they would prefer they not use it, and the person refuses or claims it’s a part of who their character is, they are justifying their negative behavior through their character.

Now, some people have characters that are extremely offensive, and often times these people put warnings on their characters. This is fine. If someone approaches and would like to roleplay with this character, but would prefer the offensive qualities be removed/toned down/substituted for other words, this is great if you comply. (Though you’re not obligated to, no, but then you two just go separate ways. No harm there.)

But when someone has kindly asked that your character not speak this way around them because it makes them uncomfortable, you either leave the roleplay/thread, or you kindly accept their request. Otherwise, if you continue knowing it makes them uncomfortable, you’re just being rude.

There are other ways that people use their character to bully others. People may make their characters say “You suck. You’re an idiot. No one loves you.” to someone constantly to the point it affects the mun, while the mun doing the bullying will simply blame it on the character when this is just not the case. They’re using their character as an excuse to bully. It’s terrible. 

I think what’s important is to know the difference. This behavior is usually consistent and relentless, usually not stopping after confrontation. If you see someone exhibiting this behavior, call them out, but don’t be hateful.

Let them know that you don’t appreciate being spoken to this way, even if it is ‘supposedly’ by the character alone. That the fact the mun is refusing to stop allowing their character to speak this way is disrespectful and rude. Or, just send them this little guide to let them know you know what they’re doing.

Using a character to hide behind while saying negative things is very terrible and only promotes negativity in the already negativity-ridden community that we have right now. We don’t need anymore of it.

Don’t let people use their characters to bully you or be extremely offensive when you’ve asked them to stop.