I am not here to bash anybody in-particular, but as an avid reader of our streets and business district forums (albeit I am quite reserved myself) there is a number of the population, indiscriminate of rank, who open their posts role-playing the readers actions. I just don't get it.

allow me to share some basic examples:

You noticed the sign from outside,
As you enter, you think to yourself "wow, nice décor".
You remove your hat and lay your buttocks on a nearby stool.

surely, this is criminal. my understanding of role-playing is that each individual should describe their own, personal actions: it allows us to become individuals and shape our characters. I prefer those that simply set the scene, yet a vast majority do not do this - even though they may be exceptional writers.

what is your opinion?

I agree. The first time I learned about this is when I went to the thread linked in the Help menu " Rules of Role
Play Engagement "

.I think those people should just describe the scene in an impersonal way, like: "There is a sign outside and right inside a nicely decorated room with stools can be seen." etc

I agree that the point of view should not be from the readers pov.  Who knows how each of us would react to the scene in the story?

Im new but I think that should only be used if your laying out the scene of your busness or something like that.  I agree it should not be done in the streets.

Why wouldn't you say "nice decor"? Would you really go into describing what they just laid out in the previous post? I mean obviously you should build on what you're doing in some way...but you should only go into description if you're interacting with whatever it is (lighting, bar, stool, door and so on) in my opinion (unless of course it's you're story, business or whatever).

It's not just your irk, I promise. I too am a big hater of "God-modding", but unfortunately a lot of people don't understand what that means in role-playing terms. I've RP'd with people who, after gaining their permission, have allowed me slight liberty (read: God-modding) with their characters, and then there are people who simply think that's how RPing is done.

The problem you're coming across with running a business is that most of your customers are going to be at various levels of RPing experience, from beginners to extremely advanced. The extremely advanced know what they're doing, how to make the story lines move forward. Beginners... I think we can agree that they're not going to take the reigns like that. What I've noticed, over the years on MR, is that most shop owners simply lay out their intros as a way to take initiative and get the ball rolling in their places, rather than write up an exquisite piece that will sit there for weeks, unread, until someone decides to spam in it out of sheer boredom.

Sometimes the same problem crops up in the streets, though I've noticed it a lot less (unless I'm just not traveling there as often as I used to, feel free to correct me).

What I tend to do, and it's rather tedious, is that I start out simple, until I figure out what the other people are used to doing. It will take out a lot of the guesswork and 'irk' from the RPing aspect of the site. Take cues from the people you are writing with. My characters have found themselves in some very strange, f'ed up RPs from time to time, and others they've found themselves in amazingly written story lines. It all depends on who you're playing with. Find that it's hard to write with them? Move on and find someone you can work with- there are plenty of RPers out there, you just have to find them!

And above all, don't lose faith in RP'ing humanity. Not everyone will spoon-feed you their business decor. That's a promise! too! ;)

Tony, I think it goes beyond the streets. It's not "right" that I narrate your actions at all, be it in the streets or in a business. Your actions are your own. If I put some effort into it, I should be able to describe something without saying "You see this and that".

John, it's not the "nice decor" we are against, it's the narrating in the second person we are against. Basically changing all the "You see's" with "There is" and not narrating any actions for the reader, just for the staff and people in the background.

I would definately have to agree with all of the above. Adding that it probably isn't any one thing, rather an accumulation of things which lead to this. For instance, a person RP'ing your character may do this simply because of inexperience, lack of ability or lack of will. Doing it to be funny, usually isn't.

It is important for those to remember to Roleplay YOUR character in a story. Instead of being less creative and using anothers RP as your own. Example: Person A walked in and was amazed by the crystal chandeliers.  RP#2 Person A was so amazed by the decore that they grabbed their chest and fell to the ground.

Clearly this is not what person A did, nor intended to do and will result in them not wishing to RP with you, or frequent your establishment(s).

You know what annoys me? People playing mafia like it's some kind of mickey mouse club. They're criminals and they make peoples lives a misery. What's wrong with being a dirty rat or a nasty finger-snipping don or a two-faced harlot who actually does sleep around? There is no room for the pristine in the crime world unless it's a front.

Referring back to the mickey mouse club bit, I see people congratulating eachother and talking like we're still in the chatroom. Have you not forgotten how many under-the-surface rivalries and bids for power there are and how tense those situations would be as one person is elevated over another? Similarly, I think some of the nicey nicey sentiment that flows too thickly needs cutting out.

I liked seeing roleplay like that one where the guys were shooting and chasing eachother and people were getting involved and knocking ten bells out of someone else.. and the one with Cryptic plotting where his families were stationed.. these are good examples of roleplay.

I won't give bad examples because 1) I don't want to make enemies so early on 2) I think I've said enough for people to make up their own minds what I consider bad roleplay and 3) don't take it personally if you think I'm talking about you, just do something about it or disregard me as a purist or a dickhead. I don't care. I'm just voicing my opinion and know I'm right.

I am not against your views, Fred_Kovach - but you should probably display some links that demonstrate the type of role-play you prefer, whilst we're on the topic - as I am finding it difficult to imagine.

I can obviously relate to your initial points, though - most people are putting on a front... but from an outsiders perspective it is always boring to see - especially when there seems to be little variety.