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10:22, 19th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Posted by GreenTongue
SunRuanEr
subscriber, 410 posts
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 13:48
  • msg #5

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Realistically, I think you could posit that social media addiction affects /everything/ that requires any kind of patience or attention.

Myself, I don't use it at all, but my older children are practically addicted to Instagram and Twitter, although thankfully not as much with the Facebook. It's like they can't spend five minutes /not/ scrolling through something on their phone - even some of the adults I know can be watching a football game and pick up their phone to check news feeds, etc, every time a commercial comes on.

I would think, truthfully, that the pace of RPoL would make it /less/ likely for social media to distract people from it, since there are naturally those 'go check your phone' breaks built in when waiting for other posts. Goodness knows the last time I saw someone try to run an actual tabletop game, they couldn't get /anything/ done because everyone was spacing out checking their phones during the other players' turns. At least /that/ can't happen here.
Piestar
member, 972 posts
once upon a time...
...there was a little pie
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 14:03
  • msg #6

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Gad yes, the last few times I tried table top, the phones became an issue. I tried really hard not to have my phone out, but when the GM would be focusing on a place or event I wasn't involved in, it was hard to just sit there and do nothing.

I can see how RPoL should be safe from that, because I can go hours, or even days (or sadly weeks in some games) between opportunities to post, no one cares if I check FB.
ladysharlyne
subscriber, 3181 posts
Member before Oct 2005
THE GLASS IS HALF FULL
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 14:14
  • msg #7

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

I have thought of a thumbs up or Kudos or something to show a player that it was a great post but then again, n this sort of setting is that not off putting to others that are actively posting.  I strive on all things being equal and find a PM to the player who did the great post to thank them the best thing.

What I am finding are my players are playing games on Discord and other social media such as FB, etc (Other social media is available) and get enthralled in that and do not think to post or don't give a care to those waiting on them.  Again nothing a GM can do about that but make hard decisions to remove such players having given enough time of not posting or at least saying what is going on.  Is it the GMs place to have to track them down and practically beg them to post?

Due to health and real life issues I keep my games slow to moderate as something is always happening to someone in real life.  So I will continue with the game pace I have.  If a player wants to fire off rapid fire speed posts then they need to find a game that satisfies their needs, but that is up to the player.  As a GM I can only hope if they want faster posting that they will also stay with my games they started in, but at any one moment it is up to the players not me. Just please leave the game politely and let the GM know it is no longer for you if you are leaving.

It is very aggravating, especially if you talk to the player and they say they will post and then don't want to leave.  THEN GET ACTIVE!

I feel the most frustration by players ghosting me and not keeping me in the know of what to expect.  I have some games floundering because of this, so I am taking various actions to get those games moving for those that are fine with the slow post speed.   The stalwart players do want to play and the player who is off playing other games on social media doesn't hurt themselves as much as it hurts the players that are waiting to post and play.  Why not have gaming etiquette?

So I don't see much that can be done about Social Media players as the players must set their own precedence to what they want.  Who cares how much time they play on Social Media, the games on here deserve their time because they did choose to join the games.  They should at least gracefully say goodbye to the game and let it move on.  I guess being addicted to social media affects our games and other players who are waiting as much as it does those socially addicted players' real life family and friends.

I'll step down off my soapbox now.  These are just my opinions and we all know about what opinions are.  ;)

Piestar
member, 973 posts
once upon a time...
...there was a little pie
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 14:19
  • msg #8

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

I can see how having a kudo's system could be off-putting to people who don't get them, and if everyone gets them, they become meaningless, really.

I think I am missing what the OP meant with this thread.
bigbadron
moderator, 16038 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 14:26

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to Piestar (msg # 2):

Nice post.


There, that was easy, even without a Like button.  :)
Piestar
member, 974 posts
once upon a time...
...there was a little pie
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 14:29
  • msg #10

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to bigbadron (msg # 9):

It would be nice to be able to attach it to the post in question, without breaking the thread though. I've already seen players who get upset with people using the -reply to post#- function, imagine if every thread had three to five 'good posts' for every post!

Gad no...
ladysharlyne
subscriber, 3182 posts
Member before Oct 2005
THE GLASS IS HALF FULL
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:09
  • msg #11

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Ron's said it right.  Could one way be putting a private PM in the post that only the player can see?
Piestar
member, 975 posts
once upon a time...
...there was a little pie
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:11
  • msg #12

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

I really don't consider this worth arguing about, it was a discussion, not a request. Geez...
ladysharlyne
subscriber, 3183 posts
Member before Oct 2005
THE GLASS IS HALF FULL
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:36
  • msg #13

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

I was not arguing I was offering a suggestion.
GreenTongue
member, 1006 posts
Game Archaeologist
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:37
  • msg #14

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to Piestar (msg # 8):

I think ladysharlyne nailed it.
Players consumed by SM and forgetting to update their games here. Not because they are disinterested or don't want to play but, because there are only so many hours/minutes in a day.

That's how many things work.  Crowd out competition to keep control of the person's accessed content.
bigbadron
moderator, 16039 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:46

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to Piestar (msg # 10):

Oh, I wouldn't recommend doing it that way in a game.  I'd recommend using the OOC thread, or even a PM to the player whose post you liked.

Also, a like is very impersonal.  Which is better, "I like your post", or "I like your post because... [explanation of why]"?
GreenTongue
member, 1007 posts
Game Archaeologist
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 15:54
  • msg #16

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

My other point was,
Does the amount of effort feel higher here than other sources of stimulation?

I mean, you have to review what was already posted and formulate a response, repeatedly.
That just as a player. All to feel "part of something".

Where as on some other SM, you just have to post something random and look for "likes".
evileeyore
member, 532 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Joined 20150819
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 16:19
  • msg #17

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

bigbadron msg #9:
There, that was easy, even without a Like button.  :)

Exactly.  If it's worth the effort for me to post, it was a post worth my effort.

Though I'll admit, in Piestar's defense, I also like drive-by thumbsup/downing posts too.  Sometimes even in a trollish fashion (not here though, ya'll are too strict my trollin games here).
engine
member, 856 posts
There's a brain alright
but it's made out of meat
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 16:26
  • msg #18

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to GreenTongue (msg # 1):

In a word, no.

/Everything/ moves faster than a play-by-post game, so there's no need to appeal to a (questionable, in my view) concept like social media addiction to explain (if an explanation is even needed) any apparent loss of interest in this site.
GreenTongue
member, 1008 posts
Game Archaeologist
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 16:43
  • msg #19

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to engine (msg # 18):

So you don't feel that things that are "in your face" crowd out things that "wait their turn"?

That if you are looking for some interaction, the one that happens first doesn't draw your attention away from one that takes longer?

Yeah, some people cover all the bases and the "in your face" ones don't take priority but, is that common?

I'm talking about "how things work" and their effect on sites like this.
NowhereMan
member, 453 posts
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 16:58
  • msg #20

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In short, still "No."

Why? Simple. There will always be time for forum posting. See, in the time since the last post in this thread, I have checked Facebook, Imgur, Reddit, Tumblr, looked at a Tweet, replied to something on Discord, got up, went to the bathroom, came back, and wrote this post. And I have missed exactly nothing. Forums are slow enough that you can contribute 100% as much as anyone else in the community, while still having enough time to do every other kind of internet interaction in between posts.

And that's the appeal, really, because there will always be people who don't have the time to keep up with lightning-fast Discord communities or dedicate hours to live-play VTTs, like in your last thread.
pdboddy
supporter, 721 posts
EST/EDT [GMT-5/GMT-4]
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 17:14
  • msg #21

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to NowhereMan (msg # 20):

Heck, I have missed hours of this post and still caught up in a few minutes. :D
GreenTongue
member, 1009 posts
Game Archaeologist
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 17:24
  • msg #22

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to pdboddy (msg # 21):

Always a big plus.

Then there can be weeks with nothing, so you get out of the habit of checking.
evileeyore
member, 533 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Joined 20150819
Thu 9 Sep 2021
at 20:35
  • msg #23

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Piestar:
I've already seen players who get upset with people using the -reply to post#- function, imagine if every thread had three to five 'good posts' for every post!

Gad no...

Oh yeah... in an IC thread where it's an IC post, that "In reply to" makes my eyeball twitch.  In non-IC threads, or an OOC response, I don't care.  But an IC response?  Instant blood boilage.  But I tamp it down and move along.



pdboddy:
Heck, I have missed hours of this post and still caught up in a few minutes. :D

And this is why, for me, message boards will always be superior.  Even when I log into a fast mover and have 70+ posts (some game have blazingly fast OOC threads), it's easy to go back to when I last posted and read forward from there.  No 'endless' scrollage and waiting for the thread to populate like Discord... and hoping I don't over shoot and have to scroll abck down.

I hate Discord.  It's nothing more than a fancy-pants IRC and I hated IRC.
pdboddy
supporter, 722 posts
EST/EDT [GMT-5/GMT-4]
Fri 10 Sep 2021
at 12:02
  • msg #24

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

In reply to evileeyore (msg # 23):

Eeh, I loved IRC. :)  But then, I started with BBS.  Text based messaging in real time was magical.  Just like the text based games, muds and mushes.

Discord is very handy for voice communications while playing a video game.  It's not bad for streaming either.  Text is fine, but I am not really there for that.

I guess Discord could count as social media, but only if you are really running a server.  YouTubers, Twitch Streamers, game developers... they use it for social media.  I don't see people opening up a Discord server to show pictures of their cat and what they ate for dinner last night. xD
facemaker329
member, 7359 posts
Gaming for over 40
years, and counting!
Tue 14 Sep 2021
at 05:10
  • msg #25

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

The answer to this, as with so many other "Is <insert latest cause of concern> affecting RPOL?" questions, both simple and complex, at the same time.  By that, I mean, in some cases, yes, and in other cases, no.  I've been away from RPOL for the last four days...not because of social media, but because work had me so busy that I just plain old didn't even have the energy to look at my games, because I knew I didn't have the energy to respond to them.  Social Media Addiction, in my case, is likely increasing my activity on RPOL, because the games I'm in tend to have very active OOC threads where players and GM discuss a lot of things about their every-day life...the game is a framework for us to get together online, but we're still using it as a social interaction.

Other players probably approach their games differently.  I'm old enough that I can probably get away with calling it a generational difference, but I actually prefer the fact that interaction here can't be boiled down to simple likes/dislikes or commenting with a gif or meme.  There's a place for that, sure...but I only find those satisfying as an icebreaker, leading to a more complete conversation.  I know others (a couple of decades younger than me) who base the majority of their social media interaction around them...and if that's your thing, great.

But I, for one, love the fact that there are still places on the internet where you actually have to spell out your thoughts and ideas, rather than spewing pre-packaged blurbs that may or may not really grasp them (and don't get me started on the people who post memes just because they think 'it's funny' or they 'want to stir the pot'...)

So, yeah, it's affecting RPOL.  And, at the same time, no, it isn't really having that much of an effect.  It all depends on which users you look at.
WhiteComic
member, 438 posts
In omnia Paratus
Momento Mori
Tue 14 Sep 2021
at 12:15
  • msg #26

Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

I'm not going to lie, whether it be social media or some other excuse, I do forget about RpoL sometimes. It has gotten so bad this past year and a half to the point my players literally waited for my return because that game had gotten so good. Social media plays a huge role on my life and I honestly need to let it go, but I can't say that's the main reason I stay away from RpoL.

I think in general though, RPoL has been losing very valuable players and GMs for a multitude of reasons. I, for one, have enjoyed RpoL since 2008 and this is by far the best Roleplaying site still standing.
pdboddy
supporter, 723 posts
EST/EDT [GMT-5/GMT-4]
Tue 14 Sep 2021
at 15:56
  • msg #27

Re: Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

WhiteComic:
and this is by far the best Roleplaying site still standing.


I wholeheartedly agree.
GreenTongue
member, 1010 posts
Game Archaeologist
Tue 14 Sep 2021
at 17:23
  • msg #28

Re: Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

Sadly time is a limited resource.
"Good Intentions" are not the same as a good update.
I've always tended towards brief posts and still posting around various social media eats into the total time available.

Be it not putting enough detail or not getting to it soon enough, I suspect I'm not the only one effected by the habits acquired and distractions of, other media.
Hunter
member, 1668 posts
Captain Oblivious!
Lurker
Tue 14 Sep 2021
at 20:09
  • msg #29

Re: Is Social Media Addiction Affecting RPoL?

pdboddy:
WhiteComic:
and this is by far the best Roleplaying site still standing.


I wholeheartedly agree.


And it probably will be for as long as it's here.
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