Hurricanes
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane in an online roleplaying community is much the same as one in real life: a giant, destructive storm.
Of course, this type of hurricane is not one of rain and wind. Instead, a roleplay hurricane is an emotional and mental storm.
Hurricanes are caused by several things, many outlined on this site already. Opium, Mary Sues, newbies, or creators becoming their characters can all cause a hurricane.
It will usually start as an isolated incident. One person gets mad at another. Typically, this is resolved without any damage done. However, especially in single-page communities, (though it can happen in a forum community), others get involved. Then even more get involved. Soon, what was once a little conflict... a little storm.... is one that has taken over the entire community. Roleplaying ceases. Posts are rarely made in game. And stress reigns supreme.
Stress can be roleplaying's worst enemy. If someone is too emotionally stressed to write will often lash out at anyone who says anything to make them angry. Imagine a hoard of rabid cats in a room together... that is a community during a hurricane.
Hurricanes also cause splitting. Communities will often switch to one side of the argument, however vague it may be. When the community splits, sometimes the strong roleplaying friendships will crumble.
As with all internet wars, both sides will be completely loyal, completely viscious, and completely wrong.
Once the war has started, the hurricane is in full swing. Hate will reign where amusement once was. Hurricanes often cause evacuations; an exodus of roleplayers back into the shadows of the internet. If you have ever encountered a roleplayer who says they came from a different site and left due to hate/ fights/ etc, you are dealing with a hurricane victim.
Gladly, hurricanes end quickly, usually within a few days. It may seem like weeks before it is done, but you'll know it is over when you log on and everyone has gone back to their own business.
Of course, this type of hurricane is not one of rain and wind. Instead, a roleplay hurricane is an emotional and mental storm.
Hurricanes are caused by several things, many outlined on this site already. Opium, Mary Sues, newbies, or creators becoming their characters can all cause a hurricane.
It will usually start as an isolated incident. One person gets mad at another. Typically, this is resolved without any damage done. However, especially in single-page communities, (though it can happen in a forum community), others get involved. Then even more get involved. Soon, what was once a little conflict... a little storm.... is one that has taken over the entire community. Roleplaying ceases. Posts are rarely made in game. And stress reigns supreme.
Stress can be roleplaying's worst enemy. If someone is too emotionally stressed to write will often lash out at anyone who says anything to make them angry. Imagine a hoard of rabid cats in a room together... that is a community during a hurricane.
Hurricanes also cause splitting. Communities will often switch to one side of the argument, however vague it may be. When the community splits, sometimes the strong roleplaying friendships will crumble.
As with all internet wars, both sides will be completely loyal, completely viscious, and completely wrong.
Once the war has started, the hurricane is in full swing. Hate will reign where amusement once was. Hurricanes often cause evacuations; an exodus of roleplayers back into the shadows of the internet. If you have ever encountered a roleplayer who says they came from a different site and left due to hate/ fights/ etc, you are dealing with a hurricane victim.
Gladly, hurricanes end quickly, usually within a few days. It may seem like weeks before it is done, but you'll know it is over when you log on and everyone has gone back to their own business.
How do I prevent a hurricane?
Hurricanes are made by hate. The best thing you can do is to simply not get involved. Most likely, others are also not getting involved and will be more than happy to roleplay with you while things blow over.
Also, never allow anything to get to you personally. If someone says something that makes you angry, DO NOT reply to them. As you will read further into the pages, trolls often feed on hate. If you so much as say a single word in response to an insult/ threat/ etc, you might start a hurricane.
Also, never allow anything to get to you personally. If someone says something that makes you angry, DO NOT reply to them. As you will read further into the pages, trolls often feed on hate. If you so much as say a single word in response to an insult/ threat/ etc, you might start a hurricane.
Trolls
Good trolls, bad trolls.
Believe it or not, some trolls can be good. Not all trolls start hurricanes, sometimes they end them.
What is a troll? A troll is someone who ignites hate amongst other people for joy or pleasure, often referred to as "teh lolz." Seeing as you are already a member of the internet, you may have already heard about trolls and trolling.
What is a troll? A troll is someone who ignites hate amongst other people for joy or pleasure, often referred to as "teh lolz." Seeing as you are already a member of the internet, you may have already heard about trolls and trolling.
Good trolls.
Good trolls are hurricane stoppers.
Unlike the popular belief that counter trolls, (trolls who troll other trolls in an effort to make the trolling stop), are not good trolls. Often, counter trolls only make the problem worse.
Good trolling is an art and a respectable sacrifice.
Sometimes, during a hurricane, one roleplayer will step foward and, be it on purpose or not, make a comment or do something that is so shocking or rude or any other such term, that the whole community drops the hurricane and bands together to beat this "idiotdic" person back down. Often, the fight against this troll will become so large that the other fight will not restart.
Many people do not have the capacity to do this as the amount of hate and fury flung their way is fearsome. As a former good troll, I have experienced slurs, name calling, and even very graphic death threats from people I have never met. A natural reaction would be to fight fire with fire.
But good trolls know that fighting back will only start another hurricane.
Often times, after doing something to make the community angry, the good troll will stick fast to a story, and lightly fend off the angry citizens of said community using politeness and cheer. A good troll must never call names, mention specific people, etc.
Sadly, the good troll is often forced out of the community and never recognized for the deed they have done. This is almost always the outcome.
Despite the life of a good troll sounding glamourous, I suggest you do not try it. Sometimes, an inexperienced good troll can leave an even bigger hurricane in their wake.
Unlike the popular belief that counter trolls, (trolls who troll other trolls in an effort to make the trolling stop), are not good trolls. Often, counter trolls only make the problem worse.
Good trolling is an art and a respectable sacrifice.
Sometimes, during a hurricane, one roleplayer will step foward and, be it on purpose or not, make a comment or do something that is so shocking or rude or any other such term, that the whole community drops the hurricane and bands together to beat this "idiotdic" person back down. Often, the fight against this troll will become so large that the other fight will not restart.
Many people do not have the capacity to do this as the amount of hate and fury flung their way is fearsome. As a former good troll, I have experienced slurs, name calling, and even very graphic death threats from people I have never met. A natural reaction would be to fight fire with fire.
But good trolls know that fighting back will only start another hurricane.
Often times, after doing something to make the community angry, the good troll will stick fast to a story, and lightly fend off the angry citizens of said community using politeness and cheer. A good troll must never call names, mention specific people, etc.
Sadly, the good troll is often forced out of the community and never recognized for the deed they have done. This is almost always the outcome.
Despite the life of a good troll sounding glamourous, I suggest you do not try it. Sometimes, an inexperienced good troll can leave an even bigger hurricane in their wake.
Bad trolls.
Bad trolls are just that: people who start a fight because they want to see what happens. There is not much to say about bad trolls other than to ignore them and never, ever let them get inside your head.