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Chit-Chat: General Roleplay Discussion Thread "the RPD" (archived)

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I don't recall the RPA's ever being done away with, and quite frankly it could all still be a popularity contest because judges could just vote for their friends with half-assed reasoning. At least this way there's a wide range of voters, so at least some of the categories are bound to go to people who deserve it.

I've won RPAs and I'm not that popular around here.
 
To be honest I'm a bit surprised that the Roleplay Awards are back and also a bit disappointed. I love the idea of the RPChallenges and thought that was a permanent replacement (and I'll expand more on this point later.) The RPAs have and always will be a popularity contest, there's really no other way to put it. Whether or not people want to recognize it or not is up to them. This is not just my own personal opinion I've heard/read this from other RPers as well. There are groups of friends/roleplayers in the RPCorner that always (yes, I feel pretty comfortable using the word always) vote for each other. Now, they may throw in some other people to make it seem like they're not voting that way, but they are.

The RPAwards do a really bad job at actually judging the RPs/RPers for their work. I doubt half the people who vote actually read roleplays that they're not in or pay attention to RPlayers that they are not friends and/or acquainted with. The RPAwards really require an objective view and I have yet to see really anyone demonstrate that. Now, yes, we can say "well I hope/trust every votes objectively" well, that's nice in theory, but how often does it actually happen? I never, ever vote in the RPAs because I know that I don't have time to read the other actives RPs that I'm not in and I know that I don't know other roleplayers enough to feel comfortable on voting who's the "Best SU Writer" or the "Most Descriptive." The reason why the RPChallenges/RPOlympics work(ed) so well is because it you're putting out fresh work or one post/SU/idea and it's not an entire roleplay. You can easily judge/tell how a person is doing. Through the means of judging you can clearly tell if someone is being biased (i.e giving scores that are a bit too high for that quality of work.)

Also, just because you won an RPA and don't consider yourself "cool" does not cancel out the fact that it's a popularity contest or that you are in fact well known despite you not acknowledging it. It happens a lot in the RPA. Perhaps you deserved it. Or people see one person voting for that person in that category and because they can't think of another name just tack that username into their votes. The fact is a lot of roleplayers who are good (but are maybe in one/two RPs and could be new) don't ever get recognized for their work. It's truly a shame. That's why I will now and forever continue to boycott/not participate in the RPAs.
 
Who doesn't love you Gimme? I'll do horrible things to them...j/k

Oh yeah Megan, it'll be tons of fun if it happens, I know SB will be in for it. And I've got a lot more experience with Rping now >:D

Personally I don't know how I feel about the RPA's some of the stuff I heard felt genuine to me, and I can think of a few people who I downright thought deserved to win, but I understand how it can be biased as well. But just because the RPAs are back (for now at least) doesn't mean the challenges are gone...huh...I really need to enter one of those despite how crappy my odds of mattering are X3
 
There's an entire category solely dedicated to new RPers. I don't think those new people are getting overlooked. You might say "well only those who are getting more known or making a name for themselves are getting considered" but quite frankly, in that category that pretty much means they are the most deserving.

Honestly, everyone else I saw seemed pretty deserving of their wins too. They make good posts, RPs etc etc. Really though, people are getting way too up-in-arms about a bit of fun in a pokemon site RPing community. It's not really something to start a big kafuffle over. If you don't like them, don't vote. Simple.
 
If you feel that people are going to be overlooked, than it is your job to vote for them, no?

RPAs are only a popularity contest if you let them be. As a group, us roleplayers are quite good at sharing the love and praising each other - so instead of being down about it why not use it as an opportunity to cheer on the roleplay community here? :)

RPChallenges will continue monthly anyway. RPAs are completely separate, in my eyes.

Also the last RPA was voting like this and I don't remember people posting then.
 
gimmepie said:
There's an entire category solely dedicated to new RPers. I don't think those new people are getting overlooked. You might say "well only those who are getting more known or making a name for themselves are getting considered" but quite frankly, in that category that pretty much means they are the most deserving.
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You don't have post telling me what categories are in or not in the RPAs, I'm well aware thanks for that. Yeah, you don't, congratulations, but, yes, there are still people being overlooked.

Secondly, your second sentence does not make sense. Just because you are more well known does NOT mean you are more deserving that is called popularity.

gimmepie said:
Honestly, everyone else I saw seemed pretty deserving of their wins too. They make good posts, RPs etc etc. Really though, people are getting way too up-in-arms about a bit of fun in a pokemon site RPing community. It's not really something to start a big kafuffle over. If you don't like them, don't vote. Simple.
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That's great, probably because everyone you saw are the people you're familiar with or is in your friend group or is the most popular. Those are the people who win.

I really don't like the second statement that is basically saying we shouldn't say anything because it's just for fun. No one is getting "up-in-arms" and if there are causes for concerns they should be voiced and recognized and not tried to be shut down like you're doing. It's a time of reflection not automatic dismissal, where does doing the latter get us?


Magic said:
If you feel that people are going to be overlooked, than it is your job to vote for them, no?
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No, it's not my job if anything it yours because then there's clearly something wrong with this process yet you still keep doing it the same way.

Magic said:
RPAs are only a popularity contest if you let them be. As a group, us roleplayers are quite good at sharing the love and praising each other - so instead of being down about it why not use it as an opportunity to cheer on the roleplay community here? :)
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No, no it's not. It's a popularity contest because no one wants to look outside of their friend group and actually be objective about their votes. Why don't we take this opportunity to reflect and actually look over a topic that people are finding problematic and not brush it under the rug? I'm not going to "cheer on" something that I have a problem with.

Magic said:
Also the last RPA was voting like this and I don't remember people posting then.
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Actually they weren't. Maybe when you left they were but RPAs were handled by a revolving panel of impartial and secretive judges. Also, just because people didn't post then doesn't mean it wasn't a problem then. That's not a great way to think about things. Because someone didn't address it doesn't mean it's not a problem.
 
To draw a parallel to the Member of the Year voting contests that PC has overall, I don't vote there because I don't like choosing who "deserves" a category more than others in that way. But the RPAs are a bit different, since it's about actually doing something, roleplaying. I'm not sure I'll vote this time since I've been a ghost here lately :x and I agree on the points firelordyago brings up. But there are many who do enjoy the RPAs and it's fun to see people getting acknowledged, like gimmepie says. So in the end, if enough people think it's fun, let them have that fun I'd say :3

Or if you have ideas on how to make it more impartial or less depending on who you know, bring them up to Peter? Like, didn't we have a nominations round once and the maybe top 2 members with most nominations in each category were then pitted against each other in a voting thread or something.

But also MEGAN YAY for returning to the RPC!
 
Wait, what? I thought normal voting had been removed from the RPAs because it didn't work?

If it's back then I'm totally against it. Like Firelordyago said it was a terrible system and groups kept voting for their friends (I was a part of that bull**** so I know). When I was still active around here the system was similar to that followed by the RPChallenges, where there was a rotating panel who secretly chose the winners. I think that was the best way to pick winners and didn't really lead to repeating fights everytime a RPA thread was put up. And I think it lead to a rise in quality of posts because people knew that whining to others about votes wouldn't do them any good so they just decided to focus on their writing.

Plus even if somebody wants to vote impartially, you can't really expect them to read through every active RP. They're more likely to vote for active RPers in their own RPs or in RPs which they're in.
 
Well... personally I don't choose to vote in the RPAs, that's my decision alone. Reasons for such a decision are mainly because... well... in the past whenever I've voted I really haven't paid attention to other rps. Life is busy enough keeping up with the rps I have on this site and the rps I have on other sites alongside college work so whenever the RPAs float along, I really have no time to go through EVERY OOC and IC threat and read EVERY post to see how well another player is.

There are simply too many SUs to read in order to judge who truly is the best SU writer and too many posts to find out who is the best game master or the like. Truly, I think the challenges were well enough even though I had no time really to participate in those, but I did see them doing their job well.

When I used to vote int he RPAs all I would do was stick to whoever would play in the rps I was in. If a new person joined a rp I was in, then I would always stick their name in the best new rper category. I would only vote for the gms I was rping under, etc. Essentially, for me at least, it became a popularity contest. For example, SV got a whole lot of votes many times. Why? Simple, he's popular and a really great rper. Does that mean he doesn't deserve the rewards? I don't think so, he's great in my opinion, but at the same time such attention overshadows new people to the scene.

It's kind of like at high school. Once you get into your senior year no matter how hard you try, if you were not a popular student before you never will be one. It took a few RPAs before it hit me about what I was doing, how I was only voting for popular candidates I knew about and at that point I stopped.

Personally, this is my view point and maybe there are some voters out there that don't vote like me. Maybe they DO go into every single rp, read every single OOC and IC post and if so good for you. I simply lack that time and that's why I no longer participate in the event. So for those of you young rpers that can afford that, then go on ahead, but I'll just step out and let you all have fun among yourselves.
 
I know I just these forums on Saturday, and I have no right to comment, but I actually like the RPA's. It gives me an incentive to actually be active, and I like seeing my work being acknowledged by others.

Obviously, I can't vote in this one for obvious reasons, but good luck to everyone else!
 
It's fairly simple, really, I think. Yeah, the RPAs are basically popularity contests. The voting is a completely broken system, where only the well-known win the categories and others just fade into obscurity. It's unfair and it's bordering on corrupt.

But... who cares? It's not as if it's malicious in any way. It's just giving some well-known guys and gals a pat on the back for doing things. Besides, it's not as if these horrible people with abysmal RPing skills are consistently winning out of popularity - they win because they're good, too. It's essentially politics. I'd rather change the system in the world's democratic governments - somewhere where it actually matters - than ruin a bit of fun between pals. Let people congratulate eachother for congratulation's sake. No-one's losing anything here. (I don't vote in them myself, btw. No reason why others shouldn't be allowed to, though.)

Now let's all be friends :S

@gimmepie - I actually thought you were pretty popular around here, Gimme. Maybe it's difficult to judge someone's popularity - or, for that matter, one's own.

HeY GuIse hoW P0pulr aM i? :8:
 
@True Epicness - It's probably just a matter of perspective. I am certainly a lot more so than I was but I'm no SV haha.

@Retro - You're writing some pretty long passionate responses for someone who isn't getting up-in-arms about things.

In the long run, the mods have brought it back and it's their decision anyway. True Epicness has hit the nail on the head really. These people are popular because they're good and even if it is a popularity contest it's not the sort of thing that steps on other peoples toes. I have no idea why some of you are so against this, and I won't hold it against you that you are, but it's happening. It's already started. If you feel people are not acknowledged enough, vote for them. If you are totally 100% against them - ignore them. It's that simple.

It's a bit of fun within the community and nobody is forcing anyone to be a part of it.
 
I'm not against it per say, I just listed my own reasons why I don't participate in it. Like I said, if you have fun with it go ahead and do the awards. I just see it in one perspective and that's that.
 
Greiger said:
I'm not against it per say, I just listed my own reasons why I don't participate in it. Like I said, if you have fun with it go ahead and do the awards. I just see it in one perspective and that's that.
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That's good, I appreciate it's not everyone's cup of tea. Nobody is under obligation to take part, .

When I hosted the summer RPAs, they were also run like this. I'm sorry if you disapprove, but IMO it's better to give everyone their own say rather than use judges here. They are only a few times a year, at least.

Those of you who are still feeling frustrated or confused, please feel free to PM me with your queries or suggestions (or just to chat :P).
 
While I agree with what has been said about the RPAs being a popularity contest, I have to point out that the results of the competition are, most of the time, if not always, valid. From what I have seen, the one with the winning votes, be it a roleplay or a roleplayer, wasn't underserving the first place. I choose to post in the RPAs because I feel like there are people who I ought to reward for their work, even though I'm not really aware of the qualities of every single roleplay/er in the corner. I can't compare them, and I won't go reading every roleplay in order to vote objectively. But I will state a good reason for my votes, and I like to think that's enough.

Having read all the recent posts on the RPA, I do feel like the competition is not running correctly. But that's really no reason to take it seriously. We're in a Pokemon forum, everything we do in here is supposed to be fun. Don't let a petty competition offend you.
 
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I felt that the RPAs are like...part of the RPC. It's been a tradition for as long as I remember. Honestly I'm glad they're back. If you don't like them, then....don't vote? Like I said, I just returned and I have no idea who's new or who's good or which roleplay is awesomeness, but I hope to see it again in the summer, where I'll be more familiar with all of this again.

I also feel that newer roleplayers and roleplays should at least get the recognition they deserve, which is why we have categories for that. :P It really irks me that this is being taken at a srs bsns level.
 
I totally agree with what everybody says, it's not like serious or anything and we sure as hell aren't electing the president of the world but I just feel that if so many people just ignore it/think the system is broken then why not change it? I mean, if just changing the judging system means that it'll appeal to more people in the RPC then hey, why not? I don't really see anybody really in favor of the traditional voting thing anyway.

I agree with Minerva, the RPA has been around since I joined this place and I think it has been a pretty good part of the RPC and has ensured that people who care about these keep up the quality of their writing too (to an extent).
 
The people who vote in the RPA are people who visit this thread now and then, at least to read I hope, so if people see this discussion and try to keep all this in mind when making their votes, chances are it'll turn out not too bad :)

I just feel that if so many people just ignore it/think the system is broken then why not change it?
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This is valid though. Judges are one suggestion, that's been tried already and I guess it worked well in one way but also I kind of feel like it's not so great in another way. Could there be even more ways to do the RPAs? Or give praise/credit to hard-working RPers otherwise?

I like that there's a RP of the week :3 Not sure it's updated every week though, haha, but maybe it's just me not checking every week and forgetting if it's changed or not.
 
I liked the Olympics more because it was an event type deal rather than an award ceremony.

Like you actually had to do something for it and do things in different scenarios and such, y'know? In the RPAs you kinda just sit there and watch who wins instead of participating (besides voting, but still)
 
I'd prefer a secret panel of judges for the RPAs too. I can see how the RPAs can turn into popularity contests and whatnot. People aren't going to bother reading nearly every single rp around to see which one has the "best sign-up" or is the "best roleplayer", I mean I know I wouldn't. I'd pick people either I know or are in the rps I've participated in, which means it's not a fair system for less active members who have been helpful or have been creating great posts but in small, less noticed rps.

Haven't read all the posts so far, so if I have just reiterated what someone else said I apologize. But yeah panel of judges would mean a fairer system imo.
 
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