No description = lazy -- hyenafur's Journal -- Fur Affinity [dot] net

No description = lazy

14 years ago General

So I was trying to do some role playing and someone bitched at me because I didn't have a full written description of my character detailing them, calling me lazy. WTF. I've been rp-ing for years and never needed or had one. I've seen written descriptions of characters, and often, the people who play them deviate significantly from their descriptions. Hell, I've seen this on dating sites and other places. Written descriptions are no substitute for actual interaction with a person or character. I'm not lazy, I just don't believe in doing that. Besides, if you have something that states your basic character statistics, why would you need a description?

I'm not bad mouthing people that have full character descriptions. I've seen people write 8 page long character descriptions, which to me is amazing. I'm just a more visual person.

"Stiny! Who spilled coffee all over the plans for my death ray?!"
-Strongbadman

"New York Center, this is Flight 1234."
"Flight 1234, New York Center, go ahead."
"New York Center, Flight 1234 is being hijacked by bees. My god."
-Linkara

"You got Pokemon Blood and Crip. You got Pokemon Colored and Honkie. And now I guess you got Pokemon X chromosome and Pokemon Y chromosome."
-Black Nerd from Black Nerd Comedy

"Reminds me of the time I got shanghaied in Shanghai on a junk full of junk. I think I've been there twice."
-Monterey Jack from Rescue Rangers

"Is there ever good naked on this show?!"
-Nash from What The Fuck Is Wrong With You?

"At my old school, we never got baked."
-Phoebe Terese from The Magic School Bus

"Oh, do your research. I'm not a hero, I'm a high-functioning sociopath."
-Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock

"No! One gun! And like a pouch for his nutsack!"
-Daniel O'Brien from Obsessive Pop Culture Disorder

13 Comments

MacenGregora ~macengregora

Watcher

14 years ago

I completely agree with you, I have a lot of stuff in my thinking cap -pokes head-, other than that, I usually dont put full detail into it.

Brother ~brother

Watcher

14 years ago

That really sucks. I would feel awkward spending pages and pages describing my characters. It feels...vain, somehow.

hyenafur ~hyenafur

Writer

14 years ago

I feel a bit the same, but I've also seen people hand artists an 8 page character description which details the character's appearance, life story, personality, sexual preferences, everything. I mean, at that point, why don't they just write a book series on them? Besides, artists and role players don't always need to know every single detail. If you can sum up your character in a few sentences, why not?

Brother ~brother

Watcher

14 years ago

I agree with that. It'l like the difference between ~~Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter~~ a book and a book's summary. Summarizing isn't bad, it just takes out the things that matter and makes them immediately available so you know right away whether you want to read the book, or in this case RP with someone.

hyenafur ~hyenafur

Writer

14 years ago

I'm not too bad with summarizing, but the only problem I've had is summarizing my own book work, but characters are easy. Like a bear I made for a pirate rp;

Born in Pennsylvania to a Hessian father and Dutch mother, he grew up near Philadelphia for some time before joining a Colonial Ship as a cabin boy. He moved up in the ranks until he was the equivalent of a Petty Officer in the modern Navy. He left the Continental Navy, heading to the islands to seek his fortune. He is fluent in English, German, and Dutch, and speaks with a slight accent.

Brother ~brother

Watcher

14 years ago

Just for the record that character sounds like he'd be cool to have a beer with

hyenafur ~hyenafur

Writer

14 years ago

Thanks

blackfrost ~blackfrost

Watcher

14 years ago

SLACKER!! you refuse to write and bend to the whimms of others! *shakes fists at you then runs off before she killed* NAW!

Boleynna ~boleynna

Traditional Artist

14 years ago

I hate over-detailed descriptions. To me it makes people look like arrogant assholes, it's like when people write out long detailed RP posts for every posts. I don't think my description for my character is more than a page at the most but it's been altered for some RP's. It's the same for my other characters, they're each about a page long.

LeonSteelpaw ~leonsteelpaw

Roleplayer/Watcher

14 years ago

I have seen some REALLY overly detailed openings before

AngelFyre ~angelfyre

Photographer

14 years ago

sometimes, during an rp, i learn something about my char that i didn't think of before...when i rp, things just happen in the course of writing...kinda like writing a story...u start off thinking it's gonna go one way, then u start writing and veer off on another course...

Chazz ~chazz

Art Whore

14 years ago

Having a written description helps, it lets someone have a "this is what you're looking at" reference without needing to sit and type it all out. That said it is by no means necessary, and I actually have a bit more respect for folks that take the extra step when they DO make a description, but then refuse to go ultra-deep into personality quirks, abilities and such beyond what you would ACTUALLY see (i.e. flirtatious looks, a toned body showing an athlete, etc)

LaurenRivers ~laurenrivers

Writer

14 years ago

It's a balance thing. I know some folks that detail everything their character wears down to the brand of underwear. :P I usually have a few requirements, (basic appearance, personality, some character history) the rest changes based on the universe. For example, Lauren always looks the same, her hair and clothes may change, but she is a zebra with blue hair. She is a generally warm and nonviolent person, though she will protect herself. Her mother is adoptive and she is often looking for romance, though other than that, the details are flexible.

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