Abrasive Characters

Unwanted social conflict is one of the most frequent issues reported to admins, and with a little communication can often be avoided. Admins have no intention or desire to interrupt mutually-welcome interactions. However, care needs to be taken to avoid becoming disruptive or unpleasant to people who don't want to be involved. This requires familiarity and clear OOC communication from everyone involved.

These rules exist solely to try to establish a baseline for players to work from. Unless it is a severe or repeat issue, failing to follow these rules usually only leads to an admin attempting to mediate and ensure everyone has a comfortable experience.

The three main issues that create discomfort escalating to admin intervention most often are:

• Prolonged arguments or abrasive behavior that players have difficulty disengaging from, until they reach a boiling point.
• Sudden unwanted abrasive or aggressive behavior from strangers.
• Abrasive or aggressive dialogue or behavior over long ranges (radio, telepathy) where players can't easily LOOC to ask someone to tone it down.

Examples

1. Prolonged conflict: Player-A approaches Player-B, who they've previously interacted with, and are rude while complaining about the recent handling of an issue they had a hand in. Player-B brushes Player-A off and starts to disengage by walking away. Then...

• Perfect: Player-A asks "Hey, we good to continue with the arguing/escalating?". Player-B gives an enthusiastic "Yeah!". Player-A follows and both of them continue arguing and escalating to their heart's content, knowing that it is a mutually desired interaction.
• Good: Player-A doesn't pursue or press the issue further. Neither player communicated a desire to continue or stop OOC, but it didn't escalate very far or become a prolonged issue.
• Good: Player-A pursues Player-B and continues arguing and being abrasive. Player-B asks in LOOC to drop it. Player-A immediately drops the topic. Not ideal that Player-B was made uncomfortable with the initial interaction, but clear communication was eventually made and respected.

• Bad: Player-A pursues Player-B and they both continue arguing and being abrasive. The exchange becomes more and more heated. No OOC communication or boundaries are ever established. Admins are eventually called. The lack of clear communication has led to a prolonged unwanted interaction. Admins encourage both players to communicate more clearly OOC in the future.
• Terrible: Player-B asks in LOOC to drop the issue and disengage. Player-A continues creating social conflict involving Player-B (rehashing the issue, abrasive remarks over radio, etc). A boundary was established and then not respected. Player-A is warned to respect other people's boundaries.
• Terrible: Both players take the argument entirely into LOOC, becoming more heated over the issue rather than establishing boundaries or collaborating. Admins are eventually called. Both players are warned to not continue arguments into LOOC.

2. Sudden hostile behavior towards strangers:

• Good: Player-A and Player-B have had some contact and know each other, and are having a disagreement. Player-A says something rude, and ends the conversation. The players know each other, have some IC basis for the argument, and it doesn't become a prolonged conflict.
• Bad: