The Cosmos

Every once in awhile it's healthy to come together as a social community and share our own needs with each other, even if it can be tough to do. After all, as Kim of RPR states, "The single most common reason for friendships and RP communities to fall apart is the fear of having hard talks. Issues fester in silence until the group dissolves."

Together we can discover new ways to better meet each other's needs as partners in RP, especially since we've all been RPing awhile and over time (as our feelings become more and more invested) it's inevitable that miscommunications arise. So if you love the stories and the awesome community we're building together here in The Cosmos, join me in tackling any OOC miscommunication head on!

After discussing it with staff and then with you all in the OOC today, we've come to the conclusion to start a round table type discussion (event) for The Cosmos! Yes, we are all probably full of nerves about this... but since we're all coming from a good place, hopefully a group discussion will encourage everyone to muddle through it together!



ROUNDTABLE TOPIC #1: What are some things you need in a RP to feel comfortable OOCly?

(NOTE: Don't answer this now in the comments! We'll do a proper discussion "face to face" soon.)




I'm sure we'll get lots more interesting answers on the day of the event!

Roundtable Discussion Rules

• Use "I" statements when bringing up a point: If we're talking about our own needs, we don't need to include any "you" or "when people do XYZ ..." types of statements. Unfortunately, when others feel they're being blamed or accused, they often become defensive... and that's when communication usually breaks down entirely.
• Contributing: Challenge yourself to share ideas so others can learn from you and we can all grow as a community.
• Confidentiality: We want to create an open dialogue between each other, so what we share on the day of the event will remain there. (No reposting logs, etc.)
• Explore uncertainty: If someone says something you don't understand, ask for a clarification! Specify the part they said that didn't resonate with you yet.
• Speak your discomfort: If you're uncomfortable or something's bothering you, if you can share this with the group, it will be one of the most valuable learning opportunities for you and everyone around you!
  
  
  
  Please VOTE ON THE DOODLE POLL to decide the date for this first discussion!
  
  
  

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  While we prepare for this event, we can be doing TWO things in the meantime:
  
  1. PONDER:
     
     Think about what kinds of things you have been missing in your RP sessions lately. Is there anything that would help you feel more comfortable? Less anxious? Have more fun? Maybe even make a list in advance to have available for the discussion!
     
     Being vulnerable can be hard, but "addressing your concerns, whatever they might be, can strengthen your friendships and prevent bigger problems down the road"!
     
  2. TAKE PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION:
     
     Message your RP partners today. From Kim: "Tell them how much you adore roleplaying with them, what you like about them OOC, and then tell them something like this: ' If I ever accidentally hurt your feelings or bore you, I want you to tell me right away. Even if it isn't fun to hear, I like you too much to ever want to let this fall apart. I'm open to any tough talk any time, okay? '
     
     This is true mastery of being excellent to each other. Here's to many more years of drama-free gaming together!"
  
  And also I recommend reading this whole page on Preventing Drama by Kim of RPR. It's full of gems!
  
  
  

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  If I missed anything, forgot a good rule we should have, or maybe you have another potential discussion topic, post below in the comments!

Today is the last chance to vote on a date! If you haven't yet, please do here:

https://doodle.com/poll/w5kif5qrmkvksy2x

(If today gets the most votes we will meet in the OOC today at 4pm FST / CST)