Find out IC...

[Thunkkin]

if you really mean it, say, "you can and should learn this through the normal course of play. try asking your local *insert authority figure here* for more information."

I don't know.  Those are strong, declarative statements without gentle nuances and thus could still be taken as overly blunt or offensive.  Only the most sensitive phrasing is appropriate.  Anything less will crush my delicate sensibilities.  For myself, I hope to be addressed in this way:

Dear Luv-Tregil,
We luv u an wants 2 snuggle wif u and groom ur lovely, snuggly ears.  Plz snuggle wif us in da wurld ov Zalanthas wer we will teach u how 2 has cheezburger an othr IC informashun dat shud not be discusd publicly on teh mesage bord.
Yours wif best wishez,
Teh Othr Luv-Tregils

[Rhyden]

You guys should find out IC if finding out IC truly holds all this negative connotation.

[maxid]

Dear Luv-Tregil,
We luv u an wants 2 snuggle wif u and groom ur lovely, snuggly ears.  Plz snuggle wif us in da wurld ov Zalanthas wer we will teach u how 2 has cheezburger an othr IC informashun dat shud not be discusd publicly on teh mesage bord.
Yours wif best wishez,
Teh Othr Luv-Tregils

Ah useless, pointless hyperbole.  Hallmark of the Troll.

Find out IC is, often, overused on the GDB.  This is not, exactly, one of those cases but, it's not something that is very easy to find out IC, even if you actually are in one of those situations.  Most people don't know, because of the endless cycle of 'Find out IC!!!' so, when a Templar gets asked, the Templar might not OOCly know, thus they are unable to supply an IC answer.

Amazing how that works.

[Thunkkin]

Ah useless, pointless hyperbole.  Hallmark of the Troll.

First, I was being silly.  Second, I notice that despite your new user ID, you seem to be using this account mainly to enter into combative conversations while displaying a good knowledge of the game.  Hallmark of the troll?  

Personally, I'd prefer to be the hall monitor of the trolls.  Your point is valid.  However, my point, wrapped in silliness, was that those who are offended by "tone" may need to adjust their expectations.  Yes, we should all strive to be civil and polite but taking offense when it's not clear that you need to be offended, especially given the nature of this game and the power structures (IC and OOC) which are inherent to it, is not productive.

Edit:  Signed, Wuv-Tregil

2nd Edit: I've never considered lolcat-speak as hyperbole before.  That's actually fairly intriguing.

[Is Friday]

Speaking of 'find out IC', I am trying the "question" option of my request page for probably the first time. (If I had before, I certainly don't remember.) My question is something I "cannot" find out IC, because it deals almost entirely with the vnpc population. I really hope that works out for me.

[Jdr]

I asked a question recently and they told me the answer! Gogo mighty request tool.

[RogueGunslinger]

I'm really not seeing these rude, abrasive "find out IC" posts. Link plz?

Edit: It's semantics. Anyone can get upset over any form of telling someone something they don't want to hear. People are always looking for clear, defined answers, and a lot of times there's no such thing.

[Cutthroat]

1) The GDB isn't a harsh and gritty place. Leave the rudeness for the game.

2) On that note, I don't think "Find out IC" is rude. I think there are more elaborate ways of saying the same thing. I think if you don't want to risk giving too much away (better safe than sorry, and so on) then saying Find out IC is fine.

3) If you're playing the kind of PC that would be asked such questions, you can likely either A) read written texts IG or B) ooc board posts or C) documentation that explains everything or D) ask staff who will give you the knowledge your character knows. Templars, nobles and GMH merchants have lots of knowledge they can choose to share.

[Riev]

Just popping in to say that when I was a newbie, I -hated- seeing someone say "Find out IC" because I felt they were trying to be superior. Now, when people ask me something as simple as "What do you think I should do when <x situation> happens?" my response is usually "Whatever your character would do, and find out ICly what happens."

Going along with a lot of topics lately, finding out IC is a treat because PC Templars and even nobles can interpret the law however they want (well, within reason). Someone may say "Well, I just wanted to know if this would be common knowledge." but in the end, even "common knowledge" has to be found out first. If it isn't common knowledge to you, maybe its not common knowledge to your PC.

However, many people do say "Find out IC" and then add a snarky smiley face or other condescending addition that seems more like "Ha ha I know the answer, and you have to figure it out."

[RogueGunslinger]

However, many people do say "Find out IC" and then add a snarky smiley face

Even the use of smileys are being interpreted as negative!? 

This is exactly my point. Stop being so sensitive guys, because you don't know the intentions of the poster, and you certainly can't read the tone in his words. Instead of suddenly omitting the phrase "find out IC" from GDBland how about we stop taking everything so personally?

[Gobbleneck]

However, many people do say "Find out IC" and then add a snarky smiley face

Even the use of smileys are being interpreted as negative!? 

This is exactly my point. Stop being so sensitive guys, because you don't know the intentions of the poster, and you certainly can't read the tone in his words. Instead of suddenly omitting the phrase "find out IC" from GDBland how about we stop taking everything so personally?

There's no need to be sarcastic.

[RogueGunslinger]

There's no intended sarcasm in that post. Maybe you're looking for another word?

[Gobbleneck]

There's no intended sarcasm in that post. Maybe you're looking for another word?

Now that's snarky.

[RogueGunslinger]

Now i can only imagine you're trying to lend to my point, which makes me say; Kudos to you! You're very clever.

[shadeoux]

There's no intended sarcasm in that post. Maybe you're looking for another word?

Now that's snarky.

I think the word is snarfy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO3ZbQiGNkk&feature=related

[Thunkkin]

This thread has become thick with ironic nihilism.

[Reiloth]

This thread has become thick with ironic nihilism.

and has served its 'purpose' and should be 'locked'.

[maxid]

and has served its 'purpose' and should be 'locked'.

Thank you, Board Moderator Reiloth.

[Reiloth]

and has served its 'purpose' and should be 'locked'.

Thank you, Board Moderator Reiloth.

yr welcome d00d

[Agent_137]

look, pissing off newbies because they're more sensitive than the hardened veterans of the board is dumb from a player count perspective.

and it is overused, empirically.

there are 8 pages of posts when you search for "how do i"
yet there are 22 pages of posts when you search for "find out ic"

Yes that's a very limited study, but damn it's also almost triple the number of posts.

You're also passing up a chance to teach a new player something. You could say, "since the answer isn't available in the documentation, you'll need to find this out through the course of play or ask an immortal directly via the request tool."

If you don't want to type that much then save your fingers and don't even fucking post. Some one else will handle being polite and informative, like a designated Helper.

[Rogerthat]

All I know is I like noob boots. Wanna see my collection?

[maxid]

look, pissing off newbies because they're more sensitive than the hardened veterans of the board is dumb from a player count perspective.

and it is overused, empirically.

there are 8 pages of posts when you search for "how do i"
yet there are 22 pages of posts when you search for "find out ic"

Yes that's a very limited study, but damn it's also almost triple the number of posts.

You're also passing up a chance to teach a new player something. You could say, "since the answer isn't available in the documentation, you'll need to find this out through the course of play or ask an immortal directly via the request tool."

If you don't want to type that much then save your fingers and don't even fucking post. Some one else will handle being polite and informative, like a designated Helper.

+1

This is excellent advice.  If you don't want to help, or expend the energy to make the newb feel a bit more welcome than 'FIND OUT IC' don't bother posting.  You just scare people off of our already fairly low population game.