Getting to know Arma players personally, vs. "keeping it IG."

[Harmless]

Please put all your discussion of whether or not it's "a bad idea to get to know the players personally," and or "RL mixing with IG life," and the dangers of OOC communication, as well as the potential benefits of OOC communication (sounds like some of ya'll met your future baby-mommas/baby-daddies) HERE.

My opinion:Arma is a game to me. Kinda like lemmings. It's like Arma is Super Boneyo Land and I whack koopas gurth with my hammers bone swords. Roleplay that reads out like the script to Fist of the North Star. No need to get to know who's on the other end of my crossbow bolt.

Edit: I have had fun playing Day Z with Feco for a bit, and wouldn't mind "meeting" more people to the extent that I play moar games with them. Teamspeaking for the sake of talking is no good, though. I am such a troll that nobody would want to get to "know" me anyway. 

[ShaLeah]

First of all:
RGS is full of shit. If he weren't he wouldn't be posting pictures of himself nor would he be on Teamspeak chatting it up with the rest of the out of game socializers. Not meeting people face to face doesn't mean you don't know them.
Hypocrite RGS, you better recognize!

Second:
Some of my best friends in my life I've met on the internet. Some of the people I have met on the internet I trust above some of my family. I think it's all subjective and personal. Not a necessity, not something one should be completely against. It should go on a case by case basis and should be solely the business of those engaging in that.
Meeting someone (in this case) that plays Arm isn't (or shouldn't) necessarily going to effect the IG dynamic and shouldn't automatically scream: "Sharing IC information OOCly".

[musashi]

ShaLeah and I don't talk about Armageddon when we converse OOC'ly.

I play her songs on my guitar and she tries to couger me when her husband isn't home.

Sharing IC info via OOC channels isn't kewl.
But the community here is, and it's a lot of fun to interact with them player to player as well as character to character.

I remember fondly the week spent at Ourla's place with Mansa, Potoje and his daddy with various other cameos like Yam, AaronGoulet, ect dropping by. Good times.

[boog]

Yeah. I don't keep people on AIM or anything like that because the risk of IC/OOC infosharing, in the past on other games, has been too high for me. The game's the game and I like to keep it that way.

But on Teamspeak! Well. I get to talk about adult things to adults, verbally, and brag (or lament) about my kid and talk about sexy men and stuff.

I think I'd probably meet some of you. Sooooome of you.

Probably just Shaleah. Haha. <3

[ShaLeah]

mushashi, you lie, you serenade me THEN I try and get you naked on Skype while my husband is at work. 
boog, I'd invite you up but am homeless until this house is fixed!

I am definitely one of the okay ones to meet, I haven't killed anyone yet. Don't ask me what I -have- done though.

* ShaLeah whistles innocently.

[MeTekillot]

I find that the only thing that a person on the internet can lie about that a person you meet in real life can't lie about is their appearance, and that's stretching it.

[FuSoYa]

It's all good to me.

I've met a good amount of people from Armageddon and think they are great.  Went to my first APM years ago in Houston, had a blast, and then had two mini-APMs with folk at my place when I was staying in Dallas.  Also randomly just got to visit one on one with other ARM players when I was local with them - people like Sephiroto and Belgoikiss.

I do agree that the IC/OOC line gets crossed but that's only as much as the people who are part of that actively want it to. 

It's not a black or white thing unfortunately but dammit I have always said this is the best gaming experience I've ever had and the community is what made it so great.

[RogueGunslinger]

First of all:
RGS is full of shit. If he weren't he wouldn't be posting pictures of himself nor would he be on Teamspeak chatting it up with the rest of the out of game socializers. Not meeting people face to face doesn't mean you don't know them.
Hypocrite RGS, you better recognize!

Second:
Some of my best friends in my life I've met on the internet. Some of the people I have met on the internet I trust above some of my family. I think it's all subjective and personal. Not a necessity, not something one should be completely against. It should go on a case by case basis and should be solely the business of those engaging in that.
Meeting someone (in this case) that plays Arm isn't (or shouldn't) necessarily going to effect the IG dynamic and shouldn't automatically scream: "Sharing IC information OOCly".

<3

[Feco]

If you can keep your trap shut about sensitive IC info, whatever works, works.  Friendly and fun!

[ghostymudy]

I find that the only thing that a person on the internet can lie about that a person you meet in real life can't lie about is their appearance, and that's stretching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWdD206eSv0

[musashi]

Also randomly just got to visit one on one with other ARM players when I was local with them - people like Sephiroto and Belgoikiss.

I had a blast with LoD when he came over to Japan on business too. The little 1 to 1's are great.

Wouldn't mind meeting SpyGuy either except our two respective island nations might be going to war soon over the senkaku's 

[SpyGuy]

Also randomly just got to visit one on one with other ARM players when I was local with them - people like Sephiroto and Belgoikiss.

I had a blast with LoD when he came over to Japan on business too. The little 1 to 1's are great.

Wouldn't mind meeting SpyGuy either except our two respective island nations might be going to war soon over the senkaku's 

They're called the DiaoYuTais!  Stop being an imperialist musashi!

[Erythil]

I like to know who I'm having fun with.  Total anonymity is weird to me.

[Is Friday]

The most fun I've had involving this game has been talking to other players about the game.

[Refugee]

I almost always regret making OOC contacts with mudders, so I'm reluctant to do so.  But now and then it works out and you have a long-time e-friend who understands you better than most!

[Maker]

The most fun I've had involving this game has been talking to other players about the game.

Agreed.  I haven't had anyone to talk to IRL about this game in almost 20 years.  Back then, I had my college roommate, and nothing was more enjoyable about the game than recounting recent events.  It doesn't detract from the game.  It enhances it.

EDIT: On the matter of sharing IC info OOC, I think there are two viable ways of handling it:  1)Don't do it, 2)Do it if you want, but be responsible enough to not act on it IC.  My roommate and I shared plenty of IC info, but never once did we even think about using the OOC info IC. The sharing of info was never about gaining some sort of advantage or exacting revenge.  It was just enjoying talking about it much like enjoying talking about a movie after you've seen it.  Movies are always better when you have someone to share the experience with and to talk about it with after.

[greasygemo]

I've met some awesome people OOC thanks to this game. 

[Delirium]

I prefer anonymity. Makes it easier to ignore when people don't draw the line of separatism between themselves and their character.

[ShaLeah]

I prefer anonymity. Makes it easier to ignore when people don't draw the line of separatism between themselves and their character.

That's cause no one likes you anyway 

Wait a mnt... don't you have Morg on speed dial?

[Delirium]

Ha, sort of, yeah. He is the boss of my friend (and ex-boyfriend), and we all live in the same area and tabletop together.

Believe it or not, though, I can count on one hand the times we've talked even vaguely about Armageddon.

I'm not saying I never get to know any of you folks. I just prefer not to know what you're playing when I do, and even then, it's so easy to put two and two together if you talk at all about the game. So... for the most part... I just don't. Unless it's somebody I know for a fact doesn't play any longer (like my ex-boyfriend).

[Zoltan]

I prefer anonymity. Makes it easier to ignore when people don't draw the line of separatism between themselves and their character.

I like (or liked) talking to other Armers a lot for a while. Part of me really missed being almost totally anonymous, though, as keeping that distance made the game more fun for me. Also, you have to be careful because you might meet an Armer and get married to them! Shackled to the old ball and chain!

[Delirium]

I prefer anonymity. Makes it easier to ignore when people don't draw the line of separatism between themselves and their character.

I like (or liked) talking to other Armers a lot for a while. Part of me really missed being almost totally anonymous, though, as keeping that distance made the game more fun for me. Also, you have to be careful because you might meet an Armer and get married to them! Shackled to the old ball and chain!

Yeah, I've met several lasting friends (and a couple boyfriends, who went back to being friends) through this community. It just makes it a lot easier to enjoy the story of the play when I don't see all the current cast members running around in the proverbial backstage, complaining about their co-actors or how the props just ain't set up right.

I never chatted much, but I chat even less these days, and find I enjoy the game way more, when I do get to play.

Now if I could just divorce the GDB, I would probably live in happy, ignorant bliss of any of the drama whatsoever.

[Kaineus]

I've recently had a player lie to me about their appearance, gender, age, and other aspects of their identity. This person continues to misrepresent themselves to the Arma community at large.

This experience has turned me off of OOC interaction and the game in general, though I am starting to play Arma again while refraining from OOC. I do not think I am being dramatic about this matter--lying isn't a good thing to do, and it sucks when you are lied to.

I don't always OOC, but when I do I am honest about who I am.

[ShaLeah]

I don't always OOC, but when I do I am honest about who I am.

Love this.

[Kaineus]

I don't always OOC, but when I do I am honest about who I am.

Love this.

I love you Sha, I think you're one of the most brutally honest people in the community--and you're fucking hilarious for it.

[musashi]

Honest people Skype with the camera on 

[Zoan]

Even LARPing allows you to interact with people OOC, and I refuse to be less anti-social than a LARPer.

This game is already nerdy enough.

[Adhira]

Honest people Skype with the camera on 

Call me dishonest.

[Wolfsong]

I refuse to be less anti-social than a LARPer.

Do you mean to say that you refuse to be -more- anti-social than a LARPer, or that you refuse to be less social than a LARPer?

Or did you really mean 'less anti-social than a LARPer?'

[ShaLeah]

Honest people Skype with the camera on 

Call me dishonest.

Who needs Skype when one may or may not have photographic proof of someone's beauty?

[Zoan]

I refuse to be less anti-social than a LARPer.

Do you mean to say that you refuse to be -more- anti-social than a LARPer, or that you refuse to be less social than a LARPer?

Or did you really mean 'less anti-social than a LARPer?'

I english bad. Use your imagination.

[TheBadSeed]

I've recently had a player lie to me about their appearance, gender, age, and other aspects of their identity. This person continues to misrepresent themselves to the Arma community at large.

This experience has turned me off of OOC interaction and the game in general, though I am starting to play Arma again while refraining from OOC. I do not think I am being dramatic about this matter--lying isn't a good thing to do, and it sucks when you are lied to.

I don't always OOC, but when I do I am honest about who I am.

This makes me laugh, really. I started playing muds 21 years ago.. Muds were the chatrooms of the internet before there was such a thing. If I had a dime for everybody I've seen who misreprestented themselves over the internet, I'd be a wealthy, wealthy man.

I've met several people through muds, with mixed reviews. People are people, mudders are people.. just ones that understand you better sometimes.

That being said: The Arm community is so much more mature and solid than most others, but there are bound to be cracks.. Have fun navigating them!

[boog]

Honest people Skype with the camera on 

Call me dishonest.

Who needs Skype when one may or may not have photographic proof of someone's beauty?

We can Skype and show off our beautiful kids. If it's in the coming weeks though, there might be a tit out nursing a newborn while Sol dances in front of the camera for you and the girls. I'm sorry in advance.

I'LL SKYPE WITH ANYONE. As long as you like baby faces in your view.

I just don't know that I'd like, cook anything special or meet with all of you. I dunno. I just dunno. Maybe in a group setting.

[musashi]

Honest people Skype with the camera on 

Call me dishonest.

I knew the accent was fake   

[Zoan]

Adhira is Choice, Brew.

(Teasing her kiwi-ness is why I have no karmaz)

[Adhira]

Gotta agree with the people are people thing.

I've meet a lot of people that I have first met online, through the mud, through other muds etc.  Sometimes it's been fine, sometimes it's been meh, a couple of times it was awful.  As for people lying, sure that can happen, what I've found most often is that people might portray only the 'better' parts of themselves, but hey, that's human nature.  Why would you want to advertise the bad bits?  Are there some people on the internet that totally lie and misrepresent themselves, I'm sure there are (ask Manti Te'o ), no doubt there are some here in our little gaming community too.

I've met a few armers. Some of you are awesome    There are people who I've first met online that I count as good friends, and I can add myself to the list of folks who have met someone they love through an online game.   As far as talking about the Mud OOCly - well, everyone does it a little bit but even at a staff gathering I have to say my 'mud' conversations were only a small part of the events and usually totally overshadowed by hanging out with a bunch of cool people gaming, drinking and so on.  Armageddon was the reason we all gathered in one place, but in my life off the game it's not the reason I choose to hang out with someone.

But yeah... still not skyping with y'all.  Video chat = having to make sure I brush my tangled mop of hair and am presentable. No thanks!   

[Kismetic]

I would find it weird if you spent 10-40 hours on a game (I'm assuming nobody plays more than 40, but who knows) and didn't socialize a little.  Hell, even the OP appears to have a few board posts.

Also, people do talk about the game.  Inevitable.  They talk about it a lot less than you'd think, though, and it's pretty rare to see someone cross an actual line (sharing current info, etc) in a public setting.

[boog]

That's it. We're going to have an APM at the zoo, Kismetic. And if you don't show up to this, I'll clobber ya.

[Delirium]

I would absolutely be down for a Zoo APM, myself. He kept saying he'd go with me, too... so let's put the pressure on.

This spring, NC Zoo, be there or be a polar bear. And bring your kids!

[Kismetic]

We can go to the damn zoo.  But Dylan is really into sharks, so my next thing is aquariums.  But ok, zoo is fine.  I've never been to the zoo in NC (there's an awesome zoo in Columbia, SC).

[Malifaxis]

I believe I won the lottery when it comes to getting to know Arm players personally.  Bebop always looks like a million bucks.

That being said, I've made a shitload of friends through this game.  However, I'm also pretty selective (some might say elitist) about who I will meet with IRL.  I vastly prefer knowing people who can think, people who can discourse and discuss, and people who can impress me by thinking outside of the box.

Be selective, keep IG out of it, and rip off any mask you might wear.  Be yourself, be honest, and you can make some damn cool friends through this game.

[Bebop]

I prefer anonymity. Makes it easier to ignore when people don't draw the line of separatism between themselves and their character.

I like (or liked) talking to other Armers a lot for a while. Part of me really missed being almost totally anonymous, though, as keeping that distance made the game more fun for me. Also, you have to be careful because you might meet an Armer and get married to them! Shackled to the old ball and chain!

It's so terrible when this happens.

I'm srsly opposed to OOC interaction with Arm ppl.  They better not even b coming 2 visit me in February.