Musician Archive

Okay, for an entertainer I'm the first to admit that I'm just not all that social. Oftentimes I start up the game as a way to get a break from the hustle-bustle of daily life. At these times, all I want to do is play quietly and non-socially, and just get some business done in the game (whether it be making a macro for my show, or buying a swoop, or just hanging out in a quiet corner ofthe cantina)without bothering anyone, and withoutwanting to bebothered by anyone.

Unfortunately, it seems that some players have me on their friends list with the automatic notification of online status checked, so they know as soon as I get online. These folks (who I feel Ibarely know in-game) always pipe-up as soon as I get online, so that I have a tell waiting for meas soon asmy screen becomes active after booting the game up. The last three times I got online, I have had messages such as "Hey beautiful!"waiting for me from two different people (one a customer of mine whom I've buffed perhaps 5 times, and one a player withwhom I must have had a very cursory conversationmaybe twice)who seem to have taken a liking to me. I'm really beginning to feel like I'm being harassed.

I realise it doesn't help that my character is kinda cute in a sort of 'girl next-door' way, and I realise that some players find it difficult to separate an in-game character from the real life person who owns that character, meaning that they possibly think I'm actuallya cute 20 year-old redhead IRL (I'm not, by the way - I could be that cute 20 year-old's parent, lol). I'm really beginning to feel a sense of trepidation about starting the game up. I don't want to upset these folks. I just want them to give me a little space. I really feel hunted at this point. It's almost as if my character hasa stalker, hehe.

Am I being unreasonable? Should I just accept that this is how a MMORPG is, and suck it up and talk to them even if I don't particularly feel like it? Or am I not crazy? Are they crossing some line of etiquette by doing this.

Please help, 'cos I'm kinda freaking out about this. What should be a fun experience - booting the game up -is quickly becoming a burden and a chore, because I know that as soon as I boot up next time, there's likely to be one or two tells waiting for me, demanding social interaction. Heck, I don't mind it occasionally, but recentlyit's every single time I get online. I'm trying to ignorethem right now,in thehope thatthey go away. But maybe there's a better way to deal with it, which is why I figured I'd post here.

Any advice?

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Since June 2004, running one of the game's first completely nonviolent characters. Testing the limits of non-combat MMORPG play and trying to have fun into the bargain (although the developers make it difficult).

Combat is no longer compulsory.

You're certainly not the first person to feel that way. I know other people who play female characters who occasionally feel hunted or at least annoyed by unwanted attention.

I think ignoringthe tells might be the way to go. (When I send a tell and no one answers, I'll generally give the recipient the benefit of the doubt, and then I forget about it and move on to something else.) Another tactic is to make frequent and prominent reference to a boyfriend, husband, or significant other. Or you could expressfondness for whichever faction the tell-sender fights against.

I have 10 characters who are all different professions, factions, looks, and personality. (I get bored doing the same character every day ) And for whatever reason, I attract attention. Even playing evil and/or morbid characters gathers a following. I have many different methods of dealing with unwanted attention. First I see if they can do anything for me in the game or if they are decent folk over all that I might actually like playing with. For me, I take references to my "appearance" as a reflection of my personality. I have a cute personality or a sexy, or beautiful personality. That makes it less annoying. I tend to make unrealistic demands too. Usually I tell them that I am involved in game....or that I am involved IRL and that such attention makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. Its not your fault if something makes you feel uncomfortable, and certainly most people don't intend to make you feel that way. If you are a nice person, then mention that you don't mean them any offense, but you find the attention inapropriate or something of that nature. I kinda rambled, but my brain flicks a mile a second. I hope some of this is helpful.

Gorath, Chilastra, Wanderhome.

Elder SL, Rifleman, Pistoleer, Scout, Marksman, Tailor, WS, Merchant, Entertainer, Dancer, Musician, Pikeman, TK, Smuggler, Commando, Combat Medic.
Currently Officer, Medic, Entertainer, Jedi, Smuggler, Domestic Trader

I personally think you should only be allowed on someones friend list if you say its ok. Its not fair for others to track you while you online. Its different if its someone you want to talk too. Somedays I just want to do my own thing. Then it seems tons of tells pile in. So many I get frustrated. Then there are strange people. We all know them. How to deal with them? Hmm placing them on the ignore list helps. Or just telling them how it is. Your busy and don't want to have any tells. Anyway. Good luck.

maybe you can try with some afk message, telling that you apologize but you are not in the right mod or you don't feel too social in that moment and just need to be quite for a while

my english is crappy so i'm not the right guy to tell you what to write these are just some ideas...

......or you can tell them that you are a boy

ok just joking

"maybe you can try with some afk message, telling that you apologize but you are not in the right mod or you don't feel too social in that moment and just need to be quite for a while"

Good idea. I think I will use that.

Thanks, everyone, for the ideas. I'm feeling much better about it now

"......or you can tell them that you are a boy"

I am a boy (if, that is, a 42 year oldguy can be called a 'boy').

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Since June 2004, running one of the game's first completely nonviolent characters. Testing the limits of non-combat MMORPG play and trying to have fun into the bargain (although the developers make it difficult).

Combat is no longer compulsory.

It's always when you just want to get a little in game work done that the tells start. Just don't respond to them, especially if it's someone you don't know or have only met in passing. Don't worry about upsetting them. They'll live!

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Finra Nova, Mandoviolist in RThe ForceR , Miss Lok 2004 (by default)
Owner of Novatech Furniture Designs and More! Coronet 1119 -4456
TooVee Orahno, Master Image Designer
"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house"-George Carlin

I can understand your situation and have a fix for you!

This used to happen to me profusly. When I would log on, I wouldn't move or even animate for up to 3 hours. Durring that time i was just reading new emails and answering the swarm of tells that would come in. there was a period where I could count on between 12-19 tells comming in as I logged. All you have to do is train your people... When that happens just say gimme a second I've got all kinds of stuff from the login. Or say hey I cant talk right now when I logon I get slammed.... In my case I told my guild not to /t me when I logon and just talk to me in guild chat. They do that and most customers/ friends do that now too. Now when I logon I can breath most times and actually move w/in the first 30 mins! So its all about training your peeps... hope that helps and have a good one!

Cheers,

famousFATWOOKIE
Master musician, Master entertainer of Mos Oasis
-I support ATK people and playstyles.
Find FFWB Here!A SWG History

¯¯¯¯K'vera Leann Ni-Sti¯¯¯¯
Founder of Eclipse's longest running band - TALUS MOON - Soul of Eclipse
Co-Founder of TIRIUS - City of Roleplayers
: Miss Talus 2003 : Miss August in the Galaxy Girls calendar 2004 :
: Eclipse Player City Directory : TREASURER'S TOOL v1.0.7b updated 22nd Mar 2005 :

Being the sardonic person that I am, I think that my conversation in that situation would go something like this:

SomePerson tells you, "Hey beautiful."

... time passes, probably 1-2 minutes ...

SomePerson tells you, "Are you there?"

... another couple moments pass ...

You tell SomePerson, "Sorry - I was trying to get the nacho cheese out of my beard. What can I do for you, handsome?"

SomePerson runs in terror.

Hehe, that's a good one. I'll have to remember that.

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Since June 2004, running one of the game's first completely nonviolent characters. Testing the limits of non-combat MMORPG play and trying to have fun into the bargain (although the developers make it difficult).

Combat is no longer compulsory.

One other thing that has been omitted is the /addignore feature. Unless these are people with whom you want to keep a casual relationship with and just don't want to be bothered, you could use /addignore (person's name) and you'll never see the /tells from them. I had to do this just last night when a person I helped a few months ago when they were new wanted me to buy her a guild hall cause she couldn't afford it. HEH...I gave her a 5K pistol 4 months ago and that translates into a guild hall now? Anyway...enough of my issue. My official suggestion is that if you don't want to talk to these people at all.../addignore is a God send...

Thanks,


In game name - Kegan (Shadowfire)
11 Point Master Chef
12 Point Master Time Waster

wow...that nacho cheese one was good LOL

I was just going to suggest that when they bother you, tell them yourkidsor your wife needs you or something and you cant talk right now......that might give the impression you are not the 20 year old hottie they think they are talking to hehe

er...especially the wife bit O_o lol