SRP social struggles

[OEightOne]

Over time I've heard many people on SRP talk about how hard it is to find their place here, especially when it comes to joining groups, building lasting friendships or getting into roleplays. Even with many people voicing these struggles. I often notice that real change doesn't happen. It's really tough for new and old players to feel included or given time they need to settle in.

Helloooo! I'm OEightOne also known as Andy. Been part of SRP since mid to late 2023. When I first joined, I came here to be an annoying greenie, messing around. Thanks to a few people that I talked on the day I joined I instantly changed my mind set, they taught me stuff and I enjoyed my stuff here.

I'll admit, I wasn't always the best. When I got into GangRP, I became perm hungry, baited detention and wasn't respectful either ICly or OOCly. It took joining a more serious gang/group for me to realizing how much more rewarding SRP is when you respect others, focus less on winning the rolls and more on creating good stories and roleplays together. I learned to appreciate P2L and even started enjoying detailRP. Over time I started improving my reputation and made very good friends along those days.

As friends started losing interest I took a break from SRP, came back and the people part of the friend group mostly moved on. Suddenly returning, even as a more experienced player, I found myself wandering the map, struggling to join groups or ongoing roleplays. People were friendly on the surface, but there was still distance on a deeper level. SRP groups are already formed and difficult to join.

As someone who's more introverted and slow to find the right words, it's difficult to be quick and social even in a digital space. I started searching and joining communities to find groups and even after joining EMS and putting my effort into improving my RP and interactions, I still often find myself isolated. Those who detailRP often write very fast or have tight knit groups already and it's hard to keep up when you're slower, surely before the full detailRP starts.

It's not just a personal struggle, I know enough people that feel the same. SRP groups, clubs, sports and whatnot is where socially confident players can thrive or if you already know them for a long time, while others are left wandering. I have often heard that people are more biased in those groups to people when they already know each other and I understand, because I would be the same. But the people that get those biased interactions, often struggle getting into those groups.

I'm still working every day to improve, to make my characters more alive, to be more approachable and to push past the awkwardness I have inside of me.. BUT it isn't that easy. I wish more people recognized that not everyone finds it as easy to jump into conversations or a roleplay instantly. Some of us need time, patience and chance to show ourselves without feeling left behind or ignored. I often also see that people struggle to approach me due to either overwhelming or underwhelming actions I have, well I don't really have a group or people I can hangout daily, so I'm very open to people and their characters. Please, approach me as I struggle to approach other people myself too.

Actually anybody, if you see someone struggle to fit in, whether they're new, returning or just slower to open up. Give a bit of patience and space, that could make a huge difference. Would help me too! I struggle with creativity at times and slow thinking, give me time, give anybody time. Perhaps try and find something OOCly that could fit the person or yourself more. You know, I don't even need an ICly interaction. Dump me your entire character lore, that already gives me so much more hope I can make closer friends on SRP than what I have now.

My first time making such a post, be patient with me

 

[Yonio]

This is a problem that's not exclusive to SRP, as it stems from an out-of-character mindset. Many players find it hard to fit in because they think they may be a nuisance to others because of many possible reasons:

• They don't know how to roleplay properly or they're not acquainted with the RP style of SchoolRP
• They may be shy or find it difficult to approach others, even when it's in a digital environment
• They have the hunch that if they approach other people, they won't pay them attention and feel bad about it

There are countless reasons why new players may feel that way; and all of them are perfectly acceptable reasons. When I first joined, I suffered from this very problem, too. It wasn't until another group of new players reached out to me that I began feeling more comfortable with making friends here

It's really a matter of knowing how to welcome new players into the server. Sure, helping them with commands and server rules is fine, but what they really need is to feel welcome and treated the same as any other friend you may have on SchoolRP. I know it's hard, and if we're honest, 50% of new players are either not willing to learn the rules or don't have the perception that what they do is wrong. I've tried to include new players into my roleplay situations in the past, too, and they sometimes just walked off like nothing happened. I know it sucks, and to be honest, that's probably why many people on SchoolRP just give up on trying to welcome more people to the community

But what's important is that not everyone acts this way. Sure, there's a few black sheep here and there, but that doesn't mean everyone should just fend off on their own. Something as simple as gathering a few new players and starting a conversation with them will indirectly have them interact with one another, share their stories and eventually develop their characters to become a renowned player on SchoolRP

 

[Winters]

Over time I've heard many people on SRP talk about how hard it is to find their place here, especially when it comes to joining groups, building lasting friendships or getting into roleplays. Even with many people voicing these struggles. I often notice that real change doesn't happen. It's really though for new and old players to feel included or given time they need to settle in.

Helloooo! I'm OEightOne also known as Andy. Been part of SRP since mid to late 2024. When I first joined, I came here to be an annoying greenie, messing around. Thanks to a few people that I talked on the day I joined I instantly changed my mind set, they taught me stuff and I enjoyed my stuff here.

I'll admit, I wasn't always the best. When I got into GangRP, I became perm hungry, baited detention and wasn't respectful either ICly or OOCly. It took joining a more serious gang/group for me to realizing how much more rewarding SRP is when you respect others, focus less on winning the rolls and more on creating good stories and roleplays together. I learned to appreciate P2L and even started enjoying detailRP. Over time I started improving my reputation and made very good friends along those days.

As friends started losing interest I took a break from SRP, came back and the people part of the friend group mostly moved on. Suddenly returning, even as a more experienced player, I found myself wandering the map, struggling to join groups or ongoing roleplays. People were friendly on the surface, but there was still distance on a deeper level. SRP groups are already formed and difficult to join.

As someone who's more introverted and slow to find the right words, it's difficult to be quick and social even in a digital space. I started searching and joining communities to find groups and even after joining EMS and putting my effort into improving my RP and interactions, I still often find myself isolated. Those who detailRP often write very fast or have tight knit groups already and it's hard to keep up when you're slower, surely before the full detailRP starts.

It's not just a personal struggle, I know enough people that feel the same. SRP groups, clubs, sports and whatnot is where socially confident players can thrive or if you already know them for a long time, while others are left wandering. I have often heard that people are more biased in those groups to people when they already know each other and I understand, because I would be the same. But the people that get those biased interactions, often struggle getting into those groups.

I'm still working every day to improve, to make my characters more alive, to be more approachable and to push past the awkwardness I have inside of me.. BUT it isn't that easy. I wish more people recognized that not everyone finds it as easy to jump into conversations or a roleplay instantly. Some of us need time, patience and chance to show ourselves without feeling left behind or ignored. I often also see that people struggle to approach me due to either overwhelming or underwhelming actions I have, well I don't really have a group or people I can hangout daily, so I'm very open to people and their characters. Please, approach me as I struggle to approach other people myself too.

Actually anybody, if you see someone struggle to fit in, whether they're new, returning or just slower to open up. Give a bit of patience and space, that could make a huge difference. Would help me too! I struggle with creativity at times and slow thinking, give me time, give anybody time. Perhaps try and find something OOCly that could fit the person or yourself more. You know, I don't even need an ICly interaction. Dump me your entire character lore, that already gives me so much more hope I can make closer friends on SRP than what I have now.

My first time making such a post, be patient with me

It's gotten better though:
- Most 'problematic' modern greenies are minor annoyances oocly, and a lot more are willing to learn without staff getting involved.
(Unlike in the 2020-2022 phase where the 'problematic' greenies were actual problems)
- Toxicity is also way less tolerated than it was before 2024
- A major issue with finding rp groups is the basic decimation of gangrp. Before 2023 and the KPS consent update, you had a reason to actually be scared of gangs like the syndicate, or mafias. Of course, they were very graphic (horrific mutilations happened almost hourly on the server, I got killed like 30 times)
Speaking from personal experience, I found a lot of my old friends on SRP through gangrp. After the permissions change, gangs never quite felt the same, and I stopped really gangrping much and started to take RP a lot less seriously.
- Joining roleplays is also a huge issue, because of how seriously most people take roleplay. If we're being completely honest, it's understandable. Most people who are hanging out with their friends, or doing something, wouldn't let some random person join them. Most ways you make friends ICly are through OOC connections, and OOC connections are usually made through IC roleplay (Which is kind of an issue if you don't have one of the two). Of course, it is possible to make amazing friends icly, but SchoolRP should put a little bit more effort into trying to get players to interact. Of course, events were a great way to do so, but it is obviously hard to make events (and the event team is already working enough)
- About lack of motivation, SRP should never be the only server you play. You should be able to hop off the game, play something else (I usually played CS when I got bored of SRP, or programmed.) Eventually, you will regain interest, and play a little more.
- As for IC awkwardness (I'm assuming you (the reader, or the OP if you're reading this)'re OOCLY awkward and a little shy) don't take RP that seriously. Almost everybody on SRP wants to make more friends, who wouldn't?

A really good way to make friends ICly (And OOCLY, but I don't recommend a lot of these):
- Get drunk as shit, and do something really funny or stupid.
- Get into a fight involving a lot of people.
- Mess around in a class (sorry to all the teachers I did this to icly, I remember making the iris (the bald one) crash out once), and people will join in sometimes.
- Criminal / gang rp
- Get somebody out of a situation / conflict
- Join a family
- Draw a little attention to yourself (Not pick-me type behaviour, but something that players will notice. For example: those people who started a lice epidemic in the school in 2024 and started a mini-event) -> I actually was friends with the people who did that, and we became friends a little before doing the dumbest shit during class.
- Be a likeable person ICly, most likely people will want to be your friends.

The exact same thing with yonio happened to me in 2019, and I was actually a REALLY annoying greenie / early red-tag.

 

[OEightOne]

This is a problem that's not exclusive to SRP, as it stems from an out-of-character mindset. Many players find it hard to fit in because they think they may be a nuisance to others because of many possible reasons:

• They don't know how to roleplay properly or they're not acquainted with the RP style of SchoolRP
• They may be shy or find it difficult to approach others, even when it's in a digital environment
• They have the hunch that if they approach other people, they won't pay them attention and feel bad about it

There are countless reasons why new players may feel that way; and all of them are perfectly acceptable reasons. When I first joined, I suffered from this very problem, too. It wasn't until another group of new players reached out to me that I began feeling more comfortable with making friends here

It's really a matter of knowing how to welcome new players into the server. Sure, helping them with commands and server rules is fine, but what they really need is to feel welcome and treated the same as any other friend you may have on SchoolRP. I know it's hard, and if we're honest, 50% of new players are either not willing to learn the rules or don't have the perception that what they do is wrong. I've tried to include new players into my roleplay situations in the past, too, and they sometimes just walked off like nothing happened. I know it sucks, and to be honest, that's probably why many people on SchoolRP just give up on trying to welcome more people to the community

But what's important is that not everyone acts this way. Sure, there's a few black sheep here and there, but that doesn't mean everyone should just fend off on their own. Something as simple as gathering a few new players and starting a conversation with them will indirectly have them interact with one another, share their stories and eventually develop their characters to become a renowned player on SchoolRP

You're definitely right. It is not just an SRP thing, it happens a lot. A lot comes from in real life fears and habits. I completely agree that welcoming new players properly is important, I try my best when one approaches me to help them. It's great when someone takes time to make them feel included, not just command based.

That said, I also think it's tough when you are not a new player anymore, (speaking from experience) but the original friend group has moved on. Players with similar experience as me, often have strong friend groups and it's a hard to find a way in. Even when I try approaching them myself and even if I make a good talk, it's still difficult to find a close knit friend group that you can turn to whenever, like I used to be able to. Even though I love detailRP and deeper stories I have to often turn to newer players of the server if I want to interact more. I wouldn't say it's bad, but it can be hard when you are looking for the same depth of RP.

 

[OEightOne]

It's gotten better though:
- Most 'problematic' modern greenies are minor annoyances oocly, and a lot more are willing to learn without staff getting involved.
(Unlike in the 2020-2022 phase where the 'problematic' greenies were actual problems)
- Toxicity is also way less tolerated than it was before 2024
- A major issue with finding rp groups is the basic decimation of gangrp. Before 2023 and the KPS consent update, you had a reason to actually be scared of gangs like the syndicate, or mafias. Of course, they were very graphic (horrific mutilations happened almost hourly on the server, I got killed like 30 times)
Speaking from personal experience, I found a lot of my old friends on SRP through gangrp. After the permissions change, gangs never quite felt the same, and I stopped really gangrping much and started to take RP a lot less seriously.
- Joining roleplays is also a huge issue, because of how seriously most people take roleplay. If we're being completely honest, it's understandable. Most people who are hanging out with their friends, or doing something, wouldn't let some random person join them. Most ways you make friends ICly are through OOC connections, and OOC connections are usually made through IC roleplay (Which is kind of an issue if you don't have one of the two). Of course, it is possible to make amazing friends icly, but SchoolRP should put a little bit more effort into trying to get players to interact. Of course, events were a great way to do so, but it is obviously hard to make events (and the event team is already working enough)
- About lack of motivation, SRP should never be the only server you play. You should be able to hop off the game, play something else (I usually played CS when I got bored of SRP, or programmed.) Eventually, you will regain interest, and play a little more.
- As for IC awkwardness (I'm assuming you (the reader, or the OP if you're reading this)'re OOCLY awkward and a little shy) don't take RP that seriously. Almost everybody on SRP wants to make more friends, who wouldn't?

A really good way to make friends ICly (And OOCLY, but I don't recommend a lot of these):
- Get drunk as shit, and do something really funny or stupid.
- Get into a fight involving a lot of people.
- Mess around in a class (sorry to all the teachers I did this to icly, I remember making the iris (the bald one) crash out once), and people will join in sometimes.
- Criminal / gang rp
- Get somebody out of a situation / conflict
- Join a family
- Draw a little attention to yourself (Not pick-me type behaviour, but something that players will notice. For example: those people who started a lice epidemic in the school in 2024 and started a mini-event) -> I actually was friends with the people who did that, and we became friends a little before doing the dumbest shit during class.
- Be a likeable person ICly, most likely people will want to be your friends.

The exact same thing with yonio happened to me in 2019, and I was actually a REALLY annoying greenie / early red-tag.

I only started SRP in 2023, so can't personally tell you if it has or hasn't gotten better over the years.

For me personally the awkwardness is more about how I think slower than most people. It takes me a little longer to find the words to do actions and reactions and because of that people sometimes leave or move on before I even get the chance to finish my response. (It was really bad when I injured my hand, add slow typing to that.) It's not really about taking RP too seriously, as I often try to match the energy of the person while still being myself, keeping things more chill, but I do want to avoid ruining anyone else's day by messing around too much. Messing around has helped me make friends in the past, but it also didn't leave the best reputation, so I've been focusing on more relaxed and respectful RP. A lot of people do that and it works just fine for them.

Adding onto this about GangRP, I've been in GangRP since beginning of 2024 till I went on break. Was part of verified, unverified, random gangs and had even my own gang. While toxicity is less accepted, it still happened a lot in DMs in /f msgs and whatnot. Genuinely ruined my health while I was at it. Of course, I'm not saying everyone is like this, I met plenty who helped me and were even kind to my mistakes (love to my past gangs <3). It's competitive and luck based, while I like more lore/detail based and while there is gangs based around them, they aren't quite what I'm searching for. Currently in a Yakuza which I loved my first interaction with, but they are very inactive. I'm just not as into high risk, high reward anymore, as I was then.

Thank you for your reply and it does clearly work, as it has in the past. But it is not what I currently want and need since coming back. Hope it doesn't come over too bad

 

[Winters]

I only started SRP in 2023, so can't personally tell you if it has or hasn't gotten better over the years.

For me personally the awkwardness is more about how I think slower than most people. It takes me a little longer to find the words to do actions and reactions and because of that people sometimes leave or move on before I even get the chance to finish my response. (It was really bad when I injured my hand, add slow typing to that.) It's not really about taking RP too seriously, as I often try to match the energy of the person while still being myself, keeping things more chill, but I do want to avoid ruining anyone else's day by messing around too much. Messing around has helped me make friends in the past, but it also didn't leave the best reputation, so I've been focusing on more relaxed and respectful RP. A lot of people do that and it works just fine for them.

Adding onto this about GangRP, I've been in GangRP since beginning of 2024 till I went on break. Was part of verified, unverified, random gangs and had even my own gang. While toxicity is less accepted, it still happened a lot in DMs in /f msgs and whatnot. Genuinely ruined my health while I was at it. Of course, I'm not saying everyone is like this, I met plenty who helped me and were even kind to my mistakes (love to my past gangs <3). It's competitive and luck based, while I like more lore/detail based and while there is gangs based around them, they aren't quite what I'm searching for. Currently in a Yakuza which I loved my first interaction with, but they are very inactive. I'm just not as into high risk, high reward anymore, as I was then.

Thank you for your reply and it does clearly work, as it has in the past. But it is not what I currently want and need since coming back. Hope it doesn't come over too bad

Yeah, personally when I have that kind of issue I take breaks for upwards of a few weeks to clear my mind. And you shouldn't let people's toxicity ruin your health, that's a tell-tale sign that you need a break.

 

[lune]

Introvert mentioned!
I’m also an introvert and I understand what you’re coming from. I’ve tried to branch out and make friends but it usually doesn’t go that way. It’s maybe one conversation and then after that we’re never speaking to each other again. I know you’ve mentioned some factions another great one I’d recommend is the sports factions. Personally, I’d go for the smaller teams like Volleyball, Track, and Swim (HS Swim on Top) just from personal experience. For someone who has been on the college male FB team years ago and then the female college FB team about a year and a half ago I didn’t fit in OOCLY and ICLY it was filled with the people who’s names were well known. No one wanted to interact with me or it would be small interactions such as practices and what not. Other than that I felt left out. Hence why I left. Time went by and in November 2024 I tried out for the HS Swim team.. and man… what a change a huge difference between the two teams. I was greeted with open arms I felt welcomed and the members wanted to include me and roleplay with me. I’m still part of the team today and I’m happy that I decided to tryout for it. What I do want to say is not everyone will experience what I experienced with the more bigger teams you might enjoy it more than the smaller teams. Which is totally fine. My point is this is how I found my friends was through HS Swim team. My team mates are my friends and I’m happy to call them that. It might be overwhelming at first but be patient and let it flow past you. I’m sure in no time whatever you do you’ll find some friends again. If you want you can HMU on discord: @ kustomzero I don’t mind chatting about anything. Doesn’t even have to be SRP related.

(Sorry if any of this is worded weird I’m still waking up from tiredness)

 

[salter]

i remember being greenie andy's guardian angel in moichido, you've come really far :)

 

[planex7]

andy myking

 

[HypotheticalBanana]

Let me put you through a hypothetical
#hypotheticalbanana

 

[temulaptop]

This is a problem that's not exclusive to SRP, as it stems from an out-of-character mindset. Many players find it hard to fit in because they think they may be a nuisance to others because of many possible reasons:

• They don't know how to roleplay properly or they're not acquainted with the RP style of SchoolRP
• They may be shy or find it difficult to approach others, even when it's in a digital environment
• They have the hunch that if they approach other people, they won't pay them attention and feel bad about it

I FEAR I AM VICTIM TO THIS MINDSET!!
I've been trying to be better about it, but sometimes I'm like "OH GOD THEY THINK IM ANNOYING AND HATE ME NOW". it's a learning process guyz, don't give up!!

 

[teagan]

I FEAR I AM VICTIM TO THIS MINDSET!!
I've been trying to be better about it, but sometimes I'm like "OH GOD THEY THINK IM ANNOYING AND HATE ME NOW". it's a learning process guyz, don't give up!!

I also am a victim to this. HANG IN THERE TEMULAPTOP, WE GOT THIS.

 

[Sq1]

How i cope with this is just i say if they didnt like me they wouldnt go out of their way to talk to me its simple it also stems from not being confident in yourself and not knowing who you are and it comes from overthinking and dont try to make everyone like you its not worth it there is no human ever that is liked by everyone and thats fine plus what do you have to prove to people that play on a school minecraft roleplay server