Why Do People Always Come Back? | My Thoughts + Rambling

[urufu]

Hi nerds, been a hot minute.

Have you ever noticed that almost everyone that announces they're leaving SRP always comes back in one way or another, whether it be through being active on the forums again or through actually logging on and playing again. I myself quit playing SRP back in February after a mini event in which my character, Charlotte, died and I came to very very quickly regret the decision-making that lead to her unfortunate demise. In the time I've been inactive, I've been thinking a lot about the server. It makes me wonder the exact question I ask here. I think that for this question, it's important to understand why people quit to begin with.

• Something bad happens to your character that cannot be reversed​
• Something bad happens to you OOC that makes SRP feel sour​
• Simply losing interest overtime and with growing up​
• A major change to the server that you disagree with​

These are the reasons I've found through asking friends of mine that have quit why they did so as well as accounting for my own experience. And, in as respectful of a way as possible, I believe a lot of these reasons are amped up by how we feel emotionally. For me personally, I quit because as prior mentioned, my character died and I felt mad at myself, which grew into an overall bitterness toward the server. But with a clearer head I look back at that era and feel only regret. I think this is also what keeps most everyone who quits and stays quit from coming back.
This also for me gives what I think to be the main answer to my question. Regret. People who made no permanent change feel regret, which turns into desperation which in turn, brings them back.

With the question of 'Why do people come back' being for the most part answered, I suppose that leaves only my personal question for myself. Will I come back? I've been asked to a fair few times, hence why it's on my mind now. And to that I say I really want to, and who knows maybe I will. I miss my friends, I miss my characters, and I really really miss Shrine (join the Shrine faction it's brilliant), but the truth for me is simply that I don't think I can enjoy SRP without my most beloved Charlotte and without being a part of the Shrine faction. So I feel that as much as I'd like to come back in full swing, I can't and probably won't. At least not for a while.

Thanks for reading my rambling on, what are your thoughts on it?

 

[twenie1]

I feel like you should come back if its what your heart desires. To be around your friends again, and to be involved with the shrine once more. Though it isn't really my place to say what you should do, its up to your own decision-making.

One thing I /will/ say, and I mean this with zero disrespect or malice involved, I don't really understand why people leave when they lose a character. That is the beauty of roleplay and, in my opinion, what it is all about. Creative writing allows you to build up your characters and set a narrative for them, but still, although its okay to feel attached to a character, you shouldn't allow that to dishearten your potential return. Now, you get to make a new character, who you can come to love as much as you did with Charlotte.

Ive never really interacted with you before, and its unfortunate to hear you arent around on srp anymore, but you should return if you /want/ to. Again, I havent wrote this in a manner of disrespect, but curiosity, id like to understand more how people leave after this scenario, because I personally wouldnt, though we are all different.

 

[urufu]

One thing I /will/ say, and I mean this with zero disrespect or malice involved, I don't really understand why people leave when they lose a character. That is the beauty of roleplay and, in my opinion, what it is all about. Creative writing allows you to build up your characters and set a narrative for them, but still, although its okay to feel attached to a character, you shouldn't allow that to dishearten your potential return. Now, you get to make a new character, who you can come to love as much as you did with Charlotte.

I used to have this exact opinion until it happened. I think for those who genuinely love their characters and may or may not have attachment issues.. Cough cough, you genuinely do feel a deep sense of grief if things do go south. For me, it felt like I had given up two years of character development for absolutely zero pay off and it just made me overall really bitter I suppose.

I may come back one day. I feel like I am stalling on it because coming back and trying to rejoin shrine after every emotion I've expressed about SRP, it would be like a massive walk of shame LOL

 

[Miamorchito]

For me it was because of one person. I came back from time to time just to annoy them, but not really for roleplay.. One thing lead to another and now I'm back in factions. People tend to go back due to their friends. If you ask me, that's really the only thing I care about the server. Nothing else. Sure, I care about the factions and the community, but they are not gonna die because I left, and they are not gonna miss me either. There's no attachment rather than compromise to make things better. The second my friends no longer play is gonna be the moment I move on as well.

Another reason you can add to the list is too much OOC compromises. I attend college and that has dragged me out of SRP to the point that I needed to sacrifice my faculty character just to be able to balance things out. People tend to leave because of overwork.

 

[K-bee]

The very first time I ever quit SRP I took a step back to focus on my overall well being as SRP had grown to be quite draining by then and I do usher anyone who notices their mental health being affected by the server to take a step back, even if for a short while. I never really intended to return after that somehow and yet after the loss of a bet I eventually did return, though it did not last long as I truly held no attachment to the server and left a second twice soon after. A longer break followed lasting several months as I focused on my studies and began to prioritize other things over SRP, even so I come back once more for the simple sake of hanging out with some of my friends again. I missed the fun, silly and even serious encounters I've had with them over the course of my fragmented journey on SRP. Even so, I still value my mental health over any silly game and truly I suggest that anyone who's found their mental health to be affected to step back, its not a single instance, I know enough people who have found themselves absolutely drained both by RP and the OOC effects it had upon them which in retrospect does sound kind of silly. All in all, feeling spent by playing SRP is not something you should stand by, your mental should come first and taking breaks is a-ok!! The community of SRP has it's questionable moments and I'm sure many people could name an instance or two showing the more bitter sides of the server, unfortunately the best way to handle the sour side if often just distancing yourself from what is tiring you out!

On the topic of your characters loss, it is perfectly valid to feel that way especially after the loss of a character you had been building up so much for. Often people do get more attached than they think to their own characters and it leads to such circumstances - Two years of build-up for a less than likeable death and a bitter taste clinging to the top of your mouth. Feeling regret after that is normal and although what was done cannot be undone it is reassuring to know that your character left an impression upon others, even if they are now gone. Coming back after that can often mean a fresh start, without your beloved character but fresh nonetheless. Although I'm not going to push you to come back or not as I too have had my fair share of breaks from SRP and understand the importance of them, I believe following what you want to do is best. If you feel like coming back that's amazing and if you don't that too is just as okay! If you feel like taking a step back from the server I will wholeheartedly always support people doing that and taking care of themselves.

With that said, I usher anyone who reads this to take a break from whatever is making them weary (if possible) and taking care of their physical and mental health as your body and mind should be the most important things to you! It's lovely to see you still kicking around Urrufu and I hope you can make the decision that resonates best with you, much love and stay safe! <3

 

[mayasgrammarIy]

As someone who has been on SRP for quite a long time and used to CONSISTENTLY go on inactivity breaks i understand how people can get super upset when they loose a character, especially when its a character that they've had for a long time and poured all of their heart and soul into
I've had my character Sofiya since late 2023 and i've been playing her for over 2 years, shes had so much character development, so many storylines and friendships, and if she were to icly die one day i'd be hella upset too, because she is one of the characters that i actually REALLY ENJOY playing compared to my college character or my rabbit or my grade 12s, but on the inside i honestly wouldnt be surprised, because during her highschool years she nearly ended her life due to how alone and depressed she was at that time (thank god i didnt kill her off in 2024)

I also understand people who quit SRP for a really long time and then eventually come back, because back in the day i was always on inactivity breaks because of OOC situations and i also wasnt mentally okay due to those OOC situations which made me even more demotivated to play SRP
what really stemmed me to come back onto SRP in the beginning of 2025 was my desire to start something new, and create new connections as i played, because i knew if things were to stay the same as they were in my gameplay then i would just become bored out of my mind

Honestly, i really liked your Charlotte character and its unfortunate how her icly fate ended that way, and you do not need to rush your return whatsoever, you can take all the time that you need to decide whether you wanna come back to SRP or not, at the end of the day this is just a silly block game that people play in their freetime

 

[frenzyyy]

i miss charlotte but i miss urrufu even more, shrine is also stuck with... sharktism :(

 

[SIMPL3Z]

I think the main reason people come back after quitting is usually due to the fact that SRP has become quite a habit. You're stepping away from something you used to do a lot; that's always a difficult change to deal with, and you're bound to yearn for it back. At least, that is what it was like for me. I did end up coming back in September 2025, just for a month, kind of like a trial run to see if I'd stick around for longer afterwards. The usual wave of nostalgia and still a core interest in some aspects got back to me, so yeah, I came back and gave it a shot. I ended up not doing that, sticking around longer than a month, but still here I am ghosting around on the forums. That has its own reasons, mainly my lore project(s), which are still SRP-related. Writing is something I do personally fully away from SRP, so I'm mainly completing them just for me, despite them being about SRP-related stuff. I'm just here to make sure I don't miss any important posts.

And occasionally drop random comments as such on other posts. Or say hi to some familiar faces.

 

[Sq1]

I do agree with Simplez usually if you quit SRP youve already made a friend group from it and you get FOMO from seeing them play so it makes you come back the only way to not fall into that is to either get banned (like me) or have your whole friend group that you used to play with already leave thats what happened to me at least and why i think people keep coming back