confused about threads

[soliloquy]

Ok, could someone please explain this to me? What is a closed thread? What is an OOC? What is an IC? What do you do to determine what your thread is? How do you know if you are welcome to join? Must you PM the person who started the thread? What does the envelope at the side of the posting mean? I know, a lot of questions. But I can't find the answers, and I don't want to piss people off.
Thanks

 

[Miltone]

Some answers here ...

Welcome to Literotica! I'm sure that you'll have a lot of fun here!

A closed thread is where two or more writers work together on a thread without anyone else just jumping in; the oppositie of an open thread where anyone can come up with a character and jump right in.

OOC: Out-of-character (typically notes or comments to other writers or readers)

IC: In-character

The thread starter will post an idea usually as a character sketch and set the rules, open thread, closed thread, where they'd like to end up or at least which path they want to start down.

Sometimes it is nice to PM the thread starter before you jump in, but if the thread is open and the starter is asking for participants, don't be afraid to take the plunge.

 

[BadForm]

Hey there soliloquy - interesting name, btw - never be afraid to ask questions. OK, in order of asking:

Closed Thread: A thread open only to those the writer has invited by email/pm/earlier discussion. These are generally by people wanting to work with specific individuals either because they like their style, they want to try a specific form of roleplay with this person/these people, or wish to avoid some of what they consider the less competent roleplayers diving in to an open thread.

OOC: Abbreviation for "Out of Character." This may be a comment within a post, a post within a thread or a whole thread - basically this refers to something which is not said within character. Examples may be requests for clarification, threads used to discuss other threads or, as in the case of a few threads, general chats and free-for-alls between friends (tho generally anyone is also welcome to join in the chats).

IC: Abbreviation for "In Character." The opposite of OOC - basically, anything that is part of roleplay. Only normally used to make obvious the break between an OOC comment and IC roleplay within a specific post.

Determining what a thread is: Unless otherwise stated somewhere, the general assumption is that all threads are in character (ie roleplay) on this board, and likewise, unless stated, are open for all people to join (that is, they are not closed).

Welcome to join?: If a thread originator does not state that a thread is closed, or that they require contact to approve characters whether by email, pm or through posting in an OOC thread, then anyone is usually free to join. It is generally advisable to post what your character would be (or a request to play a specific character if the person has already listed what roles they need to have played) and request that the person allow you to play - this is a mark of courtesy and ensures you don't put in a character that they would not want. Obviously, if a thread originator requests contact via pm etc, then that would be the way to go about joining the thread.

Symbols: There are numerous symbols that you can end up with by the side of a thread/post, and frankly I cannot and do not need to remember what they all are. The reason I say this is that on the whole what they are is pretty obvious from the contents of the thread/post. There's a symbol for a thread that has new posts since you last looked, one which doesn't have new posts since you last looked, one that is a thread with a poll (something to vote on) and so on... like I say, on examining the contents, the symbols are generally unnecessary.

Pissing People Off: Don't worry about it - you're going to do it, lord knows I am certain I have at times. The important thing is respect. When you discover you've pissed someone off, deal with it constructively, but don't be afraid to post just because you might do that somehow.

 

[caspai]

OK, so now you are probably getting more help than you ever thought you might need, but one thing seems to have been forgotten.

OOC can mean lots of different things, depending on the context. Within a post, it is indeed a comment by the author rather than the character. Important difference. When it is attached to a title of a thread, however, it can mean one of two things. It can either be a club that people go to in order to get to know each other, and a couple of those exist, or it can be a call for players within a thread. That is a good way to find threads that are open for anyone who wishes write.

As for the little envelope at the side, there is a guide at the bottom of the page. It is just a clever way to show if there have been a certain number of either posts or views of that particular thread.

 

[ARaynes]

Welcome to the SRP. IF you have any questions feel free to pm me as well. These great writers have answered the questions here. They are all wonderful people. Don't be scared to jump write in.

~Angel

 

[afternooner]

I will add my two cents worth

Welcome.....and... (huggs ) sometimes a couple of these gets us through the pissed off times.

 

[soliloquy]

Whew!

Thanks for the info, everybody! It all seems so simple and logical now! Isn't that always the way?

 

[BadForm]

Only if people do an adequate job of explaining things... otherwise it gets more confusing still: Oh, and as AR said, if you need any advice, if I can help out, feel free to PM me.