Conditional Tense In Emote Chat/rp

[DomeRocker258]

Hey folks,
Not a lot of you know me, but those of you who do know me know that I'm sort of a nut about languages/history. Mostly languages though. Therefore, I pick up the little (and usually colloquially irrelevant) grammatical/syntax mistakes that a lot of people don't. I could go on for hours, but there's one thing that has been really bugging me, which is the use of the conditional tense/mood in emote to indicate a present action.
By this, I refer to how people say "Bob would extend his arm to shake the man's hand" or something like that in emote chat. I'm particularly bugged by this because I interpret this as "Under particular conditions, Bob would do this", or to put it simply "So/so isn't doing this right now, but they would under certain circumstances".
In English the conditional mood is used to express the likelihood of someone or something doing something. For example: "Would you go to the store if the car had gas?" "Yes, I would go if the car had gas."
Basically I'm asking why people are doing this/if that's part of the rules for emote chat.

 

[Mattium_]

Fair comment, though you might want to simplify this for the generally community if you really want to get your point across, as you're writing in a very formal register, which only people who understand English Language, or have taken the subject, along with other languages, would understand. This includes meta-language like Syntax & colloquial language (slang).

I can't really explain why Role-players do this, but I'm aware this isn't a feature of only this community. Text role-play in a whole is written in this form of relic writing, and I guess it distinguishes the difference of "in character" and "out of character" writing.

 

[Molimo]

Now, I'm not usually one to judge, hate, or in general have pet-peeves, but this way of role playing really pushes my buttons. And, like most things, I have no reason for disliking it. It just... ugh.

Granted, I don't hate anyone who does it. It's their choice. I can deal with it. It just really grinds my gears.

 

[1002713Alex]

A reason for using it is to express what your character would do in succession of something else.
" Bob swung his sword at Bob2. Bob would continue to slash unless interrupted.

 

[DomeRocker258]

Yes but I'm always seeing it as an unmodified and certainly present action. Recently I've seen "So/so would take a seat and sip from his mug." followed by "So/so would stand up to face the mysterious man."
I also understand that in older/formal English, usually British English, "would" is briefly used as a more certain future event. For example: "The baron is waiting in the courtyard, he would speak with you."
So it is feasible to use "would" beyond the conditional mood, but it's rare.

 

[Ryciera]

I think a lot of people use it with the unmentioned, "Would do this if your character doesn't stop it." I don't use that tense when general roleplaying, but I throw it in when I want to emphasize to someone that they have the option to stop my character if they chose to. "Cecily would try to interrupt him." "Piper would brush past her." sorta idea.

 

[Deadfoe51]

Now, while I don't use the *would do whatever* a lot in Roleplay, I will be honest, and say I HAVE used it. It is another way of performing an action, that isn't fully under your control, similar to that of an attempt, I'll give a few examples: "Moves towards Bob, attempting to stab him with his longsword." "Would stab bob with his longsword, after blocking his axe blow with his shield." Another way of doing this is, simply using an at, or towards. "Slashes at bob, with his longsword." "Sends a powerful right hook towards bob."

Some people do use would in other cases, and that is up to them. You could do "Would stand up, and face steve." or "Stands up, turning about to face steve" both are fine, and acceptable in my opinion. As for something like a handshake "Would outstretch his arm to shake john's hand." or "Outstretches his arm, to shake bob's hand" or "Outstretches his arm, presumably for a handshake."

In the end, it usually comes down to personal preference, or what you wish to do at the time,

 

[Joshy54100]

Hey folks,
Not a lot of you know me, but those of you who do know me know that I'm sort of a nut about languages/history. Mostly languages though. Therefore, I pick up the little (and usually colloquially irrelevant) grammatical/syntax mistakes that a lot of people don't. I could go on for hours, but there's one thing that has been really bugging me, which is the use of the conditional tense/mood in emote to indicate a present action.
By this, I refer to how people say "Bob would extend his arm to shake the man's hand" or something like that in emote chat. I'm particularly bugged by this because I interpret this as "Under particular conditions, Bob would do this", or to put it simply "So/so isn't doing this right now, but they would under certain circumstances".
In English the conditional mood is used to express the likelihood of someone or something doing something. For example: "Would you go to the store if the car had gas?" "Yes, I would go if the car had gas."
Basically I'm asking why people are doing this/if that's part of the rules for emote chat.

Click to shrink...

first of all, ur a nerd.

Second of all, I didn't know you were RP'ing again and playing, sweet!

 

[Cruallassar]

first of all, ur a nerd.

Second of all, I didn't know you were RP'ing again and playing, sweet!

Click to shrink...

NERDS FOR LIFE!!!

As for the question...I would think that yes, there is a reason for people using it...I think...and no, it isn't required, and I wish it was done less, me personally. I mean... -Cruallassar would nock an arrow and fire it at the orc 50 feet away- No, there is no way to stop that arrow from getting fired. There is only a way to stop it hitting, or to disrupt the action without stopping it. For example, a random bystander might knock the bow, but the arrow still gets fired. So I would use, -Cruallassar nocks an arrow and fires it at the orc- and let others do with that as they will.

 

[Laach]

-snip-

Click to shrink...

First vampires
then this

Do we have to make rules for everything now? You can't roleplay until you fit our idea of perfection?
'Cause that's where I see this headed.
Just sayin'.

 

[Cruallassar]

First vampires
then this

Do we have to make rules for everything now? You can't roleplay unless you fit our idea of perfection?
'Cause that's where I see this headed.
Just sayin.

Click to shrink...

Nothing in this said anything about STOP DOING THIS, just stating that it is slightly annoying, and so asking why people do it. Nothing about this is headed that way. Especially as no one paying attention to this thus far is a staff...

 

[Laach]

Nothing in this said anything about STOP DOING THIS, just stating that it is slightly annoying, and so asking why people do it. Nothing about this is headed that way. Especially as no one paying attention to this thus far is a staff...

Click to shrink...

That's how the whole fiasco with the vampires started too y'know.

 

[Cruallassar]

That's how the whole fiasco with the vampires started too y'know.

Click to shrink...

Vampires were a much bigger problem. And yes, they were a problem. Equating this minor thing with vampires is like likening a steak knife to a chainsaw.

 

[Laach]

Vampires were a much bigger problem. And yes, they were a problem. Equating this minor thing with vampires is like likening a steak knife to a chainsaw.

Click to shrink...

How were they a problem in your opinion? What bothered you so much about them that they had to undergo complete transformation? Why are the people who enjoyed vampires back then wrong for enjoying it?

Please tell me. I would like to know what you have to say about this.

 

[Cruallassar]

How were they a problem in your opinion? What bothered you so much about them that they had to undergo complete transformation? Why are the people who enjoyed vampires back then wrong for enjoying it?

Click to shrink...

As a matter of fact, I personally was not bothered all that much. I only roleplayed with two vampires before the change, one was in a brief bit of combat where I was more of a bystander, and one wasn't actually a vampire yet but merely wanted information on how to become one. The second...was not entirely a problem, as it was roleplayed alright, but still a problem, as most people don't want to become vampires. However the point is that vampires did not have the...infamy they should have had. It should be something along the lines of if Jews in Germany or Poland during the holocaust got $100,000 German equivalent in a valid yet easily identifiable medium, and a pistol, they might be able to spend the money, but then they would be identified as Jews and taken to a death camp. They could defend themselves, but they are going against immense odds and would certainly lose. That is what vampirism should be. It wasn't. It was changed.

As for people enjoying it...ok, people also enjoy roleplaying superman and terminator robots. Assumably. Doesn't mean that is allowed here. The old system made it too easy for people to be 'good' vampires, which are not supposed to exist AT ALL. Fun or not. Now it has been distanced a bit from Twilight, making it more difficult for roleplayers to fall into the whole "yeah, I'm a vampire, but I don't suck the blood from people, so its good right?" thing. No, the people who roleplayed as vamps were not wrong for enjoying it, that is complete bull. No one is being punished for enjoying something. But that doesn't mean it has to be maintained.
In SWTOR, the character Revan is one of the most popular ones around. Not only was he the character the player played as in KOTOR, but he is a general awesome person, and has a ton of great lore made on him. He will become a main bad guy as of the next major update in December. Every main Revan fan (myself included) now hates the people doing it. They are taking a great character and doing away with him, as a bad guy for both factions no less, albeit in an awesome way. That awesome way is the only good thing about it. (And the fact that the level cap is being increased to 60, and Revan is going into the main storyline for all classes and both factions...) Yet does that matter? No. It is far worse then Vampires being made more evil. They were supposed to be evil in the first place! Most of the good vamp RPers don't have to change all that much. The bad ones are eliminated. The dislike of those in the middle is a cheap price to pay. If SWTOR can do such as that, then Massive can demonize Vampires.

Finally, lets stay on topic here.

 

[Laach]

My apologies for going off topic. @Cruallassar
But as time goes on, my chances of addressing this are dwindling.
If you so wish, we can stop talking about it now.
Though I'm afraid that postponing this will only serve to create more biased ignorance over time.
And I'm already pissed off enough as it is.

(Don't take my lack of arguing as a sign that I can't or won't argue. Take it as a respect of wishes to postpone further discussion until a more appropriate time.)

 

[Cruallassar]

My apologies for going off topic. @Cruallassar
But as time goes on, my chances of addressing this are dwindling.
If you so wish, we can stop talking about it now.
Though I'm afraid that postponing this will only serve to create more biased ignorance over time.
And I'm already pissed off enough as it is.

(Don't take my lack of arguing as a sign that I can't or won't argue. Take it as a respect of wishes to postpone further discussion until a more appropriate time.)

Click to shrink...

I doubt that much biased ignorance will occur on a topic that is rapidly becoming obsolete. No one will care either way. But yes, this argument will wait for another point. Or for your next argument with Monmarty...

 

[Gwyndo]

Now, I'm not usually one to judge, hate, or in general have pet-peeves, but this way of role playing really pushes my buttons. And, like most things, I have no reason for disliking it. It just... ugh.

Granted, I don't hate anyone who does it. It's their choice. I can deal with it. It just really grinds my gears.

Click to shrink...

Would agree.

 

[Oxoman]

I don't even need to read the post and I agree!