Post by hamlet on Jan 8, 2011 19:15:17 GMT -5
HELLOOOOOOOO RCers! This is a long one, but you're gonna wanna read this one. 
RC's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in February! That's totally awesome isn't it? Not many RP sites last that long so it definitely is something to be proud of. And for you members, I just wanted to share and discuss where RC has been and where it's going. Out of this, I want to create a mission statement - to always remind ourselves what makes this site lovable, to help staff keep that going, and to just talk with you as members about the site - since you guys keep the site afloat.
RPING: GIVE/TAKE RELATIONSHIP
Why do I RP? It's a hobby but one that I take slightly serious because I love to write. When you love something and you're doing it on the side for fun - you still put effort into it. I'm sure you guys probably agree. What you put in is what you get back and that's what RPing does for me. I put in effort and get a lot of FUN out of it, as I hope you guys do.
The more I got involved, the more I realized the value of RPing. There's got to be a reason why we're so addicted - why we pick sites as our "home" and we get attached to these communities. Here are a few I came up with :
THE BENEFITS!
~ It's a constant way to practice writing - most obviously. Sometimes it's so automatic that you don't realize it's practice. It's like playing your favorite sport and forgetting that you're "working out" because its so much fun.
~ It brings together people with a common interest.
~ It warms up your mind to conjure up ideas. If you think about it - RPing forces us to keep developing ideas on a small scale and a large scale.
~It warms up our creativity. If you're constantly plotting, writing, plotting, writing, getting writers' block, getting out of writers' block ...that when you do something serious outside of RPing - you have the skills to get through most things. If you constantly RPing, you're constantly in creative mode.
THE VISION!
So recognizing this and going into making this site with Randi - we wanted to make something that can really bring out those benefits for people. We didn't want to make a site just for the sake of making one - as there are a bagillion RP sites out there. This site was going to be one that stimulates us creatively. Sure, RPing is just a game - and it's a hobby, something to do on the side but at the same time I do believe what RPing does is important and can be beneficial to writers and people who love to write in a very fun way.
So if I was going to co-create RC - I wanted it to last. I wanted it to be a piece of collective art in a slew of MANY RP sites. I wanted it to be a fun place for writers to come and just go wild but still keep that principle of putting in EFFORT, in order to get the fun and benefits out of the site. If you will...it should be the right balance between being WORK & STRESSFUL for participating members and being just something silly and frivolous for participating members.
And I'm very proud of what me and Randi created here. I could go into how everything just works out - facilitating creativity, telling compelling stories, paying homage to the classics while acknowledging the present, and always keeping the members first and the vision for the site intact for nearly 12 months!
Which leads me to one question: Why are we here anyway?
YEAH! WHY?!
No one is being paid for being here. Yet we continue to come back here and put time, thought, and creative energy into this place. There must be a reason. Obviously, its fun LOL - but it has to be more than just fun to be so attached.
Personally, I know my reason for spending time on this site. It's because, I, along with Randi, own the vision and the idea of what this place is supposed to accomplish. I believe in it. I believe that you guys see it too.
I own, for myself, that this place can be a positive creative outlet and community for people. And that people have, can, and will enjoy and reap the benefits of what we created. So when I say I love this site - that's what I mean.
By no means is this site perfect and that all the things in the RP world are fun and games, though. Sometimes we get frustrated, muse is lost, we get into drama, activity is low, and stuff just happens.
And this is why I want you to own the vision too, as members.
I have see a lot of sites pop up and die out, I've admined on one of them and have moderated some others that have ended the same way. I don't want to be like every other site. I don't want RC to fizzle out for no good reason. Everything comes to an end, sure, but I want RC to end when the members make it end - meaning all the stories have been told and it's time to lay the idea to rest. And thats why I keep coming back. I keep investing time because yes, I own the idea, invested in it, and believe in the original vision we set out for it.
So I'm giving the idea to you too. No, you weren't with me and Randi when we first though up the site but you have invested immense time and effort and that's why I, and the rest of staff, value you as members.
So I want you to own this site, as if it were completely yours - as we play together as a team. And I say "play" because it shouldn't feel like WORK - and if it ever does, tell the staff so we can put our heads together and reassess what can bring the FUN back.
And when we play - and that can go for any game - people will argue, people get frustrated, maybe you're not on your A - game, maybe other teammates aren't on their A - game, but what makes the difference between everyone giving up and going home or pushing through until the game is finished?
The love of the game itself.
WINDING DOWN!
Don't get scared and think that I'm saying this site needs to be your life. I'm not saying anything close to that. This is just a game, a place where you can come and post and have fun. And RL comes first. But I really wanted to express all of this just to paint a picture of the site and its vision. And that this site can still stand as long as the original goal is in mind. As long as people believe that RC is worth investing in. That there is something positive coming out of keeping the site going.
So please, remember why you RP here!
Remember why you RP here? Eh? Yes!
And in order to help us do that, here is a preview of a "mission statement" that I hope we can all agree with collectively in regards to what this site is all about. And when new members come in, they know that we're not just any old RP site
- RPing comes with benefits which are important but also fun! That's why you guys are so addicted!
- RC is a unique site that wants to bring out those benefits to the fullest
- RC wants to be that balance between working hard and hardly working - a low stress site where effort is appreciated, creativity is appreciated, and having FUN is TOP DOG. If you're not having fun, then we have to reassess.
I want hear from YOU now! Any thoughts? Things to add? Does this accurately describe the site you joined?
RC's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in February! That's totally awesome isn't it? Not many RP sites last that long so it definitely is something to be proud of. And for you members, I just wanted to share and discuss where RC has been and where it's going. Out of this, I want to create a mission statement - to always remind ourselves what makes this site lovable, to help staff keep that going, and to just talk with you as members about the site - since you guys keep the site afloat.
RPING: GIVE/TAKE RELATIONSHIP
Why do I RP? It's a hobby but one that I take slightly serious because I love to write. When you love something and you're doing it on the side for fun - you still put effort into it. I'm sure you guys probably agree. What you put in is what you get back and that's what RPing does for me. I put in effort and get a lot of FUN out of it, as I hope you guys do.
The more I got involved, the more I realized the value of RPing. There's got to be a reason why we're so addicted - why we pick sites as our "home" and we get attached to these communities. Here are a few I came up with :
THE BENEFITS!
~ It's a constant way to practice writing - most obviously. Sometimes it's so automatic that you don't realize it's practice. It's like playing your favorite sport and forgetting that you're "working out" because its so much fun.
~ It brings together people with a common interest.
~ It warms up your mind to conjure up ideas. If you think about it - RPing forces us to keep developing ideas on a small scale and a large scale.
~It warms up our creativity. If you're constantly plotting, writing, plotting, writing, getting writers' block, getting out of writers' block ...that when you do something serious outside of RPing - you have the skills to get through most things. If you constantly RPing, you're constantly in creative mode.
THE VISION!
So recognizing this and going into making this site with Randi - we wanted to make something that can really bring out those benefits for people. We didn't want to make a site just for the sake of making one - as there are a bagillion RP sites out there. This site was going to be one that stimulates us creatively. Sure, RPing is just a game - and it's a hobby, something to do on the side but at the same time I do believe what RPing does is important and can be beneficial to writers and people who love to write in a very fun way.
So if I was going to co-create RC - I wanted it to last. I wanted it to be a piece of collective art in a slew of MANY RP sites. I wanted it to be a fun place for writers to come and just go wild but still keep that principle of putting in EFFORT, in order to get the fun and benefits out of the site. If you will...it should be the right balance between being WORK & STRESSFUL for participating members and being just something silly and frivolous for participating members.
And I'm very proud of what me and Randi created here. I could go into how everything just works out - facilitating creativity, telling compelling stories, paying homage to the classics while acknowledging the present, and always keeping the members first and the vision for the site intact for nearly 12 months!
Which leads me to one question: Why are we here anyway?
YEAH! WHY?!
No one is being paid for being here. Yet we continue to come back here and put time, thought, and creative energy into this place. There must be a reason. Obviously, its fun LOL - but it has to be more than just fun to be so attached.
Personally, I know my reason for spending time on this site. It's because, I, along with Randi, own the vision and the idea of what this place is supposed to accomplish. I believe in it. I believe that you guys see it too.
I own, for myself, that this place can be a positive creative outlet and community for people. And that people have, can, and will enjoy and reap the benefits of what we created. So when I say I love this site - that's what I mean.
By no means is this site perfect and that all the things in the RP world are fun and games, though. Sometimes we get frustrated, muse is lost, we get into drama, activity is low, and stuff just happens.
And this is why I want you to own the vision too, as members.
I have see a lot of sites pop up and die out, I've admined on one of them and have moderated some others that have ended the same way. I don't want to be like every other site. I don't want RC to fizzle out for no good reason. Everything comes to an end, sure, but I want RC to end when the members make it end - meaning all the stories have been told and it's time to lay the idea to rest. And thats why I keep coming back. I keep investing time because yes, I own the idea, invested in it, and believe in the original vision we set out for it.
So I'm giving the idea to you too. No, you weren't with me and Randi when we first though up the site but you have invested immense time and effort and that's why I, and the rest of staff, value you as members.
So I want you to own this site, as if it were completely yours - as we play together as a team. And I say "play" because it shouldn't feel like WORK - and if it ever does, tell the staff so we can put our heads together and reassess what can bring the FUN back.
And when we play - and that can go for any game - people will argue, people get frustrated, maybe you're not on your A - game, maybe other teammates aren't on their A - game, but what makes the difference between everyone giving up and going home or pushing through until the game is finished?
The love of the game itself.
WINDING DOWN!
Don't get scared and think that I'm saying this site needs to be your life. I'm not saying anything close to that. This is just a game, a place where you can come and post and have fun. And RL comes first. But I really wanted to express all of this just to paint a picture of the site and its vision. And that this site can still stand as long as the original goal is in mind. As long as people believe that RC is worth investing in. That there is something positive coming out of keeping the site going.
So please, remember why you RP here!
Remember why you RP here? Eh? Yes!
And in order to help us do that, here is a preview of a "mission statement" that I hope we can all agree with collectively in regards to what this site is all about. And when new members come in, they know that we're not just any old RP site
- RPing comes with benefits which are important but also fun! That's why you guys are so addicted!
- RC is a unique site that wants to bring out those benefits to the fullest
- RC wants to be that balance between working hard and hardly working - a low stress site where effort is appreciated, creativity is appreciated, and having FUN is TOP DOG. If you're not having fun, then we have to reassess.
I want hear from YOU now! Any thoughts? Things to add? Does this accurately describe the site you joined?
