Okay, I think people need some context here. /u/DrProfessorBoldur has pointed out that this appears to be a roleplay group. But I suspect many people are not aware just how extensive the roleplaying community on Facebook is.
I've been part of the RP community on Facebook for many years. There are groups for any fandom, however weird. You have obvious stuff like Star Wars, Twilight, Hunger Games, etc. You have less obvious stuff, like Ed, Edd n Eddy. What remains common in these roleplay groups is loneliness.
It pains me to say most people in these roleplay groups are looking for a sense of family. Incidentally, while playing a fictional character, hundreds of kids and adults have reached out to me seeking not only to engage with the character, but asking me to be their adopted brother. I know one young girl in particular who would almost certainly join a group like this, because I see posts from her and her group of friends playing pretend adoption all the time.
Unfortunately, this system is open to abuse, both in the hard sense and in a soft sense. I have seen minors carry on pretend relationships with adults on many occasions (and I have been frequently solicited for this purpose as well). It's often impossible to know what someone's true age is; whether an adult is pretending to be a kid, or whether a kid is pretending to be an adult. Either way, I try my best to prevent, block, and report this sort of behavior, and even counsel the youths I come into contact with. But you have to understand, it's not a systemic problem. These communities are not built with the explicit purpose of encouraging it, and it isn't part of their intention or framework; they are constructed by like-minded people hoping to create friendships and good times.
I don't know why, but it's even more rampant in Spanish speaking countries. I don't think there's anything sinister going on here: just lonely souls filling holes in their lives.
I definitely have no background in role-playing sites . what I don't understand is how they connect with each other? PMs? and there is lack of comments in each of the feeds other that "I'm interested " etc. What do they do after? have a separate private site they go to? I'm confused. The comments they reply with to some of these children are absolutely disgusting in my opinion
I understand this seems freakishly bizarre to an outsider, but trust me when I say this is really nothing abnormal.
An interaction can carry on in many ways:
A user can contact another user over Facebook's messaging system
They can talk in comments
One user can tag another user in the same group, or in another group, and they can carry on a public roleplay
In the course of PMs, they may exchange Skype info, profiles for a messaging app (Kik, Line, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.), or occasionally phone numbers, and carry on interactions in private.
No, there's definitely no outside website. Facebook is the center of these roleplaying communities.
" really nothing abnormal." I'm sorry but its not normal to play internet dress up and pretend. These people need a good therapist. And no I'm not trying to be insulting I'm serious. There must be something seriously wrong with your life to pretend that you're a cartoon ,a six year old or some other shit and "role playing" won't get rid of the root cause = loneliness or mental illness.
That's a commendable attitude. I humbly submit to your consideration, however, that playing a fictitious character may not be inherently unhealthy. Children grow up doing it as a matter of habit. Adults do it in literature, theater and film.
As an obsession which consumes your life, or as a replacement for ordinary human relationships, it may indeed be harmful. But as a pastime, I think it can be both fruitful and enriching. I gained a lot of real life skill from roleplaying as a teenager that has - believe it or not - helped me in my career.
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veritas_vincit ago
Okay, I think people need some context here. /u/DrProfessorBoldur has pointed out that this appears to be a roleplay group. But I suspect many people are not aware just how extensive the roleplaying community on Facebook is.
I've been part of the RP community on Facebook for many years. There are groups for any fandom, however weird. You have obvious stuff like Star Wars, Twilight, Hunger Games, etc. You have less obvious stuff, like Ed, Edd n Eddy. What remains common in these roleplay groups is loneliness.
It pains me to say most people in these roleplay groups are looking for a sense of family. Incidentally, while playing a fictional character, hundreds of kids and adults have reached out to me seeking not only to engage with the character, but asking me to be their adopted brother. I know one young girl in particular who would almost certainly join a group like this, because I see posts from her and her group of friends playing pretend adoption all the time.
Unfortunately, this system is open to abuse, both in the hard sense and in a soft sense. I have seen minors carry on pretend relationships with adults on many occasions (and I have been frequently solicited for this purpose as well). It's often impossible to know what someone's true age is; whether an adult is pretending to be a kid, or whether a kid is pretending to be an adult. Either way, I try my best to prevent, block, and report this sort of behavior, and even counsel the youths I come into contact with. But you have to understand, it's not a systemic problem. These communities are not built with the explicit purpose of encouraging it, and it isn't part of their intention or framework; they are constructed by like-minded people hoping to create friendships and good times.
I don't know why, but it's even more rampant in Spanish speaking countries. I don't think there's anything sinister going on here: just lonely souls filling holes in their lives.
EQJ ago
I definitely have no background in role-playing sites . what I don't understand is how they connect with each other? PMs? and there is lack of comments in each of the feeds other that "I'm interested " etc. What do they do after? have a separate private site they go to? I'm confused. The comments they reply with to some of these children are absolutely disgusting in my opinion
veritas_vincit ago
I understand this seems freakishly bizarre to an outsider, but trust me when I say this is really nothing abnormal.
An interaction can carry on in many ways:
No, there's definitely no outside website. Facebook is the center of these roleplaying communities.
looking4truth ago
" really nothing abnormal." I'm sorry but its not normal to play internet dress up and pretend. These people need a good therapist. And no I'm not trying to be insulting I'm serious. There must be something seriously wrong with your life to pretend that you're a cartoon ,a six year old or some other shit and "role playing" won't get rid of the root cause = loneliness or mental illness.
veritas_vincit ago
Well...I enjoy roleplaying characters...XD
But I also don't claim there's nothing wrong with me.
looking4truth ago
I don't judge. I only want people to get help. I don't judge people with problems, I just don't encourage it because I want them to get help.
veritas_vincit ago
That's a commendable attitude. I humbly submit to your consideration, however, that playing a fictitious character may not be inherently unhealthy. Children grow up doing it as a matter of habit. Adults do it in literature, theater and film.
As an obsession which consumes your life, or as a replacement for ordinary human relationships, it may indeed be harmful. But as a pastime, I think it can be both fruitful and enriching. I gained a lot of real life skill from roleplaying as a teenager that has - believe it or not - helped me in my career.