dependent on the people. my straightforward yet vague "don't ask further questions" description of rp to strangers, or people i'm not close to, or who i know don't share the same quirky hobbies (i.e. if i know you play dnd or have ocs, i'm more likely to mention rp to you) just tends to be "online writing group". if i'm probed about it further (i.e. like when my therapist asked me to elaborate since i did opt to get therapy after one bout of a rough rp stint), i'll just say the whole deal. i think internet and nerd culture these days makes it a lot more, like, accessible and less prone to weird stares tbh.

funnily enough, said stint did lead to me exposing myself as an rp-er to my rl circles (family, close friends, a work friend who eventually became a close friend) for, let's chalk it up to Reasons(TM) — and honestly? worth it. granted, a lot of it was due to the fact i treated rp/my narratives in rp as a labor of love, so it was rlly just,,,, Nice(TM) to show that, hear the opinion, and the response of people i know in my rl. everyone i knew were invested at best (one of my friends straight up asked me if i could link them my home site so they could read ALL the threads i did for several narratives + gave a rlly indepth analysis of the ideas and plots i wrote that i didn't even think of myself but it was super cool to hear the outsider perspective), and at worst, all i got was "damn i can see how much this rlly shows what ur good at and how you incorporated the shit you did for rp into rl and flourished, get that bread".

ofc my experience definitely, like, doesn't feel like it would be the Standard response. but hey, it was good for me. i think a lot of ppl—writers, especially—deal with the whole "fear of being known" and, like, same. but honestly? sometimes it's just nice to take that leap and ppl can be way cooler than you expect them to be

As much as I would like to, I don't tell people I meet IRL that I RP. I don't think most of the people I meet would really get it, unfortunately... Which sucks because RPing is one of my main hobbies. The only person that I know IRL that is aware I RP had also RPed at one point, so... yeah.

Honestly, I usually have no issue talking about roleplaying with most of my social circles (sans work). Most of my family and friends already know I play D&D, and thus, even if they aren't as sure with the written form of roleplaying, they still somewhat understand what's going on, just a different medium. (Hell, my mom and dad both tell me to tell my current group hi if I'm over at their house lol). My husband also RPs (though more through MMOs - WoW, FFXIV, GW2, etc) and also knows some of the people in the groups I roleplay with.

As I finish writing this up though, it makes me realize a lot of people I know absolutely don't give a hoot, but also still ask me how my games/roleplay friends are doing from time to time. *insert Owen Wilson wow meme noises here or surprised pikachu face*

Not really, no. I barely tell people things about my hobbies, I find it not necessarily embarrassing, but I feel awkward about it. Especially when I talk about coding, it feels like I’m coming off as bragging no matter what I do. So I just don’t talk about it much. The people who do know about my rp’ing don’t even know that much about it, tbh. Like my immediate family has been aware since I started doing it in elementary school; but it’s never something that I’ve shared with people IRL.

In fact, my dad only asked me this week if he could see some of the things I’ve coded and I was shocked by how impressed he was. My brother has been telling me for years I should become a professional web designer, but for me, coding and rp are so interwoven that I don’t really see why or how I’d separate the two. I think for me, it’s really hard to share this creative aspect of myself with people I know IRL bc it’s something that’s always been very personal for me, and apart of me that wants me to keep it that way.

RP has been been collaborative for me obviously, but I enjoy the semi anonymity of it all. With the notable exception of being platonically married to my main rp partner Neko, I don’t really know a lot of the people I write with on a personal level like that; but we still have a mutual need to be creative and can explore that together without having to forgo a lot of the exhausting social norms that comes with IRL socializing. It’s a nice change of pace, especially since for me, rp is purely a creative and emotional outlet.

I think a lot of people would understand that on some level, even if they don’t understand rp necessarily, but I love that I have something just for me. Something that I can sit back and think about when I’ve had a shitty day at work and want to rot in bed; I can just daydream about my ocs I’ve had since I was 13 years old and know that no one can judge me or give input on whatever whackass storylines I create in my head and just be indulgent. Anyway thanks for coming to my Ted talk lol

I actually wrote on this as my Sophomore Project in English and Writing.

It was well received. I believe it was based on my presentation of hte subject matter. Just approach it from an empirical standpoint. There are empirical resources that references Text-Based Roleplaying to a science. I don't recall my complete presentation, but I know it was worth talking about when addressed from a referenced and researched standpoint. 

i've told some close friends about it tbh. a few of my friends have actually roleplayed in a serious (literate) capacity, although all but 1 have retired from it by now. a couple others i know used to do chatroom-style roleplay for warrior cats, etc...

i talk about "collaborative writing" a fair bit, i also think that's a dogwhistle that'll help you find other roleplayers. i don't think it's really an embarassing thing (now), but then i don't really write smut or anything LOL. that one i'd probably keep to myself.

my parents and sibling know, as well as my irl besties know about it! they ask me sometimes how things are going with the site (whichever one that might be). kinda hard to hide it when i was talking to my rp besties over the phone as a teen, and even now. hell i've met a few of them a few times, and one even visited me at home and met my parents! other than that though i don't really like, go out of my way to inform people about it lmao, mainly cause having to preface it with "not the sex kind" is... a hell of an opener

sometimes but not really.

half the time i try to explain it, the situation is super embarrassing because it just leaves the other party confused unless they know what i'm talking about.

It is such a big part of my life, it is harder not to in complete honesty. I love writing and I want to be an author. For me, if someone is unwilling to accept that side of me, they don't deserve my time. Hence I would rather mention it sooner than later because writing means the world to me and is a coping mechanism for me. That being said, I don't always introduce it as RP, I usually introduce it in writing, but do occasionally exchange the words.

my close friends know about it, because it has been such a big part of my life, bit i don't really mention it to like... casual associates or people who i'm not certain of. it's not a hobby i am embarrassed of or anything; i love writing and making up characters and plots with my partners. but when i mention the word "roleplay", i've noticed that a lot of people immediately jump to the thought of the sexy bedroom time and like...

it can certainly be similar to that at times, but it really isn't usually. i write a lot of boring, mundane shit actually. it's just a nice escape from the real world for me.

it's a bit better now, i think, because more people i know and meet are at least familiar with say... dnd, and can draw similarity there. but generally, i'm pretty shy and don't want to keep having to explain that hey. i'm not mentioning this to casually hint to the public that i'm some kind of kinky bitch in bed (not that there's anything wrong w that but! shit like that doesn't come up for me in regular convo thx). i just like writing and this is what the hobby is called. you know?

anyway. yes, i have told people irl about it. no, i do not do so often at all.

<sup>I used to tell evvveerrrryy one about it when I was younger/teenager/youngish adult years? But now I don't fully tell people??? Well I do just...not in the 'roleplay' way since roleplay to everyone either = 1: You play D&D or 2: You dress up as characters and 'role' play. Which I guess can be the writing style for some?

So instead I say I am on a forum with a community of story writers, and we conjoin our stories together. And that seems to 100% be something easy for someone old or young to get without getting into the complicated details. Hehe, I couldn't ever not tell anyone just because it has been such a strong part of my life since I was weee little and I'm so proud of rp. ♥</sup>

Sometimes... although I really don't have many irl friends at the moment XD

There was one time someone thought it was a sexual thing

Since then I've framed it as collaborative writing XD