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pronounsshe/her
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merri
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I'm actually quite curious there, if you'll indulge me. Can you articulate what's uncomfortable about it for you? I don't think there's anything wrong with people writing younger characters--after all, many books featuring young characters are written by adults. So on this case, I have some trouble understanding why it's an issue or concern.

I like writing teenage characters, as I enjoy the more emotional volatility that comes with being young, and I enjoy the bildungsroman genre, so most of the stories I want to tell are like that too.

All the sites denying me that have always made me wonder if I'm unwittingly running afoul of some understanding shared by others but sadly not me.

I'd be happy to learn why this is a concern in the roleplay community.


Again, I'm only speaking for myself, not the RPC. And as someone who actively works with children 5+ hours a day and has experienced so many things good and not so good, I like to separate my online hobby of RP from real life and the many experiences I've had now regarding school-aged children. Not saying all people would make things a little questionable for "plot purposes," but when children are involved, and I have had to sit through 10+ hours of training regarding their safety, I don't jive with seeing them being written as characters for RP.

Also, again, I separate novels from RP just as I separate Pokemon as a video game versus RP. Yes, books have children as characters, but it is a final product that has gone through many, many levels of editing and rewrites. It is not a back-and-forth where there can be some questionable scenarios, and the character is only 12.

I'm not sure if any of that makes sense, but as a teacher, I have my own personal limits, and that is why you won't see me on sites with the school as the setting (this goes for specific franchises, too [Harry Potter, etc.]). Just my own personal take. Everyone's going to be different. :)
pronounsshe/her
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merri
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my personal favorite is when sites will straight up just tell you that you can't write certain characters or subjects at all. 
Pokémon franchise that's about 12-year-old kids travelling the world with monsters in tow: totally fine.
Pokémon-inspired RP sites: hol' up, adult characters only.

snipped


Honestly, I think the issue with this on RP sites is exactly that: the age. Personally, I do not feel comfortable writing a minor on an RP site or seeing a minor of that age RPed (I work in education and specifically with this age group). In my head, there's a difference between a video game that might be getting played for nostalgia or maybe a first time where you can suspend your disbelief of the protag's age (which is supposed to be you) versus actively writing in a community that is naturally leaning towards being the age of 21+ with many RPers being close (me included) or in their 30s now, so I understand why adults would steer clear of all the possible issues that could crop up.
pronounsshe/her
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merri
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Do you guys ever get the urge to spend dozens of hours worldbuilding for a site you might never release to the public or just me
I, too, greatly enjoy this.

Ngl, this post made me think about how many, many years ago I had lore for a Warriors site, and instead of clans, it was a single dynasty with an emperor/empress, advisors, soldiers, so on. I had written "chapters" for the lore.

Sometimes, I go back, read it all, and think, "Where is this energy now?" 😂😂