role-play [rohl pley]
| 1. | to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another), esp. in a make-believe situation in an effort to understand a differing point of view or social interaction: Management trainees were given a chance to role-play labor negotiators. |
| 2. | to experiment with or experience (a situation or viewpoint) by playing a role: trainees role-playing management positions. |
–verb (used without object)
| 3. | to engage in role-playing. |
[Origin: 1945–50
]
“role play.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 03 Sep. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/role play>.
I realize that sounds rather dry for this wonderfully relaxing and fun past time that so many of us enjoy, but it helps to shed a bit of light onto it for those that do not fully understand what role play is. A simpler way to explain it, however, would also be “interactive storytelling”.
The most popular argument against role play is “you’re just using it to escape reality”. Why, yes. Yes I am. Isn’t that what all forms of entertainment are about? Giving us an escape from the stresses of daily life? Giving our mind something else to focus on to relieve the constant pressure of work, bills, cranky in-laws or what-have-you. How is role play any different than any other form of entertainment?
But what is it?
There are many views of what RP is. Some people actually take the time to learn about it and even if they don’t participate, they don’t denigrate those that choose it as their form of entertainment. Then there are others that have their own twisted view and cling to that view out of fear, ignorance, or just plain intolerance.
Any role player you talk to would give you a different definition of what it is. This would be closer to what it means to them. Role play, as discussed in my blog, is telling the story from the point of view of a character created to interact in the World of Warcraft. It is learning to think, speak, act as that character would act.
Yes. It is escapism. It lets the player slip into the skin of someone else for a while. To be a hero or a villain. To see dragons, to explore far away lands, to meet amazing creatures and other characters to entertain us for a while. It lets the player *be* part of the story.
You see role play isn’t so much like reading a traditional novel where the plot is laid out for you. It is more like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. You decide the character’s path. However it is more complex than that even. The interactions the character has with other characters also decides their path. It is unpredictable. Much like life.
It is my belief that the way role play is very much like life, yet different, is what keeps people coming back. I will never meet a real elf. I will never slay an undead Baron. I will never ride on the back of a dragon. By letting my imagination roam free, even for just a little while, I can experience some small part of these things. I can decide the plot of this character. I can direct the story. I can create the story I would most like to read.
That is the greatest part of role play; choice. It is like being a writer but not having to have great skill with the written word. It is having a story unfolding before you that is continual and unpredictable. And it is being able to share that story with others.
Those that denigrate role play generally don’t understand it. Neither do they want to. Whether it is fear, ignorance or just an excuse to be malicious, there will always be someone trying to beat role players down. Hopefully, though, those that wish to emerge from the shadow of ignorance and learn what we’re really about will find some use from this article.
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