What is Roleplay?
When Faye brought it to my attention that we required an introduction that
defined roleplay I was at first taken aback by the sheer size of the project
ahead of me. You see roleplaying is many different things to many different
people.
Dictionary.com defines roleplaying as:
"role-play-ing [rohl-pley-ing]
–noun
1. a method of instruction or psychotherapy aimed at changing attitudes and
behavior, in which participants act out designated roles relevant to
real-life situations.
2. the modifying of a person's behavior to accord with a desired personal
image, as to impress others or conform to a particular environment."
However its obvious this definition doesn't begin to cover the depth of what
roleplaying truly is. So lets see if I can give a shot at defining it.
Roleplaying is the act of assuming the role of a character, and interacting
with other people or the environment around them, from the perspective of
their character, rather than their own personal perspective.
That makes it sound dry and boring. Which is when I realized the wording of
the question is wrong. Rather than asking what is roleplay people should be
asking 'Why Roleplay?' and while this question is still as massive as the
first it is much easier to answer.
People roleplay for a variety of reasons. Some do it to relax and escape
from their lives, some do it to develop stronger bonds with friends and
strangers alike, and some do it just to goof around and have fun. Some
people do it for a combination of those reasons but in the end anyone who
roleplays can probably fall into one or more of those categories. Personally
I fall into all three. Roleplaying allows me to escape my physical birth
defect, while giving me a chance to meet new people and form new
friendships, as I relax, relieve stress, and just goof around to have some
fun.
Roleplaying can take any form and is usually taught to us as small children.
Did you ever play House or Dress Up as a kid? Did you mother ever say take a
look at it from their shoes? Or even walk a mile in their shoes? These are
the sort of things roleplaying is based on. An actor doing a play is
roleplaying that character, just as much as the four guys sitting around a
table with cheetos and mountain dew, he just has more skill at it usually.
Some say online roleplaying is inferior to physically being around the other
roleplayers, however I find it is more liberating, your not tied to your own
physical skills, appearance, gender, or abilities to talk to people as much.
You're physically anonymous at first and speaking well takes a back seat to
how well you can craft out and type your words.
Whether you roleplay with your friends around a table, do it online, or just
act for fun from time to time, roleplaying can help you in your day to day
life by increasing your ability to understand and respect the people around
you. Not just nerds roleplay anymore.
Steven Burkeland