I just now saw this.

I started out in Pern fandom with a mary sue dragonrider candidate.
There was nothing like the rush when my character got a green dragon! OMG!

I started on egroups, before they merged with onelist, and then
became the Yahoogroups we know and love. My then-boyfriend and I
started our own game together. We sucked. So much. Neither of us knew
what we were doing, and we encouraged so much behavior that I
wouldn't put up with today.

After that game fell through, I've run various groups over the years,
and I think that the one I mod now may just be the last one I run.

My style has definitely evolved, too, as a mod. I've never been a
terribly strict mod (they don't call me the fluffy bunny GM for
nothing), but I am better about sticking to my guns and feeling less
bad for causing some poor, obnoxious player to feel persecuted. I've
finally learned that it's my list, so I ultimately have to do what
makes me feel the most comfortable, and that if other people's
definitions of what's comfortable differ from mine, well, my list, my call.

Shannon



At 08:36 AM 12/5/2008, Elizabeth Wilde wrote:

>I think I started something like this a long, long time ago, but...
>I'm feeling reflective. So sue me. I'm curious as to what your
>evolution as a roleplayer has been. Where did you start out? When
>did you start running lists? What's changed about your play or
>moderation styles over the years?
>
>For me, it all started with total Mary Sue bliss in the Hercules and
>Xena fandom about 11 years ago. I still love those times. Generally
>Mary Sue-ness is wrong and bad, but... in context, in that place, it
>was perfection. Plus it got me comfortable enough to eventually move
>out of that and start seeking out other forum games. At the time it
>was all Star Wars, Herc & Xena, and a little Buffy for me.
>Eventually I even started some forum games of my own.
>
>At the time, I was an unorganized and inexperienced mod. The lists
>went relatively well considering that and the fact that I had no
>clue how to properly advertise, but eventually I got tired of the
>forum style. By that time I was on several mailing lists through
>Onelist (later to become Egroups and then Yahoogroups)... and there
>were rpgs there! I was blissed out. I started several lists (some of
>which are still running, albeit with some changes along the way), I
>joined even more, and I loved it.
>
>The lists I'm on and run have changed over the years (now my stuff
>is original, horror, X-Men, Buffy... okay, it hasn't changed THAT
>much), and so have I. I'm a better writer. I'm better at developing
>characters that will fit into a universe and enhance it. I'm sooooo
>much better organized. I can write a set of rules that actually
>helps keep order.
>
>My moderation style has also fluctuated a lot over the years. At
>first I was far too loose - there was not nearly enough guidance or
>help from me. Then I was too strict. Now... I think I have a good
>balance. Am I picky sometimes? Absolutely. But it isn't a control
>freak thing anymore, it's just that after this many years, I know
>what I want in a player, and I'm not scared to ask for it. Sometimes
>that means people think I'm being a jerk, but it also means that the
>games are stronger and better. I'm not scared to ban or unsub people
>who are making trouble anymore.
>
>Honestly? I'm proud of where I am as a mod and a player now. Not
>claiming I'm perfect by any stretch of the imagination or that I
>don't get in pissy moods and say or do dumb things. Of course I do!
>lol But it's been a fun journey, and I look forward to what's to come.
>
>So, if anyone actually waded through all that crap, what's *your* story?
>
>Peace & Love,
>Beth
>
>
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>12/5/2008 9:57 AM