HOW'S MY DRIVING
So are you ever driving on those long and winding roads, minding your own business, only to find yourself stuck behind a semi-truck going 25 mph and swerving like a lunatic? We sincerely hope not, but chances are there’s a bumper sticker somewhere on that guy’s rear end that gives you a number, an incentive, and the age old HOW’S MY DRIVING? question.
While we don't like to think of our version of said concept in quite that drastic of a way, the truth is that this event sometimes does leave people feeling as if they’ve been run over with a truck. The standard operation procedure of How’s My Driving (hereon referred to as HMD for the typist’s sake) is to wait until the moderators throw the post up to the main community and then submit a comment to said post in the following format, just ‘cause it’s easiest:
character | fandom | username
The idea is for other players to be able to tell you, in polite terms, what they may find slightly out of focus in terms of character portrayal or, on a better note, what they really enjoy about how you play your characters! Although constructive criticism can, at times, be difficult to swallow, we of course do not advocate hostile behavior by any means and, in the past, have taken necessary measures to stop trolling or outright bashing of players. After all, helpful comments are one thing, but downright meanness will not and has never been tolerated; however, unless comments are seen as a complete personal attack, remarks made - though sometimes hurtful - in response to the characterization of your character will always be allowed.
In the same vein, don’t feel shy about posting comments regarding the characterization of other characters as well, whether those comments are more of the helpful variety or whether you’re just expressing all that love and adoration that’s been building up for a couple months now.
Always, always, always keep in mind that everyone gets a little toasted by the HMD thread, and it is of course up to your discretion what to take into consideration. This is supposed to be a helpful tool, and we hope that it can be treated as such. Where in the past we have employed the use of anon commenting and turning off IP logging, that is no longer the case, and these days we’re more invested in putting a face to concerns by switching off anonymous comments and turning on IP logging so that the trolling and rude remarks that have been experienced in the past can be more easily watched and reported on.
With this new plan of action, we’re also employing the use of an essay-type response system to go along with HMD from here on out, in order to better explain something that may give other players cause for alarm and that will encourage better communication between players. The idea is to, if you so choose, along with offering constructive crit when commenting to players who offer up their characters, ask a question pertaining to the character if you feel something needs better explanation. For example:
Player A: Why does Character X like toast so much when it’s established in canon that he hates toast?
Player B: Oh, that’s an easy one! You see, it all started with this curse blah blah blah.
Development within a setting can often clear up misconceptions about characters, and we encourage these types of inquiries. The questions, of course, can and probably will range in form from serious to lulzy - which everyone likes - but the idea is that it will give you a better platform with which to explain the decisions you have made regarding your character and his or her present actions, especially if they are confusing to other players.
To sum up, the How’s My Driving thread is meant to be an open form of communication. It’s meant to offer advice, praise, and constructive criticism to players who are putting their feelings on the line and who are opening themselves up to probable stress. We always, always ask that people play nice and abide by the rules. Make it a fun and helpful time for everyone. Also, if you as a player have a personal concrit thread set up for your character, please don’t hesitate to link players to it as an external resource for future reference.
TL;DR• Post to a HMD post in a logical and readable format
• Await comments and questions from your fellow Polyites
• Some of it may be praise
• Some of it might not be praise but criticism. It’s up to you to take it maturely
• Comment to your fellow Polyites in the same fashion
• Answer questions asked of your characterization to clear up any misconceptions
• Anonymous commenting is not allowed and IP logging is turned on
&bull Use this tool responsibly and not as a way to bash fellow players, as bashing will not be tolerated
While we don't like to think of our version of said concept in quite that drastic of a way, the truth is that this event sometimes does leave people feeling as if they’ve been run over with a truck. The standard operation procedure of How’s My Driving (hereon referred to as HMD for the typist’s sake) is to wait until the moderators throw the post up to the main community and then submit a comment to said post in the following format, just ‘cause it’s easiest:
character | fandom | username
The idea is for other players to be able to tell you, in polite terms, what they may find slightly out of focus in terms of character portrayal or, on a better note, what they really enjoy about how you play your characters! Although constructive criticism can, at times, be difficult to swallow, we of course do not advocate hostile behavior by any means and, in the past, have taken necessary measures to stop trolling or outright bashing of players. After all, helpful comments are one thing, but downright meanness will not and has never been tolerated; however, unless comments are seen as a complete personal attack, remarks made - though sometimes hurtful - in response to the characterization of your character will always be allowed.
In the same vein, don’t feel shy about posting comments regarding the characterization of other characters as well, whether those comments are more of the helpful variety or whether you’re just expressing all that love and adoration that’s been building up for a couple months now.
Always, always, always keep in mind that everyone gets a little toasted by the HMD thread, and it is of course up to your discretion what to take into consideration. This is supposed to be a helpful tool, and we hope that it can be treated as such. Where in the past we have employed the use of anon commenting and turning off IP logging, that is no longer the case, and these days we’re more invested in putting a face to concerns by switching off anonymous comments and turning on IP logging so that the trolling and rude remarks that have been experienced in the past can be more easily watched and reported on.
With this new plan of action, we’re also employing the use of an essay-type response system to go along with HMD from here on out, in order to better explain something that may give other players cause for alarm and that will encourage better communication between players. The idea is to, if you so choose, along with offering constructive crit when commenting to players who offer up their characters, ask a question pertaining to the character if you feel something needs better explanation. For example:
Player A: Why does Character X like toast so much when it’s established in canon that he hates toast?
Player B: Oh, that’s an easy one! You see, it all started with this curse blah blah blah.
Development within a setting can often clear up misconceptions about characters, and we encourage these types of inquiries. The questions, of course, can and probably will range in form from serious to lulzy - which everyone likes - but the idea is that it will give you a better platform with which to explain the decisions you have made regarding your character and his or her present actions, especially if they are confusing to other players.
To sum up, the How’s My Driving thread is meant to be an open form of communication. It’s meant to offer advice, praise, and constructive criticism to players who are putting their feelings on the line and who are opening themselves up to probable stress. We always, always ask that people play nice and abide by the rules. Make it a fun and helpful time for everyone. Also, if you as a player have a personal concrit thread set up for your character, please don’t hesitate to link players to it as an external resource for future reference.
TL;DR• Post to a HMD post in a logical and readable format
• Await comments and questions from your fellow Polyites
• Some of it may be praise
• Some of it might not be praise but criticism. It’s up to you to take it maturely
• Comment to your fellow Polyites in the same fashion
• Answer questions asked of your characterization to clear up any misconceptions
• Anonymous commenting is not allowed and IP logging is turned on
&bull Use this tool responsibly and not as a way to bash fellow players, as bashing will not be tolerated