[minahd]

Wel,l I wouldn't necessarily say that I choose those qualities for my character as a reaction to the way some people narrowly view the opposite. Instead, I find it much more fun to play characters who are unconvinced of their own failings. I find that to be the case in RL, as well. We are not always aware of how we rate, and not eveybody is exceedingly self-aware. And even if my character is self-aware to the point of being self-judgemental, it is often fun to play against it.

You say, "I am hot and sexy."
You say, "Stop staring at my voluptuous bosom."
You say, "You may be prettier than me, but I'm an elf. If I wait long enough, you'll go away."

[Devi_Sage]

Thanks, Greenie. It's nice to be back in the mix.

Originally Posted by I often think that people who play conventionally pretty women, or highly sexual women, are often belittled as roleplayers.  Has anyone ever found themselves reacting to that situation by making less-pretty characters?

I agree. I often think the same thing. And I may even be one of those people that looks down on such portrayed women characters. But it depends, too, on whether those traits envelop their entire personality, and if there is no other depth than this one-dimension. Female characters that just flounce around to get male attention (in whatever form) and do nothing else. Just that plateau. That tends to make me think that all they're online MUSHing for is to gain attention they themselves crave to have/can't get IRL. And, yes, that does make me think "less" of someone as a roleplayer.

Though to answer the question (in tangent fashion), I can honestly say that the vast majority of my female and male characters were never created as sexy/beautiful/enthralling. They may vary in my mind on what our society commonly standardizes as beauty, but never is that something high on my importance list when creating a character. What I do is I let others view them as they will from what I portray.  

Laeria, for example, is of fair complexion with a smattering of freckles and has ringlets of blonde hair. Despite my on-chan joking, /my/ view is that Laeria is "fair." Not supermodel, not unattractive. Like Jemini, she's average for her society and era. However, people perceive them to be much, much more beautiful and comely than I feel they are. I chalk it up to their inner qualities and personalities shining through as something attractive to another, and not merely a physical "thing."

Another instance is with my Demarian (Humanoid Feline) on OtherSpace who is far from attractive in my mind, and far from attractive in what I believe Demarian culture would view. Her personality is too abrasive, crude and offensive. She's racist and sexist and hates anything of her society that isn't of Underclass. And yet... as Silver pointed out a few weeks ago when we were reminiscing... that there wasn't a male Demarian around that didn't have a crush on Razor at some point. Why? Because I think people have their own conceptions of who a character is, what they look like, and whether or not these qualities are eye-catching to their character.

And on the opposite side of the fence (although not female), Volindrim, my bisexual male Vollistan, was quite the romantic charmer and opportunist toward anyone willing to listen to him. An actor and secretary. I thought him to be quite handsome. Many thought so too. Yet, there were still others who found him not to be at all.

So, my neutral/average characters ended up meeting with more positive beauty feedback than I myself see. My non-pretty characters met with more positive beauty feedback that I thought possible. And my characters I assume to be above average aren't seen as such by everyone. It's interesting. All in the way you play, I suppose.

But truly, in the end, it all boils down to what people/players think and what their characters think. I leave that decision in their minds to make.

I hope that kind of touched on what you were curious about, Greenie.

[Theomanic]

Originally Posted by (Greenstorm @ Aug. 05 2004,11:50) I know it was meant somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but it does raise a valid issue.  I often think that people who play conventionally pretty women, or highly sexual women, are often belittled as roleplayers.  Has anyone ever found themselves reacting to that situation by making less-pretty characters?

That is a very good question.  Myself, I have made characters both good and bad looking.  I find it very interesting the changes and lackthereof in the perceptions of my character.

First of all, when I am a less attractive character, I find a lot of people are still responding basically to my personality and the fact that I am female.  I've had characters described outright as homely, and still I get flowery compliments and presents, as long as I'm nice.  Call me cynical, but I think if they were really envisioning my character, that many people would not be so inclined to kindness towards strangers.

Secondly, when I make descriptions that are very sexy or good looking, I get a little more attention, yes, but I have noticed the "good" roleplayers tend to be cautious around me.  Basically most people assume that anyone who has a description like that is probably interested in c-sex (and probably a guy, I bet).  People who have been roleplaying a long time tend to look down upon characters who are too sexy in their descriptions.  I feel I have to prove myself as capable of RP to anyone who has a lot of credibility, because they are wont to assume otherwise.

- Theomanic

From what I've noticed, it's definately the quality of the RP that matters more than the description.

The description, as said several times before by several people in several places (do I get a bonus for using the word several that many times?), is only a first impression. However, in text based envirorments, it can't be absolute as their are many people drawing different pictures of what the character looks like in their mind.

Anyway, I think this is why the actual RP has more weight than description in the attractiveness. The picture painted through RP says more about the author's intent than the description does. - Especially how it's discouraged to suggest attractiveness or whatever.

On another note, I don't think it's wrong to make characters that are attractive or whatnot, but I'll admit if I see an overly attractive character who I've never RPed with before, I'll be slightly suspicious. Especially having seen people (that were largely male, in my experience) that must mention their female character's breasts every other pose... but I have seen people whose description suggested attractiveness and been incredibly good. It's just like any other group, you have the good and the bad, I think there is an unwritten set of rules that require 'higher standards' for those who wish to play overly attractive characters though.

[Greenstorm]

Offtopic:

Originally Posted by You say, "You may be prettier than me, but I'm an elf. If I wait long enough, you'll go away."

That is the best quote.

On topic:

I think there's a ton of dramatic potential in, as the quote went, portraying someone who thinks they're beautiful and maybe isn't so much. I think it's also fantastic playing a very physically lovely character who's always depended on that attribute -- they tend to go through this slow, terrible realisation that it's not enough over the course of play.

I know I have an instinctive reaction to beautiful chars where I just pass over them, as people said -- I play with them, yes, but I don't expect anything special. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not missing something by doing so, some sort of humorous or ironic tint to the char, or something.

[Sevenstar]

I've finally been cleared to participate here!

My apologies for my response being kind of retrograde with the topic.

The majority of my alts have been female, in some ways I've patterned each to try out the Mother, Maiden, Crone aspects/characteristics. I've had one male alt, but he didn't work out well.

I think perhaps it wasn't so much that I couldn't play a male, but that his character was built solely to fill a craft need. Another player and I traded - he would create an alt who made things my main character needed and I'd do the same for him. My new alt worked fine on that level, but when in actual RP, he tended to be a bit stilted. I think if I had put more effort into his story, he would have been more fleshed out.

As far as the discussion so far about male/female stereotypes, I agree that actual in scene posing makes much more impact on me than a person's description. Whether a character is believable depends on the sincerity of the portrayal - a woman can play a ditzy female character, and I'd feel the same way about the player's skill as I would a man playing a ditzy female character. Miind you, ditzy is fun, but an insincere ditz isn't - they're just one dimensional.

Anyway, my two imps. Thanks to Greenie for keeping the thread going.