Forgive me if it's a stupid question, but what the title says. I don't have much of any experience with role plays.

Also, what if they're labelled private?

I have no clue. xD
Personally I don't see any problem with it unless you're plagiarizing or copying other people's concepts.
I mean, if you're just reading or using it to get your own inspiration or ideas for how to format and start your own or reply to one, then I wouldn't see any harm in it.
But then again I've never started a roleplay or posted in one, so I really can't speak for those who have.
Though I am curious. I may start one just for the hell of it. I enjoy writing. :]
Just don't have any good ideas yet though.

Those were my thoughts too. But I'm not sure.

"Private" generally means "no one else is allowed to join," not "no one else is allowed to read." They're posting it on a public forum, so it would be pretty silly of them to be offended by other people reading it! There's always email if they'd rather it stay truly private.

Anyway, all roleplays are at least skimmed by moderators to make sure they're following the rules. So you wouldn't be the first third party to read any given roleplay.

I know some people would actually be flattered if others read their roleplays. People can spend a lot of time working on them, I bet knowing someone outside the game was enjoying it would make their day! I'd say read any roleplay that interests you. But posting in the thread itself may be considered bad form, depending on how their rules are, so it'd probably be best to leave a profile comment or look for an OOC thread if you wanted to leave a message for them about it.

Reading it would be a huge sign of flattery, but posting in one would be bad etiquette (mainly because it disrupts the flow of the narrative which can anger a lot of writers). I know that I always burst with joy when someone tells me they read my RPs or like my characters etc. :)

Thank you for the information! I just wanted to make sure. I mean, I know these are public forums, so one would assume they're public role plays, but hey, weirder things have happened on the internet than private stuff on public sites.

your Question has helped me too Rebecca, i often thought about that myself... i remember reading through one of them and feeling guilty thinking im doing something bad... hehehe it makes me laugh now :D

Never stopped 2 users from following mine
Honestly it was rather nice to know someone liked it. I think it really depends, but if I don't want certain RPs seen I do them over skype instead

I'm glad I could help someone else :)

And thank you as well, Poet!

I absolutely adore to see someone reading my RPs. To know someone's following along and enjoys the story, and to even talk to them about it and see their thoughts on what might happen or get an idea or two from their observations, it's just too nice.

From time to time I do read other RPs, though it's not often, really.

Thank you for your help!

It's not bad etiquette to me. I consider reading other people's RPs as reading their fanfiction or something of the sort. They're there, in total public, able to be seen for a reason, right? At least, that's just how I see it. One time, I got obsessed with this one RP -- it was a very long time ago. Sad it stopped getting replies though...

I agree with the fact that if it's on a public forum then there's no reason to feel guilty about it or think it's bad etiquette to read it. If people didn't want others to see it then they should not be posting it on a public forum to begin with.

I never cared when people read mine as long as they didn't bother me or my group.

Thank you!

I don't know, I've never really thrived on these types of sites, and I don't want to mess it up by annoying/angering others. I guess I was just over thinking things!

Personally,I like the idea that people might read the roleplays I'm in.If they're entertained,then my job is being done right.That's why I always put up in my private threads that anyone is welcome to read along ^-^

Thank you, Gemini :)

I had never thought about the etiquette of this... I used to read them when I was bored, if the title caught my eye in the spy thread. Now I'm kind of glad you asked!

you're quite welcome ^-^

@Bearzy - I don't know why it popped into my head. Just me over thinking things again! But yeah, it does seem kind of important once you think about it, huh?

This is the first time I've thought of the etiquette of this as well.
Boop. I'm happy it doesn't seem to be an issue.

Me too!

I am not an RPer myself, I have tried and it's not my thing. So I don't know what the rituals are but I don't see the problem. Writing is meant to be shared, that's the point of it. No one should be trying to keep a thread on a public forum private, that I think can also be considered "bad etiquette".

*shrug*

Yeah,"private" only means that it's meant for only certain people to play it,but anyone can read it.We only put private to let other roleplayers know that they can't join without asking.I think it would be rather stupid if someone tried to say "You can't read this" since how are they going to stop them?

Originally Posted by Gemini

Yeah,"private" only means that it's meant for only certain people to play it,but anyone can read it.We only put private to let other roleplayers know that they can't join without asking.I think it would be rather stupid if someone tried to say "You can't read this" since how are they going to stop them?

Oh excuse my mention of the 'private' thing in my prior post. This use of that label makes far more sense. Like I said, I don't RP I don't know the stuff.

I'd love it if I knew someone was reading my rp thread.