Courtesy

I suppose my destiny is to post this every two years or so, admonishing random passersby like the old mariner at the start of Coleridge's famous poem.

I haven't bothered to go out looking for new RP partners since about 2007 or so not because I am hostile to the idea, but because it just all seems so pointless. And even those few who somehow come across me online can be -- well let's just say they often seem to have been raised by wolves.

So someone rattles the cage on my Yahell account about a week ago, and claims to want to RP. Sure! I spend a little time to find out what "she" wants -- and that is reasonable, no obvious signs of madness, or inbred imbecility. We start to Rp, and "she" wants to send some photos. OK - I accept, and much to my surprise they're not vile.

I continue to set up what I think will be a good intro RP just to break the ice. I get nothing back but a few one word lines like "no!" In mid-sentence "she" goes offline on me. Well, that can happen due to any number of reasons. I am still willing to give it a shot next time I see "her" online.

Next day, she's on. I show availability, and "she" almost immediately switches off. Right. I get the picture. "She" is banned.

Really, is a little courtesy going to kill you? Take up that much time? A simple "no, thanks" or "not what I'm looking for" while not exactly magnanimous, is at least flirting with politeness. Particularly when I am giving (in this case) more than I received, however briefly.

You think I'm an a**hole? Take a number. Smarter, prettier, more prominent people than you already think that. So try a little courtesy.