What is the intended purpose of the gossip channel

[Indygo]

I typically will monitor the gossip channel when I am not engaged with anyone (questing/mob hunting etc.) figuring there may be someone with a question on game mechanics or other info I may be able to help, and the clutter from the chat don't get in the way of my other conversations.  I see it as a more visible means of access to help than the advise command to new players..

What I see more often than not is:

Example 1
Player A: Where can I find an x?
Player B: Its over by z.

Example 2
Player A: Does anyone have an x to sell?
Player B: I do!
Player A: How much?
Player B: 1 fafillion tria, meet me at harns
Player A: BRT!!!

or...

Example 3
Player C: Who gives the quest for glyph y?
Player D: X gives that quest!
Player C: Where is he/she?
Player D: In the tavern in oja...

Granted they are silly examples but the content is close to accurate.  My question I guess is: what is the intention of the gossip channel?  It can't possilby be the intent of the devs/gms that the channel be used for spoiler info.  If its intent was as a tool for easier means for new players to get help, its failing horribly.

Now typically when I speak up and say that gossip should not be used to give away spoilers most of you can guess what happens... its pile on Indy time!  Usually I'm told that I can just leave the channel if I dont like it, however that is not the point!

I believe its MURDERING roleplay for one, and secondly its a very unfair and lazy way of going about finding out the information being asked.  For six years (off and on) I have been learning about the in game world.  When I had questions I didn't get to /shout for advice, we roleplayed it!  Made some very good friends IC in the process and had a lot of fun doing it.  Gossip is taking that out of the equation.  Its fostering lazy game play and when it is brought to the attention of the channel the flames begin.

Maybe I'm old school and think that rp should be the first avenue of gaining in game info.  With the exception of game mechanics, in world info given on gossip is spoiler info IMO.  Please correct me if I am wrong.  For someone that monitors the channel hoping to find someone with a legitimate question or in need of help to be told by the majority to "just leave the channel douche bag" is disheartening.

For the love of Laanx please delete this disfunctional feature.

[bloodedIrishman]

99% of the Gossip channel content is nonsensical. And yet I peruse and comment in it, as I am bloodedIrishman. I cannot help my whimsical nature.

No but really, it is nonsense. Very little of anything worth anything happens there. However, I can't see what harm it does. I'm not quite sure if it murders roleplay, but I may defer to your experience.

Can we turn this into a heated debate? 

[Illysia]

Can we turn this into a heated debate? 

Too late by about several arguments. We really hashed this one out hard already and you see who won. Do like I do, Ignore it even exists (as in not join) unless absolutely necessary and then get back out quickly if you do have to acknowledge it.

[Candy]

Oh joy, the x is killing RP threads again. Y'know, because all role play ceased to exist the second Gossip was implemented.

Gossip is supposed to be a generic OOC chat channel. It is frequently used to ask spoilers, yes, but it's also a means of finding people who are willing to role play with you. If you want people to stop asking for spoilers there, I suggest gently reminding them that they can use the help channel or ask around IC.

Frankly, I'm glad Gossip exists, since it can be kind of dead if you're playing a character with no guild or no guildmates online to chat to to break up the monotony of grinding.

[Indygo]

Oh joy, the x is killing RP threads again. Y'know, because all role play ceased to exist the second Gossip was implemented.

Gossip is supposed to be a generic OOC chat channel. It is frequently used to ask spoilers, yes, but it's also a means of finding people who are willing to role play with you. If you want people to stop asking for spoilers there, I suggest gently reminding them that they can use the help channel or ask around IC.

Frankly, I'm glad Gossip exists, since it can be kind of dead if you're playing a character with no guild or no guildmates online to chat to to break up the monotony of grinding.

Okay, I'll give you that... its not killing role play but it sure the hell dont promote it.  At the very least it is prohibiting opportunities for interaction by its very existance.  Tell me one time you have had this conversation...

Bored lone player:  I'm bored looking for someone to role play with, anyone interested
Gossip channel floods with offers.

As far as the lone player without a guild, I am as well.  Never have a problem role playing without being in a guild... ever.  See, the way the character interacts with the world is role playing they dont have to be big elaborate drawn out stories.  I would assume if I am out in the wilds grinding on cutthroats, then yes I am probably not going to be involved in much role playing during that time.

If you think people are kind when you remind them that gossip is not meant as a spoiler channel I'd suggests you give it a shot sometime and find out all the nice things people think about you...

[Illysia]

Sorry but I do have to point this out...

Oh joy, the x is killing RP threads again. Y'know, because all role play ceased to exist the second Gossip was implemented.
...
Frankly, I'm glad Gossip exists, since it can be kind of dead if you're playing a character with no guild or no guildmates online to chat to to break up the monotony of grinding.

You mean not... RPing? Sorry but that seems to make the point you are trying to contradict. Not so much that gossip is killing RP but it's also really not helping it that much. However, any such channel like that which can be accessed all over the world will devolve into the same pattern. I've seen it happen in every MMO I've ever played.

[bloodedIrishman]

I'm guessing there are four opinions aimed at this topic.

1) It's wrong, and I'm not changing my mind
2) It's right, and I'm not changing my mind
3) I don't care, tl;dr, and I'm not changing my mind
4) I haven't made up my mind, can someone help me understand?

Now how many people do you think fit into 4? 

[Rigwyn]

When I was playing, I just ignored the damn thing. I prefer to play with as little ooc communication as possible - though it has its place at times. I tried looking for rp in gossip one time by just asking if anyone role plays. Out of the 30 users online, only one replied positively ( Stellan Aristo ) the rest were like "lowut?"

Its not a hardcore role playing game, so I'd say leave it on for the noobs and those not role playing. Ignore it if you wish. For a dedicated role playing game, I would definitely say burn it with fire.

Although Planeshift is now considered a role playing game ( I can't cite a quote at the moment ), those of us who have been around for a while know that PS is very liberal about this.

[Cello]

gossip channel off ...no purpose to worry, at all

[dadela]

I have no Idea why I'm keeping alliance or gossip tabs nowadays when I do play... No help I get of them in Role Play, though they are not bothering or annoying poor me as well. Mayhap, OOC fun I started to get in there gives illusion I'm not playing only with 3-4 Role Players left in the game.

[Candy]

You mean not... RPing? Sorry but that seems to make the point you are trying to contradict. Not so much that gossip is killing RP but it's also really not helping it that much. However, any such channel like that which can be accessed all over the world will devolve into the same pattern. I've seen it happen in every MMO I've ever played.

The point of this thread is the purpose of the gossip channel, not whether or not it's "killing RP". PlaneShift is incredibly boring without people to talk to, whether you're roleplaying or not.

Bored lone player:  I'm bored looking for someone to role play with, anyone interested
Gossip channel floods with offers.

All I need is one offer, and I have successfully found RP via Gossip a few times.

As far as the lone player without a guild, I am as well.  Never have a problem role playing without being in a guild... ever.  See, the way the character interacts with the world is role playing they dont have to be big elaborate drawn out stories.

I don't have to be in a big elaborate story, either, the point was it gives a means of talking that's better than sending someone random tells. While I enjoy getting those, and know a few people that don't mind them, it can be difficult to discern via text whether or not someone is annoyed with OOC talk.

If you think people are kind when you remind them that gossip is not meant as a spoiler channel I'd suggests you give it a shot sometime and find out all the nice things people think about you...

Hence my saying gently remind them. I've never seen anyone get ticked off when people simply say "you're not allowed to spoil in gossip", though.

[Illysia]

The point of this thread is the purpose of the gossip channel, not whether or not it's "killing RP". PlaneShift is incredibly boring without people to talk to, whether you're roleplaying or not.

True, but gossip is kinda not helpful for that either unless you are looking for lolwut specifically.

[Indygo]

The intent of my post wasn't to spark yet another flame thread here, lord knows theres plenty of them for the trolls to keep busy.  The section is for complaints and my complaint is as I stated above. 

To sum it up:
1. A game with the mission of role playing your time while in world and lays out clear rules about not openly giving out spoilers as well as discouraging OOC chatter sends a very contradicting message with a channel dedicated specifically to OOC chat.  I believe it is out of place in the game and should be removed.  Why not let the IRC channels be the medium for it and keep it away from the game?

2. The gossip channel does give players an easier avenue to interact with players to get advice and items using OOC means rather than role play with someone they come accross in world and ask for the advice be it on location of NPCs, where and how to get items, and quest help (which is permissable in the rules as long as it is done IC).  In this context I do believe it infringes on possible role play possibilities.  Those of us that remember the Vespers of Laanx I think would agree with this statement.  Perhaps there are opportunities to find RP through this channel but I have yet to see it.

3. For me to not participate in the channel does not negate my previous two complaints.  They still exist wether I am participating in the channel or not.  I believe it could be a valuable tool in the sense of an advisory type channel but in its current state it goes against the mission of the game in my opinion.

My purpose when I posted this was not to elicit a player response, it was more in the hopes of getting an answer from a GM/Dev on what the intention of the gossip channel is?  If the intention of the gossip channel is to talk about Lady Gaga gaining five pounds, and who is the best singer on the Voice does it really fit into what we are trying to do here?  Noone could honestly argue that this belongs in a game that "enforces" role play from my point of view.

If this for some reason upsets or disturbs you please read below   I'm really only interested in input from GM/Devs on the matter to be honest (I know its a long shot).

[Candy]

The intent of my post wasn't to spark yet another flame thread here, lord knows theres plenty of them for the trolls to keep busy.  The section is for complaints and my complaint is as I stated above. 

To sum it up:
1. A game with the mission of role playing your time while in world and lays out clear rules about not openly giving out spoilers as well as discouraging OOC chatter sends a very contradicting message with a channel dedicated specifically to OOC chat.  I believe it is out of place in the game and should be removed.  Why not let the IRC channels be the medium for it and keep it away from the game?

2. The gossip channel does give players an easier avenue to interact with players to get advice and items using OOC means rather than role play with someone they come accross in world and ask for the advice be it on location of NPCs, where and how to get items, and quest help (which is permissable in the rules as long as it is done IC).  In this context I do believe it infringes on possible role play possibilities.  Those of us that remember the Vespers of Laanx I think would agree with this statement.  Perhaps there are opportunities to find RP through this channel but I have yet to see it.

In just about every MMORPG with a role playing community I know of, there is a specific channel for OOC chat. If there isn't an official one, the role play community starts one. I don't think it discourages RP - in fact, in other games (ones that may have RP servers but don't necessarily have active RP in all of them, like WoW), I gauge whether or not there even ARE roleplayers by finding the OOC channel and asking.

As for asking for spoilers, maybe there should be a warning added when you join that states "Please do not ask for spoilers in this channel", if it's that big of a deal, but I don't think it is. Besides, the typical IC interaction when someone is asking for something tends to go like this:

A: "Excuse me, sir, where can I find this particular object?"
B: "Oh, it's sold by that enkidukai over there."
A: "Thank you kindly!"
B: "No problem."
A turns around and heads for the enkidukai.

...and then A and B don't speak to each other again. More interactions like this don't create the Glorious RP Utopia people seem to be under the impression it would.

[LigH]

#6: 3. Disabled "Join default channel".