Ghosting is the cancer of roleplay communities—a festering, self-inflicted wound that plagues even the most well-curated circles of writers. It is the silent killer of creativity, the coward’s exit, the hallmark of those who proclaim themselves "literates" and "long-term writers" only to vanish the moment they are required to display consistency. It is the most widespread disease in roleplaying, an affliction that has claimed far more stories than poor writing ever could.
But why? Why does ghosting persist despite the near-universal resentment it garners? Why do so many roleplayers flee rather than simply communicate? Let’s dissect the most common types of ghosts and their feeble justifications, peeling back the layers of apathy, entitlement, and sheer incompetence that fuel this trend.
1. The Commitment-Phobe
"I thought I wanted this, but now it feels like a chore."
This ghost is drawn in by the allure of a new roleplay, intoxicated by the idea of writing, but the moment reality sinks in—that writing requires effort, engagement, and actual follow-through—they retreat into the void. Their problem isn’t that they lost interest; it’s that they never had any real interest beyond the initial dopamine hit of plotting and character creation.
They revel in the worldbuilding phase, showering their partners with ideas, claiming they are in this for the "long haul."
But once the work begins—when the excitement fades and the actual writing demands effort—they evaporate.
To them, roleplay is a fleeting distraction, not a commitment.
They will never say goodbye, as that would require maturity. Instead, they let the story wither in silence, too spineless to admit their decision.
2. The Serial Window-Shopper
"There’s always a better RP out there!"
This ghost is a slave to novelty. They believe in an imaginary "perfect RP"—one that gives them boundless creativity, requires minimal effort, and strokes their ego. They hop from partner to partner, group to group, never investing in anything for long because they are chasing a fantasy that does not exist.
They have a dozen open roleplays, but none last more than a few weeks.
They respond inconsistently, if at all, and when they do, it’s often rushed or dispassionate.
The moment something shinier appears, they abandon ship without a word.
They are consumers, not creators—flitting from story to story, sucking up worldbuilding, indulging in self-insert fantasies, and then discarding everything when their fickle attention span inevitably wavers.
3. The "I Got Busy" Liar
"Sorry, life got in the way."
Ah, the classic excuse. "Life is busy" is a phrase as old as time, and yes, real-life obligations matter. But let's be honest: ghosting is not a symptom of being busy. It is a symptom of poor prioritization and a lack of respect.
These ghosts somehow have time to post on social media, chat in Discord, start new RPs, play video games, and binge entire Netflix/Anime series—yet they “don’t have time” to send a single message saying they’re stepping away?
They pretended that their disappearance was unavoidable, but in reality, they consciously decided to ghost rather than communicate.
The truth? If they truly valued the RP, they would have sent a message. They didn’t. Because they didn’t care.
4. The "I’m Just Here to Get Attention" Ghost
"Oh no, my muse died!"
These ghosts never intended to roleplay in good faith—their true goal was to soak up attention. They feed on interactions, flirting, and validation, but they drop everything when the novelty of being the "mysterious, tragic writer" wears off.
They only respond when people beg them to stay.
They thrive on admiration, but they ghost when they actually have to give effort back.
They use “low muse” as a shield when in reality, they are just lazy and self-centered.
These people never respected roleplaying as a creative outlet—they saw it as a stage for personal validation.
5. The Spineless Conflict-Avoider
"I didn’t like where this was going, so I just… left."
Some people cannot handle even minor discomfort or disagreement. Rather than discussing issues, they flee at the first sign of tension.
A plot twist they didn’t like? Gone.
A character dynamic that wasn’t what they envisioned? Vanished.
A post they found intimidating to reply to? Poof.
They believe any conversation about dissatisfaction will turn into drama, so they avoid it entirely. Ironically, their cowardice creates more resentment than honesty ever would.
6. The "It’s Just a Hobby" Cop-Out
"I don’t owe you anything."
Ah yes, the most insufferable ghost of all—the one who thinks that because RP is "just for fun," they bear zero responsibility for how their actions affect others.
They justify ghosting as “self-care.”
They dismiss any criticism as “entitlement.”
They refuse to acknowledge the time, energy, and effort their partners invested.
Yes, roleplay is a hobby. But hobbies require basic decency. A roleplayer who consistently ghosts are no different from someone who bails on plans refuses to respond to texts and treats others as disposable entertainment.
Final Thoughts: The Ugly Truth About Ghosting
At its core, ghosting is not about busyness, stress, or "losing muse." Those are excuses. Ghosting is a reflection of apathy, selfishness, and a lack of respect.
Ghosts:
Do not respect their writing partners’ time.
Do not have the basic courtesy to say, “I’m no longer interested.”
Do not care about the effort someone else put into the story.
And the worst part? Many of them will come back later, pretending nothing happened, expecting to be welcomed with open arms—only to ghost again the moment something “better” comes along.
So here’s the truth: If you ghost repeatedly, you are the problem. Not "life." Not "low muse." You. Either commit to writing with respect—or stop wasting other people’s time. Final note, in some rare cases, these "excuses' are justified and real. But they are the fringe, the minority of the minority to the third power.
You're directness is going to rub people the wrong way. But I do agree with your thoughts and break down. Sometimes, the truth stings.