If you have multiple threads with multiple characters, (different players), how do you decide what order to reply to them in (if you owe replies at once)? Do you go in the order of who replied first? Or is it whichever thread is your favorite, and next favorite, and next favorite...so on? Or is it random?

For me, it's typically random vs. favorite. And, to be honest, I go with whatever will be the easiest first. Sometimes what makes a reply easiest is how enjoyable it will be to write, how effortless (I don't mean that in a bad way) a reply might be and how far into the thread the post is. It might sound a bit ridiculous but, in short, but I just follow my character.

I group my threads by character. After that, I usually try to go by the order they were posted, but sometimes I forget. And yeah, if I'm really into one particular thread I might skip and do that one first, but only if I'm planning on doing a whole chunk of tags at once.

Sometimes I answer based on how long I've been owing that post. I mean, guilt pushes me to answer in the due order. But other times, which one inspires me the most goes first.

(Sorry about the emoticon, it landed there by mistake and I can't get rid of it.)

When I first got back into RPing I used to be very good about always replying in order of who was waiting the longest, but more recently I've gotten bad about that and tend to reply to whichever I'm most excited about first. If I'm in someone's first thread with that character, though, I tend to make myself reply to them first regardless of how I feel about it -- it just seems polite or something. I guess I figure they'll be waiting more eagerly for a reply than other people I'm in threads with.

However, I will almost never reply to any thread twice without making sure I've replied to any other waiting threads first, even if I have to pull metaphorical teeth to get it done. When someone does that to me I admit I get offended sometimes if I've been waiting a while -- but that might be a topic for another discussion :p

I really try to go in order of how long I've been owing a post... but sometimes a certain thread will take priority for a while if I have tons of muse for that particularly character or situation, though eventually my conscience will force me to attend to long-overdue posts.

But even though it doesn't always work, I do attempt to go in order.

I'll go through my threads in order (top to bottom), but if I can't reply on one for one reason or another I'll leave it and go back to it later, so sometimes it can be completely random.

I try to reply to in order, so the person who's been waiting longest gets a post first. I think I have broken that rule a few times for threads I'm really excited about, or characters I have tons of muse for, though I can't really remember all that well xD Usually I don't end up with more than one tag at once, so most of the time it's not a problem.

I usually start with the threads where the idea for a reply is already in my head. Then I go by the ease of the character: I write my easiest characters first to get them out of the way - so I won't be distracted by thoughts of them when I have to tackle the harder reply.

It depends on my mood... sometimes I go in the order of whom replied first, and then I usually do all the same character's replies after each other. So if my character 1 have 3 threads, I do all those three, then move onto the next I owe posts with another character.

And sometimes it just doesn't work like that, if I'm tired or annoyed or something, I just reply with "whoever is loudest" as I say. The character whom I just know wants to reply and more or less what they're going to say and do. I suppose that's the inspiration-post-order or something. I do those I feel most up to doing, to those I feel most up to doing, when I feel most up to it... :)

I reply in order of who has been waiting longest, because I know that's how I prefer other people to reply to me so I don't get skipped several times...

I will occasionally reply out of order if I have crazy muse for a character or I don't think I can get a longer post out but I have a short one I can make, but I try not to make it into a habit.

I really don't have a particular order that I reply in. Sometimes I post in whatever is my favorite at the moment, or if someone that's waiting for me to post is on, I'll post for them first before moving on. But I don't think that I've ever posted in order of which thread was first.

No shame here. I post where I want, when I want. xD This is a hobby, I do it for enjoyment and I get that people get all hurt feelings when they see me tagging back and forth with one person all night, but I can't help it. I'm selfish. I want to post where I'm really feeling the character/emotion/plot more than I want to force myself to reply to some poor sap that's been waiting. But I generally reply the day I get a post, so it's not like I leave anybody waiting for even two days, so if they're b****ing, well, that's their problem. I'm having fun. Don't ruin it for me!

I try to reply in the order that posts are given to me, however that is not always the case. Some threads have priority over others. If it's one I've been waiting to get to for a long time, I'll probably put that one over an open thread I just started for kicks and giggles. Or, you know, even if it's a thread that's easier to reply to, that one tends to get a reply quicker than others. [Of course there are times when I factor in how "deep" (so to speak) I have to get in the post for it to work since some of my characters I'm more subtle with than others and whatnot. . .if that makes sense haha.]

I'm in a thread at the moment with three of my characters, but has also got numerous other characters too. I usually go with who posts a character next who say talks to one of my characters, or associates with them.

That way, if someone posts more frequently I try and keep up with that person, I don't however just post for the sake of posting because my character hasn't had a reaction from the person they're talking to just for the sake of them not being in a line.

So I'd say that it's random most of the time. Of course there's always the odd thread when it is possible to do one after another in some order.

I usually reply to threads according to which was posted in first. I rarely have inspiration for one character, but not another. If I'm in the mood to write, it doesn't matter which character I'm writing for, as long as what was posted for me gives me something to work with.

That being said, if I'm not in the mood to write, I will sometimes avoid the threads that are difficult to reply to, regardless of the fact that they have been waiting the longest.

:lol: Exactly.

Other factors which influence me might include the amount of time the RP-er has made me wait for a reply and the amount of activity the RP-er has. If it's a few days or a week, I might not reply instantly (I will put a post up the day after usually), if it's insane hour by hour, then I will mostly put it up immediately, after juggling my other RP threads.

Degree of excitedness plays a MAJOR part as well, as do major plot advancing RP threads. The latter usually, USUALLY get first priority. (Site wide campaigns for example)

As a mod (and as a player really) I try to reply to threads in chronological order (i.e. who's been waiting the longest) BUT this doesn't always happen. Less because I'm replying to ones I'm really excited about instead, and more because I'm dumb and sometimes I miss threads that need a reply.

I've had bad experiences where I've been waiting for more than a week for a reply while watching players involved in a thread with me hyperpost to a sex instead and so I try to be as fair as possible. Because, whether or not they should, people do take it personally. And it's easy to see why. Why is their thread less interesting than this other one? Is it a comment on their writing? Is it a comment on their character? Why does this other person warrant a reply any faster?

But that being said, sometimes, it is totally tempting. Sometimes you're just on a roll. I totally understand the impulse. I'm just pretty careful not to let myself do that because I'd rather not hurt anyone's feelings.

I have a thread tracker. I go in order from the first thread listed that I owe a reply to, to the last. I don't think I could keep track of who replied to me first or last to go in any other order.

I understand it, I really do. I used to be hung up on how other people felt and tried not to step on any toes, but lately, I just don't care anymore. I know it's kinda mean and I still occasionally feel guilty, but... Like I said, this is a hobby. I do it to enjoy myself and I'd rather not cheat the waiting player out of a better reply--they just might have to wait a little longer for it--it has nothing to do with them. I know it can easily be taken personally, and it will--some people's feelings are a lot more easily bruised than mine (I can be a little callous). But I've wasted too much time trying to keep no feathers ruffled and still having somebody take something personally... So... :3 I've given up trying anymore.

I have a thread tracker, too, but I mostly use it to remind myself of what threads I am. I don't keep track of the order, just whether a thread is still going or not, who it's with and how many threads a single character is in at the time.

I try to reply to threads based on how long they've been waiting for a reply. Because otherwise, feelings do get hurt. Yes, rp is something we do for fun, but it should be fun for everybody involved -- and I know that I wouldn't be having fun if my thread was being neglected by other players.

If I'm really into a thread, I may go ahead and write a post for it before its time, so that I can ride my inspiration. But then I hold onto the post and don't put it up until that thread's turn comes around.

And if I really can't handle responding to a certain thread when I should, I let the other player know why. For instance, I have a thread I absolutely adore, but it's very emotionally draining to write -- and in the post I owed, it was going to come out that my character had previously attempted suicide. I just wasn't up to it right then. So I let my rp partner know *why* I was going to skip it and write some fun fluffy posts until I could come back to our thread. And he was totally understanding.

My one exception is large group threads, which I will generally give priority to. Because I don't want to be holding up a whole group of players.

My priorities:
1. Group threads. I try to reply to these first, because more than one person is waiting on me
2. How easy the reply is to write
3. How much fun I’m having in the thread

If I’m bored with a thread, or I’m having a ton of trouble with my character (this happens more often than me getting bored), then I’ll wait a few days to reply to that thread and spend my time replying elsewhere. I find that if I stop RPing altogether out of etiquette to one thread, then I get further and further behind on posts. So, I just reply to the threads that I can, and leave that one thread hanging for a few days.

If it’s longer than a few days and I’m still having trouble, I’ll either force myself to reply to it or send the person a PM saying “sorry, I’m having issues. I’m going to try to get to this soon”.

I have all my threads bookmarked. I refresh and then just go up the list from earliest to latest--usually. Sometimes I go the opposite way. I usually know which ones are the busy ones and often I try and hit them first to avoid getting drowned. Sometimes I can refresh several times for a few hours and have new ones popping up every time. I'm working on trimming down the number of cats I play...

I usually just check around for who replied to which thread first, I usually just pick what thread I replied to last and if they replied I'll post, if they didn't I'll move on the the next closest thread. Its a matter of convenience...I usually try not to play favorites. for example, I have a site I am on now, I play Rosalie, I am in many different threads, since I have not been on for a bit now, when I go back today I'll post to the one I was away for the longest, which means mine and Jasper's thread and then the one for Rose and Edward.

I also depends on what my Muse decides, if I see that someone replied to the post I am looking at but I can't get my muse to push anything out and onto the post then I move on. I learn't a long tome ago never to force a muse to write something your not feeling. It will turn out like crap on steroids.

i try to go in the order that the person replied, so that i don't end up being unfair and leaving anybody waiting. i'm a bit of an impatient girl, and i know that it's unfair to make other people wait when i wouldn't want the same done to me. so yeah ... i look at the date/time the replies were posted and try to reply to whichever was posted first.

sometimes, though, i do reply to people sooner then i otherwise would because we have epic plottage going on. >.> it always makes me feel a little terrible, but i do it.