What is ooc?
OOC stands for “out of character.” It’s a label used in online role‑playing, forums, chat rooms, and games to show that a message is being spoken by the real person, not by the fictional character they are playing.
Let's break it down
- Character: The persona you adopt in a role‑play (e.g., a wizard, a robot, a detective).
- Out of character (OOC): Anything you say that is not part of that persona.
- How it looks: People usually put OOC in brackets, parentheses, or a separate line, like “[OOC: I’m busy now]” or “(OOC) I’m not sure how to solve this.”
Why does it matter?
OOC keeps the story clear. It prevents confusion between what the character would do and what the real player wants to say, such as asking a question, giving a warning, or stepping away from the game.
Where is it used?
- Text‑based role‑playing forums and message boards
- Multiplayer online games with role‑play channels (e.g., Discord, MMO chat)
- Live‑action role‑play (LARP) notes or group chats
- Collaborative writing tools where authors switch between character dialogue and author notes
Good things about it
- Clarity: Readers instantly know when a comment is meta‑information.
- Safety: Players can discuss real‑world issues (like harassment) without breaking immersion.
- Organization: Helps moderators enforce rules and keep the storyline tidy.
- Flexibility: Allows quick questions or technical help without confusing the narrative.
Not-so-good things
- Overuse: Too many OOC tags can clutter a thread and break immersion.
- Misuse: Some people use OOC to cheat or give their character unfair advantages.
- Ambiguity: If the OOC format isn’t standardized, others might miss the cue and think it’s in‑character.
- Distraction: Constant switching between OOC and in‑character can slow down the flow of the story.