The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

When spects play in interactive stories, not all of their behaviors arise because of the fiction. There are also elements from real life that affect the way they play.

If there’s an audience, spects are concerned with what family, friends, and strangers will think of their performances. If they’re playing in an interactive simulation at work, they’re often worried about how they’ll be seen and judged by their superiors or subordinates. No one wants to be seen in a bad light.

Roy is participating in a roleplay simulation where he has to fire someone. Roy doesn’t care how the person he has to fire feels because that’s just a fictional character. The thing that has Roy worried is what his boss will think and how that might affect his real-life performance review.

As an inter-actor, it’s easy to forget that there may be real-life consequences that affect the way that spects play in story. When spects’ behaviors are not what you would wish, cut them some slack. There may be more influences at play than you are aware of.