Why Do We Roleplay?

I am not positive about everyone else, but I have been apart roleplaying lifestyle from a very young age. Before I even knew there was such a thing as roleplaying I unknowingly roleplayed. My brothers and I called them talking games. We loved them. Every waking moment of free time we had was spend throwing ideas back in forth. Our minds an open field. Our thoughts being thrown back and forth and developing into a whole new universe. It's exhilarating, but what drives us to want to do it. Why do we roleplay?

The magnificence of having people's lives in your hands a whole world in your hands even if they are imaginary. The control. The feeling of knowing something is in your hands. You control wither they live or die. You control wither they feel pain or not. You lust for that feeling of control. Despite what we believe it is our nature to be controllers. It is what drives rape, abuse, murder, and many other things.

It is also about being something more than yourself. Not everyone (certainly not me), but many feel bad about themselves. They point out flaws and everything imaginable wrong with them. Roleplaying allows you to be something other than yourself. Lets throw out an example. A girl looks in the mirror...

":O my boobs are mis proportional... OH my goodness that little scar on my arm it's so big. It makes me sooo ugly. Is one eye different then the other? It makes me look so weird. Why do I have stuff wrong with me!!! (and seriously girls half of the things you point out yourself are in your head you are all beautiful. Well some...)"
Is see flaws in yourself.
By roleplaying you can create who you want to be. Your dream... A hotass rogue that makes men fall to their knees by her radiant beauty. A kickass hero who slays any evil foe that faces him. Anything at all. It may not be all of your character, it might be a very little sliver, but your characters are a manifestation of your dream.

And if your like me ideas flow, just abundant, glorious ideas flow back and forth in your head. Many people ignore the feeling. Many others compile their thoughts into books. Others like us roleplay. There is nothing better then thinking of a new world. Different in every aspect from your own. Epic battles unfolding before your very eyes. Magic to bind and twist the world to your bidding.

Roleplaying is wonderful. We have our own reason for doing it, but in some way or another it is our nature. It is what we were born to do. Our brains are the most powerful force in the world. The things we think of, it's just baffling. You think of what we can do with it now and remember we only use a mere fraction of its true capabilities. Our brains are bored with the average life of us. Going to school. Work. Caring for children. Roleplaying allows you to control another being even if it is imaginary. Controlling multiple other beings and even whole worlds gives your brain what it craves for.

You may have other reasons, but I think these are common. This is why we roleplay.

By: Gathius Ray Stormer III