The Despie & Illiterate's Handbook
I'm afraid I can't claim credit to this list. It all started out on the Neopets roleplay board and was so hilarious I had to archive it (with permission!) with a few of my own additions for good measure.
Note to the Neopets players - many rules were quite similar, so a few were combined or re-worded. This was done so that the list would make more sense. I apologize if I've missed anything.
So, here they are, sorted out by type, but in no particular order other than that.
- You must be some kind of school stereotype, such as a prep, goth, skater, or punk.
- You should also be the most attractive person in your school.
- In a wolf roleplay, make yourself the hottest wolf. Then sit under a tree and do nothing.
- You must have a sexy figure, either slender or curvy. Make sure you describe it to everyone in the room. Don't skimp on important details like your bust and thighs.
- You must weigh so little that by all rights, you should be emaciated.
- Your smile must be warm, sweet, innocent, or gentle.
- Use words like "dazzling," "sparkling," and "enchanting" to describe yourself. Extra points for more poetic terms.
- No matter what time of the year it is, you should have a perfect tan.
- Girls, your clothing must show skin. Tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, and miniskirts are all preferable. If you are on a cruise, you should wear a cardigan top.
- Guys, you should be well over six feet tall and have green eyes. Don't forget to mention your 6- or 8-pack. And don't be afraid to show it off. Spiked hair is a must.
- Your shirt should have a witty saying on it. (EG, "I Eat Cows.")
- You should always show off just a little bit of your lingerie. Make sure it looks accidental.
- Black looks good on everyone and should be used relentlessly in your clothes and makeup.
- You should have a tattoo, preferably something like a dragon, butterfly, Chinese symbol, or angel.
- You should wear a piece of symbolic jewelry.
- Piercings are also great, preferably in your belly-button.
- There must be at least one girl with raven-colored purple-streaked hair and purple eyes.
- You absolutely must be single and looking.
- Someone close to you must have died. No matter how gorgeous, popular, and rich you are, you must be a tortured soul.
- No matter how old you are, you can still drink and smoke.
- You must be the most popular person in your school or unfairly disliked by practically everyone.
- You should always be the alpha of your wolf pack.
- Your name can be as exotic as you want. No-one will call you a hippie for being named Rain. And remember, boy's names are always cute on girls.
- No matter how late in the year it is, make your character a new student, preferably with some kind of European accent.
- All guys should have a skateboard and be a star player on the school football team. Girls should be the captain of the cheerleading squad. (There can always be multiple stars and captains!)
- If you wish to have some kind of job, it must be glamorous. Artists and singers are all in.
- Of course, you can also be filthy rich for no apparent reason.
- Always have a weird relation to the host's character.
- When in a band, you must be the only female member and should play a Fender guitar. (Any other brand makes you look ridiculous.)
- Be flirtatious. Flirt with the first guy you see. Flirt with the second guy you see. Flirt with every guy you see.
- Make sure you ask every cutie if they can be your "G/F" or "B/F".
- If trying to get a guy, keep typing how much of a "wild girl" you are until he just has to date you.
- Make SURE you share a hobby or interest with the cutie you have a crush on - even if you didn't before.
- You must always listen to a rock band on your CD player. Even if you don't like them, a boy will surely recognize the song and rave about you.
- If someone turns you down, be sure to have a fit, cry, and storm off to find the next available person.
- There must be at least one character who goes about sighing because no-one ever notices him/her. When someone does walk over, this character will be silent. If this person is of the opposite gender, the shy character will automatically assume that he/she is liked by the approaching character.
- Never turn down a kiss.
- You can always get attention by starting threads like "I'm quitting Neopets."
- You can also get attention by making a bully character to pester you. Some valiant male will come along to save you.
- Act depressed. Hopefully, some cutie will come along to comfort you and ask you out.
- Hang a sign on your door that reads "Roommate wanted."
- Your roommate MUST be the sex you are attracted to.
- Make sure you have a class with someone you want to flirt with. Even if you had your complete schedule made out before, you can always change it to suit your whim.
- Anyone who so much as looks at your love interest is trying to steal him/her and should be killed.
- If you are stuck on an island, you should be more concerned with making out with the cute guy than trying to get help.
- In a sleepover, you must hang around and say things like "This is boring, isn't it, honey?" Keep saying it over and over. Don't do anything else.
- Remember, nobody in a highschool roleplay ever actually has to go to class. They are usually cutting class, making out with his/her love interest, simply too cute for class, or at his/her locker for no apparent reason.
- If role-playing in a published universe, you must have a crush on the hottest canon character.
- You must be the same age and species of the character on whom you have a crush.
- You must kiss your love interest on every post.
- Power-play and god-mod. Just do it.
- NEVER admit to being a despie.
- If you don't want to sound like a despie, make your character blond, beautiful/hunky, but say that he/she doesn't care what other people think about him/her.
- No matter what your age, it's a good idea to have a hot car with lots of nifty extras. Don't be afraid to describe it in the minutest detail.
- Everyone must have his/her own locker. If anyone tries to take yours, then it shall be an all-out catfight!
- Sleepovers must take places at huge mansions with butlers, maids, and parents who let their daughters share sleeping bags with boys.
- Members of the faculty must be nonexistent or against you.
- Schools never have a dress code.
- Anyone who proves you wrong is automatically a bully and needs to be killed.
- Literates are horrible role-players, even if they describe things better than you, so you can actually understand what's going on in the roleplay.
- Don't bother joining a role-play unless romance is advertised right off the bat, preferably in the subject line.
- Only join wolf roleplays that are "in season."
- If no-one comes to your roleplay within ten seconds of its start, then it's not worth staying in.
- If you don't get a boyfriend or girlfriend within five posts, then you should make an excuse and leave for greener pastures.
- If you are a female, ask for male roleplayers only to come to your roleplay.
- If no male roleplayers show up, leave.
- Put things in other people's mouths.
- Write in big, pink, glowing letters. Everyone loves that.
- Give your titles names such as "XD XD XD XD T33n Sl33p0ver XD XD XD XD."
- You should add "N0 ru1es!" to your title.
- Spacingisnotmandatoryandcanbeleftout.
- CaPiTAlIZing LeTTerS aT RaNdOM Is a gOOd iDeA.
- Never post anything longer than three lines.
- Writing in 1337 never hurts.
- U can rite lyk dis al u watn.
- TYPE IN CAPITALS ALL YOU WANT.
- capitalization and punctuation are unnecessary
- Ruin literate boards. Break all the rules.
If you liked this, you might also like:
The Bad OC Love Interest's Handbook
Dear Internet Roleplayers of Questionable Skill...
How To Dress & Look Like A Female CRPG Protagonist
How to be a Completely Revolting Fan