How do you handle going afk alot during RP?

I like to RP once in awhile, but my RL keeps me pretty busy too. So sometimes I have to go afk alot during RP. Well it's just for 2-3 minutes but it kinda bugs me, sometimes I go afk 5 times within an hour.
Does anyone have the same experience? And how do you handle it?
What would other people think of me when i go BRB alot?

PS: My wife isn't interested in SL at all, but i enjoy playing very much.

I like to give RP my full attention, and I appreciate it when people around me do the same. I know it's not always possible - RL intrudes, phones ring, people come to the door and you need a bio-break now and then.

If someone I was RP-ing with disappeared 5 times an hour for 2-3 minutes, it would bug me no end. Once or twice wouldn't be a big deal, but 5 times would definitely spoil the atmosphere. If it was a few people involved, and everyone was going afk that regularly, there would barely be a minute that things weren't interrupted. I have to admit I've dropped RP over less.

If *I* was the one creating all the interruptions, I'd consider playing at a different time, when I could devote more of my attention to what I was doing.

Put on Xcite attachments and find someone desperate for attention. (^_^)y

Use an RLV viewer and wear an OpenCollar with open accept turned on.. that should keep people entertained while you're away.

Personally I can handle the odd unexpected interuption but otherwise I treat people the same as when they answer their mobile phone whilst talking to me, I walk away and start talking to someone else.

How do you feel when people do the same to you stretching a 1 hour RP into a 3 hour soap opera?


I also like to let people know at the beginning of RP how long I expect to be online.

Just ignore the phone, if it's actually important, the fire brigade will let themselves in

I try to give my full attention to my in-world friends when enjoying an RP session, and I greatly appreciate it when they return the consideration.

Sometimes Reality insists on intruding, and there is no choice but to step aside for a few moments. But I try to keep such interruptions as short as possible.

If it is clear that I am going to be interrupted every few minutes, I will apologize to those I am in RP with, and schedule a less conflicted time to RP with them. I'd rather get together some other day than have tons of interruptions, or to force such interrupted play on them.

Let your RP partner(s) know up front and ask if it will be an issue. For some people it is, others can cope for an occasional few minute lapse here and there. Granted, it is more immersive when there are little or no interruptions, but most people will be appreciative you letting them know up front.

As others have said, if it breaks the flow, suggest another time when possibly you could devote more continuous attention to the task at hand. If that just isn't possible, then gracefully bow out and thank them for their consideration.

Oh pish tosh.

Your character clearly has the rare but well known affliction of narcolepsy!

Sort of like the Argentine character in Moulin Rouge.

Once everyone understands that, there's nothin' more to be said about it...