Re: R-O-L-E or R-O-L-L
I'm working on an essay about this very thing; not the roll vs. role but the divisive snarkiness that seems rampant on the web amongst gamers. Considering the hobby as a whole is small and shrinking in a lot of respects, disparaging other people's role playing skills or game choice seems very counterproductive. (For instance, calling other's characters Mary Sues, or using terms like roll player, or saying "Oh that system sucks, the players must be idiots".)
Then again, competitive fandom is illogical as well; instead of one person going, "I love this show, watch it with me," they say, "I love this show way more than you could ever ever ever, and if you're a fan, you're opinion is unworthy for my fandom is the only true fandom. My fan love is purer and you suck. And don't even think about writing fan fiction about my favorite character or I will tear you a new one, you Mary Sue."
It makes me sad, it does.