[quote=@SleepingSilence]
[@ArenaSnow] I again, have 5 people, clearly all involved with one another, trying to all repeat the same points. Instead of letting a conversation not feel like I'm getting dog-piled. [i]I really do feel like I'm discussing politics. [/i]

So I think all four paragraphs of that can be boiled down to, "A CS isn't good enough to show their writing abilities and a thousand word sample post will somehow show how good a roleplayer that person is." So I ask, why if someone wrote ten paragraphs of backstory for their character. And it was written perfectly fine. That another thousand, will somehow make the difference?

I don't really think it will. I agree that CS's aren't perfect and often seem forced and flaw in their own ways. 100%. Though a sample post, likely the only post the GM or they will ever care enough to make sure has no mistakes. It still doesn't show if that person will remain active, or will be able to read other posts effectively. Or interact, or not have a shit fit if something goes different than they expect. Or improvising skills. Etc. etc. 

Do you think it's still necessary to ask for a sample post, if they already have a back catalog? I'm asking a lot of questions here, but every single one of them, thus far has been completely bypassed. :I


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Feeling dogpiled is not my concern, and is yours alone. If you really have such a problem with multiple people not agreeing with you, you can always move to another thread. [s]Or, I guess, you can continue to bitch about it in the bitching thread[/s]

You don't need a 1000 word sample. 300 words is typically a decent offering from me anyways and is quite enough of a sample to introduce the concept of a character, combined with a character sheet that is also not a wall of text. Neither section has to be particularly long, simply having both is more thorough. There is no 100% foolproof way to screen a player, but there are ways to reduce the chances of getting someone who won't give a damn after 5 posts.

I think a moderate size of both is optimal, CS to describe a character physically and note the experiences they draw upon, and a sample to give people a taste of the character itself.