The most irksome element I encounter roleplaying is indeed the element of "ghosting". I have said it before and will say it again and again breathlessly, tirelessly, and without an ounce of insincerity or jest in it; players who are unreliable in their topics should not be roleplaying whatsoever or in the slightest of capacities. It is one matter to utterly insult a singular partner by disappearing or being scarce, as is seemingly most common in private threads between two parties, it is another magnitude more disrespectful and disgraceful a snub to be so discourteous to a group of players. It happens time after time, where one player for nebulous "reasons", which I will suffice to say are almost always of the same caliber or so utterly lame and pathetic that they are fooling none, becomes severely inactive in a topic and their lethargy spreads to the rest like a miasmatic plague. The resultant fallout of this one individual's lack leaves two, three, maybe four or more other souls waiting, often because said character was essential to the plot or was being engaged with in some way.

Granted, a Game Master can always move the matter along and players themselves should have said power if several days pass, but it begins an insidious corruption in most every thread it touches. As one fades, so often too does a second, then a third, until at most a smattering of players and or the thread's owner might remain, mind you that is being terribly optimistic. This matter cuts deep into the marrow of a writer's morale and often leads to them simply eschewing another character or concept, finding it difficult to continue if they so desire any longer. Problematic enough is it to retain the attention of those today, as our medium is particularly archaic by internet standards, even more troubling is the effort of retention when players disappear without actual consequence.

As a result there is no one singular thing which irks me more than the petty, rehashed, abused old excuses players invent for their disappearances. Writing is not a disproportionately difficult exercise, even a bad day of writing can be fought through just by getting words on to the metaphorical paper, and at most - truly the most it might take for several paragraphs of writing - is an hour. For some it might take less, far less, or in rare cases more, but the point is neither of these, rather that even if one has no desire to continue a topic that they should carry on for the sake of the rest until they can bow out at an appropriate time. Performing a disappearing act and pretending to not notice or worse yet inventing some "crisis" in their life as a backdoor to avoid the social reprisal as no one realistically will challenge it, is not only a sorry display of individual personality and character, it is detrimental to others who might well have been interested and invested in a topic.

If one hasn't the true dedication, time, or interest to invest in a topic until it ends or until they might bow out appropriately, do not make the effort to join in the first place.