Another way that people misuse character profile knowledge, is OOC reading about a characters history, abilities, and other such things, then proceeding to role-play with their character, that they know all of this information on him or her . The only time "OOC" profile knowledge should be used with a character, is when it is "visible" knowledge. Visible knowledge is being able to "see" what that character looks like, what kind of scars or tattoos a character may have, if the character is male, female, a child or a midget with one arm that continually picks his nose while perpetually farting, or many other things that your CHARACTER can see if another character is standing there near him/her .We look at peoples profiles many times, to see if a certain character in a room is a male or female, because sometimes a name can look like both, and learning and using THAT OOC knowledge is perfectly acceptable. Because then we can type using "him" or "her", in place of their name, if our "character" has not learned the name yet.

Think of this in a real life scenario. You are in a grocery store at the checkout, and in front of you is a woman reading a magazine. "Visibly", you can see what she looks like, and you can see that she is female, BUT you have never met her, so you know NOTHING "about" her, other than what you see there standing before you. It is no different with a character. If a character walks into the chat room, your character IS able to see him/her, but until your character learns more about him/her . The characters appearance is the ONLY thing you should role-play out that your character knows. You cannot role play out that your character knows Vlad Dracul who’d just walked into the room, unless your "character" knows what Vlad Dracul looks like, and knows that it is in fact him. Of course, there are also in many circumstances, that a character is so widely known about by other role players and characters, that even some characters that have never met that "known" person, they may know what he/she looks like, and "assume" that it is him or her. In a case like that, it is fine, but "known" characters are usually characters who have made a mark with their storyline, or characters who are considered "famous", or even "villains".

#3...
"Counteracting Role Play Events with OOC Knowledge"

This act of moding, is also one of the most common, not to mention, used in a form of actually knowing you're moding. So many times, someone will tell someone OOC about a plot or plan that someone has with his or her character, and the person being told this OOC information, will proceed to use his/her "character" to try to counteract the plot or plan. This is one of the biggest, "Give me a proverbial fucking break" situations that I am ever privy to.

Example....
A friend you role play with online just called you up to shoot the shit & tell you that so-and-so is planning to use their character to kidnap your character’s child. Although it is all part of a storyline, you proceed to use the OOC information you obtained on that storyline, to have your "character" counteract the event. This is a farce and direct implication of a moder in purest terms!!! YOU, were told of the plot OOC, your CHARACTER was NOT told. Playing that as such would take your name and reduce it to rubble in a matter of moments. Both Typist...and Character alike.

This is one of the main reasons why it is best to never "talk over" your role play intensions OOC with ANYONE, unless you are telling someone who knows how to keep it separate...and I'm here to tell you, there are not very many people out there that do. Besides, a "surprising" storyline is much more interesting than one where you OOC already know what is going to happen. Kind of like going to see a movie. You don't want to be told what happens, or it essentially ruins it. Never use OOC information that you have obtained about ANY storyline, to work against, or even "for" a storyline. Not only does this cheat all characters involved; even yours, but it cheats the entire basis of role-play itself...and all that it stands for.