ERP can have a legitimate effect on RP... but there is a huge, defined limit of how much it can do so without it becoming rather stupid. For instance-- You ICly encounter a prostitute. You end up ERPing with them privately because they, and you, are consenting and neither are underage. They do something during or after the fact that is endearing and your character finds themselves becoming attached. Or, the opposite, the other character is cold and not what your character expected and it leaves them feeling lost, inadequate, or perhaps as though they've been betrayed. It does have an effect-- it's like saying in real life that sex has no effect on you. It does. But I completely agree with the idea of defining moments during ERP being a bit pathetic and gratuitous sex being just plain ridiculous at times. If it's roleplayed well, and more intimacy than just being rabbits, then that's their business and I won't say anything about it. But if it's done badly-- like, say, two characters that are simply fetishized and a source of ERP for their players, then it isn't doing anything for anyone except the players. Basically-- we're going to encounter people that ERP, and so long as it's kept private it shouldn't matter to anyone if someone does it. Granted, yes, it should be kept off the server-- not only could it potentially spell legal trouble, it's also not something that anyone wants to read as a byproduct of someone else feeling frisky. Also, it wouldn't exactly be a positive thing if ERP was accepted due to a) the amount of people that would feel uncomfortable and b) the amount of people that would literally drop all the rp and character development in favor of a lot of quick hookups. TL;DR? So long as it doesn't negatively affect people's ability to rp I don't see why ERP off-server is a big deal to anyone, or why anyone thinks it shouldn't exist.
