There are people who hate it for some reason. I have no problem with it. I see it as a sign of acknowledgment/polite nod.

I hated it because Xenthos used it, not going to lie.

But then my position at one point or another demanded either a bow or an inclined head, and bowing felt far too awkwardly formal. Inclining is more of a... 'Hello, we stand on mutual grounds!' sort of thing.

I guess I could see people thinking it's kind of snooty. I've just always seen it as more gracious.

I see it as situational, or dependent on the character. As an example, Dylara wouldn't bow to anyone who isn't a god, if she does, she's generally mocking the person. An incline of the head means that she acknowledges you as an equal, and it's meant as a polite greeting.

My alt on the other hand, will always bow, inclining would be best for those she is close to, and rude otherwise.

To me, incline is kind of like a 'hi, you're not important or worthy enough to warrant a proper greeting', it just feels really cold to me. I prefer a nod to an incline, more genial imo.

I just do not see the rude part about inclining. It's always seemed polite to me.

EDIT: That's probably because:


I understand the "omg so rude" standpoint even less now.

It comes off as snobby to me, IMO.

I'm too good to bow. I'll just -incline- my head at you.

I used to "greet" everyone, but then it came off kind of "hi I don't know you very well and also I have to think of a thousand different ways to greet everyone individually." And when Sylandra got elected curtseying felt funky. So I trade off between doffing and inclining, because I take it as "I'm greeting everyone at once, look at my multitasking skillz."

But as Hallifax is rather snooty, I suppose that connotation is alright.

Inclining always struck me as snobby as well, but when I first started playing there were some very snobby people who used the emote, so maybe it's just me.

I suddenly feel extremely self-conscious when I go about inclining.

Like I said, I can see how someone might see it as snobby or snooty, I still see it as gracious and polite. Kind of like something old southern ladies might do when they pass members of their church in the grocery store or something.

WAIT FINALLY A USE FOR THIS.

I do it when I'm looking down on someone, not gonna lie. Bow or salute for respect, incline for when I'm feeling high and mighty and full of myself.

See, a bow, to me, seems much more pretentious and snobbish than inclining does.

I don't know that you can call it snobbish, it's about lowering yourself.

It's just an image, I guess. A connotation. Sort of like how some folks see inclining as being haughty and I see it as gracious. When I picture people bowing in greeting, I connect it, mentally, with things like Pride and Prejudice and other Jane Austen novels full of snobby folks.

Doesn't mean it actually IS snobbish, it just feels that way to me. It's why I only use bows and curtsies with characters I'm trying to portray as being stand-offish and proper.

See, to my character, things that aren't doffing/bowing/inclining, especially in public, are just plain awkward. There are very, very few people that she will greet in more relaxed ways. It has nothing to do with feeling better than anyone else- it's about propriety and decorum! People hugging one another as greetings and stuff in public actually makes her extremely uncomfortable. Also, she will NEVER curtsey. Which makes me really glad the "girls can't bow" thing got changed.

I guess for some wacky people, it is somehow seen as rude? But I don't see how doffing is any less rude if you're going there, especially considering it's normally people doing it to their robes hoods, which makes absolutely no sense in the first place??

Heh heh. Heated issue! I think the incline is perfectly suitable in Hallifax: polite, but aloof. Even though he has the perfect facial structure to pull off a stone cold incline, and it would totally fit his public disposition, Daraius always does a Quettle-bow for the whole room, a normal bow for individuals, or a bowing of the head when seated. Must be a monk thing.

P.S. Doffing is silly, especially with robes and circlets and crowns.

EDIT: Further evidence that doffing is silly:

I just use DOFF or HI. Problem solved!