Character Development: Specifically how to make a character care about what others think of them?

[BearBear]

My characters are based, ngl. Always. Well I need to start a character as a "normie" and I don't know if I have any valid experience with this.

Can you help me brainstorm the characteristics and motivations of someone who cares what others think of them?

 

[Queshire]

That's a rather broad question. What's the setting like? And what's the character's situation starting out?

 

[BearBear]

That's a rather broad question. What's the setting like? And what's the character's situation starting out?

Supposed typical normie in a athiest socialism with strongly class-based morality. She will be in the upper-middle class, a protected class, with high taxes, high security and low tolerance of freedom. Though it is capitalistic, it's not oligarchy driven, it's governmental (elite class) driven and regulated for the most part with at least the illusion of representation. In other words, in the thin crust of civility.

She is startIng out as a child in grade school but will age throughout the book. I want her to be nerotypical and average across the board. Though she will be above average intelligence and beauty, she is short for her age and underdeveloped by a couple years, but only physically.

The culture is American lite but without a contentious political system or any notion of idols, though fictional or legendary heros are popular. Violence in the unprotected classes is the norm. Much of the country is overrun by lawlessness due to environmental upheaval but it's easily ignored by the protected classes.

There is no internet or cell phones, no personal computers, and literature is strictly controlled. Propaganda is ubiquitous as much as it is unnoticed or accepted.

The work structure is a mix of government employees and entrepreneurs. Farmers for instance would be government employed but grocers wouldn't be.

 

[pmmg]

My characters are based, ngl. Always.

What does this mean?

 

[Queshire]

I know it is some internet thing, but I'm not sure beyond that...

 

[pmmg]

I dont know what 'based' means (to the OP), or what 'ngl' stands for. I've seen 'based' used in several contexts. I think it tends to mean 'not woke'. Google says it means 'agreeable' or accepted as 'fitting in'.

Anyway, I think this is talking past the sale a little bit. Should not the character be speaking to you if you have a story to write? What does a normie look like? Well, about a million different ways. Maybe they work all day, like having coffee, and spend their evenings watching TV. Since media is controlled, maybe they do crosswords instead. I would think they would have a routine, and mostly stick to it....And if that is what the story is about, I think it will not seem exciting....but maybe...

 

[BearBear]

What does this mean?

In this context it means you are who you are without regard for others' opinions of you. I first heard this in 2018 on Discord when some angsty teen was saying they don't want to be human anymore. To which I replied, "I'm a Bear." And their response was, "based". The fashion trailblazers of Gez Z are somewhat based in that they seem to be one-upping each other in terms of hair color, piercings and tatoos. Anyone not in that generation who are doing similar things are also "based" to outsiders at least. It's a positive affermation of being true to yourself and can also be used as an agreement to a controversial or contentious, seemingly non-mainstream statement.

From urban dictionary: A word used when you agree with something; or when you want to recognize someone for being themselves, i.e. courageous and unique or not caring what others think.

In the context of this thread, the character does care what others thing and wants to fit in. So how would a character act and what are their motivations for doing that? To fit in, to be popular, writers should understand this as to sell often you write to the largest possible audience and therefore may compromise your own unique style to reach a broader audience. Not based.

 

[pmmg]

Hmmmm.... I would argue it the other way. In an attempt to be 'based' in this way, they are instead showing they are products of their culture and behaving just like everyone else... Thus, what everyone else did mattered to them. Almost none of them are trailblazers.

But...let me look at the question again with a new definition.

You are asking 'what would a character who cares what others think and wants to fit in, do to fit in?'

Do what everyone else is doing. Or at least those they most often encounter. Or...get tattoos if everyone else is

So to write this, you have to first make up their eco system, and then put them in it. If this was my story concept, I think I would have it start this way, until it was found not to be suitable, and have them start looking to leave it.

 

[Queshire]

Supposed typical normie in a athiest socialism with strongly class-based morality. She will be in the upper-middle class, a protected class, with high taxes, high security and low tolerance of freedom. Though it is capitalistic, it's not oligarchy driven, it's governmental (elite class) driven and regulated for the most part with at least the illusion of representation. In other words, in the thin crust of civility.

She is startIng out as a child in grade school but will age throughout the book. I want her to be nerotypical and average across the board. Though she will be above average intelligence and beauty, she is short for her age and underdeveloped by a couple years, but only physically.

The culture is American lite but without a contentious political system or any notion of idols, though fictional or legendary heros are popular. Violence in the unprotected classes is the norm. Much of the country is overrun by lawlessness due to environmental upheaval but it's easily ignored by the protected classes.

There is no internet or cell phones, no personal computers, and literature is strictly controlled. Propaganda is ubiquitous as much as it is unnoticed or accepted.

The work structure is a mix of government employees and entrepreneurs. Farmers for instance would be government employed but grocers wouldn't be.

Back on topic, as a child in grade school I doubt she would give too much thought to why she'd care about what others think of her. It'd either simply be a result of the culture she's raised in, because she simply enjoys the attention or to fulfill some unmet emotional need. Well, the emotional need aspect might drift away from being a 'normie.'

As she grows to adulthood this state may continue though if how she is viewed either has a direct effect on her life or have the potential to do so she might develop a more concrete view of it. If you find success from how people view you then it wouldn't be surprising to come to think that presentation is important. Likewise, the setting you describe sounds ripe for the risk of losing your privileged class and getting exiled out into the lawless wastes of the country if you don't maintain an image of sufficient patriotism or loyalty to the party or however you want to do it.

EDIT: Or another way to put it is to pick out an emotion to link how others view them to.

 

[BearBear]

Hmmmm.... I would argue it the other way. In an attempt to be 'based' in this way, they are instead showing they are products of their culture and behaving just like everyone else...

You are absolutely right as seen from an outside perspective but that doesn't necessarily subtract from the personal experience of the one who does it. When everyone's a rebel then no one's a rebel. The latest trend reminds me of 80's punk. So it's neither unique nor outside the mainstream. Piercings leave scars, tatoos cost 10x more to remove and it can take years. Some cannot be removed and some removals cause scars as well. So you won't find me doing that. Hair color is completely benign and I for one love that aspect of the new normal. I did it once or twice myself but many years ago when no one else (outside of punk bands) did it.

Do what everyone else is doing. Or at least those they most often encounter. Or...get tattoos if everyone else is

hmm yes, useful, thank you. I don't know why I even need to ask this, it seems so obvious.