Might seem like a stupid question but if an individual wanted to observe / take part in some role play ..... how would one go about it ...?

First of all, get mIRC and log onto dalnet, type /j #silk&Steel. Upon entering say: Howdy A/all, Can you tell me how to play this game? (really...would I lie to you?)

Ok, I guess the first thing I would do is get a bit of background on the chatroom/channel. (Everyone has a website with rules and info on the going ons)
I would just enter and tell them you are new, you are very interested and would they mind if you observed a while? Then figuring out who the head honchos are, ask them questions about it. Everyone loves to talk about themselves! After you are armed with the basic info, try out your role play on a willing victim. ;)

Good luck,
Wren