The girdle, I'd say, is more something I'd pull out to hit a player with who was 'not playing nice', so to speak, doing stuff that wasn't
in keeping with the nature of the game. This doesn't count appropriate 'in character' actions that, while despicable, are expected and even
welcomed. Or, for more interesting situations, if the player wanted something life changing to happen to her character.
In other words, a not so subtle cue that the player has gone too far, and the character will now suffer for it.
That said, my personal preference is to actually take the player aside and explain to them they're not working out.
--
"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor
in keeping with the nature of the game. This doesn't count appropriate 'in character' actions that, while despicable, are expected and even
welcomed. Or, for more interesting situations, if the player wanted something life changing to happen to her character.
In other words, a not so subtle cue that the player has gone too far, and the character will now suffer for it.
That said, my personal preference is to actually take the player aside and explain to them they're not working out.
--
"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor