Point of View

The Other Side of the Screen.
As a player and a referee I notice there is a difference in my point of view. This position probably varies from person to person because there are a multitude of ways to both play and referee role-playing games. I can only speak from my own perspective, but having given my role as player and referee some introspective consideration, I offer some of my observations in this post with the hope that it may serve as inspiration for thought.
The player position is one of assuming the role of an individual character in the game. Doing so can be compared to "acting a part", but does not have to be such. In some games, the character (or "figure" as it is termed in the tactical combat oriented RPG The Fantasy Trip) is more a pawn or playing piece and immersive role-play is not encouraged. Making decisions for the character is a primary responsibility of the player in an RPG, so it is necessary to know the strengths and weaknesses of the character and the details of the surroundings being described by the referee so that meaningful actions may be taken during play. Paying attention, asking questions and making decisions is the player's role. Additionally, creating a distinct personality, voice and background for your character is encouraged in some games so as to increase the feeling for all that the character is a realistic person separate from the player.
Playing the part of all the non-player characters, monsters, villains and beings the player's characters may encounter falls withing the referee's realm. It is (at least from my perspective) the referee's world, so creation of all the non-player character elements of play is the referee's responsibility. I find this element (and that of making up rulings as needed) great fun. So much fun that I can sometimes over-play my part and forget to be quiet and listen to my players. To be a good referee, I must encourage my players to act upon the world and change it. I must listen to the players and include challenges and rewards that interest them and fall in line with their aspirations for their characters.
The referee position is one that must focus on the big picture. While players may focus on their individual character's point of view, excluding even that of the other party members at times, the referee is charged with including all the players and knowing what each character is up to. Listening and thinking quickly are key skills when taking the part of referee in a game. The referee must see the fictional world from each character's point of view because players must depend on the referee to tell them what their character sees, hears, feels and smells.
The referee must act as each character's senses. Obviously some characters will sense things other do not and in different ways. The referee must therefore see all the characters as individuals, and meanwhile keep in mind that they are a group, THE group in fact, because it is through the actions of the characters that things happen in the game. Thinking ahead, guessing where play may take the characters is a necessity, but maintaining objectivity and not completely committing ourselves to any single course of action or plot, rather being flexible and ready to improvise following the characters wherever they may go seems a logical stance as well.
The game obviously requires both a referee and players. The ability to switch back and forth can be challenging at times. I have experienced and observed that people who are comfortable in the referee role often get used to being the center of attention and can therefore tend to dominate table conversation when acting as a player. Roleplaying is generally a cooperative endeavor and it definitely helps to look around the table and note whether everyone seems to be enjoying the game. Some players wish for more active time at the table, while others may prefer to take a less active role and observe much of the time. Each player should be given ample opportunity to engage in active decision making and a chance for tabletop glory. Share the fun and be encouraging to others seems good advice for referee and player alike.