Commando Archive

One of the most well worded and intelligent posts I've read to date.

Bleeeding marvellous Sir.

Forgive me for skimming (as I'm at work, and don't have the time to read the novel, but I got the short-story version ). All I have to say is:

GJ!!!

This post is written while riding my high horse that's standing on a soapbox in front of a pulpit. It is a rant, a diatribe, a pointed argment, a plea for reason... so listen up you primative screwheads, this is going to take a bit and I'll need your attention.

I have been reading the Flurry board for months and I'm proud to say I've tried to raise the humor value and lower the serious level... I hope that I have succeeded in part or in whole. It is rare that I post something wholly serious, but I also know that I generally consider myself to be a pretty positive person and I enjoy the fact that I can be laid back and relaxed in the face of overwhelming idiocy or anger. This is simply who I am and I am quite happy being so. But, my friends, I have seen something which I can no longer ignore.

I have read many threads about subjects varying from simple requests for information to outright flame wars to ongoing whines about the latest nerf. I generally look upon this collective nonsense and get a good laugh and get on with my day, but I can no longer ignore what I consider to be the biggest insult to the intelligence of any player of SWG and it's not something the Devs did with a nerfbat. We are doing it to each other and it's time to stop.

That said... I think it's time we get rid of 'It's just a game' from our collective vocabularies. I have seen this one phrase be used to dismiss another person's argment or feelings more times than I can count. It is insulting and annoying in many ways but as this seems to have passed over some people's heads, I am going to spell it out for you all. Flame me, whine at me, say I'm wrong... but if you casually say 'it's just a game' to another player, I say you're insulting your fellow players and making yourself look like an idiot.

If there's a post you disagree with, by all means debate the issue, explain your viewpoint, or simply don't respond, but never say 'it's just a game.' Don't you realize that you're a player in this game too? If it's 'just a game' and so easily dismissed, why are you putting $15 a month down to play it? Why are you spending hours of your time playing instead of doing something else? If you've invested so little emotion and thought into what you're doing that you can insult and demean someone else playing the game, why are you bothering to show up in the first place? Why are you proud that you've finally gotten that 'Master' tag by your name? Why did you do any of it?

I will be the first to admit that sometimes the things people say on this board and in game are so obvious, badly worded, or (forgive me) so mind-numbingly stupid that Iroll my eyes in disgust, pity, or revulsion, but that doesn't mean I am free to insult them. I try to explain the problems I see with what they're saying and generally sort out a reasonable response or offer up some piece of information they are missing. Let's get into the specifics of when this phrase is used and why it's inappropriate....

Bad experiences with - Whether a player, a guild, a planet... If someone comes up and says 'I have a problem with X' and proceeds to tell everyone who reads the post why they have a problem, there is always some person who feels they're overreacting and dismisses the entire argument by saying 'it's just a game'. Meaning, 'Look, you're upset but you're not upset for a good reason, therefore you don't have the right to be upset'. You're basically telling someone they don't have the right to vent a little frustration or feel angry about something. They have the same right to their emotions as you do to yours. If they go about doing it in an inappropriate manner (cursing, insulting, etc) then yes, you can step in and say, 'You don't need to talk that way' but you can't justify stomping on their emotional state. This isn't a touchy-feely, politically correct kind of wimpiness... it's simple manners. Things that you should have picked up when you were put into whatever socialization training course (kindergarten) you were subjected to as a child. Play nice with other people. It's insulting because you're saying their feelings are worthless. That covers approximately 45% of posts where 'it's just a game' will wrongly appear.

Economics - I'm not paying for X, you outbid me on Y, I worked so hard for... All of these things are perfectly valid. I'm going to lump in 'I bought something but you didn't deliver' sort of complaints, too. So a transaction you weren't involved in went bad and when theycomplain about it you get to say 'Come on, man... it's just a game'. Oh? The time and effort they invested in developing the skills to make/sell the item don't count. Nor does the time and effort hunting for that rare drop count. This one goes both ways... pushing aside someone yelling at a weaponsmith because of their prices is just as bad as pushing aside someone complaining about an auction not going their way. They may have just cause to complain and if they took the time to explain themselves, it may actually be a reasonable argument. Casually dismissing this says that other people's time isn't as important as yours... in fact, it's saying their time spent was worthless. You're spending it too doing the same thing. Who can honestly say they wouldn't like more credits in the bank or a new item? Even if you have buckets of credits and every item you could possibly want, isn't it nice that there is a new recipie coming out for a brand new weapon? Or a new type of house? Or an Instant Jedi Kit? To my knowledge, no one has been every single profession all the way to master and everyone can change professions at a whim.This is insulting becauseyou're saying that the time it took to be able to make/hunt the MacGuffin in question was wasted. Being kind, I'll only estimate this as a mere 15% of the total usage of the offensive phrase.

Nerfs/Devs/Bugs - Ever seen a board where other classes post 'it's just a game' when someone else's profession gets nerfed and a member of that profession complains? Haven't been looking too hard if you've missed it. As a Commando, I remember a great deal of backlash that continues to this day about the flamethrower. I still see posts from Pistoleers, Bounty Hunters, and Riflemen saying how Commandos should be nerfed. And yes, I've seen Commandos make the same accusations toward other classes. People getting upset about when someone posts something they disagree with are casually dismissed with 'Hey, it's just a game'. Yeah, just a game that you're affecting my ability to enjoy. All professions want their profession to be 'the best', but I have seen hate and rancor drip oozing from some of these posts. Again, people are entitled to their likes and dislikes. They are free to say 'that's unfair' or complain that they're not receiving equal treatment. It's insulting because you're dismissing their opinions because of your own opinions on the subject when chances are, neither of you is absolutely correctly informed on the subject, not being able to forsee the future or read a Dev's mind. This is 35% of the total usage of 'just a game'.

Miscellany - I'll lump 5% of 'Just a game' usage into posts about everything else. We'll file this under 'freedom of speech' and leave it at that. I'll put in this category all other assorted rudeness and blatant flame wars. Anytime you're putting something up specifically to make your opinion be heard and someone says 'it's just a game' what they're really saying is 'but you don't deserve to be heard because it's just a game'. Wave the flag, sing the songs... No, really. I know you're saying 'but isn't a thread flaming another player insulting'? Yes, it is... but how is saying 'it's just a game' going to make someone realize what a jerk they're being for posting that? For that matter, how is flaming them back? It's bad enough insulting someone... it's equally bad to insult them right back... it's annoying and insulting to say 'it's just a game' to these people. You are providing nothing to help your fellow players, you are giving no new information that may make them consider their actions/reactions, and you are doing nothing to make the situation better for them or for the people reading/playing with them. If you see an ongoing flame war, roll your eyes, enjoy your own feelings of smug superiorityand just don't post. This is insulting because instead of helping or hurting, you are going out of your way to add absolutely nothing to the conversation.

I hope that covers it. I wanted to be angrier than I was... I wanted to have one window open with this rant and another searching the Flurry board so I could point fingers and scream to high heaven 'see... see what a fool you're being'. But I decided to pay attention to my own post. I will simply say yes... it is just a game... but I have invested time, money, thought, and emotion to it... I know my fellow players have too. I will not insult them, nor will I single anyone out because we all are touched by this, whether we like it or not. I remind you all... You and everyone else on this board has put something into this game and we are all trying to enjoy ourselves by playing a game.

I ask each of you to realize it is not 'just a game'...

It's a game... and one that you're playing...

Lynch, Master Commando of Flurry

Force Unsensitives - I would lump this in with such other deadly insults as 'Your Dice Suck.' and 'Go DM yourself.' in terms of how insulting they are to someone playing the game.

okay let me try to sum up my thoughts

NOTE: at the end there will be a very condensed summary of them, i know a lot of people dont like long posts so there will be a bolded Summary where u can start reading if you wish

*ahem*

okay, its JUST a GAME

*waits for it to sink in*

...

...

okay got it? see the problem is that it IS just a game, a computer program some guys wrote to make a few bucks off of, its pretty fun so people play it, and go about their virtual lives doing happy fun things that make them happy

the problem is when players take it out of game, insulting each other and hurting each other. this may be a game but there are people behind the characters and you have no right to hurt those people emotionally just because your able to. People are people and wether its through a screen or face to face you shouldnt go around hurting other people purposly.

*interlude* Its just a game, look on your desktop and youll see an icon thats easily deleted, check your CD case, all that is is a small peice of plastic, you control it not the other way around *interlude off*

this game is not, i repeat NOT life and should never take precidence over it. If someone flakes on an order you placed or doesnt show up for a hunt or accidently give you a bad deal or forgets something and sells an item to someone else, Please try not to pout, whine, flame, cry etc about said person. There top priority isnt the game its their life, they need to work, they have pets, children, parents, siblings, friends, needs, responsiblities etc. They get sick, they get hurt, they need to sleep, they forget. It may not be fun that you got screwed about something in game, but unless they did it on purpose with malicious intent its no reason to degrade their name and spawn hatred in your galaxy.

Class Greifers aka people who constantly whine about how their class sucks, everyones better than them, they have no fun and they want everyone else except there class to die and go to hell. BE QUIET! its good to post your opinion, it helps gain greater understanding of an overall problem, but crying nerf isnt right. if you really think class A and every other class has more fun and is more powerful that your horrible class B, change classes! *GASP!* this game was made so you could change and dabble, if your miserable then play something else, dont just cry and whine. If one class really is 10x better than all others, everyone will flock to that class, the DEVs will notice and change things accordingly.

Summary: Its Just a Game, but there are people behind the characters. People thusly deserve your respect, and you shouldnt put them down. People also have other things to worry about so they forget things, dont spazz out if someone forgets something or needs to do something else. Also dont cry nerf, advocate change. if your class sint fun and is majorly underpowered in your opinion try another class. Thingsshould eventually work out. The Devs are people to, they make mistakes, have families and dont have superhuman capabilities, stop blaming them for everything wrong with the game, theyre trying and if you think theyre not trying hard enough, ither quit the game or start working for them and do better yourself.

Now that weve got that long post behind us lets all sit back, read the first line, decide you hate me and thusly one star my post without reading anything, then spend several paragraphs pointing out my gramatical mistakes and spelling errors in an attempt to discredit me. I welcome your abuse with open arms

Its just a game, but people use that hide behind. As if the rules of living, working and playing with people somehow don't apply here. When the internet came, cowards the world over cheered in joy knowing they could hide here and do their little things with, 'its just a game' to protect them.

On Shadowfire where I play, one of the these people boughthis guild leader's account and then deleted it, along with ownership of the PA hall and most of the city's structures, deleting the guild itself without notice. This is the kind of person that says 'its just a game' that works to diminsh the good times possible here for us.

"Its just a game" = "I don't give a rats a*s about others playing it"

Long rant, nice to blow off steam but I'll be damned if I'll read it all at 1am like it is now One of the sad facts is folks, that some people don't realise how much they effect other people.

This is what i've been thinking since the begining of SWG, and I could never find the words. I wish i could fit this postinto my signature

Vinceroix, thank you for that post. I have these thoughts in my head, usually need them to be spoken to realise them.

Your post, and the equallyinformed one by Azhara, are both very valid, and they help each other out. They are semi-opposites, supporting each other.

I have major problems with "Just a Game" 'ers, Cruel, unintelligent, derogatory Powergamers, VERY dumb people with shallow, uninformed complaints, etc. I wish I could say that this post would open they eyes of people like this, but it won't happen. Not saying that everyone who disagrees is wrong--By all means, you have a right to your opinion, and it is only human nature to feel as if you should express your own.

Problem is, as you have addressed, that for the most part, people who try to express their opinions are usually too unintelligent and filled with neanderthal-like hate, or a lack of grammar and spelling skills which make their arguments null and void.

Yeah, last paragraph was a little strong. You get my point though.

Oh come on its just a game.

The truth is it is just a game I dont see why telling the truth whenpeople are running off the diving board into the deep end of obsession is a problem. Some times people need to be reminded that their feelings are going way over the top. We are here to dicuss a game not the meaning of life.

Ah, yes...The Just a Gamers...the JaGers...the ElThreeThreeSevens.

It just wouldn't be an MMORPG without em.Or, well, yes it would, but who would want to play it? What with the total lack of lack of respect for fellow players, the ability to roleplay without worry of one of the simpler, but more rampant, forms of griefing. Who wants that?

/applaud Vinceroix

Thispost reminded meof BON3D00D and pLaTeDeWd, talk about a blast from the past. For those who want to remember: http://www.iqto.com/bp/bp_files/main.htm

NOTE: If you don't know Ultima Online, you most likely wont get alot of the jokes in BD&pD. But I figure alot of SWG players, especially forum trolls, were or still are UO players. enjoy

-Naoskair, Town Pharmacist(sort of), Lakeside City, Naboo

Ok, perhaps I was generalizing a bit, a l337 is not necessarily a JaGer, but the personalities are similar. All the same, I apologize, both to the 1337d00ds out there for lumping you with JaGers, people who think that they are better people than other players, and to the JaGers, for lumping you with the 1337s,who think that they are better people than other players.

-Naoskair, theRoadside Rodian from Lakeside (see, that's funny cause my shop's not in Merchant Lane, get it?...cause its,,,not with the rest of em...ummm..nevermind, I thought it was funny)