WTB Kindness pst.

Let's be honest, we all take this game very seriously.  However, in the course of our gameplay it becomes apparent that we are losing our grasp on the concept this whole thing operates on: a game.  World of Warcraft exists not to alienate us from all around us or to prevent us from enjoying a life outside of the aggro range of our computer desks, but to give us a chance to escape the toils of life for a while.  To role play if we desire.  To finally be the one that slays the dragon, rescues the girl, gets the loot, or whatever other fantasy you wish to play out.

Yet, we are all guilty of taking this game a little more serious than we should.  People sacrifice their financial, physical and emotional well being for an encoded presentation of what amounts to just information.  We forsake visiting friends to make a raid time or to farm out that last 1000 gold for a mechanohog, or whatever our lust of the week is.

Worst of all, we begin to treat these games like physical labor, jobs, duties and obligations.  How many times have you seen someone get irate over losing a roll on an epic drop and then dropping party and hearthing in anger?  How many times have you been /spit on by the opposing faction because you beat them to a Titanium node?  How many of us out there know a complete douchebag in this game?  Maybe it's an elitist, or a loot ninja, or a gear whore.  Someone who runs around pointing out others' flaws or lack of epic gear.  

Is it really so bad that there are people out there in this vast gameworld who don't have gear as high as yours?  Does it really matter if you lose a roll on a purple upgrade? It's a piece of gear! It's not even real. It brings you no joy in life.  Once you get it and the newness wears off, you begin a quest for another epic best-in-slot to replace it with!  Furthermore, if everyone had the same gear there would be no diversity, which is one of the greatest things WoW has going for it.

And when it comes to farming ore or herbs or whatever for your crafting needs, how important is it to really be the first one to every node? Do you really need that extra 2 or 3 titanium ore? Would it absolutely kill you to just stay parked on your rare epic mount and let the other person get it once in a while?  This game needs a reintroduction to kindness.  We need more graciousness.

Instead of bitching at someone in your party for not playing to your standards, how about offering some sort of helpful advice?  Maybe you could try complimenting your healers for once instead of complaining that you were allowed to die so the party might live.  Healing is not ezmode.  It's really easy to forget that there is a real person behind the avatar throwing out those heals.  Think tanking is easy?  Ever tried to keep threat from an overzealous dps'r who can't pull his eyes off Recount long enough to see the focus shift of all the bosses on his stupid ass?

It's easy for us to complain, it is after all a natural response to not acquiring something we covet.  When there are 12 million people fighting for all of the same mounts, loot, nodes or what-have-you, there is no such real thing as being elite.  Elite is just a negative mindset.  You can be well-geared.  Experienced.  Skillful.  How can you be the best of the best when there are several million other people claiming that same throne?  

And all those other people below you?  Guess what, you were there once too.  You were a nubcake, fresh off your first quest turn in.  You had shit gear and a poor spec.  Maybe you didn't even know you could spec?  You've trained your pet into a group of elites and wiped an instance group.  

I guess the point to this whole ranting session is to point out that we need a revamp to our game ethics.  This is after all just a game and we are supposed to be playing it for entertainment value.  Entertainment not just of our own, but also to our fellow players.  Any time we find ourselves in an aggressive situation where our tempers are flaring, we should just sit back and analyze it from the other person's perspective.  How would we feel if we were looked down upon for our lack of "acceptable" gear?  We can't all devote the time we would like to to this game to get the gear we'd all like, and that's one of the better dynamic things about WoW: it's style can be tailored to every person for their own unique outlook on what is epic.  Maybe just being level 80 is epic enough for some of us.  I suppose what this all boils down to is there needs to be a little more kindness in this game.  A little gratitude and gracious treatment to the players around us.  We are all in this game for different reasons, but that doesn't mean we can't treat each other well.  It's too easy to forget that the dancing polygons that compose a Blood Elf are also representative of a real person with real emotions and a desire to enjoy this game to the fullest.

WTB Kindness.  PST with more info.

Comments

[makiling]

great article. i can totally relate to what you are saying.i remember getting my first netherweave bag from our gm in my first guild. i was a new member, but she did not think twice in helping out a newbie like me. so now, i personally help out by crafting bags for a new guildie in need.

[guntroll]

Thank you. I was also gifted several bags way back when I was still a freshly noob and I am still using those bags on an alt to this day. I like how people help new players out with the tools to make gold but not necessarily the easy handout of gold itself. If I run across a new player in the guild I will usually take the time to show them the ropes on fishing or how to play a part of the Auction House for profit. I think this is ultimately more helpful than just tossing 10g their way and telling them to shove off.