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I don't know how this stuff works, but...
drazursouthclaw
Member Posts: 223 Arc User
I was thinking about my posts recently, because it's holidays and I have little better to do. Back in the day, I was a bit of a care bear. I'd post pro-Cryptic posts, and white knight for the devs. I still want to, really, but I can't because now I'm one of the trolls.
THERE. I said it.
(and most of you just said "And....who are you supposed to be, again?")
That's my point: I'm nobody. Just another Weretroll, only instead of the moon setting me off, it's ingame stuff. And just this once, I won't go into detail about that (the issues, I mean - the process is outlined below).
Without getting all bookstyle (TOTALLY A WORD), I thought about why I do this. In real life, I'm a fairly decent bloke. I stop to help little old ladies across the street, care for sick animals, read to my kids - you know, all the 'right' stuff.
Then I play STO for a bit. Then something irritates me. Then something else irritates me. Then I read Zone chat and that irritates me. Then I close it and I get irritated by the fact that I have to close it. Then I get angry because I think about what a Star Trek game should be like. Then I get angry because I realise how much that money affects things that it has no right affecting (like basic civil rights - if you can't afford a good lawyer to defend yourself from a false accusation...well...), and then I remember what the game was like before dilithium got involved and then I just Weretroll the hell right out.
"MUST...FIND...MORAL...SUPPORT" my last few remaining threads of humanity call to me - before I go full Troll.
"I know! To the forums - there MUST be people that feel like me!"
But tonight I realised how dumb that is. Go to the Forums for solidarity and moral suport and all that great stuff, by all means: but to expect it to work out when I'm this angry is just sheer folly.
Now, many people are probably thinking: "Wow, random internet guy has issues. Big deal. Not my problem."
Except that I think it kind of is. Not in the "your fault" way, but in the "the community is getting very dark nowadays" kind of way.
And it's not like I'm the only one, I'm guessing. I cannot be the only otherwise-okayish dude who posts angry here. Why do we do that? I mean, I outlined what I think the reasons are above, but that's for me personally.
My dad used to say that enemies are just friends that we haven't met yet. I STILL think that's about 512 different shades of stupidity, but I like the idea behind it.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SEND TROLLS LIKE ME FRIEND REQUESTS.
I'm saying that us trolls troll because we have NO OTHER WAY TO FEEL LIKE WE MATTER. Again, that may just be me projecting. But maybe not.
If you're still reading this, I have a question: "I don't know how this stuff works, but wouldn't it be great if some of vocal members of the community could speak in a way that mattered? Like, how do Stocks and stuff work? Can we, the community, actually buy shares in a company and become stockholders, and be heard THAT WAY?"
100% serious question. If enemies are friends we haven't met yet, then maybe 'Trolls are just Shareholders that don't hold shares yet'.
And I think it's safe to say, with as much respect as possible, that it can be said, in one way (SO MUCH DISCLAIMING HERE - SIGH), that the shareholders are trolling the players. It's not their goal, sure - but I see no reason to pretend that it's not an obvious side effect. I'm almost certain that Cryptic feel the creative pinch (i.e. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE METRICS, BABY) as tightly as us players do.
In closing (because accidental essays are still essays), I'd like to say sorry to everyone I have offended over the last month, including the devs. I haven't changed how I feel, but I have changed how I feel about how I said it. And I wish I could promise I'll never post angry again. But I think that coming to the forums before the play session was a good move, and I invite others to try it out (although it's probably safe to assume, judging by my behaviour, that nearly everyone else is smarter than me and was able to think of that themselves - if not, feel free to use the excuse that anger clouded your judgment: that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it
).
THERE. I said it.
(and most of you just said "And....who are you supposed to be, again?")
That's my point: I'm nobody. Just another Weretroll, only instead of the moon setting me off, it's ingame stuff. And just this once, I won't go into detail about that (the issues, I mean - the process is outlined below).
Without getting all bookstyle (TOTALLY A WORD), I thought about why I do this. In real life, I'm a fairly decent bloke. I stop to help little old ladies across the street, care for sick animals, read to my kids - you know, all the 'right' stuff.
Then I play STO for a bit. Then something irritates me. Then something else irritates me. Then I read Zone chat and that irritates me. Then I close it and I get irritated by the fact that I have to close it. Then I get angry because I think about what a Star Trek game should be like. Then I get angry because I realise how much that money affects things that it has no right affecting (like basic civil rights - if you can't afford a good lawyer to defend yourself from a false accusation...well...), and then I remember what the game was like before dilithium got involved and then I just Weretroll the hell right out.
"MUST...FIND...MORAL...SUPPORT" my last few remaining threads of humanity call to me - before I go full Troll.
"I know! To the forums - there MUST be people that feel like me!"
But tonight I realised how dumb that is. Go to the Forums for solidarity and moral suport and all that great stuff, by all means: but to expect it to work out when I'm this angry is just sheer folly.
Now, many people are probably thinking: "Wow, random internet guy has issues. Big deal. Not my problem."
Except that I think it kind of is. Not in the "your fault" way, but in the "the community is getting very dark nowadays" kind of way.
And it's not like I'm the only one, I'm guessing. I cannot be the only otherwise-okayish dude who posts angry here. Why do we do that? I mean, I outlined what I think the reasons are above, but that's for me personally.
My dad used to say that enemies are just friends that we haven't met yet. I STILL think that's about 512 different shades of stupidity, but I like the idea behind it.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SEND TROLLS LIKE ME FRIEND REQUESTS.
I'm saying that us trolls troll because we have NO OTHER WAY TO FEEL LIKE WE MATTER. Again, that may just be me projecting. But maybe not.
If you're still reading this, I have a question: "I don't know how this stuff works, but wouldn't it be great if some of vocal members of the community could speak in a way that mattered? Like, how do Stocks and stuff work? Can we, the community, actually buy shares in a company and become stockholders, and be heard THAT WAY?"
100% serious question. If enemies are friends we haven't met yet, then maybe 'Trolls are just Shareholders that don't hold shares yet'.
And I think it's safe to say, with as much respect as possible, that it can be said, in one way (SO MUCH DISCLAIMING HERE - SIGH), that the shareholders are trolling the players. It's not their goal, sure - but I see no reason to pretend that it's not an obvious side effect. I'm almost certain that Cryptic feel the creative pinch (i.e. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE METRICS, BABY) as tightly as us players do.
In closing (because accidental essays are still essays), I'd like to say sorry to everyone I have offended over the last month, including the devs. I haven't changed how I feel, but I have changed how I feel about how I said it. And I wish I could promise I'll never post angry again. But I think that coming to the forums before the play session was a good move, and I invite others to try it out (although it's probably safe to assume, judging by my behaviour, that nearly everyone else is smarter than me and was able to think of that themselves - if not, feel free to use the excuse that anger clouded your judgment: that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it
). Post edited by drazursouthclaw on
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Comments
As for the 'problems', they're not as black and white as they seem. Everyone, from players to developers to management to stockholders, are all responsible for the situation we'ere in - good or bad.
The best thing you can do is your part to make this game a better experience for everyone. It will either wear off on other people, or you'll move on to greener pastures.
Activism is a noble idea and all, but it is extremely unlikely to get anywhere unless the message is the language those who are calling the shots understand(Profit). Furthermore, it is naive to assume money will magically fix all of the 'problems' in STO. People are problem solvers, not money. In this case, that's the developers. The more 'we' burn the bridges between each other, the worse it will get.
If you want to be part of the 'solution', rally and promote fun instead of hate.
Excellently said.
Might I also add, if you are looking for a purely positive community who just enjoy games and good company: www.thecaperadio.com
Live DJs every evening, 24x7 streaming music, and shows broadcasting from inside all three of cryptic's games. As the name implies, more in champions than elsewhere, but sto and nw definitely supported.
I don't think there is much likelihood of the most vocal forumites mustering the capital or motivation to have controlling interests in PW LLC. There may be something that is more appropriate that could raise an eyebrow or at least give everyone else a reprieve from the circular mewling. There is an adage about any publicity being good publicity. What if all the people who didn't really play any more because they hate the game so much stopped posting on the forums? Terrify them with silence. Legitimately demonstrate lack of interest in STO by not publicly exhibiting obsessive behavior about it. Maybe this would work or not but looking for relevant threads would be easier.