Power Corrupts, and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

[stanimal]

I was an officer in the Dreamers of Dawn Linkshell for almost 3 years, and a good friend in real life to the linkshell's leader Kaete. Sadly, a few days ago I was removed from the shell because I argued my demotion from officer to member. Why was I demoted? I wasn't on the game enough, and wasn't taking care of my recruits. Granted those are the rules, and I accepted them to be part of the linkshell; however, it takes a village. No one can be on the game 24/7 to monitor the goings on and make sure their recruits are being taken care of. Besides that, my recruits happened to be two new players from Sweden with a 6 hour time difference from EST.

I am not copping out, but I recently left a higher paying job (one that Kaete and I both worked at) due to stress and wanting to find something that made me happy at the end of the day and not feel like I needed to drink half a bottle of JD just to get right. I quit my job and I am now busting my ass working for a friend at his game store and doing some E Bay goodness on the side to make ends meet. If anyone has every worked for themselves, they know that you end up working twice as hard then when you punch a clock at a normal 9-5.

Long story short, I was on the game whenever I could be - which was usually early in the morning and late at night, before and after work basically. Unfortunately, most of the time Kaete was not on when I was. The thing that really upset me is that no one in the linkshell stood up for me, or vouched that I have been on when I could... that was just lame.

I was demoted, and then booted from the shell when I argued the demotion. Three years of friendship tossed aside for no reason at all. Kaete tried to explain away her reasonings, and I mine. However in the end we agreed to disagree; she is the mega boss mithra linkshell leader and she makes (and breaks) the rules, so her word is final. Funny... I guess that makes the linkshell kinda like my old job; where employment was "at will" and you could be fired for no real reason at all as long as they could justify it and come up with a good enough excuse.

To all the members of Dreamers of Dawn, I will miss you and will always be willing to help out whenever possible. I still consider you all part of my extended FFXI family, you guys are what brought me back from playing WoW. You guys are great and I am sorry things went the way they did.

Kaete- Wish you the best in life and I hope you can find something to make you happy. Get outta that call center as soon as possible, it kills you a little each day. I guess in the end we can agree to disagree. Such is life.

Kyp- You are a great player and person. You have always been helpful and eager to share what you know.

Skaw - You are a great player as well, and your knowledge of FFXI is astounding. The things that you know off the top of your head, well you're a great resource and asset to the shell, and to anyone lucky enough to call you a friend.

Fluffers- Galkas rock man, what else can I say about that! You are a cool person and hope to here from you in the future.

Takumifujiwara - Smart gamer, eager to help at the drop of a hat. A great motivator and friend. You are a great asset to the shell and I can see why you were promoted as fast as you were. Good luck in all future endeavors.

Samuraishampoo- Awesome gamer girl, never liked Tarus much until you^^ Tarus... they're not just tastey snacks anymore! Thanks for keeping in touch.

Yhoda- Had fun helping get 5-1. It was a blast, even though I was never on and didn't help the linkshell

To all the above and any I have missed, please keep in touch and if I don't respond to a tell I am probably just either afk or at work. Try sending me a message and I will get back to you. My router disconnects a lot, so I may not always get to review the chat logs to see you said hi. Stoooopid router...

Anyways, this has been a pretty mellow flame \ rant from a pretty mellow Galka; not even sure this qualifies as a flame, but didn't know where else to put it. I was gonna put it in the dreamers of dawn forums, but somehow my login and password no longer work... strange huh?

Peace.

 

[Kizaryo]

I used to be part of that linkshell long ago.
I wasn't a major active member, since at that stage in gameplay I was partaking in various linkshells. I pretty much joined as an old friend of Kaete and Kefkha. I did see you most of the time in the linkshell so your loyalty was definitely there.

I eventually left for similar reasons. Not because of rank, but a minor disagreement with the LS leader over something trivial.

In the end, I tried to voice my opinion and be a friend but things didn't work out so I did what I could only do then. I wished them the best and moved onto other things while hoping things look up better for them in the future.

Unlike myself, I only knew the person in-game. For you, its more in depth since you worked at the same job.

It sounds like you aren't totally mad at them, but at the same time it sounds like the friendship is being affected.

If you guys are really good friends IRL, you should not let the game dictate that.

Sure some linkshells are run strictly for success, but whats going to happen when you finish the game, and all is said and done?

I understand your position because a good IRL friend is an LS leader, and recently we had a minor dispute about some issues but in the end we worked towards a solution and all was good.

Just gotta keep in mind that friendship needs to be stronger than a game. ^^;

 

[Shi-do-sha]

A videogame came between a 3 year friendship?
thats depressing.
no disrespect to none of yall but yall need ta pow-wow cuz... well shit a friendship is a tough thing to lose... its funny i see ppl take this game beyond serious all the time n its sad. but im not holdin that against none of yall. im probably repeatin myself so im just gonna say this. Drink some coffee(or tea whatever you choose) and just CHYYYYYLLLLL!
now i got gran'kids to watch XD
hope all turns out well. O! and where did u work again?

 

[Courtney]

Honestly Stan, if you're trying to avoid stress then not being a LS Officer is probably a good idea.

 

[Malign]

Three years of friendship over a game... what a shame.

 

[Kiere]

Hey Stan I'm sorry to hear about your falling out with your ls...I know that I'd be lost without my ls mates. I remember partying with you once on my blm and thought you were a supercool guy. Give me a /tell ingame if I can help with anything.

 

[Ezikiel]

Sorry to hear that Stan, you are a really nice guy. I am actually suprised to hear that this LS still exists, with all of what... 8 members?

Anywho, I suppose some things weren't ment to be, and some people just don't want to be fixed. Move on, and enjoy your life. I'm sure your other in-game friends will hold no hard feelings and always keep in contact.

 

[Angof]

Sucks that a friendship would be ruined by something like this. Oh well maybe it was ment to be. Honestly there are plenty of good people out there besides those in that one specific linkshell. You will miss them, I am sure of that, but I am sure you can find another linkshell with some awesome members. Or maybe in a few days this will blow over and you can rejoin after having a little talk that isn't so depressing/stressful.

Also in reguards to "Honestly Stan, if you're trying to avoid stress then not being a LS Officer is probably a good idea."

Some people get enjoyment out of leading others and even though it can be stressful the rewarding feeling afterward can get rid of more stress then it creates.

 

[Blazeoffury]

Some people get enjoyment out of leading others and even though it can be stressful the rewarding feeling afterward can get rid of more stress then it creates.

You have no idea of how much of a reward leading your friends through something difficult and which you are already through with can give you. Its honestly the reason I didn't quit this game a few months ago. As a white mage theres only two items that I "need" from sky, and I dont really need them at that. But those items are Zenith Crown and Zenith Slacks. I have my Zenith Crown+1 and my Slacks, I have no need for sky <well a Genbu shield is nice as well, but I have it to> but the over all enjoyment gained from helping others is irreplacable.

 

[Tahoepimp]

its intresting to see someone as a product of her fury got booted from Ls (again) i left for various reason but because mainly couldnt take the drama i know you were on stanimal because i was on most of the time you were and we were the only ones on and with the one ls rule it was hard to get anything done im sorry to see your friendship go down the toliet but maybe your better off to not have her stress added to your own you were a cool dude hope everything finds you well and things get better

 

[Kaete]

It is unfortunate a friendship was lost, indeed. It was most unfortunate however that the game had very little to do with it, and yet it was taken that way.

The thing is, Stan, that when I told you I needed to talk to you I wasnt kidding. The problem became a serious one, and you blew me off when I asked you for 5 mins of your time. 2 days passed from when I asked you, and you could have done something simple like picked up a phone and said "What's up?"

The problem with this, it wasnt a real life friendship. Not one I consider anyway. I knew you mostly for a year and a half, and anything before that was by name only. My phone number has been the same for 7 years, the same phone number that you have, Dakko has, Dimi has and yeah, even Ezikiel who posted in this flame had.

What you speak of in terms of power is this - it's a game, and I put our friendship first. When I needed you most, you werent there. When I needed you to keep a promise, you failed to do so. The sad part is rather than pick up a phone and handle it like the man you should be after all your fights with Joe, you came here and flamed me like the 5th grade attitude you gave me repeatedly saying "Whatever" and not listening to what I had to say.

How many people have been invited to a LS and left alone like a third wheel? How many people have felt that in all honesty you just didnt feel welcomed there? The person who invited you left you there, alone, to fend for yourself and you're a very shy person. The person who was invited into the LS in this case by Stan asked for him every day, was upset when he was not there, and constantly asked members to say hello for him. In the end she was upset about a lot more, but thats where it lies.

We demoted Socorrow on the basis that he wasnt there either. He accepted this, and I told him "Hey when you come back, let me know, and I'll pop you back in the linksack" - Socorrow is very sick and he accepted this because he knew he wouldnt be around in the linkshell for a while.

You quit your job, you came online 2 days a week. You have a life you need to take care of away from the game first. Go out, go make money and pay for the car payments you have every month. Dont spend it on Final Fantasy hiding and thinking everything is ok like I do. I know everyone plays this game for a reason - I play because Kaete is immortal and I am not. When your life is pretty fucked up you need a release, mine used to be my books, but now it's FF where I can help people do what they need to do.

Everyone who used to be in the LS we have gotten somewhere. Tahoe, Romp, we got you help and partied with you guys and we had fun. Kiz, you were in there for a short amount of time as well, but you must have understood the linkshells purpose.

Ezikiel, you were also in the linkshell, and it's not my fault things didnt work out for "us" in real life because of a video game, but you have no right to post here at all. You of ALL people I would hope could understand the difference between real life and a video game. Go take care of your son, instead of missing his life for your runs on Final Fantasy. If you want to talk about this, you know the number, nobody telling you to flame it out behind a screen full of words.

The same goes for you Stan, you dont have to hide behind a screen. You know where I work, you know where I am. You have my phone number. If you want to talk about a friendship ended, we will. But try and remember it has nothing to do with a video game other than you refusing to act like the adult I thought you were.

Thats all for now.

 

[Kyp]

You know, it's always someone who leaves or has been booted that say our linkshell sucks. Yet.. somehow.. even though there were times when we did have very few remaining members.. such as Ezikiel says.. we've been around since Oct 30th, 2003, and even before that on Earth and Beyond.

I'm afraid it's changed quite a bit since then and there are a few more members nowadays. But the rules are the rules, people get into the shell, they agree upon the rules. As someone who has a sack and gives out pearls to people.. it's your job to teach them the basics and not just "here's a pearl, afk for a week." it's listed in those rules that you're responsible for your recruits or people that you would like to invite. Teach them the basics so we don't have to answer simple questions every other day.

I really hold nothing against stanimal, but when rules are broken things happen.. and despite how it sounds here.. it wasn't a spur of the moment decision made by the leader to demote him. The rest of the officer/staff discussed it as well before it was done. The leader doesn't demote people out of spite or anger, it is the rest of us who decide when someone is demoted or promoted.

It's sounds like its terrible, but I assure you were I the one with the direct ability to remove people a lot of things like this wouldn't have to happen because I wouldn't let things slide occasionally, because while i'm a nice guy.. I don't see a need to break the rule(s) in the first place. if you know you're gonna break one, throw your pearl away.. save the effort. Strike 1, you're fucking out... from that people learn by example and it doesn't happen.

 

[stanimal]

Kaete- I actually recall you being the one to severe all communication. Don't talk to me about hiding behind a screen because the phone works both ways.
I have screenshots stating that very thing, I could send them to you if you need a refresher? I didn't call or msg you online out of respect for your choice.

You said >>The problem became a serious one, and you blew me off when I asked you for 5 mins of your time. 2 days passed from when I asked you, and you could have done something simple like picked up a phone and said "What's up?"<< When you msg'd me on aol I was at work, so I wasn't brushing you off at all, and I explained that I was at work. As for two days passing with no call.... that's a funny thing because phones not only recieve calls, but they have the added ability to MAKE them as well, and last I checked you have my number as well. So if it had really been that urgent...
No need to worry about Tinea either, I am inviting her to my new linkshell.

Kyp- you said >> You know, it's always someone who leaves or has been booted that say our linkshell sucks. << I didn't say the linkshell sucks, and it absolutely doesn't suck. Please don't take my post that way. The linkshell is quality. I just feel that the fact that I got kicked out for such stupidity sucked. There IS a difference. Beyond that I really harbor no ill will for anyone within dreamers of dawn... not even the bootee, Kaete...

I think you guys are great, but there are some people within that need to lighten up. Just like Kaete said, it IS a game afterall. Tinea is in sweden and not on when I can be due to a 6 hour time difference, not my fault - yet I am held accountable? It's not like I didn't want to help, but unfortuntely I wasn't able to. I realize that the rules state to take care of your recruits, and like I originally stated I didn't refute that. Under my current circumstances, it's a bit hard to do though and the fact that wasn't taken into consideration is complete and utter bullshit. That's all.

I can't watch my recruits all the time, even though Kaete disagrees, it does take a village... because no one is on 24/7 and when people aren't on, other people take up that slack... that's just how teams work. It wasn't like I wasn't helping when I could. I helped Janko start his rank mission, I helped out on 5-1 with Takum and Yhoda (who I believe are both now rank6, and I still rank 5- so if anyone is suffering by me not being on and available... it's ME, still didn't even get my AF weapon from month's ago but who's counting^^) and other more general things all within the time span rom me quitting my job.

I have spoken with a couple members, and some officers that didn't think I should have been demoted or kicked but that is beside the point. The bottom line is this: I wish you well, but don't think after this happy incident, I would ever call DOD home again. I still value all your friendships, but something just ain't right anymore.

I have started my own linkshell, and I'd offer you a pearl... but then you'd be the next to get booted (no linkshell hopping right?) so.. I'll see you in game. Who knows, maybe our linkshells will form an alliance, lol...