Uzor said:
Um, I really don't get what you are laughing at. Is it because his website skills are at about the same level my parents have? Or is it because he's not pretending to be a tough guy?
Just because he's brave enough to actually be himself doesn't give you the right to mock him... and making fun of him is not the right way to "prove yourself". Shame on you all -.-;
My thoughts exactly.
The real truth is, there's a LOT less distance between this kid and all of us than the folks that are cackling are comfortable admitting. You don't think so? Just consider it for a moment. Some of us put screenshots of our characters in our avatars. Heck, it's a forum
recommendation that one should include character names and job levels in one's sig.
We've all taken the time to not only invest hours into the game, but we also invest
additional hours into a forum just to
talk about the game. This kid is us, make no mistake about it.
So, what's the difference? Why are we laughing at him?
He's too benevolent. Rather than putting up a screenshot of himself "pwnzing somebody," he instead shows himself passively holding a plushie toy. He's not investing any particular time in crude humor, the taunting and mockery of others, nor does he seem to be bragging about his 1337ness when he describes his characters. He simply happily relates the fun he's had. Worst of all, he seems
nice. That's unacceptable, to this lot. You either have a touch of cruelty in you, a bit of arrogant smugness, or you're out of the damn club.
That's the culture here; what dictates who the "cool kids" are. You can't be nice, peaceful, or passively benevolent, like this poor kid. You've got to act "tough."
This is all about trying to pretend we aren't dorks. Get real. You invest hours upon hours of your free time into watching a bunch of numbers progress on a bunch of pixels. Then, you come here for even more hours to talk about it. To someone who doesn't game at all, let alone play something as deep and time-consuming as an MMORPG, you're as much of a dork as the kid is. They don't see a distinction.
Once again, I'm forced to refer to the fat guy who points out everybody fatter than him. That extra 75 pounds doesn't count for a whole lot when you're both over 300, you know? This ... kid ... is ...
you.
He's just nicer than you. If it was a choice between him in your linkshell, or someone who got off excessively by jeering at him, who would you honestly pick?