Originally posted by DamnedRen
IF and there is a big IF you feel there is a problem perhaps a statement of the problem and perhaps state a plausible solution is in order. If the solution is for anyone who wants to, squelch 200 and mouths for 1 month and see what happens then go for it.
Well, I mean, Ren... That's kind of what I did. I stated what I perceived as a problem in the post (basically, people jumping the gun and thinking the worst of any comment), and suggested a solution (basically, three types of players still playing how they want, but with all three compromising in how they act/react to one another a bit).
Now, whether or not I'm correct in assessing the current situation as a problem, and whether or not my suggested "solutions" (perhaps... "steps forward" suits it better?) are really workable is up for debate. I do have to say though, in my eyes, your reaction to my first post was a good example of what I see as part of the "problem."
As I see it, you read my post, and immediately thought something along the lines of (very oversimplified) "Vudak's whining." Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, maybe it's a bit in the middle. The point is, you're doing exactly what I described in the first post as the "It's my $15 type's" contribution to "the problem." Basically, take everything I say, and reduce it to, "He's whining, don't pay attention to him." At least that's how it came off to me (but as we've all seen, text does have serious limitations).
You're certainly entitled to your opinion, and whether or not you've got it right doesn't really matter much in this life, just like my opinions don't mean much either. But the point is, what you've just done, in my eyes, is taken the situation a step back, or at least kept it put.
What I'd suggest - and you don't have to take it, if you don't want to - is to say something along the lines of: "Vudak, you probably meant well, but it came off as whining. Try a different approach instead." That right there, is a step forward.
Basically, in my eyes, we as a community should stop jumping right to conclusions and start trying to give each other the benefit of the doubt. We can and should still express our opinions, be it that "Vudak's whining," or anything else, but we should give each other the benefit of the doubt in the same breath.
I realize that works both ways, and I realize that in the particular situation I highlighted, I didn't do a very good job of it myself. You're quite right - he could have just been extending. For all I know, he might have been waiting to get a few hundred yards further before reversing. I didn't give him that benefit of the doubt, and figured he'd just keep on running. Perhaps a better question for me to have asked him would have been, "Were you looking to get some more seperation before reversing?" If he answered, "Yeah, I wanted a little more space," I could have said something like, "Well, you probably could get away with it reversing a little closer. Would you like me to help you see how?" Maybe that would have worked better. Then again, hindsight is 20/20.
The bottom line is, none of us are saints here. We could all work on being a little friendlier and less defensive and offensive towards one another. It can't possibly hurt the game.
I'm going to make an effort to try it, and I hope some of you from all walks of this game will too.
