The Game
AH in itself has no charachter. Alas, tis only a game. However, the people who participate in the game (community) give a perception of the game. It's the community which reflects upon the charachter of the"game".
I've met a lot of great people in this community,to many to mention as a matter of fact. Conversely, I've seen more insults and inuendos thrown around here in 8 months of playing AH then I'd seen in almost 7 years of AW. Don't get me wrong, AW had it's problem children also, but in the 8 months I've been here I've been suprised at the amount and intensity of some of the disagreements discussed on the boards and over channel 1. why? I sure as hell don't know.
Maybe you've noticed over channel 1 the banter of former AW players to one another even though they fight on opposing sides. You'll notice a BAAAAAAAAa between whels1 and myself, a <S> to Westy and so forth. this just saying hello, not having been in a fight. Maybe the difference in the ages of the two communities? AW being around a lot longer developing that kind of community? Hell, I dunno, but there sure as hell a great many good people flying this sim, and there are a vociferous few who choose to show their ignorance on a regular basis over the airwaves and on the boards.
I've been asked by new players to the game "Is it always like this?" I tell them no, and explain that this happens in every on-line community that has participation. I've had a former squad mate come here to try it out. It's difficult enough to come and learn this sim well, without being challenged vocally when you're new with, ya dweeb, this and that.
In air warrior if someone used foul language, and no we weren't the Police, we would come down on them from all sides for the simple fact that youngsters played the game also. they can learn foul language in the real world, let the virtual one be what it was designed for, fun and enjoyment, not the suffering of some over stuffed ego berating someone for his ineptitude or mistakes. In essence I'm saying no one really "policed" the arenas or boards, the community would really take care of itself. It had it's faults for sure, but interaction within the community was more fun, not as serious.
If we want to attract and keep players, and develop this community, it's like any other neighborhood, we have to "keep it up". who wants to pay 500K for a house, when the house next door is worth 30K? It lies on us, not HT or Pyro. We are not children and shouldn't have to be treated as such. Threads on the boards should not have to be locked for the simple fact that they probably shouldn't have been posted in the first place! I know 6 year old children that have more tact and common sense then some of the posts I've read on these boards and the banter on channel 1.
closing(long winded) in some areas this community has to grow up......individualy or as a whole. I fortunately let insults and such pass off my back, new users take it as a personal affront and don't come back. It's about time players, as hblair did in previous post come to the front and voice their opinions, and maybe we should do the same on channel 1 when another idiotic statement is directed at someone for just participating in a dam game.
fell off the soap box
Hajo <G>
[This message has been edited by Hajo (edited 04-26-2001).]
