LAGWAR | GAMING'S BEST IN TOP NOTCH MEDIOCRITY

Where have all the rational people gone?  They seem to have all abandoned the internet for somewhere else.  Maybe they forgot to send me my invitation?  I don’t know what happened to them all but I wish they would come back, because there are too many message boards, too many forum posts, and too much in-game chat that seems completely devoid of any real rational thought.

Not representative of WoW players at large.

WoW players aren’t petulant little kids, at least a lot of us aren’t.  We play a game that places a premium on thinking on your feet, learning quickly, and working well in groups.  Yet it seems that WoW players, at least the ones that lurk in the forums are no better than the general public (and I think you could argue even worse) at thinking rationally and holding a discussion.  Think of it this way – when was the last time you could read a forum post that went more than 3 responses before being derailed by some sort of unwarranted crude, crass, arrogant, ignorant, or just out-right rude comment?  It has been a long time for me too, like starcraft two long (btw “starcraft two” is now an official measurement of time – for those into units and measurements it equals somewhere between 10 and 15 years).  Why can’t someone ask a question without being submarined by “nooob” comments or offer an honest well thought out opinion without being flamed?  Where have all the rational people gone?

Maybe our avatars stole our rationality.  In our families/jobs/schools we can’t randomly yell “Noob”, “U is dum”, or “I can haz stupid?” at people.  They wouldn’t understand it, and when they did they certainly wouldn’t tolerate it.  Unfortunately, online there really isn’t the same type of accountability we see in the real world.  Annoying forum responses don’t cost you your job, they don’t get you detention, and forums move so quickly that unless you said something really atrocious it is generally forgotten by the next day.  In the real world we would lose friends, jobs, and estrange family members, online the worst that happens is we find a new guild or get a two day forum ban.  Does the internet mirror how people would really act if there were no consequences?  I hope not.  And if so why am I in the minority that would terribly embarrassed to have “LoL, you is noob” statements associated with me, even if it is only my online personality?

Noob-eating cat stalks the forums.

Maybe we need to see a face to be rational.  If someone on the street asked you for directions to the post office you probably wouldn’t respond with “omg, learn2play”.  On the internet, in games, we don’t see the person, just the request.  Perhaps we don’t associate the box of text in front of us with another person, it’s disconnection from humanity allows us to respond with arrogance and ridicule for no apparent reason.  Is that what is going on?  Can I get a little verification on this?  Does rational thought and constructivity die when it meets the harsh glow of our monitor screens?  Does LCD filter out empathy?

Maybe I am too pessimistic, maybe all the rational people haven’t left the internet, maybe they are still here just silent.  Maybe instead of leaving they have just been driven into hiding by the flaming, heckling, and general asshattery that pervades the internet.  Is it possible that the wincingly abrasive commentary I read on a daily basis is a misrepresentation?  Could it be that the vocal minority has killed the voice of the rational majority?  Have the asshats won and driven away all the rational considerate players?  Are you out there somewhere?  Come back please.  We constructive, rational players need you back.  We can’t retake the forums without you.  If you stay silent then the asshats have won.

All the rational people have left, or are they just being served with bbq sauce?

Rational players out there, how do you cope?  Because I am pretty tired of the incessant flames, heckling, and arrogance I see all around me.  Do you tune it out?  Have you found some sort of internet utopia where the flamers are smothered and constructive commenters applauded.  And if this place exists…could you please show me where it is, and the secret handshake?