Finding Security & Comfort in a Doomed World
I've noticed a growing sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness circulating amongst my peers recently, depressing sentiments that, with every passing day, are becoming more and more widespread. People are crying out that their beloved world is dead, that the end is nigh. And though these voices were initially sparse and easy to disregard, their numbers are steadily increasing in size and volume.
To someone who is perfectly content with his little niche on Azeroth, these cries of doom and gloom are unwanted, unneeded, and let's be honest, kind of annoying. I just want to putter around Orgrimmar and hang out with my guildmates! I don't want to be constantly assaulted with declarations that impending doom is hanging over our heads, and that we are fools for not realizing this threat. I mean, feel free to believe whatever you want to think - just don't batter me over the head with it!
Adding to the chaos and confusion is the rise of a big new player on the scene. I guess people of all types who aren't happy with the current state of affairs are abandoning everything they knew and loved to flock to this sexy new power.
Now, I can understand the appeal. I mean, the new guy seems to be a breath of fresh air, and apparently has all the answers to everything you've been unhappy about. I imagine it'd be hard to resist the appeal.
At the same time, keep in mind that you're leaving behind a culture that's well-established and solidly cemented for something that is completely new, relatively unknown and unpredictable. I've seen too many newcomers spring onto the scene, full of blood and thunder, ready to conquer the world...and oh look, by now they've all faded away into obscurity.
Come back and see me in a year's time, and maybe then I'll believe your guy is a legitimate option.
Personally, I think it's an impulse move, and that after your brief fling with Mr. Up-and-Comer, we'll still be here, going strong. But on this, perhaps we can agree to disagree.
In any case, if you leave for what you interpret as greener pastures, I'm fine with that. It's your life! Sure, I'll be disappointed to see you go, but I certainly won't stand in your way if you're unhappy here. I'm also more than willing to listen to why you're sad/mad/not so rad. Hell, chances are I'll agree with many of your points.
But please, don't tell me that I'm wrong and get hung up on what you've left behind. Just go. Just pack your things and leave. Don't harangue me that I'm foolish for not coming too, that I simply need to try the Kezan Kool-Aid to be shown the error of my ways. Just because you're disgruntled with leadership and the direction they seem to be taking doesn't mean that I share your opinion!
I respected your individuality and freedom by not imposing my disagreeing outlook upon you when you left; all I ask is that you return the favor.
And really, have some dignity! If you do leave us, don't obsess and fixate on the past like some bitter ex. There's nothing more sad and/or pathetic than someone who can't let go and move on! You don't want to be a Jaded Jaina, do you?
If you're happy with your new master, hey, that's cool. Really, I'm happy for you, I am! Now why don't you constantly tell everyone how much better your new world is, compared to your old one? I'm sure that won't be annoying at all.
Is our world perfect? No. Of course not. There's always some new dilemma, some new catastrophic SLAP IN THE FACE that gets us all riled up. And our leaders aren't perfect. They make mistakes, and yeah, sometimes we grow disillusioned with them and wonder just what the hell they're doing and why they aren't listening to us.
And you know what? You're totally entitled to be unhappy with how things are, and if you don't believe that things will improve, that's fine too. I'll respect your opinion. And if you want to go explore other options, that's also okay. Just don't yell in my face that the world is doomed and that everything sucks now. First of all, I completely disagree, and second, I find such statements insulting, as they seem to imply that your opinion is somehow more legitimate or valid than anyone else's.
"I think this, therefore it's true." Nope! I don't like turnips; that doesn't mean they suck! It's simply just my opinion, and nothing more.
In conclusion, I wish you the best of luck if you choose to leave. We can still be friends, even if we no longer share a common lifestyle! I'd be happy to hear about the cool new things your new friends are doing, so long as you don't try to sneeringly lord them over me like you're on the winning team now. Be happy with your life and let me happy in mine, and we'll be cool.
Besides, I hear those Twilight Cultist robes are very silky and soft. And I'm sure Cho'gall is a nice guy, once you get to know (both of) him.
...what? What did you think I was talking about?
Redbeard
Hear hear!
Um, what were we drinking about, anyway?
March 30, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Ralod
To be honest, I am already seeing those enamored of the "new master" coming back:) After the hacking issues, the fast leveling ect. I think we will see a mass return sooner rather then later. 4.1 patch I think will quiet a lot of these folks as well.
March 30, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Ttrinity
Haha. Nice weaving of WoW and da playahs. Heartily agreed.
And to be perfectly honest, those robes are not just silky and soft...the are SEZZY!
March 30, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Anonymous
Those robes really were sexy. I got them on nearly every character I could.
What? They're sexy purple cultist robes! You're saying you wouldn't want to bust those out for a night out on the town??? Please.
Loved the post, Rades.
March 30, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Sven
Thos robes are over-rated. They keep tearing open at most inappropriate times and all the passers-by gather round to peer through, quite uninvited.
March 30, 2011 at 1:43 PM
Syl
Hehe, nicely played Rades! ;)
and an absolutely valid wish, too - I've always cringed at people leaving wow and then condescending on it or rather, the players still playing it. but then, there's that other effect i have noticed a bit since quitting myself, and that's that some wow players will read an insult into anything you say and every enjoyment you find somewhere new is a slight to their world. it's a touchy subject (or paranoia) with some wow players at the moment which i think is fair to mention in that context.
I'm also a tad tired of the "mmo leadership"-argumentation frequently used by some wow players - yeah, blizzard has the most subs, wohooo - that's utterly irrelevant for me and my personal game enjoyment.
also, are we talking of TC set as in Silithus?? Eww! :P
March 30, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Anonymous
For all of Rift's all pervasive strangle on the hearts and minds of WoW players... It took me mentioning it's existence to my guildmates before they even knew about it.
Now there are a few playing it, and enjoying it, but not so much that they miss raid nights, or have tried to drag the guild over to Rift.
I do fear that bridge-burning WoW bloggers may struggle to return to WoW blogging, which as much as their acts of bridge burning are painful, and probably suggest the same in the future, they also deny us the potential of good posts in the future.. unless of course they are like me and are too think to realise a bridge was burned and just walk back over it.
March 30, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Alas
I knew what you were talking about the WHOLE TIME. *nods for emphasis*
Oh. You don't believe me? It was worth a shot anyway.
Well played, Sir.
March 30, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Bristal
Very nicely put. Although I don't personally begrudge bloggers or any players the occasional Kool-aid and Silk Robe party.
They can be a nice diversion, if not a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Just hope they can find their way back in the dark.
March 30, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Glorwynn
There's been a lot of talk about Rift in our house, especially for two people who have no intention of playing it soon. A huge chunk of that is driven by my husband's interest in game development and my interest in why people do what people do... why they get exicted about things, why they do or don't "follow the crowd", etc. A smaller thing that has driven the conversation is knowing we can only comfortably maintain subscriptions long-term for one game. Neither one of us is okay with leaving Azeroth just yet.
I don't like a lot of the Cataclysm changes. The ones I like, I like a LOT! And I still love the story. I often feel like I'm still (after over two years) settling into the game and it would just be too soon to uproot myself and run off to something that looks like it might be better. But I also think Rift's flexibility might truly suit me better. So I'm waiting. I want to see if they can endure some hard ups and downs. I want to see if that exact game would suit me better, or if it's really just that something with more flexibility would... not necessarily *that* something. When I know, then I'll ask myself again if I'm ready to leave Azeroth or not. I've put a lot of effort into getting where I am. WoW is my hobby the way stamp collecting might be someone else's hobby. I wouldn't just throw out a stamp collection because someone else is collecting thimbles.
March 30, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Saz
Do you think that the tailors who craft the cultists' robes would be willing to make a few blankets as well? A blanket of that material would be absolutely divine.
I whole heartedly agree with you here. Oh wait, you mean we weren't just talking about Bloodlust and the choices it causes us make? Well in that case...
Lovely post!
March 31, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Anonymous
It's not that RIFT is so great, it's just that so many are tired of WoW.
On a personal note, Cataclysm came about 2 years too late. I was all but done halfway through WotlK.
Of all those I know in RL that played WoW, only one remains (out of 9). This is anecdotal at best, and indicative at worst.
March 31, 2011 at 6:42 AM
Anonymous
I thought about Rift the whoooole way through, I guess I was wrong ;) haha
Havn't played Rift myself, but MMO's are like homes, aren't they? It's hard to divide your time between several of them, so it easily becomes a zero-sum game.
March 31, 2011 at 3:05 PM