Beat that Dead Horse Fly, Beat it!

[FlyThenFall]

A couple nights ago I attempted to make a breakthough. I tried quell my internal storms about my views about "haves" and "have-nots." I spent a couple days telling myself that it was me who had a problem. I am a horrible, jealous person who isn't putting enough into the game to get what I want. I need to do something different in my gameplay to get to where other people are.

Well, armed with these concessions to my opponents, I went to talk to the one person I had the biggest problem with. Gathering my courage and clearing my mind of anger, I sent an IM to the person I needed to make peace with so I could be at peace with myself. After making my case, I was met with stories about my friends and how they were doing things wrong. He told me stories about my friends doing things I could not believe. I mean (insert name) begging Yavn for a birthday present? And (insert name) telling people that they were only made Community Leaders because they knew and were liked by certain members of the staff? I couldn't believe it.

So I went to my friends and asked for their side of the story. I tried to see whether he had a selective memory and if there was more to what happened. And I found out that things happened a little differently than what I was told. Was (insert name) begging for a birthday present from Yavn? No...she was talking to him earlier in the day about getting her Cursed Storm pin and Yavn wanted to give her a birthday present. But in the midst of their trade my friend lost her connection to VMK! Later that night she found Yavn and they finished up her trade while she said in a very tongue-cheek-matter, "Give me a birthday present Yavn, plz plz!!" Oh yeah, and my friend who told someone that she was made a Community Leader that she only got the job because she knew and was liked by certain people...She said that in response to a question "How do you get to be a community leader." While her response "You get to know certain people," isn't fraught with niceties she didn't direct it anyone personally.

Well, I continued my monologue of the things I'm fustrated with it, and asked my "opponent" to join me in a chat room with some of my friends. He entered the chat room and proceeded to lurk because of the many chat and IM windows he had opened. I never recieved any further answers from him and he left me with even a worse taste in my mouth.

I think at this point I need to make clear what my opinion on this subject is...

* I don't like people who hold themselves higher than the rest of us because of the things they have.

* I don't like people getting defensive when faced with opposition.

* I don't like people attacking others to evade a questions about themselves.

* I don't like people ignoring what I'm saying or refuse to say even a simple "Hi Fly" when I'm taking an active part in a room when they're around.

* I don't like being suddenly left alone in a closing party room because I didn't get a memo through the messages on VMK.

If anything this tells everyone in VMK that it's quite alright to be an exclusive person and to shut yourself from people who have "less" than you because you are being rewarded all the tim. It's also telling me that yes, there is a very exclusive group of people who refuse to talk to the "little people of VMK."

I've worked hard to where I've gotten to on VMK. I've never answered at trivia question from a Cast Member and won an Inferno or Teleportation Magic Spell. I've never asked a developer to give me something. I've gotten all of my quest items from actually doing the footwork and doing the quests. While I did get the codes for the Kellogg's pirate magic from websites and from friends, when I found out from my VMK tour guide that you could find it on the Kellogg's website...I spent a couple hours trying to find the codes. I've even been recognized as a great player by being made one of the first Community Leaders of VMK. What else to I need to do? What can I do to make myself better in the eyes of these people. I don't want their stuff...I don't even want their friendship...I just want them to respect me and my friends and our opinions.

 

[GBShorts]

I'm the birthday girl...

I don't mind admitting it. Actually there was trouble with the trade button that day and after finally "re-finding" yavn he said it wasn't working right. Knowing full well that Yavn can "deposit" in your account whatever he darn well pleases, I said, in a JOKING manner "You mean I finally find you and trade doesn't even work? dude!" or something to that effect.

Yavn, being the awesome dude his, gave me a new magic pin as promised via another board for my birthday.

My next comment, to a friend, was "now all I need to do is get Cursed Storm!"

and boom, it showed up too on my screen.

Thanks Yavn.

and Fly, thanks for sticking up for me. You are so well spoken and I greatly appreciate it when someone younger shows the brain-power to actually put together real words in a sentence and use punctuation.

Speaking to the guy who is spreading these stories about us, when confronted with the other issue about community leaders, his reply to this person was "if I cared what you thought, I would read this (or something to that effect). Funny how you think you are the mature one in this situation."

This guy had the GALL to say the other person was being immature for setting the record straight on what she said to other people. Whenever comments are made about people that might say something they should improve he's always the first to jump in saying "I never did that!!! leave me alone!" when his name is never mentioned.

So anyway, Didn't mean to turn this into a rant, but Fly has a great point here. Just adding my pennies.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Flythenfall I think the biggest thing to remember is that this is a GAME!

It is not real life, your self image and feelings about it should not be dependent on what certain people think. Yavn is not a magic man he is a software developer that was hired to do a job! That is not a put down in any way shape or form just a fact. All of these "community leaders" or people that have stuff aren't any better than anyone else, talk to Bezoar he will be the first one to tell you.

I'm sorry if it hurts anyone's feelings but personally I sit here and laugh at all the people that think they are so important. If it makes you feel good to be so important in a virtual game world you have way bigger issues

Relax, play the game and have fun!

 

[pixiepal53]

And I am the other friend Fly spoke of.
Fly, as usual you handle situations with more maturity than most, including the person you speak of. I have totally disconnected myself from the situation, since talking to him is like talking to a brick wall. He obviously has issues dealing with people in an adult fashion.

"I sit here and laugh at all the people that think they are so important. If it makes you feel good to be so important in a virtual game world you have way bigger issues"

Exactly!

 

[FlyThenFall]

I admit I have a problem!

Anyways, I felt I needed an outlet for this...I'm done I promise! Anyways it's one of those things that needed to get put out in the open mainly because I drive myself crazy about things like this. There was a reason why I had problems with self-image in middle school, I never really let what I felt out through words (mainly because blowing through a clarinet isn't quite the same thing as writing it out. If this gets closed and/or deleted I'm perfectly A-OK with it...I just needed to let something out...and it's done with!

 

[pixiepal53]

Your "problem", Fly, is totally natural and quite common! Don't sweat it!
MUAH!!!

 

[VegasMonarch]

you're not the one with the problem Fly. he's just jealous. he doesn't want to do the work like you did. he's lazy and mean.

 

[Roxane]

I just met you in the game yesterday and you were very nice to me. I type really slow, so I couldn't really talk to you during pirates. But,I've been reading your posts in the forums and I don't think you have a problem. It's just some people in the game aren't very nice.

RoxaneFF

 

[JeanJoe]

Is it possible to agree with everyone, even people who might not necessarily agree with one another? There's some kind of paradox there. I think people know where I stand on some of these issues, having had a small public explosion myself recently .

Random thoughts, probably not organized or coherent:

- Our self-image and self-esteem should not depend on what others think of us. Well, actually, I'll modify this a little to my personal philosophy: mine is only affected by the opinons of people who I respect. I could not care less what someone who I have no respect for thinks of me; on the contrary, it matters very much to me what people I do respect think.

- as WebmasterAlex and NikkiBell have said, it's just a game. We should enjoy the game, and if we're not, we should change the way we play, or we should choose not to play. One nice thing about a lot of the people here is that they DON'T care what objects or items the others have. There isn't really additional "status" afforded to people who have a rare item. I think this helps us all enjoy the game more.

- that all being said, even if it is a game, I feel that games should be fair, which is what prompted my earlier tirade, much of which I still stand by. If it's going to be a game, have rules, and follow them. Advancement by nepotism / favoritism, acquiring objects of perceived "worth" by having access to special people -- these are all things that happen in real life, but since we're in a game -- keep it out, if possible.

- regarding gifts and birthdays, I too was aware of GBShorts good fortune. She's also aware (and approves) that I sent the following to VMK:

Suggestion: Birthdays!
==============

Some players have been fortunate enough to receive presents when they've said it's their birthday. This is great!

However, I'd like to suggest that each night, when VMK is closed, the database be sweeped, and every character whose birthday it is gets a PM and an item. The item could be completely random, or common, or just a token (not necessarily some coveted item, to reduce the number of mule accounts with fake birthdays).

Why? Two reasons:
1) it's fair; everyone gets a present, not just a lucky few

2) it's safer; players are not allowed to divulge information, like their hometown. It is FAR riskier to reveal a date of birth than what city they live in! The more people who find out that "Hey, if I announce it's my birthday, I'll get a cool gift!", the more people will violate the information rule.

Thank you

- incidentally, by answering cast member trivia (ran into them quite randomly, or they entered the room I was in) I had acquired a limited Tomorrowland pin and a teleportation pin, but more or less gave them away. No big deal, it just seemed the right thing to do. I figure, I'll be in the parks in a few months, and perhaps I'll get another teleportation then; and even if I don't, it's ok. There are times when I think that community leaders should all have a voluntary moratorium on wearing anything that is limited, just to set an example -- on the other hand, I like my bubble helmet.

- while I'm at it, regarding community leaders: there are some who I think were excellent choices. There were others who I can't agree with. I would put myself somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. I wonder whether the "give feedback on community leaders" is being utilized? Probably not, seeing as I haven't been fired yet.

- about posts / threads getting closed and/or deleted: I think most threads on the Dis that get locked have an explanation of why, and it doesn't seem to happen too often. Other posts HAVE mysteriously disappeared, but those mostly have to do with misguided attempts at blackmailing of All Powerful Beings

I admit I have a problem!

Anyways, I felt I needed an outlet for this...I'm done I promise! Anyways it's one of those things that needed to get put out in the open mainly because I drive myself crazy about things like this. There was a reason why I had problems with self-image in middle school, I never really let what I felt out through words (mainly because blowing through a clarinet isn't quite the same thing as writing it out. If this gets closed and/or deleted I'm perfectly A-OK with it...I just needed to let something out...and it's done with!

 

[JeanJoe]

Your "problem", Fly, is totally natural and quite common! Don't sweat it!
MUAH!!!

Hey, are you the Pixiepal? When you introduced yourself on the VMK screen name thread, I wondered... Seems like it, so I'll just off-topic post here: Welcome! And I know that you're the original Muah and its intent, but I still think it's a baby evil cackle. Now if we could only convince Indychick to visit from Intercot...

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Flythenfall I think the biggest thing to remember is that this is a GAME!

It is not real life, your self image and feelings about it should not be dependent on what certain people think. Yavn is not a magic man he is a software developer that was hired to do a job! That is not a put down in any way shape or form just a fact. All of these "community leaders" or people that have stuff aren't any better than anyone else, talk to Bezoar he will be the first one to tell you.

I'm sorry if it hurts anyone's feelings but personally I sit here and laugh at all the people that think they are so important. If it makes you feel good to be so important in a virtual game world you have way bigger issues

Relax, play the game and have fun!

I could not have put it better myself. I really do not understand why so many people are taking VMK as real life. It is scary, to be honest.

 

[Cardinal]

Well, I continued my monologue of the things I'm fustrated with it, and asked my "opponent" to join me in a chat room with some of my friends. He entered the chat room and proceeded to lurk because of the many chat and IM windows he had opened. I never recieved any further answers from him and he left me with even a worse taste in my mouth.

I think at this point I need to make clear what my opinion on this subject is...

* I don't like people who hold themselves higher than the rest of us because of the things they have.

* I don't like people getting defensive when faced with opposition.

* I don't like people attacking others to evade a questions about themselves.

* I don't like people ignoring what I'm saying or refuse to say even a simple "Hi Fly" when I'm taking an active part in a room when they're around.

* I don't like being suddenly left alone in a closing party room because I didn't get a memo through the messages on VMK.

If anything this tells everyone in VMK that it's quite alright to be an exclusive person and to shut yourself from people who have "less" than you because you are being rewarded all the tim. It's also telling me that yes, there is a very exclusive group of people who refuse to talk to the "little people of VMK."

I'm sorry Fly, but I think you are getting carried away by jets piloted by armadillos.
*Why should you care about people with enormously large virtual self esteems and let them lower your real self esteem?
*You are getting a little defensive too.
*Some people don't like being asked questions, and therefore, attack.
*You complained about this in one of your first posts- If you are in a room long enough to be truly active, do you want people to notice you at THAT point?
*Why are you even up that late???

 

[GBShorts]

Whoa there, folks, slow dowh your attack on Fly.

We have spoken with this person OUTSIDE OF THE GAME and he continues to be very rude. He happens to be in "higher places" on other VMK-based sites...and censors what we post.

Imagine us taking away your right to post you think we are over-reacting just because you don't like us!

I personally had almost 30 posts deleted before I decided it was my time to run away.

We don't think VMK is real life. But there are a few of us out there who want to be liked by the world. It's the way we're built, and we can't help it. If someone is mean, even a faceless someone on the internet or VMK, it hurts our feelings.

Please don't mock us because we happen to care what others think of us.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Whoa there, folks, slow dowh your attack on Fly.

We have spoken with this person OUTSIDE OF THE GAME and he continues to be very rude. He happens to be in "higher places" on other VMK-based sites...and censors what we post.

Imagine us taking away your right to post you think we are over-reacting just because you don't like us!

I personally had almost 30 posts deleted before I decided it was my time to run away.

We don't think VMK is real life. But there are a few of us out there who want to be liked by the world. It's the way we're built, and we can't help it. If someone is mean, even a faceless someone on the internet or VMK, it hurts our feelings.

Please don't mock us because we happen to care what others think of us.

Hmm... I do not see anyone "attacking" or "mocking."

 

[pixiepal53]

Hey, are you the Pixiepal? When you introduced yourself on the VMK screen name thread, I wondered... Seems like it, so I'll just off-topic post here: Welcome! And I know that you're the original Muah and its intent, but I still think it's a baby evil cackle. Now if we could only convince Indychick to visit from Intercot...

Yes, this is me in all my glory! LOL Anyway, thanks for the welcome!!
I think Indy has posted here, hasn't she?

 

[pixiepal53]

Hmm... I do not see anyone "attacking" or "mocking."

I think Shorts is referring to the post above by Cardinal. It IS a little on the harsh side (just a tad). Remember that not all of us have thick skins!

And I agree, it is just a game, and should not be taken TOO seriously, but some people like things--even when "only" playing a game--to be as fair as possible to all players. I think that is the jist of what Fly and Bezoar were trying to say.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

ok did I just see clipart with my name on it?

 

[FlyThenFall]

I'm sorry Fly, but I think you are getting carried away by jets piloted by armadillos.
*Why should you care about people with enormously large virtual self esteems and let them lower your real self esteem?

Well, I suppose I care too much and it's probably a character fault on my part. I don't care about them...I care about the environment they're creating on VMK.

*You are getting a little defensive too.

I probably am. Honestly, I'm starting to feel like I have some subconcious problem I need to deal with in real life and it's just starting to appear through VMK. If I am being defensive (which I'm probably quickly becoming) it's up to me to spend some time thinking through what about VMK is making me feel this way and ultimately whether I should resign from my Community Leader post and quit the game.

*Some people don't like being asked questions, and therefore, attack.

I can understand that aspect of human behavior and honestly I don't like it. That's pretty much all I can say about that.

*You complained about this in one of your first posts- If you are in a room long enough to be truly active, do you want people to notice you at THAT point?

Well, I would like to think that I have made some sort of impact on the conversation and that the time I've spent has been spent well. I feel that it's better to get some response out of someone rather than being blown off. Again that may be a character flaw within my own being.

*Why are you even up that late???

I'm a teenager, I'm on summer vacation and honestly I think 10:00 is a reasonable bed time when I can wake up at 10:00 the next morning if I really wanted to. I'm a So Cal kid!

Well, after that I'm starting to become really concerned about how much of real life I'm putting into VMK. I really need to come up to the surface to breathe for a while...and put a little more me into my orchestra rehearsals every morning!

 

[JeanJoe]

OK, deep breaths. Deep cleansing breath in -- hold it -- let it out. Do some yoga stuff too, if you're more flexible than I am. I would just hurt myself.

Fly, you're cool -- as they say on VMK, we heart you

This poor horse carcass. Shall we just leave it alone? Let's make glue. Or maybe hot dogs.

(Of course, if everyone REALLY wanted to, we could continue, and see what it takes to get a thread locked on the Dis, but we don't really need that, do we?)

 

[VegasMonarch]

wow! i didn't know you were a teenager, Fly. you are so well spoken. and as for being up late, what difference does it make anyway? some people (like myself) are night people. others are morning people. and i say let's make hot dogs with it becuase i'm hungry right now.