May 23, 2010
Was It Something I Said?
Welcome to the communal circle-jerk. What’s a circle-jerk? Well it’s not what you think, at least not in the sense you may be thinking of it. No the circle-jerk I’m talking about is the kind who loves to hear their own voice, repeatedly affirming one’s consent with another persons already expressed opinion. This is, unfortunately, a bit of a problem.
Whenever someone says something that is not part of the norm, or, outside of the viewpoint of the the rest of the community. They get downvoted (as in the case of some sites) or chewed out because they’re not with the circle-jerk, but against it. So, they make their points, and the hivemind of the circle-jerkers proudly walks off content with their victory. Congratulations, you’ve just scared off someone who has an open mind, not a closed one.
This is something I’ve noticed quite a lot lately on social networking. Any disagreements are crossed off, flamed, or essentially told where they can go with their ideas and where to shove it. Admittedly, I’m guilty of some of this. I, too, was part of the circle jerk, but now I’m stepping back and looking at things. It’s taken a couple of individuals, people that some would call “trolls” to really open my mind and eyes to what’s really going on.
I’m not saying everyone has to disagree with everything, what I’m trying to say is that maybe some folks should start thinking outside the box, and actually look at what others are saying before telling them where to get off. I mean agreeing to disagree is something else. There’s quite a few things I agree on, and quite a few things I disagree on. Those that disagree tend to be like myself, and because we don’t want conflict, we tend to be silent, because others will flame us for not being part of the collective. Do we all have to be part of the hivemind? Do we all have to be essentially brainwashed into agreeing with everything that’s said?
That said, I’ve got a confession to make. I don’t play WoW. There, I said it. If you’re following me on twitter because of the WoW pic and what not, I’m sorry, but I haven’t touched WoW in quite a while. Something like 8-9 months ago. “But you follow WoW people, and you’ve got a list of them.” Yes, I do. I like reading some people’s blogs and especially the RPers posts. Since I roleplay often, I enjoy reading other’s adventures. I also like to see what’s going on, where classes are headed. I try to keep an open mind though, especially when it comes down to the whole talent trees and which talents are useful and useless. I like to keep informed about some things. Just because I don’t play, doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention, or that I don’t RT some blogs when they make a post because I feel it needs to be shared. Sharing is caring, right?
I’m not sure I’m liking the direction of Cataclysm. While I understand that almost every MMO out there has copied something from another, to the point where very few are unique, I still have high hopes for a game that’s played by 11 million people. Maybe I just have high expectations. Sorry folks, I’m stepping outside of the circlejerk. I’m not fond of Cataclysm. I think I’ll quote someone I’ve been following, “how can you possibly follow up the Story of Arthas Menethil, one of the most tragic characters in gaming history with Deathwing, one of the most cliche concepts in ALL realms of fantasy? Evil black dragon bent on destruction? Been there, done that. I’m worried for Cataclysm.” He is right, I mean, since the announcement I’ve been thinking it’s more like it’s straight out of Dragonlance.
Maybe it’s just that I’ve read far too many science fiction and fantasy novels for my own good, but honestly I half expected Blizzard to expand more on Arthas. I suppose there’s only so much. Some of the other details I’ve heard about it, at least lore wise, have not impressed me. There are skills and talents, as far as classes go, that I’m interested in. I’m not so crazy about the races either. I’d rather the goblins stay neutral. That’s just me.
At any rate, I believe I will step out of the circlejerk and take a look at what’s going on. I will still follow the cataclysm updates, because I want to know what’s up with the lore and the like, but I’m not up for looking at the landscapes yet. I don’t know if I will return to WoW once things in my life are straightened out, but for now, I’d like to keep my wait and see attitude, and post up some funny and interesting things I find over the internet for the amusement of others.
Aside from that, there’s one more thing I’d like to address. The controlling. Yeah sure, everyone has some part of their personality that has some sort of controlling issue with it. They’re the ones whom, I feel, are the start of the circlejerk. They’re the ones who can’t take criticism, can’t deal with the differences in opinion, and the ones armed with the flamethrowers, insults and name calling. they’re quick to judge, but they don’t like to be called out. They usually end up setting themselves up to be trolled, or usually, they can also be the trolls.
In short, while this may seem like it’s one huge rant, I’m just trying to essentially say that it might be better to think outside the box, think outside the hivemind. You don’t need to go around attacking people for their opinions and such, you can be more of an adult about things, but maybe, I just don’t see people the way others do. I prefer to stay out of the circlejerk, thanks. There’s things I agree on, but there’s things I disagree with. However, its the circlejerkers and the collective hivemind that prevent some of us from saying things.
May 4, 2010
Sometimes You Just Don’t Have Words
I’ve always considered myself to be a nice, well-rounded, honest, trustworthy, and friendly person overall. I rarely get into arguements. I tend to keep to myself and not voice my opinion, even when I know something is wrong. However, one thing that I tend to do is focus on the negative, and shove things and people away that I think there’s no reason for me to help, or nothing I can do. All I truly have, at least over the internet and phone, is words.
Words are powerful things, as I’ve been learning since a small child. All of us learn this. It’s just how we use our words that brings them more into focus. Many people in this world are sensitive, some more than others. This is another one of my problems. Communication, and forming the words. I, like most people, have this innate fear that I will say something that will make people like me less. So, most of the time, while I want to say something, I don’t. I tend to just say, “yeah, okay.” or “Indeed.” or “I understand.” to somethings where I actually don’t agree or don’t understand. I feel as though I’m walking on eggshells.
Recently, I’ve come to understand that my lack of communication is a huge problem. It’s cost me a few friendships, some relationships, and caused me more stress than I should really have. Truth be told, I hold many things back. I don’t want to bore or depress anyone with the sort of things that have happened in my life. I don’t want to annoy people with that sort. No, that was the old Al. That was the Al who used to really be emotional, and essentially cry out for attention, as best as I could by playing victim. I got over that and grew up. Now, I’m seeing things from another perspective. One I never even knew existed until now. It’s as if, as some people may say, I’ve found God.
Maybe I have. Maybe it is his design, his will, his interference that is teaching me, or it’s something else, like another reason that I just don’t have words for. In any case, whatever the driving force is, I’ve made some realizations, and understandings. I don’t have to voice my opinion if I don’t want to, but instead, if I see someone struggling, someone having trouble, I should extend my hand out and be more of a supporting figure. My ignorance has gone too far, and only now do I realize too late, that instead of turning my back, I should have offered my hand.
Words are powerful. Sometimes, I have a hard time conveying them, and saying how I feel because I am afraid of what the other person may do. Perhaps it’s time I stopped, and started opening myself up more and more to the people I care about. I’ve been working on the negative side of myself and focusing more on the positive. I only hope that I can voice this to others on my facebook and twitter and help them be as positive as they can be, even if their day is going bad. I suppose, that’s the other reason I tend to be such a goof, and post videos and music. I only hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.
Aside from that, it’s keeping an open mind that has made me able to accept so much. I don’t turn a blind eye to everything, but I’ve always believed that people should have the right to express their views and beliefs without too much negative criticism, stereotyping, or bigotry.
In short, for those who are like, tl;dr and such. Communication is a problem that many of us have troubles with, and at some point in our lives we have to deal with it and face the facts. We can’t continue to dwell on it, we have to move forward and understand that we’ve made an error. Only when we realize that we’ve made a mistake is when we need to learn how to correct it. That said, more people need to be positive to themselves and each other and not be so closed minded.
I tend to ramble, but maybe someone out there understood what I’m trying to convey.
January 28, 2010
The Crossover of Strangeness
This blog originally started as a World of Wacraft roleplaying thing. It’s gone from World of Warcraft to whatever I feel like putting in here. Most of the people I used to play WoW with have moved on. Either they found new games to play, new servers to play on, or just dropped World of Warcraft altogether. For a while I actually considered dropping World of Warcraft altogether too, but then again, I like it too much.
I can’t just unfollow the 200 – 300+ World of Warcrafters I follow on Twitter and pretend WoW doesn’t exist. If I did that, I’d have to get rid of all my books and the trading cards I own. I simply can’t let it go. It’s everywhere, whether I choose to ignore it or not.
A couple of friends wanted to continue the RP we had started and continue it on messengers. If you’re wondering how that went, it didn’t. It was done one day, and then I got a barrage of excuses. I’m still holding on faith that maybe it could continue, but I’m starting to highly doubt it. It made me sad. I had my hopes up and then my hopes have been dropped again.
I joined RPoL when a couple of friends and their friends came up with another roleplay, but then that seemed to fizzle and die too. So when a friend of mine, seeking a new roleplay to do asked me to come up with something for just me and them, I did. A random, out of this world roleplay ever: a crossover. Since we’d RPed in WoW together and had a great time doing so, as well as messing up the Lore, and bending it every which way. I decided it was time to open up this can of worms and start something.
I’d already had plans for some more than interesting machinima videos with inter-game fun, but this was different. This was my story. This was something I’d written, something I’ve been working on for years as part of a series of novels (which may never see publication, but who knows). I decided the character that my friend played would simply be integrated into my world. Fun ensues.
Crossovers are normally done in fanfiction, I don’t know of too many that do crossovers in roleplay. I have heard of a Forgotten Realms mixed with WoW roleplay, not sure how that’s going, but I’m hoping those guys are having fun. I could be wrong here, but I honestly think that in some cases, it should be alright to bend the rules and make things far more funner by doing so. If anything, it creates something new and refreshing, I think. Crossovers should happen more often, you never know what will happen. It’s a little different, a little weird, but it makes for something less dull and uninteresting.
So, for the time being, since I cannot play WoW, I will revel in the RP I have made. My friend’s character is totally at my mercy as “Dungeon Master”. This makes me smile, in both a wicked way and also with real happiness.
December 16, 2009
Machinima Holiday Songs
Ah Christmas. I can’t think of any better time for good food, family and song. That’s what this is all about, song. These are the machinimas that are on my playlist for Christmas.
In no particular order:
Chiron Beta Prime – Spiffworld
I always welcome something different and I happen to enjoy Spiffworld’s machinima and Jonathan Coulton’s songs. I enjoy this for it’s originality.
He Will Redeem Us – Selserene
Haunting melody, this one tends to get overlooked for more “happier” tunes. Also I do love the Blood Elves.
12 Days of Winter’s Veil – Oxhorn
It wouldn’t be Christmas without 12 Days of Christmas er, I mean, Winter’s Veil.
Podsafe Christmas Song – Spiffworld
This reminds me of the 3 chipmunks and maybe that’s what I like about it. This one doesn’t get mentioned often but I like it.
Hark Hear the Wails – Oxhorn
I like this only because I sang the real version of this song for Christmas way back in High School.
12 Days of Christmas – Starcraft
Love it.
Special Mention:
To Home For Christmas – Baron Soosdon
The song may not be Christmas, but the theme is and I adore Baron’s cinematography.
To all you machinimators out there, I’ve been wondering about if anyone would make some machinma’s to other, shall we say, non-traditional songs, such as “Holy Shit It’s Christmas” by Red Peters, “The 12 Days After Christmas”, “You’re a Mean One”, as well as your own mixes to old traditional ones. Come on guys, I’m sure you can do it. Give it a shot for something different this holiday.
