Curse

Dylananimus · Mar 12, 2008, 03:54 AM // 03:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellardweller

My guild is both racist (Aus/NZ only) and Agist (30+) - we find that subscribing to these prejudices eliminates every other social problem commonly found in online communities.

That's not racism, that's xenophobia

I'm sure there are plenty of different types of races in both Oz an New Zealand

Snow Bunny · Mar 12, 2008, 03:54 AM // 03:54

To be quite truthful, for some reason, I tend to see the dregs of society manifest in online games on a much larger basis than in real life.

You find young kids, lots of angry people, lots of racists, bigots.

I was in one alliance where people used to compare who had the lowest GPA. It was all a riot to them. It's one thing if you can't do well despite you working at it. It's quite another to simply blow it off, get D's, and then spend the rest of your day spamming a/c with stuff like "Yeah man, these nubs are so RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing gay"

Racial insults, sexual insults, misogyny, general bigotry, it all abounds here. You have people, with reasons for better or for worse, with lots of time on their hands, as well as absolute anonymity. It's just a bad combination

Redfeather1975 · Mar 12, 2008, 03:56 AM // 03:56

Maybe it's because people who get along with other people tend to be out with other people rather than playing games.
I'm not saying everyone playing the game can't get along with other people in real life, but the people who can't get along with other people in real life...where could they spend their time without getting lonely? In a game! XD

StormDragonZ · Mar 12, 2008, 04:02 AM // 04:02

I still try my best to explain to people that since I have Protector of Tyria and Cantha on 5 different characters (4 if imply to Protector of Elona too) that I know what to do for every mission.

I always tell people I'm a noob... and if you do worse than me, then sadly, you're worse than a noob.

Miska Bow · Mar 12, 2008, 04:02 AM // 04:02

I tend to keep my RL safely behind my firewall. My guildies and allies know little about me except for a few that i got to know over time. Most know a bit about me in general, but my beliefs and conviction i mostly keep to myself.

That keeps the problems away.

HawkofStorms · Mar 12, 2008, 04:05 AM // 04:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellardweller

My guild is both racist (Aus/NZ only) and Agist (30+) - we find that subscribing to these prejudices eliminates every other social problem commonly found in online communities.

Well.. "discriminating" by region almost makes sense. You want to make sure the people in your guild are in the same general time zone so you can group up for stuff.

Aera Lure · Mar 12, 2008, 04:16 AM // 04:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kusandaa

Have you ever been rejected from a guild or a group because of your IRL situation? Ethnicity, sexual orientation, language spoken and such...

No, I havent. Nor have I seen anything of that sort in the two guilds I have been in - my current or my former.

In my former guild I was an officer and part of the circle that reviewed applications to the guild. We never voted anyone down for any reason like that. Typically someone might fail to have gotten in on counts of immaturity, incomplete application, issues of attitude during interview. These kinds of things. We had to have an application and interview process, as during our heyday we had far more applicants than we knew what to do with.

As for my view generally, I spent all my time in a couple games previous to GW earning the friendship of Japanese gamers and playing with them, being taught some Japanese, picking up what I could, being patient with those that were uncomfortable with English but willing to give it a try as it was better than my Japanese. The friends I made and the fun I had. Played off times as most of my contacts in games were all in Japan. So anyway, I love the ability to meet and play with gamers from all over. We have a common bond, and one that can overcome a language barrier if two or more people are willing to be patient. It was so rewarding, and made it seem like so much more than a game.

I did it in Guild Wars too, now that I recall my AB days when I was adopted by a French faction guild as their monk on call. I received many compliments and simply always got messaged to come and play, despite my knowing little French and they little English. As before with Japan, loved it. That went on for months until I retired from AB. More gaming experiences like this, please.

I can understand the language barrier thing seeming too hard a hurdle to bother with for many people. There was a great translator in the previous game so you could say a number of basic game-related and social things in any language. That helped, but to really make any progress you had to honestly try the language cold turkey. My experience was if you at least tried, you made a friend.

Any form of discrimination is in my view prehistoric and reprehensible. Like I say, I can understand people maybe not wanting to try and work through language issues if there isnt a common language involved (I do recommend trying), but ethnic, sex or any of the others? Come on. No excuse for that.

Edit: I can understand discrimination by region or even age, but my previous guild with all the applicants didnt support it at all. We had at one time people from the US, EU, AU, Russia, the Phillipines. Apologies if I forgot any of you.

Youngest was 13 if I recall, and a very mature 13 I might add.

creelie · Mar 12, 2008, 04:18 AM // 04:18

Stereotypes affect me in GW by making me abhor strangers. My guild is large, but new members must jump through numerous hoops in order to be allowed to stay, and this filters out troglodytes pretty successfully. The end result is I always have people to group with, and if I'm doing easy stuff with H/H I have people to talk to in chat.

The last time I read or said anything in local chat was when I was running CoF on the double rep weekend, and that was the first time in weeks if not months. I have no interest in the GW community at large.

Noel Hope · Mar 12, 2008, 04:24 AM // 04:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehlemming

I assume that all girls are bad at warrior.

I've yet to be disproven.

There's such a thing as a "good" warrior?

*Gasp* Where!? ;p

-Sonata- · Mar 12, 2008, 04:26 AM // 04:26

I've seen far too many stereotyping in online games. It's at a point now where I just shake my head and wonder why people can't just have fun, other than using the excuse "Making fun of others IS fun".

I've only been a victim of such a few times over the years. That includes being guild booted, but it's Nothing significant that bothers me, or causes me to hold on to that memory for very long. The one thing that I get the most attention from is the fact that, with my characters, I do "role play" them in their diction, their dialogue, and mannerisms. I do it because it adds a different element to playing the game.

When I'm asked "Why?", my usual reply is "Why not?". I'm told it's dumb, retarded, childish, lame, etc. However, to mimic the majority of a gaming playerbase that uses net slang in every sentence, or can't take a breath without yelling "noob", why would I want to be like everyone else? If I wanted to be "Me", I'd just sign into a Yahoo Chat Room and start posting "A/S/L???".

If there is one trait about myself, RL, that I do bring with me in game, is that in real life I hold myself to high standards in conduct.

I don't whine and moan if my lunch order got screwed up. I was young once too and I worked on that "other side" of the counter. I know what it's like to get yelled at over a silly item like a food order. Nowadays, in my adulthood, I just say "It's quite Ok, it's no big deal", which is true...it isn't. It's just food. It's not like "Whoops, we took out your kidney instead of your appendix!". So if Anet makes a screwup, or someone in a team makes a mistake, I'll be at the back of the "complaint" line. It's not the end of the world. There are things in life that have greater meaning.

I don't randomly yell at people in real life, or make fun of others. Why would I? So I can add to the already large ball of hate in the world? No thanks. Bombings, kidnappings, school shootings, murders, wars; all products of intolerence. That's not something I really feel like adding to.

When I'm in another persons house, I respect their house & their rules. I follow that logic when I'm in Guild Wars.

But everything else, when I'm in game, is a creation of fiction for my character. That's how I started it, that's how it will always be.

Other reasons why I keep my RL out of games is because it avoids people who bring RL conflicts into the game and try to use my real life to start a conflict with me. Sure, my real life friends who I game with know who I am outside the game, but to others; I will never discuss my work, or where I'm from. If I'm asked where I'm from, I'll say Ascalon, which is true. Guild Wars is a world of magic and fiction; to become someone I'm not, create a character that's written by me. Guild Wars isn't a world where I enter to pay bills, answer the phone, run errands, meet deadlines, worry about dinner, and be "Me".

Do I get a lot of mouthy responses for playing this way? Absolutely. I'm sure I may get some of the usual replies, I've gotten in game, right here in this thread. In the end though I don't let it bother me.

So have I been involved in the stereotypes of online gaming? Yes, but not for my real age, or who I am behind this computer in regards to nationality, gender, etc. My source is because of who I create in the game world and the character that is written.

Aera Lure · Mar 12, 2008, 04:27 AM // 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehlemming

I assume that all girls are bad at warrior.

I've yet to be disproven.

Haha. Untrue my friend. Wish I could "prove" it for you, but alas she is no longer playing.

Master Sword Keeper · Mar 12, 2008, 04:40 AM // 04:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylananimus

That's not racism, that's xenophobia

I'm sure there are plenty of different types of races in both Oz an New Zealand

very much you have to learn little one. There are MANY different races in AUS... (in some cases I wish there wasnt)

But in any circumstance... I was in a guild that only allowed Aussies... and sometimes the occasional british or Kiwi (maori).

Now i'm in a guild that has many different origins and both sex's. We have girls and blokes who can play hardcore.

Oh yea the biggest discrimination act that has blackened Gw's...is not anything to do with race,colour or religion... it is one skill, one blessing.

We all know what it is...and that's the only good reason to complain.

Nuff sed,

garethporlest18 · Mar 12, 2008, 04:49 AM // 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Lozza

Pandora, Rednova - this is not meant as a dig, but I really have to ask what is your stance on non-christians getting kicked from a christian guild?

I will not surmise under what misapprehensions people were under when you got kicked. I will not debate bad behaviour of anyone else towards you because of your faith. However the debate regarding guilds of "religious" bent has come up before and many people have debated the right to be in a guild with "like-minded" individuals. To suggest then that a guild non-religious in nature should accept those of a/any faith into their midst is a slight double standard.

Take the OP. He is openly homosexual. He'd be like a fish-out-of-water in a conservative guild. He'd possibly feel uncomfortable, and they'd definately feel uncomfortable. And while I think they need to get over it, freedom of religion (above all else) gives them the right to be as discriminatory as they wish (without descending into abuse) because their religion states that he is "evil" and no one can prevent them from following the edicts of their religion - provided it does not include illegal activities.

I suppose what I'm saying is that it is hard to balance religion (not faith) and freedom of expression. And many people simply believe that faith and religion are the same thing. It has little to do with education. People are not (always) stupid or dumb for fearing that a "christain" is likely to be a problem in a more liberal guild. What is has to do with is perception. People of sense will accept those who don't show adversion to their own principles - birds of a feather flock together.

Of your particular circumstances, I certainly cannot comment. But perhaps this is some food for thought.

The stero-type that gets me is the "ghay" one because everyone knows that "ghay is like... like bad".

I'm in Xander(OP)'s guild and I'm Christian and I have no problem with him. Just a brief statement on that whole entire thing. Christians should know that while being homosexual is evil in our religion so are we in nearly everything we do. That's the way I view it at least.

As for my own experiences, I've been told I have no life and that I can't have the body (not that it's great) that I do cause I play this game all the time (not all the time!).

jonnieboi05 · Mar 12, 2008, 04:51 AM // 04:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noel Hope

There's such a thing as a "good" warrior?
*Gasp* Where!? ;p

HEY! i find that offensive

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Sword Keeper

Oh yea the biggest discrimination act that has blackened Gw's...is not anything to do with race,colour or religion... it is one skill, one blessing.

oh god xD let's not make this about ursan

Dylananimus · Mar 12, 2008, 04:55 AM // 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Sword Keeper

There are MANY different races in AUS... (in some cases I wish there wasnt)

That was my point

hehe

Though wishing for less racial diversity is not something I'm personally partial to.

Master Ketsu · Mar 12, 2008, 04:59 AM // 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehlemming

I assume that all girls are bad at warrior.

I've yet to be disproven.

Normally I would call that a silly but ignorant stereotype, but this made me LOL.

My roomate's girlfriend plays Warrior and fails at it horribly ( cant even use t3h 1337 mending right. Half the time she will cast it on some rangers pet. ) . She is also beyond suicidal.... I feel sorry for any monk who is foolish enough to get her as a PUG.

But Im sure there has to be at least one good female IRL warrior out there....somewhere....

eeks · Mar 12, 2008, 05:00 AM // 05:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Sword Keeper

very much you have to learn little one. There are MANY different races in AUS... (in some cases I wish there wasnt)

You don't like the multiculturism here?

DarkFlame · Mar 12, 2008, 05:02 AM // 05:02

You know, I remember a little while back there was this one poster on Guru. Every other thread he responded in or started was talking about how he got into these big epic flame wars on All Chat or getting nasty pms or was constantly being discriminated against and kicked from groups. His reason was because he was gay. The question I have to ask and others did at the time, was how does that one topic come up and come up so very often for that poster? I know that sometimes, things can't exactly be hidden(like English not being their primary language), but do some players really have to go around shouting their private life in other people's faces all the time?

I think the majority of the GW community is tolerable of a lot of things but just not necessarily comfortable discussing them. If a player starts rubbing it in their faces and refuses to drop that subject, they are going to get some hostile reactions. If we are seeing such hostile reactions often, its just because the vocal minority such as that above mention poster and just so, well vocal. I'm in no way saying people should hide things about themselves like its something to be ashamed of. I'm just saying these are not things that come up in normal conversation or in gameplay, so there shouldn't ever be a need to bring them up. Do so after you've all decided to guild up and become friends, not to total random strangers you've grouped with for all of two seconds.

I for one, don't care what their race, age, religion, gender, orientation, titles, etc is/are. My only criteria for grouping with someone is that they play well and act mature. But if they start bringing something up over and over again, guess what? They're ruining my game experience and I don't need that.

*Edit Hmm, wonders if the poster(whom I've forgotten by now) mentioned above is in this thread now. Anyway, its not meant as a flame so don't take it that way. I'm just ordering my thoughts and using that as a segue way.

pamelf · Mar 12, 2008, 05:07 AM // 05:07

I never talk about my real life with people in game i don't know. My guild are all very friendly, and although we've never met irl we talk about how our weeks have been etc. Why the hell would I tell a PUG anything about my personal life which is none of their business. I can tell them what i've done IG becasue that's the only thing that affects them. People online are immature, we all know that. Solution: don't talk about your real life with people you don't know. Online safety 101.

**cosyfiep** · Mar 12, 2008, 05:16 AM // 05:16

I notice I treat online just like real life---I dont go out of my way to do harm, I usually just go about my own business; however sometime I need help of others so I ask (in game pug)...

Most of the rest of the time I try to ignore the world (and have chat and trade etc turned off)....

I treat people as I wished to be treated---if you are rude to me, then you wish me to be rude back????? My momma taught me better than that. Unless words get a bit too rude or insulting I let it roll---if it gets really bad then /report.

I have no guild problems per se since I have been in the same guild since I started playing (uhm, no choice---its my spouses)...though I DO get a lot of people totally amazed that a WOMAN can play, e gads people....I can mulitask at work, hitting c+space bar inst going to be much harder

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