... be authentic. Expect a ration of shit for it.
So hi, I'm Michael / ChicagoWiz, I play D&D old school style and I'm part of a cantankerous community of RPG blogging bastards, some of which are challenged in the social skills (myself included), so expect to get nailed to wall at some point. Maybe even in extremely painful ways.
I'd advise you to take Raggi's advice to heart. (Yea, imagine me saying THAT. Hell is freezing over.)
#1 - Nobody is your friend (unless you know them as a friend face to face); #2 - they really don't give a fuck about you unless they're your friend; #3 - once you put yourself out there, you're a target; and #4 - expect butthurt when they twist in the knife into the things you care about and put yourself out there about.
#1- #4 are always in effect, but so should your defenses. Don't feel bad if you have to do what you have to do.
The TARGA takedown was a huge kick in the balls and yea, if I ever see the instigator of that shit face to face, probably the first words out of my mouth will be some combination of "fuck", "you" and "asshole" but as far as my participation in the old school blogging/gaming community drama, it's over, done, and I learned my lesson.
As far as someone devoting a blog post to hating your happy ass, been there, done that. Hell, at first I was all up in arms when whats-his-face wrote his little diatribe. I haven't reread it, but it's easy enough find (or he'll be happy to share it with you, I'm sure.)
Now, it's a fucking badge of honor. You can feel the same too. Just be authentic and true to what you feel inside.
And on those days when you're really pissed, just imagine a little bit of this:
20 comments:
Raggi's advice is, sadly, spot-on. I wish it weren't, but it is.
Yes Raggi, despite his cynicism there, is right in what he says. It is unfortunate, but a sad truth, that in any endeavor you undertake, if you manage to attract enough attention and become popular enough, you will eventually stumble upon negativity and oftentimes brutal personal attacks and crticism. Its just the way the world works. I think the important thing to remember, at least where the OSR "community" or "network" or whatever buzzword of the moment is concerned is to keep in mind that, despite how passionately we may feel about gaming, at the end of the day, this is just the freaking internet. The readers of your blogs are mostly going to be strangers to you, who have been brought up in such a way as to have their own ideas on how the games "should be played" and quite often that may differ from your own ideas.
In truth though, for most of us, this is simply a hobby which we really enjoy, and while detractors are always going to be annoying, we should not take everything so personally. This is just the internet, these are just games we are blogging about, and there are more important things to be concerned with than what some dickbag onlne may think of us.
I don't know, one could make a case that the solidaristic closing of ranks around Christian's case would make at least one and two a little over-stated.
I have never met the dude, but I cared that he felt bullied enough to pull the blog.
There is a good deal of truth though in the need to grow a thick skin if you get even a small-sized readership.
Inevitably there will be someone would there who wants to tear down what you are building. Anticipate it.
Thanks for the post, and I think the advice is accurate. The internet does not afford us the opportunity to avoid the maladjusted we would otherwise recognize in person. Sometimes engaging them is interesting in real life, but in the end it usually isn’t. Perhaps the real challenge of the internet is how it can lull us into a false sense of familiarity and letting our mental or emotional guard down sets us up for injury.
Holy hell. I know that girl in the video.
I agree with ckutalik about #1 and #2. I consider Christian a friend. Now it's not the same kind of friendship that you have with someone that lives in the same area as you, but it's a friendship none-the-less. I don't think geographical location should be a part of friendship. If a friend moves away are they no longer your friend? If you haven't seen or talked to them in years are they no longer your friend? I think it's kind of cynical to think otherwise, but hey, everybody's different.
However, I agree that one should have a thick skin if you're going to blog, but that trollish attack blog goes too far. The people that enjoy it are sick.
It's fair you might not agree with my parenthetical comment towards #1, but I still think #1 and #2 are far more true than untrue when it comes to blogging and being "out there."
AC's need to be high! Or you need to have some healing potions to get you back on your feet.
There's absolutely no proof that the info on YDIS, regarding his identity, was accurate. Not that has been put forth, anyway. The same person who claimed to know the truth, accused YDIS of being another person, shortly before he threw the second identity out there. I mention this because if it isn't true, spreading it around is being very unfair to the person you mentioned. And google is forever.
Seems to be more than a fair share of hotheads in the "OSR blogosphere" anyway...which is precisely why I quit really giving a damn about most of their opinions on what's the right way and what's the wrong way to play a game. I mean seriously..it's just a game.
I wondered what ever happened to TARGA. Last I heard they were still in the talk-about mode and most of the talking was about just exactly what in hells their purpose was.
FWIW Wiz, I like your blog and your like-it-or-don't attitude. You have a healthy perspective. Shame it's not contagious.
I'm not in this as much as the rest, I just have a few choice blogs I read.. but this is the second one that referenced this incident. I'm finding that its not just 'blogs' but anytime you put yourself out there on one of the forums. I joined one 'OSR' forum and after 3 posts I could see the trolls hitting the line already and thought 'F this'.. I don't need this shit.. Stay crispy ChicagoWiz..
"Litigiousness", that's the word I was looking for the other day, reading some comments on Zak's and Raggi's blogs. People who constantly engage in disputes, who are incapable of admitting that they are wrong. They are legion, and they have access to the Internet. Worst thing is, if you fight them, they grow stronger. But they're probably the worst enemies of bloggers everywhere.
While I admit to not being a fan of everyone (I am not a fan of Zak's, sorry) there are a couple of ways to handle it; sure, I take a cheap shot from time to time, however I will always be two things (among many), genuine on how I feel, and fair (in time if nothing else). At the end of the day though, even those people that I am not a fan of I do not wish any real harm upon. I snarl, I get in a dig, but I am not looking to see people actually suffering or trying to make their lives miserable, if I take a jab it is because I know that the person will let it roll off their back. We all roll dice for crying out loud.
Apparently, I was looking the other way again. If I'm trying to open a chest, or search a side passageway, and a melee starts without my being aware of it, I'd appreciate you guys letting me know.
I'm way behind on EPs.
Something for all of you to bear in mind is that if you are criticised at one time or another for your publicly expressed views or for how you present yourself online then that criticism just might be valid, be justified, be precise and be honest.
There are many stupid bloggers in the community who think they are very clever. Some of those bloggers are egotists or greedy for fame too. Letting them know they are dumb or uninteresting and have annoying personalities is not trolling.
It is possible to ignore them to some extent but they tend to be the noisiest, most prolific attention seeking bloggers with the most followers.
No, trolling is to provoke a dispute because you think it's funny. Going around telling people that they are stupid for following stupid blogs written by other stupid people is... I really don't know what that's supposed to be.
Balance. Otherwise the Law is praise or be damned an attitude not common outside the kindergarden.
Ok, so it's kind of like a civic duty to enlighten people who might otherwise continue to labor under the misapprehension that they are doing something good? Misled no doubt by false indications like the fact that a lot of people continually tell them so?
The thing about Google is forever is correct. A few people assume, incorrectly, that I'm FASERIP and using that account as a puppet. Pisses me off because I can see in a few instances where they might get that idea so I'll have to work on that issue.
For what its worth, I have enjoyed reading your blog, especially the posts about your various campaigns. It will be a loss to the world if you stop.
I've no idea what happened, because I don't follow the online community closely. But I know that people can sometimes be arseholes. So I'm sorry that happened to you.
Thanks for the good work, and I hope you will continue (or resume sometime).
@Bwian, I'm not stopping blogging. BTDT, and if I need to take a healthy mental break, I do. Thanks for the kind comments.
Post a Comment