Why I Decided to Become an Elitist

[mero-ix]

I don't care how elitist or not a player is, just leave the attitude behind. Regardless of how skilled a player is, I'm not going to stay just to listen to them bitch and moan. I help people out all the time to clear content, but I'm going to lose patience if they start getting offended at me offering advice and can't take constructive criticism. A lot of people forget we're all just playing a game and it's meant to be fun. If you're not laughing while wiping then you're doing it wrong.

[Luvbunny]

Watching a guide and doing it - two different things, BUT a good player will recover fast and understand quickly what must be done within a couple of runs - and should be able to not constantly wipes over and over. The biggest problem with FF14 players - almost half of them have no clue how to properly play their classes, and don't even make any effort to actually LEARN how to play your class effectively. Let alone learning how to dodge, and memorize the seemingly random boss move sets. I don't find wiping to the same "easy to avoid" mechanic over and over = FUN. And you don't need 100 runs to be at least decent. At most maybe 10-15 runs.

[Kumabear76]

OP has made a strong argument, one that I read over and over, just take make sure I wasn't misinterpreting. I really only want to add one little note:

"Elitism" as it is used in our gaming world, isn't truly defined by the actual textbook definition. It has taken on a different, more extreme form in our community. Here, I see "elitism" as not just being superior to others, but taking every opportunity to remind everyone else how superior you are. Whether it's bragging, or putting down others who don't meet your expectations, the attitude of superiority is what "elitism" has become known for.

What the OP describes is more akin to a "veteran", I think. As one poster mentioned before, many veterans can become fatigued with other players lack of skill. Heck, I'm one of them. But a veteran doesn't feel the need to gloat to or berate others.

TL: DR - You can be good at a game and not have to brag or criticize everyone else. When you do, you become the new definition of "elitist."

[Skivvy]

Yes, my boredom knows no bounds today! My work computer is down, and so I have a lot of time on my hands ATM.

"Yeah, PLD Stoneskin is great. I can buff up everyone during 'downtime.'"

So you're comparing your time as a PLD in Titan to that of a healer or any other job that is more demanding? New players who are playing any other job will have a more challenging time. I'm hoping you understand this.

But then you join these groups and the people have never done it and they all die. You see 4 people carrying the other 4 and the 4 that keep on dying seem totally fine with this. They laugh, they joke, they're having a great time (losing is super fun!)

This is a game that people play for fun. Should they not try and enjoy themselves? I find wipes to be pretty entertaining..to a point. If it's obvious they're trying, and still able to joke around after a wipe, kudos to them. If they're not even trying and just screwing around, I don't think anyone would fault them for being annoyed and leaving.

And the 4 good players don't say anything. They're trying to be nice, they think they can still get it done (higher ilevel, echo, luck, whatever). Then the group loses when the boss is at like 5% and the 4 who died ages ago are like "You should've used LB. You should've drank a potion. You should've won SOMEHOW, even though we haven't contributed like AT ALL."

Everyone's experience is different, so this is a load of rubbish. You type this as if it's how it happens 98% of the time, and it's totally not.

Dictionary.com: Elitist - a person or class of person considered superior by others or by themselves.

I find it interesting that you try and post this as if it's used in a positive way. Did you look at the examples provided on dictionary.com? "elitist country clubbers who have theirs and don't care about anybody else.", "He lost a congressional race in Texas by being smeared as an Eastern elitist." It's not a positive thing. Being ELITE is completely different beast and probably what you're trying to stretch for. An elitist is a person that thinks he is better than everyone else and looks down their nose at all the others.

But apparently, some players do not want superior players in their game.

I'm reading high levels of hyperbole here! Abort! Abort!

Only I don't think this is really true.

Oh phew, but why type it in the first place?

Yet these players come to the forums and post things like: "PF groups want experienced players only. People disband after 2 wipes. I got kicked because I said I was new. Players flipped out because they saw the soldiery bonus."

This is not a matter of someone running into a group of elitists. This is just someone who couldn't read and/or thinks they should be allowed into all groups. Stupidity and entitlement are things that can be found in all groups.

And that brings me back to my point about elitism. Just a moment ago I said that I didn't think players are really mad that elitists exist. Now let me tell you what I do think some players are mad about. They're mad that elitists just don't want to help them.

I'd venture a guess and say they're more upset about elitists being assholes to them when they don't meet the other person's standards.

So what happens? Players form their own cliques to maximize their fun and minimize their frustrations. And so the transformation to elitist is complete.

There is nothing wrong with running with your own circle. PF groups asking for certain requirements is not a bad thing. When you group with random people through DF and proceed to berate them when things go south? That's the problem. Things can be frustrating, of course, but it's those situations that will show your true colors.

The point of all this is that we call people "elitists" as though it is a bad thing (and certainly name-calling and putting down others is a bad thing). But striving to be the best and picking a winning team are natural parts of MMO culture (and many other games, even the game of life).

Again, the term that you're looking for is "elite" player which is vastly different from an "elitist" player.

Some players don't care about improving. They make up rules like: "I won't watch a guide" and "I can join PFs that explicitly ask for experienced players only."

And plenty of players DO care about improving. What's your point? If inexperienced people are joining PFs specifically asking for experienced players, then of course they're in the wrong. I don't think anyone is arguing that.

I'm not here to preach how easy this game is (it's not easy if you don't do those things above). I just want to offer a different way of looking at so-called elitism: as a mindset that is not okay with mediocrity, not just in others, but in one's self as well.

Sigh. Elite player ≠ an elitist.

Yes, FFXIV is just a game but while you're telling yourself that, I'll be off killing more primals (and updating my stock portfolio in between Titan's jumps)

And signing off with a subtle jab. Interesting choice of closings for someone who is trying to sell the general public that "Elitists" are a swell group of well-meaning players.

[VanilleFang]

It's more the perceived attitude of elitists rather than elitists themselves that is despised.

[gorezilla1]

Seriuosly? Believe it or not there aren't guides to everything and let's not forget that up until steps came out the only thing a person really needed 95% of the time is stay out of bad and kill adds.

Some people take LFG way to Seriuosly. Pugs are pugs and stupid stuff is gonna happen.

I suspect you didn't really understand my point or are ignoring it all together. Either way, meh.

[Parapluies]

yep most people just get mad at other because they dont want to carry their ass.

[ExiaQuanta]

this was a pretty good read.

But then you join these groups and the people have never done it and they all die. You see 4 people carrying the other 4 and the 4 that keep on dying seem totally fine with this. They laugh, they joke, they're having a great time (losing is super fun!)

And the 4 good players don't say anything. They're trying to be nice, they think they can still get it done (higher ilevel, echo, luck, whatever). Then the group loses when the boss is at like 5% and the 4 who died ages ago are like "You should've used LB. You should've drank a potion. You should've won SOMEHOW, even though we haven't contributed like AT ALL."

Then the good players get tired, they feel their frustration mounting. Maybe they lash out, maybe they just leave. The carried players, still unable to get their clears come to the forums and post things like: "Increase penalty timer for leaving an instance. Community is toxic. I can't get a group. Nerf this fight. Game is full of elitists."

Especially this ^

[Ashman]

I logged in JUST to like the OP and logging into OF is quite rare for me. I think you summed up the reasons behind the rifts in the community perfectly. It's almost like the working class, and the government assistance abusers in America. One group feels entitled to the same lifestyle as the other while putting forth none of the work required, while the other gets sick of supporting those who will do nothing to change their position.

I think you're mistaking the elitism we all know and abhor for simply being good. There are a growing number of players who refuse to play with anyone who isn't on their level.

I have several friends whom I care about very deeply but when they ask for help I know for a fact they're going to still (after months of content being out) have put forth absolutely no effort into getting up to speed. I don't mean "they haven't logged 50 hours reading guides and watching videos". I mean they haven't even said "hey can someone explain this mechanic to me".... in the MONTHS the content has been out and they've been sitting in social shells complaining about A) they can't ever get anything accomplished and B) there's no one talking when they're on (literally the only two things they'll say).

Then if i do go insofar as to actually be guilted into helping these people. They will completely not listen to anything I try to tell them (sorry i wasnt paying attention to your briefing), or worse yet: "eh, its old content so i dont need to learn it".

THESE are people I know and give a "care" about. Somehow, the community expects me to go above and beyond and carebear some random with the same sense of entitlement? I think the "abhorant elitests" might make up 3-5% of the "people who try" whereas the "entitled carry me's" make up double digit percents of the "casual community". THAT is a much broader brush and I don't appreciate all the devil's advocates enabling excuses by implying the OP is just generalizing.

[Magis]

I logged in JUST to like the OP and logging into OF is quite rare for me. I think you summed up the reasons behind the rifts in the community perfectly. It's almost like the working class, and the government assistance abusers in America. One group feels entitled to the same lifestyle as the other while putting forth none of the work required, while the other gets sick of supporting those who will do nothing to change their position.



*editing*

Please let's refrain from comparing this to IRL politics. This can get into a slapfight as it is, don't need an actual issue in the mix.