Why I Decided to Become an Elitist

[Skivvy]

The only negative connotations I see in your text are the examples in which the word is used in. I see no sign that elitism is bad in the core definitions themselves - we as people associate it with a negative connotation because we've been influenced to think that way (elite = bad and everyone should be equal and all that).

Dictionary authors aren't unbiased.

Fair enough with the descriptions But for the record, I do NOT think being elite is bad. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being the best at what you do. Being an elitist (per my idea of the word), is horrible.

I would say that in a gaming community, it is widely accepted that elitist is used in a negative way. Perhaps it is my own personal bias, but in my 10+ years of MMOs, I have never once heard that term used in a positive way until this thread.

I do think this thread could have gone a different way if more accurate terms were used (as well as cutting out all the embellishments and strawmen), but alas, here we are.

[Intaki]

So all this begs the question: why has no public official ever run on a platform of being an elitist, using that word specifically to promote their campaign and themselves?

If the word is truly neutral (in that it can be positive or negative), why has it never been utilized in any meaningful positive fashion?

[Magusrex]

Let me guess, you people would LOVE the ban on DPS meters lifted so you could belittle and kick out DPSers who are not up to par wih your expectations of how much DPS a player is supposed to be doing.

You people are spinning everything and choosing not to hear. DPS meters and Parses are excellent tools, that when used properly, can improve you personally and help you figure out what went wrong and or right in a group/raid. It is data, the more of it you have the better it gets. Yes an individual parse or meter can produce some bad data, but over time when you collect enough it is highly helpful in hands of someone who knows how to analyze it. I enjoy analyzing data. I have a hard time understanding people who do not want to improve or do not care about their performance when they part of a team assembled for the sole purpose of competing content. When you do these things alone, go willy nilly, who cares.

I come from a heavy team sports background. My desire to improve and perform at the highest level I am capable of comes from a place of not wanting to let my teammates down. I really do not care for personal glory, I want us win sure, but the thing that's drives me, and always has, is not letting others down. I feel like that the people many of you insult calling them elite feel the same as I do. People like us have a VERY hard time understanding people who don't care about their own performance that sign up as part of a team to accomplish a common goal.

As a matter of fact, other not showing up, the worst thing you can do to your teammates is to show up unprepared. The best teams I have been a part of loved each other so much that the thought of letting them down was too much to bear it made you want to be the very best you could be. That's the crux of it for us, we study, research and try to do our very best BECAUSE WE DON"T WANT TO LET YOU DOWN. When you come off with an attitude of, I don't care, it's DF, deal with it, can you really be shocked that people that feel as we do get upset with you? Are you really that obtuse?

[Kedemonos]

Elitism should be associated with a positive connotation. It just blatantly means a person that puts a great deal of effort or are genuinely talented. Everyone plays a game for a reason, to complete it, have a good time, for the story, etc.

I am a "hardcore" elitist myself. I strive to get things accomplished first and set aside obstacles that would get in the way. After having finished my goal, I do not forsake the people who had supported me along the way. I go back to teach and assist, an example of what a free company static should do. In addition to non-personal people, I had offered sale runs that would allow the ability to "bypass" content in the game so that they could participate in the current patch. I have taken people in from PF with a pre-made group of 7 just to assist them with a Turn 5 or Turn 9 kill for no charge, because everyone knows how it feels to suffer through content.

[Kedemonos]

I am guilty of having people run into the death walls in turn 5, turn 9, and turn 13 so that we could guarantee them the kill. Sometimes, everyone just wants to play the game and have fun, so we would spend 2 hours wiping to a turn to teach a new random player we don't even know. That is true love of the game. I don't use DPS meters, because everything is about execution and effort, its easy to notice if someone is doing their rotation wrong if you're proficient in all classes.

I have left free companies and people I enjoy for the sake of progression. I have transferred off Ultros for the sake of progression in Savage content, which yields only a vanity title, but in the end, when I am satisfied, I always return. So I did, to help the community that had assisted me along the way, just like a King who rewards those who stand by his side. I had hoped to start a community on my server for Heavensward, but time forbids me.

[Izsha]

Fair enough with the descriptions But for the record, I do NOT think being elite is bad. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being the best at what you do. Being an elitist (per my idea of the word), is horrible.

I would say that in a gaming community, it is widely accepted that elitist is used in a negative way. Perhaps it is my own personal bias, but in my 10+ years of MMOs, I have never once heard that term used in a positive way until this thread.

I do think this thread could have gone a different way if more accurate terms were used (as well as cutting out all the embellishments and strawmen), but alas, here we are.

But that is the crux of the issue. People are associating their negative definitions of elitists and applying it to the elite. You see it every day on these forums and in game. Just being good at the game frequently gains the ire of lots of people just for existing. Just read any of Kosmos' posts for the last few months.

People constantly lump the elite (people who play at a high level) with the 'elitist attitude' (being a jerk).

Add in that we (the elite) are scapegoats for every imaginable problem faced by those less successful in game. I am somehow the reason Joe casual hasn't beaten t9 because I as an elite player (or vet or whatever) don't spend my time after work joining his learning party. If we hint that someone could make an adjustment to improve we are lashed out at because we're telling people how to play, or my personal favorite, the weird attempt to shame us for trying. "Its just a game bruh! I have a REAL LIFE so I don't have time to learn your dumb nolife 'rotations' or 'mechanics'." As if being terrible is a badge if honor. Cracks me up every time. Oh and let's not forget about the link to rmt because we make it so impossible to progress that we force everyone to buy clears from....you guessed it, an elitist clear seller.

Sorry joe casual. I spent months practicing t9 before echo. Multiple hrs 2 to 3 days a week for MONTHS. I'm not oozing with sympathy because you cued solo in df 5 times and came crying to the forums with echo and 20 more ilvl in gear. Nor do I owe you anything. I've put my time in. I am not a terrible excuse for a human because I don't join you t9 prz HALP pf.

We are successful because we DON'T blame others for our failures. Instead of looking for excuses, look for solutions. The longer anyone blames their version of The Man for their failure, the longer you stay a failure. Take control if your situation instead of making excuses.

There are lots of elite players that are sick and tired of being labeled as the devil to all that is good and holy in an mmo. The OP described that. That's why it has so many likes and "I agree with op" posts. Being good (elite) has ZERO coorelation with being a jerk (negative connotation of elitist the Internet has chosen).

I don't remember the tracks star in high school being shunned and hated for being a dick by everyone slower just because they were good at something. But here on the internet, our success is apparently a direct attack on others who aren't as successful. I still blame the everyone gets a participation ribbon generation, but that's for another time.

[Kedemonos]

Char limit

Yes, character limit is very strong.

[Anna_Lannis]

OP uses bandwagon posts to farm likes.

OP and her army of sock puppets find that she isn't as popular as she thinks she is.

OP tries to flip-flop on her statement because people disagreed with it.

OP's credibility is now irrevocably damaged.

Welcome to the internet OP.

[Kuroyasha]

That goodness

Be my friend Izsha \^_^/ lol. Stuff u said so true.

[Cadmar]

snip

Have my little Lala babies please.

Someone earlier tried (and failed) to summarize this thread. Anyone that wants a breakdown of what has gone on for these 50 pages should read this as frankly, it makes more sense than what the original OP was trying to say.

/salute