Keeping Content Hard and Helping People Learn

[Mawlzy]

We could say the same about yours, Mawlzy... I don't understand what is wrong with having a positive and go-getter attitude about challenge.

Then I will do my best to explain. Let's first remind ourselves of the statement I find so objectionable:

That's the right attitude to have. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

Let's put aside for one moment that anyone adjudicating the correct attitude other players should have is a self-obsessed narcissist so dripping with hubris it's amazing they haven't drowned.

Let's also suppose for a moment that the claim "you can accomplish anything you put your mind to" is true (spoiler: it's manifestly false).

Alright. I, Mawlzy, have the ability to clear M8S. What does that tell us? The implication is that, because I have this ability, I have a moral obligation to do so? Even if doing so will take... I dunno.. . one hundred hours? Every single second of which I would rather be doing something I actually enjoy.

This is completely preposterous in any game, but far more so in a MMO. For the majority of NA/EU players, doing something they don't enjoy simply because "the game" presents it to them makes as much sense as having a root canal in a healthy tooth.

The reason this ludicrous position keeps being advanced by this noisy, sweaty, judgmental segment of the player base, is that they have an agenda.

It is a transparent attempt to ensure that the content they enjoy continues to be created by SE, despite the fact most players don't like it.

Here's the argument. Everyone can clear (say) savage if they try (false). People lobbying for easier content are just lazy (false). If only everyone could be just like them and embrace this fucking boring DDR slop that has been shoved down our throats for two expansions, everything will return to sunshine and lemoncakes (false).

It makes me puke.

This is a game. Those of us who either currently or formerly have had to work for a living have had plenty of bloody challenge. We don't tell those who like challenging content that they're playing the game wrong and should research the concept of sitting, despite the fact this would make them significantly less obnoxious and improve their lives considerably. Because it's none of our damn business. And yet those of us who prefer to avoid self-imposed obstacles in a video game are constantly told we are lazy, if not braindead.

No. We are not lazy. We have simply made a choice of how we wish to interact with a damn game.

Meanwhile, may I ask why none of these people are Formula 1 world champion? What's wrong with them? Must be incredibly lazy, because anyone could do that if only they'd stick with it and try.