What happened to intellectual honesty?

The band kept on playing while the Titanic was sinking. The dumbasses.

 

All of the stifling hasn't helped any thing, in fact it has in many ways contributed to the continual shrinkage of the player base. Why have a communicative outlet for people if you only want to hear positive feedback?

 

The bubble gnome is a remarkable creature. It is one thing to enjoy the game and defend it, warts and all. And it is another thing to deny any warts exist. This requires an extraordinary survival skills set. Truly fascinating behavior.

For those unfamiliar with the not elusive bubble gnome species, they are easily identified by the indestructible rose-colored bubble that they house themselves within. You'll often find them on the forums correcting the bad behavior of anyone providing feedback or concerns that have even the slightest hint of negativity or criticism of eq2 or the team.

Now normally, an essential component of the bubble gnome toolkit is the following admonishment: "Stop asking for instant gratification. Everything in the game can be achieved by putting in the time and effort. You just have to put the work in."

So whether it harvesting, crafting, or grinding the same content for 60-70 hours a week to raise money or acquire gear, etc, the rest of us have nothing to bitch about. The team makes the game and sells it to us, and it's up to us to make it fun.

Of course, this expansion has thrown the bubble gnome population into somewhat of a dilemma because as noted, harvesting and crafting is one of their go-to moves. But never fear Norrathians, because the grind is still there, and 100% RNG with minuscule odds of success and no logical itemization is still an entirely reasonable alternative to the cash shop. We have no excuses.

Let's return to what led to the creation of this ...discussion, and by so doing better understand the bubble gnome warrior:

It all started with this thread: So What Do You Think Of The Darkpaw Games Announcement?

As near as I can tell, the general consensus of responses was: "Who cares about the change. Same ****, different day. Nothing substantively new to see here."

So far, all's good for everyone, because in Bubblegnomelandia, everything is STILL just as awesome as it ever was.

Then there was some talk about what will happen to the lifetime subs, a bit of discussion about Pantheon, etc. but, e eventually the conversation took a dramatically ugly turn: people started questioning claims and assertions made by Longdale within her letter.

Warning! Warning! Warning! Negative sentiment/feedback on the forums! Not allowed, people might see it - rally, gnomes, rally!!!

Enter Raff, our first bubble gnome champion to make an appearance; gloriously decked-out in his splendid white knight armor. His weapons of choice? Denial, invalidation, blame-shifting, and claiming the moral high ground:

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but the supremely unhappy fanbase that all you guys go on and on about are mostly gathered in this forum. About 20 of ya' best I can tell whose sole reason for existence seems to be knocking the game one way or the other.

Out in the game though most of us are playing, grouping, laughing, trying to figure out strats and where we are gonna get the next gear upgrade. Most of the game doesn't give a fat rat's patootie about what goes on in here."

Note how the bubble gnome champion deftly displaces bubble gnome syndrome onto his enemies, and with great sorrow, bursts their bubble.

Masterful.

Later, Raff lunges for the killing blow utilizing his Deliberately Misinforming Great Sword of Anti-Disinformation:

"The level of whine in these forums against an entertainment platform that proves them with endless hours of entertainment in exchange for the price of a single pizza / month is rather amazing.

Those of us more grounded in reality are needed to provide alternative views...lest new people coming to the forums get the wrong idea."

Note again the skillful projecting of bubble gnome syndrome on his enemies. A truly majestic maneuver.

Enter Gillymann, a particular kind of evil that appears to be solidly repugnant to Benito, another great bubble gnome general:

Trollanfrog said:
“Once you lose the trust of your fanbase, it doesn't matter what you do next, you leave a bad taste and people remember, and no longer trust you”

Gillymann said:
"For example, see Rivervale.

People have long memories when it comes to unpleasant experiences. It matters little how big your email list of past customers is or how much they love the franchise if those folks don't trust you.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Presumably, Benito noticing that mayhem is running unchecked takes upon it himself to moderate the forums and repeatedly directs people to Wire if they want to voice comments unsuitable for the OF - something about corporate and political discussions, whatever that means.

Sadly, his appeals fall on deaf ears as folks continued to chime in with views and opinions contrary to Bubblegnomelandia foreign policy.

Sons of a bitches!

No more dicking around. It's time to fire off the nuke, the big hitter, the guaranteed shut-this-****-down-right-now-blast-from God's-own-hand: bait the moderator into censoring/censuring what people are posting, or get him to lock the thread.

Well, ****....Dreamweaver's not doing that.....he's still letting people from both sides have their say...this move always works....wtf???

The situation is becoming dire, and needs to be dealt with immediately because the discussion has moved into dangerous territory: game design and p2w. This is most definately NOT to be permitted. Decisive action must be taken.

[Insert some discussion/debate here about manipulative game design (pgs 5-7)]

Now by this point, Benito is more certain than ever that Gillymann is an idiot. Time to end this!

Benito:

"While your arguments are based on "statistical reasoning", my arguments are based on logical reasoning.

You cannot attribute motive/mens rea (malicious or benign) based on statistical analysis (which is bare bones and rough in your original post). It's like Alex Jones attributing WTC Towers falling to an "inside job" because, statistically/scientifically speaking, jet fuel shouldn't melt steel. Lol.

You are avoiding any of my really powerful counterarguments such as the optionality of upgrades (as opposed to a requirement to play the game).

You may continue to spout your conspiracy theories but people will refute them unless you have hard evidence or anything beyond innuendo."

Gillymann realizes that Benito has no idea what statistical reasoning is, and as such, the discussion is meaningless. Gillymann decides to simply exit that particular conversation, but does so abruptly and without surrendering.

That is not allowed!

Bait, taunt, provoke (bubble gnome warriors have been traditionally immune from forum moderation because their cause is just)...nothing - Damn it!

Gillymann blocks Benito on the OF.

Outrage!!

Benito:

"I've moved the debate to EQ2Wire forums. I will continue to refute conspiracy theories here."

But folks, it's not just about Gillymann. Nay I say unto you, Nay!!

For Benito has decided to take the mantel soley upon himself to thoroughly defeat the entire enemy hoard (aka, the nefarious "Feldon's crew"). Alone, Benito boldly marches straight into the heart of enemy territory and seizes a dominating advantage by demanding "intellectual honesty".

Enter Tekka; bane and mortal enemy of Bubble Gnomes everywhere; the enemy of all enemies, the Great Satan. Tekka is wise to the ways of bubble gnome combat, and despite seemingly retiring from forum battle, still finds them too amusing to pass up.

Tekka is also lazy (according to Castegyre), so she does what she always does: patiently waits for Benito to dig his own hole, looks down and says, "Do you know you're standing in a hole? Looks too deep for you to crawl out of, so you should probably just stop."

Now, bubble gnomes are nothing if not self-righteous and resilient fighters, and there's no way Benito is going to fall for such a simpleton ruse. Time to change tactics by shifting the argument.

Straw-man?
Ad-Hominem?
Deflection?
Projection?
Play the victim?
Alter the context?

WTF?

Tekka (standing there munching through a bag of cookies), looks down: "Changing the argument doesn't make the hole go away. You're still in it and actually, it's getting a lot deeper. Here, let me show what I mean (shines a flash light into the hole). You should probably just stop digging."

You are not useful, Tekka - Troll!

Now, with the exception of chiming in periodically mostly to correct statements attributed to him that he did not make or offer clarification, Gillymann is sitting on the sidelines watching the show, and all the while thinking to himself, "Was all this necessary? I mean, the entertainment is pretty good, but all we've asked for is honesty, candor, and timely communication from the eq2 team."

 

A truly epic tale! You, sir, are a bard at heart.

 

It seems as though the initial thread on the OF that started this all has been locked.
I did have to laugh at Dreamweavers reaction.

They were like, yeah, I come back and it has gone on for another 6 pages of further devolution.
They seemed to like Feldon's meme on his reaction too. I had a right giggle, was just lucky to not have any tea in the mouth at the time. My work colleagues gave me strange looks while eating their lunch though.

They say that they know when posters are being naughty even when they use flowery language.
So what do you think of the DarkPaw Games announcement? | Page 11 | EverQuest 2 Forums

I have to say, I was impressed that the thread stayed mainly intact and wasn't deleted.

 

No point in me tweeting about them anymore ... they blocked me years ago. The nerve!

I still enjoy playing for the most part or I'd stop playing .. again. But the last straw is now getting closer daily to me leaving ... again. And who knows, the next time may be my last.

They've made some really poor decisions with BoL and they don't seem to care, or have any intention of fixing them. That is what irks me, the lack of care on their part.
Particularly with tradeskills because it's such a major part of my game-play.

ps: I liked it best when Siggy was the only Bubble Gnome about town, this new breed is totally irksome.

 

Absolutely glorious, sir! I doff my cap to you; I bow in awestruck wonder!

You did, however, get this bit wrong - Tekka doesn't munch on apples while she's being Trollbane. She munches on COOKIES!!!!

 

Tekka eats all the cookies

 

I hate it when people eat all of my chocolate cookies of seething malice!

 

This was a very fun read, Thank You

 

Yeah, no apples. I'm not a Shinigami!

-coughs-

 

Update Notes:

• Raff's "Trusty Great Sword of Righteous Anti-Disinformation" has been properly labeled as Raff's "Deliberately Misinforming Great Sword of Anti-disinformation.
• Tekka is now correctly described as "munching through a bag of cookies."

 

FTFY

 

How old are you all?

Damn.

 

It's called having fun and not taking oneself so seriously.

You should try it some time.

 

From a great movie: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Remo Williams : How old are you? I mean really, you are old, now aren't you?

Chiun : For an apricot, yes. For a head of lettuce, even more so. For a mountain, I have not even begun in years. For a man, I am just right.

That is my answer and im sticking to it!

 

It took him time to come up with a response that would allow him a chance to save face while still trying to shift the blame.

And that is the best he could come up with.

Please go easy on him, he's obviously had a bad week.

 

I don’t blame Feldon for wanting to regulate loot boxes to protect minors now.

 

I want to remove loot boxes, but lets leave them in for the those who have more money than brains, or the very impatient. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way.

 

*blinks at the non sequitur*