/rant on
Wow, I think this is my first rant!
I have been privately frustrated for quite some time with a certain attitude that I find to be pervasive in both the forums (including EQ & EQ2 forums sponsored by anyone - be it Alla, Sony, or whoever) and in /ooc. I have never posted about it because I find it difficult to describe this attitude and how it manifests itself, and quite frankly I don't like to complain. My response up to this point has been to shy away from posting, or participating in /ooc chat, as much as possible.
However, when playing EQ2 a couple of days ago a short exchange occurred in /ooc that seems to exemplify exactly what I have been thinking about all this time, and I'd like to share it with you. I'd also like to know if anyone else finds this type of attitude as commonplace (and annoying) as I do.
I have not copied this word for word but instead am going from memory. It took place in Antonica.
Me: /ooc Does anyone know what Forestry skill is required in order to harvest in TS?
Respondent #1: /ooc 90.
Me: /ooc Many thanks. Did they change it? The reason I ask is because I remember hearing that it was 95 at some point.
Respondent #1: /ooc It never was 95.
OK now here's the first point. How on earth do you know that it never was 95? Are you the chief programmer for EQ2? Why do people pretend to know things that they possibly could not? And doesn't responding like that, besides being "know-it-all-ish", have an undercurrent of implying that my question was a stupid thing to ask?
If it were me trying to help another player with a question like that, I would probably say something like, "I didn't know that it ever was 95." This is precisely what I'm talking about that I see in a majority of posts and /ooc exchanges. There is usually at least one person that has to pretend to be "the authority" on whatever is being discussed. Challenge a person like that and they usually only get nasty, no matter how nicely you question them.
The exchange continues:
Respondent #2: /ooc It was 95 when I did it.
Me: /ooc See?
OK, now I admit I probably shouldn't have said "See?" I am now guilty of being childish too. (But once in a while the know-it-all attitude just irritates me so badly that I have to say something.)
Respondent #1: /ooc Well, harvest up to 95 if you want to, but it's 90.
Respondent #3: /ooc What difference does it make if it used to be 95?
The reason I want to know if Respondent #1 knows about the change is because, frequently, people will tell you that they know things for a fact when they do not (which is a point that was just reinforced by Respondent #1's first answer). For example, if what I have been told is true, when Forestry of 95 was required for TS, you only needed a skill of 90 for Mining, Trapping, etc. So, if someone knew that they only needed 90 in Mining to harvest in TS, they could very well assume that 90 is the threshold for all skills in TS, and provide the wrong information. I was simply trying to make sure that Respondent #1 knew what he was talking about.
Why was it necessary for Respondent #3 to interject himself into the conversation in such a way that contributes nothing, and only tries to inflame? I have a valid reason for asking, as I just outlined, but of course it wasn't worth explaining to someone like Respondent #3. So, I just shut up.
/rant off
And now, I will shut up again. Thanks for listening. It really does feel better to get that off my chest.
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And you are correct about one thing, the guy who first responded and told you that it never was 95 didn't know what he was talking about.
It used to be 95 for foresting, but then they lowered it and all skills are at lvl 90 now. Just like they lowered the lvl for Antonica too, thankfully.
I hate that attitude too, it's usually a sign of arrogance, although at times that arrogance can very well be justified, it's often the case that it is not.
It used to be 95 for foresting, but then they lowered it and all skills are at lvl 90 now. Just like they lowered the lvl for Antonica too, thankfully.
I hate that attitude too, it's usually a sign of arrogance, although at times that arrogance can very well be justified, it's often the case that it is not.
While I agree that knowing that it was 95 and now is 90 does lend credibility to the person saying its 90, it doesn't automatically preclude knowing it is now 90.
However, the guy should have said "I don't know that it was ever 95" not stating that it was never 95 when he didn't know for sure.
Saying "I don't know" lends just as much credibility, if its said properly. "I don't know if it was 95 before, but I know for sure its 90 now because I was at 90 and went to ts and forested".
People like to be helpful and yet often they give out misinformation.
On the flip side, my big pet peeve lately: why doesn't anyone ever say thank you when you help them?
I helped this one person for over 5 minutes about tradeskills, but couldn't answer his last question so he started /oocing for info again, and never once bothered to thank me for the time I spent helping them up to that point.
I find myself less and less willing to help people because nobody ever bothers to say thank you.
However, the guy should have said "I don't know that it was ever 95" not stating that it was never 95 when he didn't know for sure.
Saying "I don't know" lends just as much credibility, if its said properly. "I don't know if it was 95 before, but I know for sure its 90 now because I was at 90 and went to ts and forested".
People like to be helpful and yet often they give out misinformation.
On the flip side, my big pet peeve lately: why doesn't anyone ever say thank you when you help them?
I helped this one person for over 5 minutes about tradeskills, but couldn't answer his last question so he started /oocing for info again, and never once bothered to thank me for the time I spent helping them up to that point.
I find myself less and less willing to help people because nobody ever bothers to say thank you.
The only time I come off as snippy, is if I am trying to answere someones question while in a fight.
If you had shouted out "What is harvest level in TS" I would have responded "90". Had you tried to question the point further, I, honestly, would not have responded back. Try and remember that just because your standing around, does not mean everyone else is. Just respond with a polite thank you and move on.
Another thing to remember, is that at many times the /OOC chatter is so juvenile, and spam filled....that many of your experienced players have just turned it off. I think this ties in with the lack of thank you's for help given.
If you had shouted out "What is harvest level in TS" I would have responded "90". Had you tried to question the point further, I, honestly, would not have responded back. Try and remember that just because your standing around, does not mean everyone else is. Just respond with a polite thank you and move on.
Another thing to remember, is that at many times the /OOC chatter is so juvenile, and spam filled....that many of your experienced players have just turned it off. I think this ties in with the lack of thank you's for help given.
respondant #1 may have truly beleived that it was never 95 and gave you the info as he/she saw fit. I really think that there was nothing wrong in what they said and you are getting worked up about nothing!
I'd have to agree with respondant #3. What difference does it really make? The skill required at that time was 90. it may have been 95, people may or may not have known that, but would it change the way you harvested? Would you have harvested to 95 just in case?
Gotta agree on the thanking thing though. You can often spend ages guiding someone around a zone or telling them about a tactic to get nothing but a stony silence afterwards. The best we can do is thank those who help us and not let it get us down.
Cheers
Minky
I'd have to agree with respondant #3. What difference does it really make? The skill required at that time was 90. it may have been 95, people may or may not have known that, but would it change the way you harvested? Would you have harvested to 95 just in case?
Gotta agree on the thanking thing though. You can often spend ages guiding someone around a zone or telling them about a tactic to get nothing but a stony silence afterwards. The best we can do is thank those who help us and not let it get us down.
Cheers
Minky
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