Belegarth

I think this sport suffers from the giant Egos that 25% of the population seems to carry around with them at all times.

I had a ton of fun at my first event (mostly getting killed all day) Part of the fun of this game is acting like a bad *, speaking with bravado, or chopping up a group of noobs. Which is all well and good, but the way to get those noobs to come back then next time is to temper that with good sportsmanship.

Its not going to keep me away (I get to hit people!) but more timid sorts which make up a goodly % of our target demographic (read: geeks) might write the whole sport off as full of jerks because of the actions of a few on the field.

At least 3 out of 4 people treated me with respect and helped me out when I was unclear on a rule or needed help with technique. I guess what I am saying is: don't be that guy (in the 25%)

Quit sweatin' the small ****? Life is full of jackasses.

I really agree. I know I can be a hardass on the board but I've been working to lose that, and even more so in person and at events. The heckling is just counter productive to growing the game.

You ALWAYS have 5 minutes to talk to someone new. If the whole sport followed this rule our retention would go off the charts.

Hey, perk your daggone ears up. It's not the n00bs responsibility to fit in with a bunch of jackasses. You want more people? Don't chase them off. This has been a problem at several of the high-stick Amt parks in recent years.

Don't coddle them, but don't be an * either. More foam = More fun.

This is an excellent point, and it is something we strive to educate all of our vets about in my realm. I'm pleased to say that this has worked for me in the past for recruitment and retention, AND that when retention has failed it has been due to a general trend in the things you described above.

Arrakis wrote:Quit sweatin' the small ****? Life is full of jackasses.

You aren't going to help with an outlook like that. Also helps that even when people like me are quite often wrong with what we post if you tone your response down a bit, but hey, I'm just a noob right? I'm sure I'll learn to be super pro by turn into a real *

Edit: And yes Aohd, as a newbie I'd agree I'd be more inclined to come out to events if I saw less ego flyin' around. But, the internet is a narsty place, so yeah, I guess people will be more hostile on it than in real life. I just hope when I possibly go to spring wars or definatly Okfest next year I won't be surrounded by it.

in my opinion it is ok to beat the hell out of a noob, you should never go easy on an opponent, but let them know what they are doing wrong and what to do to make their game better, dont beat them down and be like, " you **** suck dude just quit" or something to that effect.

when i first started i went my first okfest and this happened to me, luckily i like to be a * and win at all cost sometimes and i continued to cheese this person with javelins all day, it made me feel better. this person was one of the less respectable knights of numenor btw

kree wrote:in my opinion it is ok to beat the hell out of a noob, you should never go easy on an opponent, but let them know what they are doing wrong and what to do to make their game better, dont beat them down and be like, " you **** suck dude just quit" or something to that effect.

That's what was going on to me when I started and I found it helped. Also, it's good to slow it down for a bit if they ask you to, or to take the time to show a newb, such as myself, not only what they're doing wrong, but one or two ways to fix it.

People are * on the internet. Doesn't matter how people act on the internet really, as long as you don't make yourself look like a retard nobody even remembers at events other than "Oh yeah I saw you on the boards once".

Edit : Sorry should have read the first post. Yeah there's * everywhere though, my post still works.

People could certainly be nicer. But I'm just sayin':

Don't let one jerk ruin your experience.

Wait so he's saying that we (being people) suffer from a defect that effects everyone else (people) at the same rate?

Stop being dumb.

I think the boards are a lot different from face to face. We have a lot of people that say a lot of things on here- that won't say the same thing face to face.

Then- there are a few of us- that it IS the same both ways.

Belegarth has good people. We also have: (bad types) *, jackasses, douchebags, Belecunts, groupies, stick jocks and a wide range of other colorful types. (not a full coverage of all people or all groups) In the end- it's like Pandora's Box- You might meet 20 * BUT the one person you meet will be worth the 20 that were rude.

I would advise that if you are new- before getting all post happy- do a small thing called "search"- see what you find and that will save you a little hassle. Also- try to PM a few people with direct questions.

This game is a lot of fun and I have met some great people in my years- Some are still close friends after over 15 years.

Best of luck.

**edited just for Sorcia**

Aohd wrote:I think this sport suffers from the giant Egos that 25% of the population seems to carry around with them at all times.

At least 3 out of 4 people treated me with respect and helped me out when I was unclear on a rule or needed help with technique. I guess what I am saying is: don't be that guy (in the 25%)

I like the fact that you have no problem with the term "Belecunts" but cannot say "*".

Really? Seriously?

There are always going to be a percentage of people in a group that can't help but be jerks about some things, it's their nature. Like Arrakis said, don't let one guy being a jerk ruin your whole good time. I have also found that some of those jerks turn out later to be really cool chaps, sometimes people just need time to find their groove.

Case in point...Slagg is my best friend, my dood. Slagg is an *, pure and simple. Though he is not that way all the time, he sure has his moments. I love hanging out with him, but I also get on him when his * goes too far.

When I hear some douchewaffle spout his hate syrup, my filter turns it into: "I'm a sad human being down deep, so I must NEEEERRRRRDDD RAAAAAAAAAGGGGEEEE!!!"

I need to have a box of cookies, because cookies cure nerd rage. I'm not sure what cures douchewaffles though.

Hate syrup

Bits of Advice

Grow a pair, noone is going to go easy on anyone else at a national event.

Less whining, behind helium and hydrogen * are one of the most plentiful things in the galaxy.

Don't expect Belegarth to be a haven, there is just as much (often more) drama and douchery as in the regular world. Many of us wouldn't have it any other way.

Learn to cope, it will make you a better person and that's what we're all trying for anyway, right?

PeopIe who really wanna have a good time won't come to a slaughterhouse.
And we've got entirely too many troublemakers here.
Too many -year-old adolescents, felons, power drinkers...
..and trustees of modern chemistry.

All you have to do is follow three simple rules.
One: never underestimate your opponent.
Expect the unexpected.
Two: take it outside.
Never start anything inside the event unless it's absolutely necessary.
And three: be nice.
If somebody gets in your face and calls you a *, I want you to be nice.

Being called a * isn't personaI?
No. It's two nouns combined to elicit a prescribed response.
What if somebody calls my mama a *?
Is she?
I want you to be nice...
..until it's time to not be nice.

Physic wrote:All you have to do is follow three simple rules.
One: never underestimate your opponent.
Expect the unexpected.
Two: take it outside.
Never start anything inside the event unless it's absolutely necessary.
And three: be nice.
If somebody gets in your face and calls you a *, I want you to be nice.

Being called a * isn't personaI?
No. It's two nouns combined to elicit a prescribed response.
What if somebody calls my mama a *?
Is she?
I want you to be nice...
..until it's time to not be nice.

Ahh...a pearl of wisdom from Roadhouse.

let just set my ego down and approach this.

A) how do you approach vets? i wouldn't consider myself a vet but i've been around for a second, if you come up to me and are a pestering little **** im going to treat you like a pestering little ****. if your mature and ask me something or invite me to come spar with you and i have time i will come roll around. this is how adults function.

B) if i make fun of you, make fun of me back. you don't want to get mocked then avoid me. i have a very easily triggered mocking reflex. it doesn't mean i hate you it means your hat is stupid.

C) much like in reality, some really nice people here, some really bad people her, and most of the rest are just middle of the road. shrug off the *, thank those that are exceedingly nice and party with the inbetweeners. thats life

all in all would we retain more if EVERYONE was nice? sure so would corporate business, however in general i think (i could be wrong) since i started fighting some years ago it seems the sport has grown rather prolifically. we aren't gonna retain everyone and those guys you don't like who are so full of ego have probably been around long and are good enough that they have earn some of that ego and they add flavor to the sport. their are people here i down right don't like, i don't quit because of them i try and kill them as much as possible and ruin their fighting day. then i walk away and don't speak to them the rest of the event.

The game isn't nice and everyone in it isn't. this is why we form units, they are the people you want to be around, i'm not gonna dodge out on all my abf running buddies to go hang with with other units cause i know that those guys in those colors are people i WANT to be around. now should we be nicer to noobs off the field? absolute i agree to that one hundred percent, but on the field me and my ego are gonna laugh at you when we kill you cause i think its funny. catch me off and grab a beer or one of those chemical enhancements and catch a seat by the fire, just be mature about it and everyone will be groovy.

I can agree with most of this. Be friendly and open off the field. Let people know that persona/ego exists on the field and some of those personas are *.

Thanks for putting this up. Ego can be good, but it can be taken way to far

Hey thumbs, while this could be relevant to how you are feeling, please look at the dates before you post something, this is about 7 months old.