I’ve been mulling this over for a few days, turning it over in the back of my pea-sized intellect. I avoided posting it because I thought that maybe it would be better for all concerned if the huge blogging drama due to Crankyhealer deleting her blog over Anna’s post would just slip quietly away. But I think that there are things to be said. It can be difficult to comment on these types of things because so much has been written, both on blogs and in comments, that you can easily fall into the trap of writing inaccurate information. And I may well fall into this trap here, and if I do, I apologise.
The thing is, in everyday life we always have two decisions for anything that we do – yes and no. Shall I do this? Yes or no. The ability to decide, the freedom to decide if you will, is what gives each of us our personal power. People in say North Korea for example, do not have this ability. But with decision making comes responsibility for our decisions and subsequent actions. When I originally posted about Cranky leaving a few days ago I kept my post deliberately vague as I did not have all the information at hand and I knew it. Now that I have some more information I feel better able to give my own opinion on this.
Cranky wrote a post that, when I originally read it, I thought that it was a little bit risquè. And Anna called her on it. But those commentators attacking Anna for her actions because of the consequence of Cranky deleting her blog fail to realise that Anna did not delete that blog. Cranky did. She has her own personal power, she has complete freedom to decide yes or no, and she decided. It has nothing to do with Anna. To say otherwise would infer that Cranky was powerless. Which is not the case.
I myself have called out other bloggers in the past, and I don’t mince words when I do it. I respect a blogger who has the guts to call someone out, but I respect even more a blogger who picks themselves up when shown to be wrong and tries to do better the next time. And I do not agree at all that a bigger blogger has a responsibility to treat smaller blogs with kid gloves. I will give each and every new blog the same treatment that I would afford an established blog. This is treating them with respect. This is working to create a level playing field. If you step into the playground then you must accept the reality of the playground. The reality is that some people have been there for a lot longer. If a new blogger chooses to write something on their blog then that is their decision and they should stand by the consequences of what they have written. Not pick up their toys and flounce off home.
March 23, 2010 at 11:28 am
I agree but to be honest Annas first post on the subject was far far too scathing and included what could be concieved as personal attacks (which have now been edited out)which from here puts her into the bully category (note crankys suggestion was tongue in cheek but could also be called bullying to an extent – two wrongs however do not make a right).
Now fast forward and Chris over at high Latency has decided to stick up for his friend. Some of the comments I’ve seen on both his own and annas blgo make me sick to the stomach, people actually having a go at the guy for living at home caring for his folks……. yeah awesome people over at annas place.
My opinion of the matter is it is a GAME and people really need to get over themselves. Anna seems to have a hollier than thou attitude and instead should perhaps just respect other peoples opinions or if you are going to write a piece disagreeing the least you can do is give the author of the original topic a bit of respect which she failed to do.
Having played on RP realms for over a year when I first played WoW I found the community shocking. For one that proclaims to be the most tight knit and mature they really must be having a laugh. Nope imo RP should still to tabletop games or text based because it just doesnt work or have cohesion in WoW.
Just my two copper/bucks/pence
March 23, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I didn’t even want to comment on High Latency but I will say that I have seen 10 year old boys in a pissing contest behave with more maturity than what has been said on that site.
I’m not defending Anna in this post, I’m merely arguing about where ones personal responsibility lies. If Anna is so holier than thou and if the RP community really is so unpleasant than I feel that Cranky missed an opportunity to step up to the plate.
March 23, 2010 at 12:16 pm
dont get me wrong Im not saying Chris is in the right in doing what he is doing but to be honest I can see why he is doing it and hell I’ll enjoy reading his posts about it.
If anything it will show people just how crap rp is on WoW realms. Agree cranky missed an opportunity to respond and uncover exactly what some RPers are like. I mean come on just brushing through comment sections you can almost visually see them foaming at the mouth gathering up a lynch mob.
I think Anna has perhaps publicised her blog a bit more with all the drama but after reading a few posts I qwont be back, if I want to be preached at I’ll go to church.
I’ll stand by my personal thoughts that RP mixed with WoW = sad. I mean how can you RP with Taurens running about on chickens? or spacegoats riding a harley?
March 23, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Spacegoats riding a harley, exactly that is not conducive to RP at all. But what Chris is doing achieves nothing because his attacks are so over the top that not even the RP’ers will take him seriously.
As far as I’m concerned, RP in WoW and the attitudes that go with it are akin to the Emperor wearing no clothes.
March 23, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I thinks its highly likely he will be going somewhere with this, Chris is a decent bloke and he certainly isnt stupid so I have faith that he will pull something together…. watch this space
March 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I’m getting enough of this discussion. Not all RP is acceptable or appreciated. Cranky made a case about griefing ERP not RP in general.
Well, ERP on a public server is somewhat illegal in my country. So griefing them is the ‘pleasant’ way of telling these perverts to stop, short of reporting them. And yeah I consider people ERP-ing on public servers, with kids(!), to be perverts or maybe they’re just very very ignorant.
These people who practise RP in WOW should consider other people more. If I encounter RP which offends me, I consider that also a form of ‘Power RP’… I can’t just ignore other characters’ behaviours.
So I don’t think my character should just go somewhere else to not be bothered. It’s just like this in real life. If you start bothering people they will ask you to stop. Politely or otherwise…
Cranky was right here, ok she was a little blunt. But not all of us are as diplomatic as the ‘great’ Anna…
March 23, 2010 at 3:36 pm
It’s over the top for a reason. I wanted to go more over the top then the RP’ers. There is method to my madness.
They went over the top with the virtual lynching of Cranky. They go over the top with pretending to be lofty, and have high morales.
My motto is and has always been through Chaos comes Knowledge. To get to know who people are, really are you must create Chaos.
Just think back to the hard times of your life, the “Chaotic times”…you learn who you are, who your friends are, and just what your “enemies”, and problems are.
March 23, 2010 at 3:37 pm
So I created a little Chaos.
March 23, 2010 at 4:05 pm
indeed you did good sir indeed you did
March 23, 2010 at 4:24 pm
These comments have deviated from my OP. My post was not about who was right and who was wrong, my post was not about roleplayers, my post did not mention your pathetic little attention seeking attempt at stirring up trouble.
My post is about our own choices, actions and responsibilities and how I do not think that Anna should be held to account for Cranky deleting her own blog. I am not one to throw the trolling accusation around lightly, but you are attempting to steer my post in a different direction in order to further your own needs, and that I consider trolling. So stop it.
March 23, 2010 at 4:29 pm
But you have to take these things into the context of the arguement. Sometimes it isnt quite as easy as yes or no.
Humans are complex beings and thankfully we are not all the same. Therefore you cannot in my opinion but out a blanket statement that it is of no fault of Annas that Cranky left the blog.
To simply assume that everyone is as strong, single minded and indeed think skinned as the next person is folly.
So whilst I agree there is always a choice, sometimes it isnt as simple as that.
March 23, 2010 at 4:31 pm
urgh /facepalm
my spelling/typing is awful today. Sorry need to start reading posts back
March 23, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Ok I will put it in context of your post. Your right we all have choices, actions, and responsibilites. Anna made the choice to call out Cranky, Cranky made the choice to delete her blog, Anna has to learn that with choices comes consequences, and we all must learn. I made the choice to go after Anna, for it is my responibility to help those that need it from Bully’s such as Anna.
We all must face choices, we all must face responsibilties, we must face the consequences of our actions. Does Anna get a pass because she has a bigger readership?
March 23, 2010 at 5:10 pm
“…Anna has to learn that with choices comes consequences,…”
Who are you to pronounce what someone has to learn? Who made you judge in this situation? What Cranky wrote was unfortunate and had consequences. What Anna wrote was unfortunate and had consequences. But what you are doing seems to me to be malicious and with no clear goal except causing problems for all concerned. It is not your responsibility to do these things in the name of other people.
And I ask you this: have you considered the possible consequences of your own actions?
March 23, 2010 at 5:23 pm
but could you not ask these exact questions to Anna?
Every piece of action someone takes in life has consequences specifically if it directly effects someone else in which Annas post did.
Again I’ll pipe up and say Annas post has now been heavily modified, why is that?
I applaud and take my hat off to chris for defending a friend, its what I do and its what my friends do for me.
March 23, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Yes, most definately in my first post I said I am prepared to face the consequences. I am guildless, and lost some friends over my principles. Is Anna ready to stand up for her principles? I found that out easy enough.
Who made Anna judge of the RP realms? Who mad Anna the judge of what is right and wrong in RP?
The minute Anna stepped on my friends toes is the minute it gave me the right to show Anna she can’t just wave her battleaxe around and not break a few things.
Malicious to some is heroic to others. History usually decides such things.
March 23, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Im still sad that cranky is gone. Regardless Rp can be fun if you enjoy it. I think its fair to poke fun at “RPers”. Just like i laugh at LARPing its goofy. People should be able to laugh if off when other people poke fun at them. Not attack them personally because im sure crankys post wasnt meant malicously.
March 23, 2010 at 7:46 pm
That’s 10 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. What else you doing Adam, anything amusing ?
March 23, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Slow reader, eh?
March 24, 2010 at 12:24 am
March 24, 2010 at 6:08 am
“I respect even more a blogger who picks themselves up when shown to be wrong and tries to do better the next time.”
I like that. I also like when bloggers stand up for themselves and get into a heated debate. The more this goes on, the more I find that the wow community is generally kinda wussy, which makes for pretty boring blogging. (But then I’m a really mellow blogger myself, so I’m probably not in a position to complain!)