The Same Old Whine: Would You Like Some Cheese With That?

We've all had to deal with them, whether in game, in class, at work, on the roads, in lines at the bank or stores ...

• The person who feels the need to point out why the rules apply to everyone but themselves.
• The person who thinks that if they ask the same question twenty different ways, they might get a different answer.
• The person who refuses to take 'no' for an answer.
• The person who tries to find every possible way around the rules.
• The person who would rather resort to ad hominem than add anything meaningful to the discussion.
• The person who uses the same old tired phrases and arguments in every damn discussion they're in.
• The person who pushes the limit everywhere they can, and then goes out of their way to look for offenses in others.
• The person who feels they have more of a 'right' to an opinion on anything, just because it is their opinion. (Which of course, even when proven horribly wrong, is right. Always. At whatever cost.)

Are we getting a clear picture, here?

I was strolling through Moderation today, when I stumbled across a post that got me going. Big surprise there, I know. I'm going to edit and add to the content of my reply there to better fit the 'Daily Rant' that it inspired here, and take it from ... well, yes. There. *ahem*

We have complainers. And lots of them. Now, is it wrong to complain? Of course not. Question everything. Questioning is what gets us answers, and often clarifies the situation for everyone involved. It also lets those in charge know when there are problems that need addressing. And when there are problems that really do not need it, for that matter. Questions are good.

Stupid repetitive whining is not.

The fact that they may feel they have not recieved an adequate answer on some of these occasions is beside the point entirely. We've covered this before in other threads, with other posts, all saying basically the same thing, oddly enough. Many seem to be in the habit of belaboring a supposed 'point', misdirecting the conversation, resorting to ad hominem time and again, to the point where just about everyone reading it is more likely to want to tear their hair out than give them any serious second thought.

Let's not name names, here. I might be listing til the sun came up, after all.

In other words, the rude, presumptuous methods some folks keep using to pursue these issues is not helping them in the least - something they have repeatedly been told, and just don't seem to comprehend for one reason or other. It's also what is continually getting them into trouble.

Bear this in mind: Attitude, Presentation, Delivery, and Intent do have a lot to do with what sorts of response you get. In most cases you will get out of it what you put into it. Garbage in, Garbage out, to simplify.

Those individuals who seem to constantly be looking for a reason to argue are not the authority there on NS. Neither am I (all supposed Conspiracies aside). It's not that difficult to recognize that fact. The mods however, are. They have been appointed by the creator and admins there, who also oversee their actions. What they say goes. We do not have to agree with it. Yes, we do have the freedom to ask questions when we feel something hasn't been handled correctly. And when we get their final answer on it, guess what?

We get to deal with it. End of story.

Is this fair? Considering we don't pay one red cent to be able to enjoy the game, and agreed to abide by the rules of this site when we created our nations there ... yes, yes it is. Does it 'feel' fair all the time? Probably not, but this isn't about 'feelings'. It's about facts. And the fact remains that this is how it is. NationStates is not a democracy, is not a place created just for each and every one of us to use to forward our personal agendas, is not protected by supposed 'free speech' clauses, and is not our site to dictate how things get run.

"But I've invested so much time there! Surely that gives me a right!"
No. Your time, your choice, your problem. Suck it up.

"But without players, they won't have a game! They HAVE to listen to us!"
No, they don't. You don't like it, you're free to leave. Protesting by not posting? Great. Go for it. Free up some bandwidth for the rest of us to to mainline it like the addicts we are. More power to you, brother and/or sister. *waves flag and idly yawns*

"But letting we inmates run the assylum would be a NICE thing to do!"
Take your rose-colored glasses, and stuff 'em. NationStates wasn't created to be 'nice' to you. It was a marketing tool. One that ended up sucking thousands from our favorite fixer, the Immortal Tetragrammaton Lord Max Barry. (Yes, worship him, fools.) From everything I've seen, Mr. Barry is indeed a very nice man, and I'm sure that if this were not the case, he'd have yanked the game ages ago. I don't get the impression that he's out to cause distress or not be 'nice' to anyone.

People say they want more 'nice'. Gee, that's very sweet. Bear in mind however, that one man's 'nice' is another man's nightmare. Lots of us think it's 'nice' to have spammers and flamers and other folks shut down ASAP. Other folks think it's 'nice' to continue to let folks break the rules while they, meaning well and trying to crusade for the betterment of mankind and all other such Noble Causes TM, of course try to 'change' or 'help' the offenders while criticizing the rest of us for not being more tolerant. That whole 'punish the innocent to save the criminal' mentality, you know. I'm sorry, but I just can't buy into that.

"But I'm addicted to this game now! You HAVE to change it to suit my needs, for my own personal benefit!"
Not our problem. Not their problem. Your problem. Shut yap. Get help.

Look, people. It's a big board. We as a whole have proven that we are incapable of moderating ourselves. Order was called for, Order was delivered in the form of our Moderators (praise be their Holy Names), who volunteer their time to deal with all our piddly little traumas day in and day out. It's free. We're out nothing but the time we voluntarily put into it. Do us all a favor, ask what questions you need, if you really are looking for an honest answer, and not trying to just bait or be a total asshat, then when you get your answer - like it, feel it adequate, or not - and then go about your business. Those who end up spending more time grinding axes than playing the game have historically either gotten bitter and jaded and a) left voluntarily b) finally irritated enough people and got hounded into leaving c) got deated when they took things too far. Word to the wise, folks. It's your dime. You can spend it trying to play, or you can waste it trying to fight losing battles. (Not that all discussions or efforts are losing propositions, mind. Please tell me after all of this you know the difference.)

What part of all this is unclear? If people want their 'right' to speak their mind without censure, they can get themselves an online journal or blog or what have you, and rant to their little heart's content. Yes, just like me. Yay. Those who wish to continue participating on NationStates who fall into any of those 'profiles' I've mentioned here, I respectfully suggest they reassess their methods, and intentions, and learn how to try and get along a little better. If not, perhaps that is not the best place for them - said just as an observation, not in telling them all to 'get the hell out'.

It's late. It's really late. I feel like I've lost my steam somewhere in the middle of all this tonight, so I think before I get rambling on all over again, I'm gonna put it away and call it good for now, and possibly edit it properly tomorrow.

Oh yes - one last thing: Those who don't see the 'Max/mod-worshipping' for the good-natured fun it's intended need to stop taking themselves so seriously.


This .gif open to your own interpretations/reasons/explanations/guesses. I'll never tell.