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Just some reposts from the GSIII Message Boards that I thought were interesting. These have to do with helping other people roleplay. If you notice a good post on the boards that you think bears repeating here, just send me an e-mail.
Altruism isn't conditional. One of the first thing a mentor learns is that most of the people we help are NOT skilled roleplayers, many of them aren't even interested in roleplaying. They just want to kill things. Many of you would define them as snerts. Some of the most irritating ones earn uncharitable thoughts from me, as well, I'm only human. But? You help them anyway. I can give you a dozen examples of ex-proteges of mine that were good, solid 'snerts' when they began playing and turned out very well after they matured a bit. I can name several of our fine Vaaloran citizens that played this game as teenagers; I'm certain many of them were irritating to others around them at one point in their careers. I know of several characters who were constantly 'in trouble' with other players and the powers-that-be, and managed to salvage themselves and turn into solid citizens. Roleplaying is a LEARNED skill. No one is born knowing it. You can complain about all the snerts, but if you aren't actively helping and teaching them, how do you expect them to ever get better? People learn, they grow up, they mature as players and as characters. They get new skills as time progresses. 'But they're spoiled, coddling them doesn't help'---bunk. Given some time and effort, the worst 'snert' can be made to understand it's an interactive world and what you do DOES affect other people. 'I know how to roleplay, I expect everyone to meet my standard or I won't help them.' Quite frankly, the worst kind of snobbish elitism (and yes I've done it too, and still sometimes fall into that trap). You're not insulting their intelligence or their physical beauty or anything else about them except their EXPERIENCE--'I have more experience at roleplay, therefore I am better than you--what? NO, I won't help you get better at it, you're scum! Go away!'. It's like getting ignoring an eight year old as an un-person because they don't understand calculus. Perhaps they could learn calculus if you took the time to teach them, but you're much too important and busy to be bothered? Too frustrated that teaching calculus to an eight year old is often difficult, so you give up trying? How did I find them? Forward interaction. I sit and talk to people. Anyone that moves, says something, anything I try and talk to. It works about half the time, that is, I get a response half the time. The only true one I had a problem with was one that was AFK scripting, and several people reported him. Heh, give them small things, amulets, wands, a better weapon, give the pants and skirts (pick em up when a dead crittur drops em!). Run them over to Sylv to get some cheap clothes. It's a VERY simple way to meet people--'Excuse me miss, I couldn't help noticing your...limbs are bare. I have a spare skirt, would you like it?' Give out acantha, offer to show them around town, do you know how to get deeds? It's EASY. You'll find out far fewer of them are 'sleeping' than you imagine. Many of them are just sitting quietly, waiting for something to happen, a little shy because they don't know anyone.
IGNORE snerts. Those out for a fight will engage you for disciminating in your help and refusing to join rescue parties and such. Entirely ignore them. Not a single word. Let them talk and talk and talk. let them slap and kick you silly. Ignore, completely, and totally. not even IGNORE *) TEACH the worthy. If you see a true new one, grab them, take them away from Victory Court, and explain things your way. Give them a bunch of needed initial equipment, and go with them on a rat hunt, explaining things. Tell them that they should experiment for at least 5000 experience points, and then come back if they want to for more lessons and help.
I have to say that was the best series of posts that I have seen in a long long time Leofred. Your road is a long and arduous one, but one very worth travelling. Your toughest students will be the ones that feel that they have already learned and need not learn more or differently. They are also the ones that need winning over the most and are the ones that, once won over, will make the greatest impact on your town.
I have learned many things in my life and one of those things is that you are never done learning.
I heard someone once say, "You can only learn something new every day if you make yourself available to learn it."
This means both mentally and attitudewise. In my real life, I learn new things every day from the people around me. I learn from other health professionals. I learn from Janitors, my kids, people on these boards, newbies in the game, Logistics personel, parking attendants, computer systems folks, the guy that brings the food trays from the kitchen to the floor where I work and the list goes on. But I make myself available to learn what they have to teach. It may not be something big, but it is something.
Sometimes I learn that what I had learned before was wrong. Those are the times where the most strength and fortitude are needed, for I need to swallow my pride and accept a better, more proper way of behaving or getting things done.
That is your quest. To those who feel that they are not done learning and that it is an ongoing process: Keep making yourself available to learn and have the strength to change, when you do learn. To those who feel that they have already learned the "right" way of things and need not learn more: Make yourself available to learn from anyone and everyone. It is a very enlightening experience and who knows where that will bring you.
Ok, That was all folks. I hope you do realize that my duties as a grandfather require me to say wise things every now and then. It's a contract thing.
Athanastus
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