Dear Matty: "It's the Little Things" Edition

Dear Matty:
This may be very odd, but as I am relatively new to MMORPGs,  I'm not quite sure how to handle any silences or the flow of conversation. Sometimes I say things in Vent or Guildchat that are so dorky, and I want to make a good impression, and not bug people, but I also want them to get to know me and know I have a personality, too, even if it is nerdy. I am very used to talking to people face-to-face, and I am a master at reading body language and moods, but have lost this skill in the social gaming world. What if they all think I'm not worth spending time with, that I don't know my stuff?

Please help me,

G-Chat Genie

Dear Genie:

Ah, my dear, I think you've touched on something that we all feel from time to time. We forget two things while we are in a guild environment: 1. These are not real people 2. These are all real people. Much as been written about guild culture, climate, tone, and expectations, and I can totally relate as I too have recently joined a large guild, and I really like everyone fine. But, I too worry about my personality quirks not meshing with others, and my biggest "Get Thee to A Therapist" bugaboo is that I hate to be misunderstood. There is a set pattern to human relationships we cannot seem to extricate ourselves from: honeymoon phase: buckle down phase: disinterested or angry: resolve or separate: back to mutual admiration or dissolution.

Let me give you an example: Many years ago, Cross-Dressing Rogue started a local film festival. His intent was to bring quality films to the culturally-starved area. The local "Arts" council got a hold of it. and transformed it from a wonderful, creative, popular event to a "ladies who lunch and like plastic flowers" drama and political bullshit mess. But, one of the successes of the event was he got this young filmmaker to send his work, which is to this day, one of the best movies I have ever seen, and I still share it often: My Name Is Yu Ming. And even though the local battalion of ladies who imagine they could run a film festival with the same passion as CDR found themselves coming up short. I still have a T-shirt, and this film.

So, on a walk today was asking myself the pivotal question: "What is the worst that can happen?" as I endeavor in a new guild. The best that can happen is I meet some new friends, have fun, get crazy loot, and enjoy this avocation we call WoW. The worst that can happen is it all falls apart, they g-kick me, and then I go and gee, I don't know, read a book or hang out with my mage buddy drinking Cenarion gold from a brown paper sack next up to the washed-up mage, betting on the PvP cage matches in the sewers. Either way it's a win!

Humans + Humans = Drama < Unrealistic Expectations/Tolerance.

Oh, and this is a win:

My new little lock, Hildebruja, got a haircut today. Surprise! Her two braids swirl and twist when she mounts her horse! It is awesome!! Dwarf girl for the win, people! Who knew!?!

This tickles me to no end. So remember, indeed it is the little things, the things that irk us and make us want to punch our computer screens, like my goofy mouse issues (which another player confessed to having the same issues! Thank goodness it wasn't just me!) Or the happy little things like swirling braids of "giddy-up pony!"