Me, myself, and "use of this pronoun is a relinquishing of power"

First of all - Happy Mother's Day: in the States, it's the Sunday full of obligation, love, and happiness, sadness, and all in between. Toughest job in the world. I'll be calling my mom soon--my mom is amazing. (But aren't all moms?)


Now to our regularly scheduled post:


Perusing through some NPR articles and WoW blog feeds, these two articles stood out:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/04/30/151550273/to-predict-dating-success-the-secrets-in-the-pronouns


and Big Bear's post on Cross-Realm leveling:
http://thebigbearbutt.com/2012/05/11/cross-realm-leveling-zones/


Of the comments, Esoteric's reflected my thoughts, especially the "awkward" part. I don't have active characters all across the realms, and am doing a house-cleaning of sorts today (that serial deletionist is on the loose again!) I'm not sure how to say this, but I think that my Real ID friends will most likely agree: there are reasons why there are peep-holes in doors (to screen the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons) and why we will beg Blizzard not to take the portals from Dalaran. In Blizzard's attempts to force us all to "just get along" we may rebel and rail against one another even more. We all have known the player whom we "caller id," and I am sure I have been "that player" for others too: when I didn't pick up on the social cues and tugged on netherweave sleeves too much.


The pronoun-use article really has nothing to do with cross-realm leveling. I had a thin connection centrifuging around my noggin this morning, but it got lost, spun out into the void. The pronoun article took me back to sophomore English when I was told NEIN! verwenden Sie nicht das Pronomen ich! This style issue was never explained by the teacher, just a "don't do it." This article explains it, finally. Every time I dotted an "i" (not with smiley hearts) or cross the fjords of "t's" it nagged at me. (We all have those inner dialogues/voices of those who have taught/criticized/instructed us how is it we remember only certain odd moments, and not the times when someone told us "we got it right?" I'm sure there's an NPR article about that somewhere, too.) 


In any case, some of these solutions that Blizzard comes up with kind of, well, piss me off. As other commenters said it may not be the game developers intent to pin-point me and make me mad--they're not sitting around a conference table somewhere with Perrier and discussing ways to decrease my personal enjoyment of game-time. 


But -- let me share something. I don't go on Facebook that much anymore--it has lost my attention, and those are people I love! It has become an announcement forum for sick toddlers, disgruntled employees, and cousins who help polarize politics. When I escape to Azeroth, I want pretty ponies, raiding time (yes--wait for it) and just hanging out with a small group of close play buddies. Oftentimes, I have mused about being able to obtain elite, amazing mounts or go on an epic quest on my own. The raiding time? Blizzard--PLEASE -- I just don't have the schedule to raid on a regular schedule. I just don't. And that is kind of --counter-intuitive? Think about it. Did Vikings have Blackberries and i-Phones, and ask Siri to schedule their next raid? "Siri here. I'll put that pillaging on your calendar."


Ultimately, though, it won't matter. And that is the cool part. We craft our enjoyment in our own ways, on our own time. I do like LFR (see the post coming later today), and my Real ID buddies have formed our groove of "Can you come out and play? Yes/No?" No harm, no foul.


So, for now, off to do some things, catch up on Tome's Twister Nether podcast, and enjoy a rare sunny spring day. 

Border patrol.

You shall not pass!

Last night, long-time player friend introduced me to Cross-Realm dungeon finder. We had a blast. It was just fun to be on equal footing with him leveling-wise, and kind of felt like we had snuck into the concert for free. Was mentioning this to a guildmate this morning, and he said it would probably: A. Not last or B. Cost More Money. His feeling was Blizzard already had enough of his time and money; not only that, but he was getting bored. Might start playing the new Star Wars game.

Pay attention, Blizzard, please.

My play time is beginning to need to wind down here very soon. Had a young friend ask me recently if I ever got bored, and the answer was mildly complicated. I am, in some ways. But I probably won't replace it with another game, unless it's what my dear friend told me about, Ico, or Wii Dance Party. I'm still 'new' enough that my primary characters are still different and engaging enough for me to want to try to reach some level of success.
I am just not sure.

What I do know is the dungeons were hilarious. We had a worgen (!) who wanted to know where or how to get PVE gear. He was level 76. He really didn't know. A lot. Next up: a tank, in Gundrak, GUNDRAK for Pete's sake, say he was "carrying" everyone after one snake mob and the healer, me, (Zeptepi) was an idiot for using Prayer of Mending. I know. I know what it does. I just thought it was pretty and I was BORED. He actually left. Poor little psycho: kind of feel sorry for him.

And, the thought of taking even one more character through Molten Front doesn't inspire me. In fact, my reaction is more akin to having to pull out belly-button lint from a herpes-infected Bengali tiger on the streets of Omaha.

Does that sound like fun to you, Blizzard? 

I want to take the word "grind" out of my vocabulary with time in Azeroth. What's headed my way work-wise is enough. I want play to be just that, play. With friends. Real friends.
What I would like is not only cross-realm dungeons, but cross-realm quests, dailies if need be, etc. These are just for Real ID friends, as it should be. I don't want to have to stop to pray over some worgen who can't find pants.