Why the need for confession?

[Raven Crowking]

@ the OP: If you can answer the question "Why did you feel the need to start this thread", then I think you will have also answered your question.

 

[Markn]

@ the OP: If you can answer the question "Why did you feel the need to start this thread", then I think you will have also answered your question.

QFT!

Awesome! This post wins.

 

[davethegame]

For the record:

I no longer play World of Synnibar. We tried it for a few adventures and found it just did not suit our group. I don't know if it was the divisional armor class or the flying clams, but there was just something missing about it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

At some level, "I'm quitting X" threads are basically posts about game design, taken from a very real and practical standpoint. Not only do I welcome them, I think more than anything else it's what this site has somewhat lacked since the Great Schism, a community in which to talk about games and gaming without a fear of judgment. You are not asked to declare a faction when you join EN World, so when I see a post like that, I see someone wanting to connect with their community on an informational and psychological level.

But isn't it, in theory at least, only creating more and more 'of the 'Great Schism'? In speaking of community, they're not talking about the great games they're now having, many of them are bashing the game they used to play. That's not something I'd want to build a community around. But perhaps it's easier to build around dislike of something rather than enjoyement of it?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Indeed. There's some good stuff in there.

The other part of the 'Confession' threads that I tend to hate, and one of the reaons I try to avoid them, is, as others have said, when you declare preference X, or lack of enjoyment from Y, many of the people who respond to the threads post Z.

Now, in the case of your thread, it seemed to be actively seeking that, which is good. In others though, the OP is washing their hands of the system and it seems many posters are taking the stand of beating the head against the stone.

Fair enough, and I apologize if you feel Wrongfully Accused.

That said, I don't see why this is so mystifying, and I still think you are assuming a negative/whiny/looking-for-sympathy connotation when there might not be--it really depends upon the specific case (I have certainly read some "confessionals" that had that tone, although most haven't).

Look at the thread I originally linked to, for example. Does it look like I was looking for sympathy or not asking for discussion or feedback? Actually, I asked for comments in the original post and a lot of great discussion followed.

I actually find "confessionals" some of the most interesting threads, often leading to some of the most fruitful discussions. Why? Because they bridge the gap between the game itself and who we are as people. I personally find it interesting to get a sense of who the people are behind the handles, behind the funny little pictures and names they (we) use to represent themselves, and behind the text.

More than anything, the "RPG confessional" is a way to connect, and there ain't nothing wrong with that--and it is far from being a mystifying thing.

And Raven, I think the OP itself makes it pretty clear why I posted the thread. Now if I'd started it with some tanget like "I'm gonna kill meself if dem dun darn threads about hatin' editions not be stopping any time soon!", I can see where you'd even need to ask that but it's a free internet so knock yourself out.

@ the OP: If you can answer the question "Why did you feel the need to start this thread", then I think you will have also answered your question.

 

[Raven Crowking]

And Raven, I think the OP itself makes it pretty clear why I posted the thread. Now if I'd started it with some tanget like "I'm gonna kill meself if dem dun darn threads about hatin' editions not be stopping any time soon!", I can see where you'd even need to ask that but it's a free internet so knock yourself out.

Something was bugging you and you felt the need to share?

Seem familiar?


RC

 

[Janx]

I think there's a number of factors.

Saying you're quitting playing a game, is kind of like those forum-suicide-posts, where somebody declares they're fed up with the forum and they're quitting.

Which ironically enough, they stick around long enough to read the posts, and often respond to some.


There's also a factor that it's easy to complain because you're not happy and you're not occupied with doing the activity anymore.

I recall some time ago, Monte Cook stopped doing rants on his web page, and switched to doing "raves", because as he noted, it was too easy to dwell on the negative.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Something was bugging you and you felt the need to share?

Seem familiar?


RC

No, I felt the need to be educated.

See the difference?

 

[MrGrenadine]

But isn't it, in theory at least, only creating more and more 'of the 'Great Schism'? In speaking of community, they're not talking about the great games they're now having, many of them are bashing the game they used to play. That's not something I'd want to build a community around. But perhaps it's easier to build around dislike of something rather than enjoyement of it?

Interesting how two folks can read the same text and come away with completely different flavor.

Sometimes someone can dislike something without thinking its badwrong. I don't like eggplant, but I make no judgments about people who love it, and I will happily sit with someone tucking into a big plate of it while I enjoy my pizza, or chocolate cake, or beer.

If the community is "people who enjoy TTRPGs", then there should be no problem in discussing why we like one game or the other, or parts of one or another.

The problem, maybe, is that the community is sometimes assumed to be "people who enjoy the TTRPGs that I enjoy", which may lead to sensitivity should someone voice a differing view.

 

[Raven Crowking]

What I'm trying to say is that, in all probability, the reasons you wrote the OP are similar to those of the posts you are describing. Something was bugging you, and you posted about it. You say you wanted to be educated, and that's fine. Perhaps the person who wrote the post that triggered that feeling in you was also trying to find out what others thought....to either be "educated back into the fold" as it were, or to feel less isolated in leaving it.

Way back, I experienced some dissatisfaction with 3e, and was "educated back into the fold". While I later decided that I was wrong in being convinced that 3e was "still the same" as earlier editions, that what I was feeling was "simply nostalgia", those conversations helped me a lot at that time.

People don't post "I'm quitting X" when they are certain, IMHO. When they are certain, they post "I'm starting Y". YMMV.

But I still think that your OP could be answered by looking in a mirror and reflecting on what you see. Pun intended.



RC