Annoying Elves

[Sejs]

Well, yes.

Why do you think his presence is missed so sorely?

 

[Banshee16]

That's one of the things that always gets me about the portrayal of elves. Particularly as such just like they're humans plus.

Get this: Even to elves, it was still hundreds (etc) years ago. It wasn't last week. You were still around then, but it was a long, long time in the past. Lots of thing have happened since then.

One of the benefits of having a lifespan measured in glacial ages is your perspective broadens somewhat. You realize that nothing lasts forever and that the nature of existance is to change. Sure a forrest burns down, but that doesn't mean another one won't grow. Sure you lost a house, but eventually you would've lost it anyway. Sure your friend died, but he would've died at some point no matter what you do. Don't get angry over what's past, or if you do, let it go after a while. Celebrate what was and move on. Nobody can shoulder an eternity of grudges. You can't live your life if you're too busy being mad at every transgression that's ever been.

Spend your whole time bitching about the thorns and you'll miss the roses.

Though intellectually I agree with you, neither history nor sociology seem to support your statement. Hundreds of millions of people around the world resist change very strongly. In fact, as people get older, they tend to be less willing to change. "Can't teach an old dog new tricks" and all that.

We've got people killing each other the world around over things that happened decades ago, racial or national hatreds that continue based on things that occurred centuries ago. We haven't changed. That's as close as I'll let that get to real life.

Given that the human lifespan is on average about 79 years, I'm not sure we can actually grasp the way a creature that lives 10 times as long would see the world.

Banshee

 

[Sejs]

You do have a point, but allow me to offer a qualifier.

Much of the continuing issues that you mentioned are in large part based on recursive violence and hatred on both sides of the fence. They got you, so you got them, so they got you, so you got them, etc, etc. Keep going 'round and 'round for as long as the two groups are there to do it.

Conversely by comparisson, an elf holding a grudge over something that happened hundreds of years ago would be like an Italian man still being pissed off at the Germans because they sacked Rome that one time, or a Brit being ticked off about that whole colonial thing. I just can't see staying angry for that long. Unless the situation is continuing in some way, or, as above, recursive, the influx of new memories and experiences are eventually push those old events off the map. Sure, you can remember 'em if you think about it, but they're not up there in your normal day-to-day thought process.

 

[Banshee16]

You do have a point, but allow me to offer a qualifier.

Much of the continuing issues that you mentioned are in large part based on recursive violence and hatred on both sides of the fence. They got you, so you got them, so they got you, so you got them, etc, etc. Keep going 'round and 'round for as long as the two groups are there to do it.

Conversely by comparisson, an elf holding a grudge over something that happened hundreds of years ago would be like an Italian man still being pissed off at the Germans because they sacked Rome that one time, or a Brit being ticked off about that whole colonial thing. I just can't see staying angry for that long. Unless the situation is continuing in some way, or, as above, recursive, the influx of new memories and experiences are eventually push those old events off the map. Sure, you can remember 'em if you think about it, but they're not up there in your normal day-to-day thought process.

Well, I recall speaking to vets of WWII who still had strong feelings about the enemy from back then.....that's a good 60 years ago. I'm not saying they all do, but I have talked with those who did.

In any case, the elves are typically described as not seeing the march of years the same way that humans do. I'm not convinced their brain would be pushing out old data the same way. If it did, they'd be forgetting their childhood, etc. It does depend on the DM in question, but still..

Banshee

 

[Sejs]

If it did, they'd be forgetting their childhood, etc. It does depend on the DM in question, but still..

Sorta, yeah. I can't speak for anyone else here, but I personally don't remember all that much about my childhood, to tell you the truth. Sure, I remember it happened, and a few pertinent details, maybe a significant event or two vaguely, but beyond that it's all just sort of a blur.

*shrug*