Jester David
Hero
First, blaming the victim is never a particularly good position in anything.And I say that's their own fault for comparing themselves to professionals when they're just starting out.
Second, this which would be fine if they had someone else to compare themselves to. Previously, new DMs had no comparisons as they were starting blind or had the comparison of a friend. There were no professionals.
Now, people might start the game only having a professional as a point of reference and having no idea if they'll measure up.
That's nice.I don't find that to be the case.
I do.
I very much feel exhausted and drained after a gaming session. I sleep like crap after, because my mind is going at 110%. I agonize over my mistakes. I try to be better and provide a great game and always try to be better than last time then beat myself up when I fail.
And I've been doing it for like 28 years, so I'm not some rookie. But I also know what I'm capable of and how I've done better in the past.
And now, I also know where I stack up to professionals. Because 5 years ago I would have said I'm an awesome DM. And now I estimate myself as "adequate". I'm the big fish in the very, very small pond.
It's nice when you can get a sense of progress and personal accomplishment. But it's hard if you never seem to be nearing the impossible goal you have set for youself, let alone others.Yes, striving to improve is great even if you're already very good at something. This doesn't require thinking that your past or present effort is terrible either. It's just an acknowledgement that one can always get better in any domain.
In theory, yeah. And if were that easy psychiatrists would be paid 15 cents and operate in stalls on the street.Wow. That is some stinkin' thinkin' right there. This is why you don't compare yourself to other people, but rather to the person you were yesterday. If you're better than you were yesterday, great. If you're not, work harder at it.
It's easy on paper, but who I was "yesterday" was so much happier and better off.
People's minds do dumb things and make irrational decisions. Such as comparing your skills to a professional DM.