Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Oops, I've been acting like an elitist jerk
by Nik Mitchell 
Oct 25th 2010 at 8:00AM
So there I was, fresh off a rant to a friend in Vent about what had just happened that night during what was appearing to be a common occurrence in our raids. I was frustrated (in my own defense, it was just one of those nights when nothing goes right, no matter how hard you try), and that's when it happened: The deep-down thoughts of ZOMG, how hard can this be, people?! spilled out into a diatribe on why I can't stand to run with the lot of them, since they "just don't get it and probably never will!" I named names. I pointed fingers. If there was a bridge to burn, I had brought along the dynamite for extra explosive-y goodness! I was good, they were bad, and I was there to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
It was at that point I realized I had become the bane of every WoW player: the Elitist Jerk (OK, not the Elitist Jerks -- those guys and their forums are awesome). As soon as I had finished my speech, the notion of "it's lonely at the top" had a whole new meaning. Once I had out-classed my friends, they stopped being chatty with me in Vent. It was one lonely night after another. I missed them.
Elitism can strike at any time. The important thing is realizing how to harness, control and manipulate what you know into a vessel that can be used to help those around you become better at their own game.
My story ends well. Once I was able to use my powers for good, my old friends didn't hold a grudge. Besides, what's really important in the game for you? Is it the camaraderie of your friends or the satisfaction of being the best?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Krige Oct 25th 2010 9:23AM
It struck me that the point of the article was to illustrate how being an elitist jerk was a bad thing.
To then continue to describe yourself as having outclassed your friends WITHIN the article is almost worse.
To summarise my impression of the article:
"I acted like a jerk.
Even though I am completely awesome and better than everyone else, I should not be such a jerk."
So it's ok to think you are better than everyone as long as you don't shout at them?
Do me a favour.
Jonisjalopy Oct 25th 2010 9:48AM
Ahh the internets; where sarcasm is lost on everyone.
He was saying that in his elitest mind, this is what was happening. We have all had these thoughts of "Why can't these idiots do this?!", when in reality we are saying "Why aren't you as good as me?!".
We have all had it happen, and we should all be thankful that it did and grow from it.
Krige Oct 25th 2010 9:52AM
Well ok,
If that whole article WAS intended as sarcasm I will cheerfully withdraw my comments.
Though I have to say that I would hope that someone writing for a site like this might be a little more careful, given how easily sarcasm can be missed on the aforementioned "Internets".
:)
niko Oct 25th 2010 10:33AM
I wrote this piece, and I appreciate WoWInsider for posting it!
most of my blow-up was in private to a friend, but it still was a watershed moment for me.. being "that guy" was not something I wanted to be, so I had to change my mind on what I was thinking. I was not proud of the person I had become.
Just because you're good at the game shouldn't mean you get on a high horse, and this was something I had to act upon (and please note, I'm not the best!). Sorry if that theme comes off misunderstood (and tbh I had some emphasis on words that got edited out, so perhaps that's where it gets lost in translation). It was a hastily-penned article that I should have spent a little more time with, in retrospect. :)
but i'm still super-excited WI picked it, despite it's weaknesses. Thanks, WoWInsider!
Krige Oct 25th 2010 10:50AM
Fair enough Nik, as I said above, comment cheerfully withdrawn.
And..grats on getting published!
Moonfaxx Oct 25th 2010 12:38PM
"So it's ok to think you are better than everyone as long as you don't shout at them?"
Absolutely. If you truly are a better player, keep it to yourself... and then milk your skill/ability/brainpower/finger dexterity for all it's worth. And if it's up your alley, surround yourself with people of similar talent so you can accomplish greater things. Greatness (even in the context of a video game) speaks for itself and attracts followers (both protege and the "tear you down" wannabe). Nothing wrong with having confidence and being realistic. Just remember to eat a slice of humble pie and keep your mouth shut about it.
Eisengel Oct 26th 2010 12:56AM
You can't help what you feel; that's a reflection of your instinct and reactions.
You can help how you react to what you feel; that's a measure of what kind of person you are.
Over time you can train yourself to feel or not feel a certain way, but it is much more important to manage how you react. For instance all people feel frightened or scared at times, but how they react can vary wildly.
I think the author stopped one step too early. It would have been useful if he talked about how you can channel such feelings into something positive. I get the EJ twitch occasionally, but usually what I do is write up guides.
Tordenflesk Oct 25th 2010 8:17AM
Even though I've never led a raid I'm often struck by the thought "a monkey could've done that, why couldn't you?"
Most off the time we're fighting ourselves, not the boss.
Oomu Oct 25th 2010 8:31AM
"Most off the time we're fighting ourselves, not the boss."
Peuple, it's what Death Wing wants !
cmichaelcooper Oct 25th 2010 8:19AM
I would stab my best friend in the heart with a trident from atop a horse and then sell his body parts for science if I could get that Lich King kill.
Kentaurus Oct 25th 2010 8:34AM
Wow, I can't even begin to imagine what you would do for a Klondike Bar.
Sinthar Oct 25th 2010 9:37AM
You sound so .......unlikeable and mercenary.
Glad your not in my guild
Earnshaw Oct 25th 2010 9:09AM
"Your telling me you did this all for a bunch of virgins?"
"Are you kidding, I'd kill you for Klondike Bar!"
cmichaelcooper Oct 25th 2010 10:40AM
@Sinthar You mean being unlikable and mercenary isn't even just a little sexy? Not even a little?
@Earnshaw Nice reference.
@Everyone I can't believe you didn't get the Anchorman reference. The world is a little bit darker to me this day.
Natlove Oct 25th 2010 8:18AM
Just have fun.
Strigiforme Oct 25th 2010 8:20AM
While I would much rather play with people I like to hang out with than great players I hate as people, I think a lot of it is about finding a balance between the two. I don't think it's too much to ask of the people I raid with to have read about the boss fights or to have put some research into how to best play their class. Quite frankly, the people who can't take a few minutes to do this to make the raid experience more fun for everyone are not good people and not the kind of people I want to spend several hours playing this game with. If your life is too busy to read up on how the game mechanics work, you are too busy to raid, and far too busy to waste my time with tripping over your toon's corpse.
The flip side of that is if I know someone is doing their best, putting in as much effort as they can afford to, and has demonstrated a real desire to be better, I will give them all the time in the world and carry them as far as I'm able. All I ask for is the effort. If the effort is there, then they're good folk and I'm happy to call them my guildmate. I understand that not everyone has this view and it's a poor one for progression raiding, but I just want to have fun, which, to me, is good times with good friends.
JoeRandom Oct 25th 2010 8:40AM
basically, this.
Evlyxx Oct 25th 2010 8:51AM
People often mistake casual with lazy and useless. Casual just means that people are not just playing for the purples 20 seconds after they appear in game. Wow, like life, is a journey rather than a race.
Blizzard give us lots of time to get to see all their content so we keep paying them so sit back and enjoy the ride through the scenery.
bdew Oct 25th 2010 8:20AM
I found that i'm starting to behave like an Elitist Jerk when i'm getting burned out on the game... When "just" having fun isn't an option anyway and raiding progression is all that remains.
I'm currently on an extended break from wow (for more than a year already) but am planning to come back when 4.0.3 drops. I'm seriously considering either not touching raiding anymore (which would be cool if the game actually had enough content outside of raids to keep me busy in the long term) or at least doing it in a very casual way.
Kezren Oct 25th 2010 8:23AM
I've been the elitist jerk several times, although my guilds have has another name for me. But the nights where I was calling people out in vent and telling them they needed to perform to my standards we have done better. I don't see elitism as being a terrible thing, if people aren't getting the fight after 10 wipes to the same cause then there is a problem somewhere and it needs to be addressed. And I, for one, don't feel bad about being the jerk to do it. Could I have been nicer sometimes? Possibly, but when my time was wasted for 4+ hours a night I don't always feel like being a nice guy.