Post by farrah on May 10, 2010 1:41:21 GMT -5
It’s Not Just a Game
It’s a rather stuffy topic for such a recreational area—hobbies are for fun, right? Fun is about letting loose, relaxing, and—surprisingly—having a good time… right? So why are there rules about how you play the game? It’s your cards, your money, and your hobby—who cares? It’s no one else’s business, right?
Wrong.
A lot of people care, and whether you realize it or not, that directly affects you. Magic isn’t about gold fishing hour after hour—it’s about playing with other people. If you want to play by yourself and be a complete ogre, you’ll be stuck playing solitaire for the rest of your life. Hopefully you’ve come to a sort of sense of this global harmony-economy by opening this thread; hopefully by opening this thread you’ll learn something.
This isn’t your typical “learn to play better” or “fix my deck” thread; this is a thread about Magic, the people who play Magic, and how those people act—neigh, should act—inside the game. This thread is about becoming a better player in more than game skill; it’s about becoming a better person, which will ensnare your opponents in unrivaled charm and enrich the experience for both parties as a whole.
This is a thread about the socio-interrelations and correlations of said game.
This is a thread about not being a complete tard.
There are certain things that should never be done inside a game of Magic, though surprisingly I find myself facing them day-by-day. People sometimes lack refined etiquette when entering a game situation, though by no means should games fall under such anarchy of social skill.
Things to Remember Before Magic:
#1. Your opponent is a person.
Despite the fact that you are competing, there is simply no reason to be inhumane to one another. Magic is about cards, not attitudes—so drop it.
#2. Everyone’s deck “craps out all the time”.
No, you’re not the only one whose deck “doesn’t work when it needs to”. People seem to forget that both players are subject to bad hands and worse draws; it happens, get over it.
#3. Others want to have fun, too.
If you’re still under the notion that you “paid your dues”, then clearly you have forgotten the golden rule of gaming—others have, too. You aren’t the only one with a tournament fee, deck prices, and gas money to pay, and if you’re souring the mood of the entire room then you’re more than likely going to be removed from the tournament. This is a game with people; a game without people is called solitaire.
Things to Remember During Magic:
#1. Be polite.
Shake hands and introduce yourself, ask how your opponent is doing during the night, and reply with polite, neutral comments. Offer a choice of die when rolling to see who goes first, and always ask before managing your opponents’ cards. A good player will know to always offer an opponent their deck after searching and shuffling, and when to slide a card over for inspection if rubber-necking ensues.
#2. Understand your opponent.
Some people prefer a light, casual conversation during a game; others, however, are all business. This is most certainly okay. Learn to realize that your opponent is not being rude if they chose to remain quiet during the game; some people enjoy different settings, and some dislike heavy social contact during the game. Light, non-distracting chatter is hard to come by, so realize that an opponent may become frustrated if you deviate from the game too much; on the other hand, some opponents may become bitter if you refuse a single word the entire match. Be flexible.
#3. Inquire—Don’t Accuse.
Slips of the tongue, mind lapses, and complete strategic meltdowns happen frequently in Magic—understand this well. If you disagree with an opponent, simply say so in a form of a light correction or question; pointing fingers, raising your voice, and raging is unacceptable in any form. Simply state that you don’t understand the ruling or disagree with the current one; if matters seem to be uncooperative, then call politely for a judge (that’s what they’re there for). Inquire in a neutral fashion—never blatantly accuse. Accusing an opponent of cheating is a serious accusation, and jumping the gun on top of a raging attitude can sour anyone’s night. Learn to realize that mistakes do happen, and approach the solution rationally. Screaming does not fall under that category.
The Self-Evaluation Checklist
#1. Drop it now!
Attitudes—everyone has them; whether they build or destroy is up to you. It is preferable that your attitude takes on the form of the one that you wish to seek, whether it is polite (neutral-positive), cheerful (positive-positive), all-business (neutral-neutral), or relaxed (positive-neutral). It is most certainly not okay to portray a negative-based attitude or action towards anyone; this includes making rude comments at or towards another player, correcting that player in a school-teacher fashion, making snide remarks about how “that player woulda/shoulda/coulda lost” next turn, etc. etc., or even going as far as calling that player “a baddie” or their deck “bad”, etc. This manner portrays a lack of skill, knowledge, and grace that most experienced players carry with them; mocking is replacement filler for an empty void left by no-skill.
#2. Slow down; speed up!
Never rush your opponent; never stall your opponent. These are both hideous offences that should be avoided at all costs. It should take you no more than a few seconds to make a play, and perhaps a few more to think about a rough one. Sitting at the table for several minutes of nothingness is grounds for a judge warning; badgering your opponent to “GO GO GO!” is just as harsh. Realize the balance of play; knowing your cards and their cards is key. Players who take too long are void of basic card and game knowledge; people who rush others are void of commonsense that they probably don’t know basic card and game knowledge, also.
#3. Golden rule—remember it.
Everyone’s put just as much resources into Magic as you have, even if it may be in different areas of interest; you have just as many rights to the game as everyone else. You are not privileged or special in any sense; realize this.
It’s a rather stuffy topic for such a recreational area—hobbies are for fun, right? Fun is about letting loose, relaxing, and—surprisingly—having a good time… right? So why are there rules about how you play the game? It’s your cards, your money, and your hobby—who cares? It’s no one else’s business, right?
Wrong.
A lot of people care, and whether you realize it or not, that directly affects you. Magic isn’t about gold fishing hour after hour—it’s about playing with other people. If you want to play by yourself and be a complete ogre, you’ll be stuck playing solitaire for the rest of your life. Hopefully you’ve come to a sort of sense of this global harmony-economy by opening this thread; hopefully by opening this thread you’ll learn something.
This isn’t your typical “learn to play better” or “fix my deck” thread; this is a thread about Magic, the people who play Magic, and how those people act—neigh, should act—inside the game. This thread is about becoming a better player in more than game skill; it’s about becoming a better person, which will ensnare your opponents in unrivaled charm and enrich the experience for both parties as a whole.
This is a thread about the socio-interrelations and correlations of said game.
This is a thread about not being a complete tard.
There are certain things that should never be done inside a game of Magic, though surprisingly I find myself facing them day-by-day. People sometimes lack refined etiquette when entering a game situation, though by no means should games fall under such anarchy of social skill.
Things to Remember Before Magic:
#1. Your opponent is a person.
Despite the fact that you are competing, there is simply no reason to be inhumane to one another. Magic is about cards, not attitudes—so drop it.
#2. Everyone’s deck “craps out all the time”.
No, you’re not the only one whose deck “doesn’t work when it needs to”. People seem to forget that both players are subject to bad hands and worse draws; it happens, get over it.
#3. Others want to have fun, too.
If you’re still under the notion that you “paid your dues”, then clearly you have forgotten the golden rule of gaming—others have, too. You aren’t the only one with a tournament fee, deck prices, and gas money to pay, and if you’re souring the mood of the entire room then you’re more than likely going to be removed from the tournament. This is a game with people; a game without people is called solitaire.
Things to Remember During Magic:
#1. Be polite.
Shake hands and introduce yourself, ask how your opponent is doing during the night, and reply with polite, neutral comments. Offer a choice of die when rolling to see who goes first, and always ask before managing your opponents’ cards. A good player will know to always offer an opponent their deck after searching and shuffling, and when to slide a card over for inspection if rubber-necking ensues.
#2. Understand your opponent.
Some people prefer a light, casual conversation during a game; others, however, are all business. This is most certainly okay. Learn to realize that your opponent is not being rude if they chose to remain quiet during the game; some people enjoy different settings, and some dislike heavy social contact during the game. Light, non-distracting chatter is hard to come by, so realize that an opponent may become frustrated if you deviate from the game too much; on the other hand, some opponents may become bitter if you refuse a single word the entire match. Be flexible.
#3. Inquire—Don’t Accuse.
Slips of the tongue, mind lapses, and complete strategic meltdowns happen frequently in Magic—understand this well. If you disagree with an opponent, simply say so in a form of a light correction or question; pointing fingers, raising your voice, and raging is unacceptable in any form. Simply state that you don’t understand the ruling or disagree with the current one; if matters seem to be uncooperative, then call politely for a judge (that’s what they’re there for). Inquire in a neutral fashion—never blatantly accuse. Accusing an opponent of cheating is a serious accusation, and jumping the gun on top of a raging attitude can sour anyone’s night. Learn to realize that mistakes do happen, and approach the solution rationally. Screaming does not fall under that category.
The Self-Evaluation Checklist
#1. Drop it now!
Attitudes—everyone has them; whether they build or destroy is up to you. It is preferable that your attitude takes on the form of the one that you wish to seek, whether it is polite (neutral-positive), cheerful (positive-positive), all-business (neutral-neutral), or relaxed (positive-neutral). It is most certainly not okay to portray a negative-based attitude or action towards anyone; this includes making rude comments at or towards another player, correcting that player in a school-teacher fashion, making snide remarks about how “that player woulda/shoulda/coulda lost” next turn, etc. etc., or even going as far as calling that player “a baddie” or their deck “bad”, etc. This manner portrays a lack of skill, knowledge, and grace that most experienced players carry with them; mocking is replacement filler for an empty void left by no-skill.
#2. Slow down; speed up!
Never rush your opponent; never stall your opponent. These are both hideous offences that should be avoided at all costs. It should take you no more than a few seconds to make a play, and perhaps a few more to think about a rough one. Sitting at the table for several minutes of nothingness is grounds for a judge warning; badgering your opponent to “GO GO GO!” is just as harsh. Realize the balance of play; knowing your cards and their cards is key. Players who take too long are void of basic card and game knowledge; people who rush others are void of commonsense that they probably don’t know basic card and game knowledge, also.
#3. Golden rule—remember it.
Everyone’s put just as much resources into Magic as you have, even if it may be in different areas of interest; you have just as many rights to the game as everyone else. You are not privileged or special in any sense; realize this.
