I've been thinking a lot lately about FFXI Blogging, and what it means to be a part of TTTO and the FFXI LJ community. How does what we post, as bloggers effect the view of the game? The view of our servers? The view of the player base? What, exactly, is our roll as bloggers.

I'd like to start this post of by saying that yes, this post was influenced by the recent string of posts made by Starcade, as well as the flame war comment section, and the insult thread on BG.


What IS blogging all about, anyway?

Ah, the big question. WHY do we all blog about FFXI? Some people blog because they like to have a place to keep their thoughts. Some people blog as a way of introducing new ideas into the community. Many just want a way to share their story. Blogging is a form of expression, a way of telling a story and sharing information. One might compare it to a television show, each one in some way similar but with its own twists. However, just like television, blogging can be abused.

Why do I blog?

Blogging for me, personally, has changed since I started. Originally I wanted to simply share my experiences leveling PUP, but when staticing caused me to level too far too fast to right about, my focus changed to writing about ways to use PUP in a non-standard form. Most of my major posts have been in relation to solo Apollyon, but if you go back you'll find simple stories about leveling.

What do you mean "abused?"

Blogging is much like the news in many aspects. The best way to get viewership is to stir up controversy. Sometimes said controversy is legitimate, and needs to be addressed. Most of the time though, controversy is maintained because it brings in viewers, not because it’s a serious issue in the community. Similarly, in the blogging community people feel the need to address controversy. This is a good thing! Controversy brings change. The issue is when people approach it the wrong way, or prodeced to follow through in ways that are detrimental.

How can it be detrimental to follow through?

Controversy should spawn conversation and dialog, it shouldn't start flame wars. Take, for example, the Jan. 22 banning. Kaeko did a fantastic job of presenting both side of the arguement. His posts provoked conversations in the comments, it started dialog between players of both sides, and it didn't cause fights. However, other posts on blogs took either an extremely defensive position, or an overly offensive position, which has lead to a flood of insults being thrown around. This is not constructive.

Ok, so some mistakes were made. . .

Yeah, mistakes were made. People have very strong opinions, that can't be helped. Now and then there are going to be community wide disagreements. If things had simply ended after that week, everything would be fine. However, things have haven't simply stopped and in some cases, things have escalated to the point of being ridicules and harmful to the community. Threats on people's real lives, threats on in game characters, scare tactics, and smear tactics have all made appearances.

Harmful to the community how?

Most in appearance. What would you say if you saw a group of people throwing insults around without reason? If someone was to check one of Starcade's blog posts now and see the kind of things being written, or if someone was to log onto BG and read through the seven page thread about the subject, they would get an extremely negative view of us as a community. Furthermore, its a split in the community. It drives a stake between the "casual" player and the "end game" player. People feel they have to choose a side, and those who post in the middle are either ignored or insulted for it.

What about how this affects TTTO?

Honestly, these posts are becoming an eye-soar on TTTO. I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel this way. When I load up TTTO I want to see blogs titled "Corsair 37! Ouryu Cometh! And Other Fun Stuff!" or "Survey Results from Japanese Players" (apologies to EvilPaul and Elmer), not ones titled "Another week playing in the flames," "FFXI has officially died," or "Flameage part: " Especially in the ever increasing numbers that they appear in. Negative posts breed negative feelings, and negative feels breed more negative posts.

Aren't you being a bit hard on Starcade?

Am I? Ok ok, so he's wasn't the only person following the 22nd, but if anyone has kept the spirit alive its him. Well, him and those who reply. On forums there is a unwritten rule saying "Don't feed the trolls," which applies here too. However, in this case its not as simple as saying one person is the troll. Starcade feeds the BGites, and the BGites feed Starcade. Its a cycle.

OK, so what?

I suppose my point is that its time to let things die. TTTO and the blogging community as a whole doesn't need this. Similarly, it doesn't need people outside the blogging community encouraging these posts with their replies and aggressive actions. The horse is dead, don't keep beating it.

Hold on Dan, doesn't this post make you no better than Starcade and the BGites?

I suppose, though I'm content to leave it at this. I've said what I needed to say and however it pans out, it pans out. More so though, I'm hoping this will discourage such action in the future. FFXI has one of, if not the, strongest communities of all MMOs. Sites like Alla, KI, BG, and others have done a wonderful job of promoting help between players, and the blog community has always been a powerful tool to show the connection between players, and build upon them. Lets not throw this all away in the name of being "right."

So coming back to the title of the post, what DOES it mean to be a part of the community?

Being part of the community means being part of something bigger than ourselves. Its not about being 1 person against the hordes of cheats, or being the lone Robin Hood who bots Fafnir for the good of his linkshell. Its not about causes contraversy or starting fights. Its about admiring the adventures of others. Its about learning things you might not have known before. Its about celebrating the triumphs, morning the losses, and discovering parts of the game many of us long time players have forgetten and many of the new players have yet to experience.

TTTO and other blogging communities are a strong symbol of the connection and joy the game brings to people around the world. I just ask that the community make an attempt to stop the degradation of our community