An Epiphany. Warning: Contains volatile emotional stuff ;)
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:57 pm
I had a little epiphany last night….
First part…Jumped into the middle of Ahebban (about 22 minutes into a 41 minute game) last night playing on Red. About 10 minutes into my round, I get switched to Blue. It happened so fast that I don’t know if I died and respawned or just got dumped over to the other team. In any event, it momentarily disrupted my train of thought (read that as old fart brain cells not coping quickly with change!). Tried to get back on Red..no joy there. So I went ahead and played out the remaining 10 minutes or so on Blue. In between maps I commented that I hated getting swapped in mid-game. There followed this comment directed to me from a player I won’t name: “what difference does it make, you don’t impact the game”.
That felt about as good as a heavy boot to the head. I’m a reasonably calm person (most of the time), but I went ballistic when I heard that. I swear my blood pressure must’ve gone up about 20 points in two seconds. I wasn’t entirely sure why it affected me so abruptly. I do know that I disconnected and shut down the game before I managed to open my mouth and insert my foot (score one for a least a small bit of rational thought).
I started thinking about what was said and why it bugged the hell out of me for hours! Then it clicked in! I realized the reason behind my turmoil. Persecution for being geeky girl all through elementary and even into junior high school. Kids deliver some pretty unkind cuts and this person isn’t any different than those 7 and 8 year olds I had to deal with sooooo long ago. I didn’t have life experience back then, I do now and I wish I could post here a quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slapstick”…not gonna offend sensibilities… (it has to do with flying, doughnuts, and the moon…google it!) that I’d wish I’d told this person at the time. I feel sorry for him in a way…and a little disturbed that someone presumably an adult or near adult can still possess that kind of mentality. Really a weird experience for me, having that stuff surface from so far back.
Well…I know I should have stayed on the server and politely told him to get stuffed. I didn’t….but I will…if necessary, next time!
Ya see…the other part of the epiphany I had was that I know it makes a difference, to me, on what team I play. Maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s tactical, hell…maybe it’s even because red’s my favorite color! But it’s my choice…after all. And as for not impacting the game….there’s lots of things people don’t know about each other. Life hands out difficulties in a seemingly random order. In my case, age and gender are the least of what’s been portioned. However, I have been given gifts as well…love, humour, laughter, fun, books, friends, music, games (it’s a large list!) and somehow they manage to overcome the difficulties, most of the time. Please know that no few of those gifts I have found here. I may not impact the game, but the game has most certainly impacted me. My profound thanks to you all!!
I know I’m a very average player…some days a lot worse…some days I manage to even surprise me! I’m not likely to make any huge improvements…in a flip play on words, Groucho Marx once said, “Time wounds all heels.” So it goes with me. Not quite old as dirt…(Cheapshot you may have me beat on that count…just a little bit!)…not quite as young as the new day.
Thanks for putting up with me….thanks for listening.
KKat
First part…Jumped into the middle of Ahebban (about 22 minutes into a 41 minute game) last night playing on Red. About 10 minutes into my round, I get switched to Blue. It happened so fast that I don’t know if I died and respawned or just got dumped over to the other team. In any event, it momentarily disrupted my train of thought (read that as old fart brain cells not coping quickly with change!). Tried to get back on Red..no joy there. So I went ahead and played out the remaining 10 minutes or so on Blue. In between maps I commented that I hated getting swapped in mid-game. There followed this comment directed to me from a player I won’t name: “what difference does it make, you don’t impact the game”.
That felt about as good as a heavy boot to the head. I’m a reasonably calm person (most of the time), but I went ballistic when I heard that. I swear my blood pressure must’ve gone up about 20 points in two seconds. I wasn’t entirely sure why it affected me so abruptly. I do know that I disconnected and shut down the game before I managed to open my mouth and insert my foot (score one for a least a small bit of rational thought).
I started thinking about what was said and why it bugged the hell out of me for hours! Then it clicked in! I realized the reason behind my turmoil. Persecution for being geeky girl all through elementary and even into junior high school. Kids deliver some pretty unkind cuts and this person isn’t any different than those 7 and 8 year olds I had to deal with sooooo long ago. I didn’t have life experience back then, I do now and I wish I could post here a quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slapstick”…not gonna offend sensibilities… (it has to do with flying, doughnuts, and the moon…google it!) that I’d wish I’d told this person at the time. I feel sorry for him in a way…and a little disturbed that someone presumably an adult or near adult can still possess that kind of mentality. Really a weird experience for me, having that stuff surface from so far back.
Well…I know I should have stayed on the server and politely told him to get stuffed. I didn’t….but I will…if necessary, next time!
Ya see…the other part of the epiphany I had was that I know it makes a difference, to me, on what team I play. Maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s tactical, hell…maybe it’s even because red’s my favorite color! But it’s my choice…after all. And as for not impacting the game….there’s lots of things people don’t know about each other. Life hands out difficulties in a seemingly random order. In my case, age and gender are the least of what’s been portioned. However, I have been given gifts as well…love, humour, laughter, fun, books, friends, music, games (it’s a large list!) and somehow they manage to overcome the difficulties, most of the time. Please know that no few of those gifts I have found here. I may not impact the game, but the game has most certainly impacted me. My profound thanks to you all!!
I know I’m a very average player…some days a lot worse…some days I manage to even surprise me! I’m not likely to make any huge improvements…in a flip play on words, Groucho Marx once said, “Time wounds all heels.” So it goes with me. Not quite old as dirt…(Cheapshot you may have me beat on that count…just a little bit!)…not quite as young as the new day.
Thanks for putting up with me….thanks for listening.
KKat