(04-23-2015, 11:30 AM)ArmachiA Wrote: BUTOOOO! I gonna try to play devil's advocate! Though I agree with what you said.
I don't think stating someone is popular automatically demonizes them. The idea of being labeled as "Popular" and it being taken as an insult it really strange to me. It reminds me a lot of when I ended up meeting a few rich people in my life, if you pointed out they were rich - they actually got insulted. Don't point it out, don't talk about the fact they have money. Just saying it demonized the fact they were rich in their eyes - even though it was just true. It was just a thing that was. People with status are uncomfortable admitting that status, sure, but it doesn't make it less true (Also most people who have money will immediately argue that they in fact don't have money and/or use the argument of "I worked hard for this!" which rings strikingly familiar).
I don't think there is anything wrong with the label. Let me repeat that: There is nothing wrong with being labeled popular. Nothing. Popular people are going to exist in ANY community. Youtube? Pewdiepie. Imgur? Kylecorn. Something Awful? Lowtax. Little Old Jplop forums I've mentioned before? Starra.
It happens. It's not exclusive to FFXIV RP. Communities form and faces stand out in the crowd from them. This is not bad. If you get labeled as a popular - own it. The community has deemed you one, fighting against it isn't going to change anything. But, also understand what it means.
Let's see....
What if a popular person does something you don't agree with could happen?
For example, if someone popular role plays over the course of a month or two that they have become immune to tempering by Primals or that Dragons attacked Ul'dah with bombs or something and a bunch of other people role with it( a clique if you will), but a few other role players don't feel it's a valid idea, who is right? How does the community handle this? The popular person did work hard to develop said story. Does their opinion supersede the small group since they have more people backing them up because they are popular, and thus we have mob rule; or does the lore back up the little group and the popular guy has to change their character for the smaller group that is voicing their opinion? Or do they simply not role play with another, ever?
Don't get me wrong, Reputation and Popularity are great, especially when earned for all the right reasons. Example, I think Warren, Zhavi, and Aya are awesome role players but I really only know them by their positive reputations on here. And sure, some people get an infamous reputation. But is it justified for people without a large footprint in the community to be nervous about how much authority one person my be exerting over a said community and if someone is doing that, how do those without as much sway over the public forum combat this occurrence?
Just a fun food for thought.
