So the topic of the dreaded E word came up in the fairly-excellent Bleed thread and I figured this might be a conversation also worth having. I'm aware it's a particularly prickly word so I'd like to request that we try to remain civil with one another.
Specifically, I was noticing how "escapism" came up. Lots of people had lots of differing opinions on what the word meant; Is it negative, as by definition? Has language changed over time, and it can now be used in a positive or neutral definition? It's with these questions in mind that I'd like to try and define "Elitism." I wasn't sure whether to put it in the RP or FFXIV section because I'd like to discuss both, but feel free to concentrate on one or the other.
For my part, I think Elitism in roleplay is the expectation that something about your character makes your storytelling inherently superior to those around you. Maybe you're just a stickler for lore and look down your nose at anyone playing a tribal miqo'te with an "uncivilized" accent. Maybe you believe all Sultansworn are banished to the palace. Maybe you believe that only certain races can claim to be from certain nations. Maybe you believe that playing a mundane character makes you better than those playing Crystal-touched Warriors of Light. Regardless of the sticking point, you believe that your rightness makes you somehow higher quality than those around you.
Elitism in gameplay is a bit trickier. When I play in roulettes or something, I expect the members of my team to know at least what their class is capable of. I don't mind if you've never seen the dungeon before, I don't mind if you don't know the mechanics before queueing for a trial. It drives me insane to see people who don't know what they're doing, though. Doton being dropped on bosses. Huton not being cast. Heavy Thrust missing. Paladins missing oaths, monks missing fists. I don't expect everyone to push the limits of their job. Inability to perform due to lacking insight to a particular encounter is fine; Inability to perform because of a lack of prowess or familiarity with the class is something I've never been able to tolerate. In that sense, I am definitely an elitist.
So with that in the open, let's get this thread locked in record time.
Specifically, I was noticing how "escapism" came up. Lots of people had lots of differing opinions on what the word meant; Is it negative, as by definition? Has language changed over time, and it can now be used in a positive or neutral definition? It's with these questions in mind that I'd like to try and define "Elitism." I wasn't sure whether to put it in the RP or FFXIV section because I'd like to discuss both, but feel free to concentrate on one or the other.
For my part, I think Elitism in roleplay is the expectation that something about your character makes your storytelling inherently superior to those around you. Maybe you're just a stickler for lore and look down your nose at anyone playing a tribal miqo'te with an "uncivilized" accent. Maybe you believe all Sultansworn are banished to the palace. Maybe you believe that only certain races can claim to be from certain nations. Maybe you believe that playing a mundane character makes you better than those playing Crystal-touched Warriors of Light. Regardless of the sticking point, you believe that your rightness makes you somehow higher quality than those around you.
Elitism in gameplay is a bit trickier. When I play in roulettes or something, I expect the members of my team to know at least what their class is capable of. I don't mind if you've never seen the dungeon before, I don't mind if you don't know the mechanics before queueing for a trial. It drives me insane to see people who don't know what they're doing, though. Doton being dropped on bosses. Huton not being cast. Heavy Thrust missing. Paladins missing oaths, monks missing fists. I don't expect everyone to push the limits of their job. Inability to perform due to lacking insight to a particular encounter is fine; Inability to perform because of a lack of prowess or familiarity with the class is something I've never been able to tolerate. In that sense, I am definitely an elitist.
So with that in the open, let's get this thread locked in record time.
![[Image: yEROfKO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yEROfKO.png)
