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Elitism and tolerance in excess are no different than any other extremes. You can have too much of both.
Too much elitism isn't just bad, it's awful. It is an absolute cancer on an otherwise civil community. It drives people away from open communication and collaboration in what is essentially a collaborative communication game. When you create tiers no one wins because are dividing your community for a transient sense of superiority. It's cutting off your nose to spite all those filthy nose-having casuals.
That being said, hug boxes are also terrible places. Telling everyone they can do as they wish and that no one is ever wrong undermines progression. If you don't have proper reason to do better, then why bother? If you don't have structure then there's no sense of direction. Everything becomes stagnant and trite. Some are so adamant about everyone being mired in this 'equality' to the point of being openly hostile to anyone who tries to improve because it's 'elitist'.Â
Too tolerant is just 'elitism' for the lower end of the spectrum. It's people who are not good, with no desire to get better, and are snap to condemn anyone 'above' them as an enemy of free expression. It's the exact same sense of entitlement that everyone should play by these standards.
There's nothing wrong with having standards. Everyone's will differ, some will be higher than others, but there's nothing wrong with wanting your partner to adhere to them. The issue here is how you handle it.
Curing elitism is simple. Denying someone your presence because they are an unwashed mook, unworthy of your skills? Not the right way to go about it. Instead, facilitate open communication. Collaborate with your partner and help them to achieve that standard. If you've got an open mind and some willingness to instruct it's a rewarding process where everyone's enjoyment can be vastly improved upon.
Curing entitlement can be difficult. Using 'I don't HAVE to do it your way' is a lazy, uninspired battle cry. No, of course you don't have to do it my way. You don't have to do anything and I can't make you. And I never would attempt to make you play the game any other way than how you want to. But this sort of out-right refusal to listen to well intentioned advice is just as bad as being too good to give advice.Â
I will never turn away someone because they are not 'good enough'. That doesn't help me or them. But I will say "Can I make an observation? You're using an exceeding amount of exposition in your posts and it makes them difficult to reply to, since my character can't observe your inner monologue. I can make some suggestions if you're having a hard time."
Talking it out can fix everything, given a bit of time and understanding.Â
Ultimately RP is a collaborative communication game. And games are fun. You should be having fun and not telling other people how to have fun. Helping other people to have fun is admirable, but you need to make sure you're approaching it the right way. You can't impose your fun on others, no matter where you stand.
Too much elitism isn't just bad, it's awful. It is an absolute cancer on an otherwise civil community. It drives people away from open communication and collaboration in what is essentially a collaborative communication game. When you create tiers no one wins because are dividing your community for a transient sense of superiority. It's cutting off your nose to spite all those filthy nose-having casuals.
That being said, hug boxes are also terrible places. Telling everyone they can do as they wish and that no one is ever wrong undermines progression. If you don't have proper reason to do better, then why bother? If you don't have structure then there's no sense of direction. Everything becomes stagnant and trite. Some are so adamant about everyone being mired in this 'equality' to the point of being openly hostile to anyone who tries to improve because it's 'elitist'.Â
Too tolerant is just 'elitism' for the lower end of the spectrum. It's people who are not good, with no desire to get better, and are snap to condemn anyone 'above' them as an enemy of free expression. It's the exact same sense of entitlement that everyone should play by these standards.
There's nothing wrong with having standards. Everyone's will differ, some will be higher than others, but there's nothing wrong with wanting your partner to adhere to them. The issue here is how you handle it.
Curing elitism is simple. Denying someone your presence because they are an unwashed mook, unworthy of your skills? Not the right way to go about it. Instead, facilitate open communication. Collaborate with your partner and help them to achieve that standard. If you've got an open mind and some willingness to instruct it's a rewarding process where everyone's enjoyment can be vastly improved upon.
Curing entitlement can be difficult. Using 'I don't HAVE to do it your way' is a lazy, uninspired battle cry. No, of course you don't have to do it my way. You don't have to do anything and I can't make you. And I never would attempt to make you play the game any other way than how you want to. But this sort of out-right refusal to listen to well intentioned advice is just as bad as being too good to give advice.Â
I will never turn away someone because they are not 'good enough'. That doesn't help me or them. But I will say "Can I make an observation? You're using an exceeding amount of exposition in your posts and it makes them difficult to reply to, since my character can't observe your inner monologue. I can make some suggestions if you're having a hard time."
Talking it out can fix everything, given a bit of time and understanding.Â
Ultimately RP is a collaborative communication game. And games are fun. You should be having fun and not telling other people how to have fun. Helping other people to have fun is admirable, but you need to make sure you're approaching it the right way. You can't impose your fun on others, no matter where you stand.