Online Communites

Yesterday, I found a system I liked. I told a bit about my day or something personal, and then went into a deeper issue. I feel that it is important for a blog reader to feel that they know the blogger. Normally this isn't a problem, but when the blog is deep, serious and all about thoughts, personal details often detract from the mood. Thus, I'm going with this new system: My first couple of paragraphs will be about my day (if it was interesting) or about me (if it wasn't.) or something to help you get to know me.



Today was quite boring, very cold and very wet. That's about it. So a little about myself that I haven't mentioned:



I am an atheist. When I was young, I believed in Christianity (Anglican) but when I was 8 or 9 I began questioning it. God was something I could not see, that could not be proven, and though I have a good imagination, I'm also grounded in reality. I am a realist. I actually believed in Santa longer than God (until about 10 years of age, yes I know, pathetic). Mind you, part of me thought if I stopped believing in Santa, no more presents from him, so I had some strong incentive not to stop believing:)



I am also a spelling freak online. I detest people who make typos consistently. People who leave out vowels are even worse. And don't even get me STARTED on 1337speak. Anyone who skips half the letters in a word, or speaks with numbers is either



a) An idiot

b) Very lazy

or c) Trying to be cool.



It is not cool. People don't respect you for it in most respected online community. People don't like it, except on places like MySpace where filth and filth find their own level on the cesspool. To anyone who both enjoys this blog and enjoys MySpace, I apologize: but please. There are other, smarter communities out there. Just comprehending the vocabulary I use in this blog (nowhere near as complex as I could) means that you are above the MySpace community intellectually.



Another place online to avoid is Runescape. Before I continue, let me say that my 'self-speech' and my topic for the day have blended, and it's hard to see where one ends and the other begins, but this IS my topic, I'm not just rambling. Runescape is not that good a game, but it's worst aspect is it's community. It's horrible (or was, six months ago. If it's changed, I'd be happy to know. I haven't dared check for risk of vomiting all over my keyboard from the horror.)

and is comprised mainly of 10-12 year olds, or people with that mental age. Trust me. When I was 12, I played Runescape. Then I grew out of it.



Some people however, like the game enough to stick on, despite the community. One thing to say though: the members' worlds are probably much better due to the absence of noobs. Forgive the slang, there is no better word I can think of. People who are willing to pay for the game, on average in my experiences are smarter, older and just better players to play with. I've played World of Warcraft. It costs money, and it has a very mature community. Puzzle Pirates: subscriber oceans are more mature. Runescape? No. Other free games? No.



I, however, am less experienced with online gaming than others, so my opinion is not absolute truth. But another thing: Text-based MMO's are also more mature: it takes imagination (which requires you not to be a moron) to play MUDs. Two good ones are Medievia and Materia Magica. Achaea and Aardwolf are good too. It may seem as though I'm just rattling off the big MUDs but they are big for a reason. They are very good. And all of them are free to play. So there's the exception: text-based.



So to summarise:



1: Stay away from MySpace, Runescape and free MMO's.

2: Pay-to-play games usually have more mature communities.

3: Text-based MMOs (MUDs) are the exception.



Now, on to the Dailies:



Daily Quote: 'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" -Abraham Lincoln

Daily Website: www.wisdomquotes.com I get some of my quotes from here: It's a great site, with loads of categories to suit every occasion. A wise man always has a quote up his sleeve!

Until next time, may you take the time to commend one who thinks before he types.

-Callanthae