When humans such play online role playing games, we bring into the game some part of us in real life. Be it lust, greed, kindness, generosity, it affects our game world in more ways than we can actually see. How you treat others sometimes get spread around. A guy that you treated nicely when he was just starting out just might do the same to others when he gets more powerful, or vice versa.

Elitism exists in real life. For example, the importance of paper qualifications sometimes overwrite the importance for other desirable qualities, or a brand new nice car would be considered as a boost to your social status. It is a sad but true fact that people judge you by your worldly possessions rather than your abilities as a whole. This is the most apparent when elitism creeps its way into virtual worlds.

As I have mentioned in my previous article (shameless self linking ftw!), I used to play FFXI where the entire game is reeking of elitism. I can tell you now that for a period of time, I would log on everyday, and do nothing but farm for money to buy new equipment. This is because everybody in the game stinks of elitism. There is an option to check anyone’s equipment they are using and that is used to full effect by everyone. Party leaders check the gear of their party members and would kick them if their gear is not “good”. People of the same job check each other’s equipment to see how good theirs is compared to the others. And its not the tough competition for party places that is the reason for this. Its elitism.

I recall an occasion that I was kicked out from a party, because my equipment is not considered good enough (“Why don’t you have the Jujitsu Gi. You need it now for your level right”). I hated it at that time, how I was treated differently just because I don’t have something that you assume I “need”. After that I worked my ass off for 2 weeks to buy a piece of armor with a measly +4 to accuracy. A few weeks later, I was starting a party to get some exp, where I invited another monk. I checked her equipment and she was using the exact same piece of armor I was using before my upgrade. Then I get a tell from our Black Mage:

“Dude, he’s gimp. Kick him”

Then comes our Samurai. “Get another DD. He’s gonna slow us down”

In the end, I kicked her from the party, and uttered these dreadful words. “I’m sorry but I’ll have to kick you because your gear is not good enough” I spent the next 5 mins explaining to her through whispers why that is, but I can’t help but feel guilty. I should never have suckered in to peer pressure.  I became what I hated.

From the elitist point of view, if I can put in my time and effort to get what I own today, why can’t you? I take pride in my job, and strive to be the best that I can. If it is within my power to improve what I can offer to my party members then I’ll go ahead to do it without any questions asked. I take pride in being self sufficient and a self respecting monk. Why should I let someone who hasn’t put in effort to improve herself share my glory and experience points, and give my job a bad name? Why should I even hang around someone who doesn’t share my passion for the game?

But from a gimp-ist (haha I invented a new word :p) view, so what if I don’t have your fancy +1 gear? What good is 1 or 2 armor rating, against a mob that smacks you for 200++ each time? It’s not that I don’t want to be better, but it’s impossible for a working person to spend that much time to make that much money to afford anything “decent” to your lofty standards. I log in to play, to have fun, not to work for money again after spending the last 9 hrs working. Why can’t you elitist bastards see that this is just a game?

Some of us, like me, farm like a bot to get what they want. Others leave the game for something less stressful. Some become full time beggars. Some turn to RMT. What do rich kids and working adults do when they get discriminated against? They spend money on virtual gold to buy the so-called good equipment, and hence increasing demand for farmed gold to gain virtual self-respect and dignity, and well as the enlargement of their already bloated ego. In the end these are the very people that turn their fingers against other players for being gimp. Don’t blame the gold farmers for being there in the game, spoiling the economy. Don’t blame beggars for spamming in the towns for a handout. Blame elitism. That’s right. Turn that shapely finger at yourself first. Let those who are without sin/RMT cast the first stone.
 

Remember folks, its just a game. Take a lighter attitude and make virtual world a nicer place to hang around with.