It's Not About You

Yes, I am well aware of the trend of writing rants about regressive politics and climate change and pandemics, and the other life and death things plaguing (see what I did there?) us all these days. I've certainly written enough of them to be aware. But I'm tired of these topics, and I'm taking a break to write about something rather less dire (though probably related, in a late-stage capitalism, entitled asshattery sort of way).

Is this privileged of me? Certainly (and look at me, touching on the topics of privilege and entitlement even when I'm trying to write about other things). Call it a mental health break, self-care, whatever you like, but I'm writing about the minor symptoms instead of the root causes of Veruca Salt Syndrome. At least today I am.

And I'm talking about it in online gaming, specifically in any game with a microtransaction scheme. Now, these games are generally free to play, and one can succeed at the game without making any purchases, but that way is slow. Using real money to purchase in-game currency or special items for gameplay can get you there a lot faster.

There are a number of these games out there, in all different genres, from card games to bingo to fashion, decorating, city-building, adventure, role-playing, you name it. I regularly play three of these, which I'm not going to mention by name, but they are among some of the most popular, in three different genres: Fashion, Home Decorating, and Empire/City Building.

And the players or fans here are... diverse, let's say. And not necessarily in a good way, either. I mean, there are some people who just want to make pretty or esthetic things, the competitive ones who crave the most points or highest score or most badass army, the folks who try to balance between these two ends of the player spectrum... and the other players.

The super entitled players.

The players who evidently think that because they deign to play your little game, things should always be how they expect them to be... and their expectations are often, well... different from those of other people.

I'm not talking about the people who have extra accounts so they can get better scores or figure out which strategies work better. Nor am I talking about the people who are aggressive players in that they will happily attack other players' cities. These things are - while often frowned upon and sometimes even chased down by the game company where possible - still within the realm of play, competitive or otherwise.

No, I'm talking about the not-Karens, those people who take political or religious stands and demand that Game Company X cave to their "reasonable requests." Or the people who constantly complain that they are not getting what they think they deserve "as a long-time player."

Sorry, Player One, you do not get to decide that Game Company X should not have Black Lives Matter T-shirts or depictions of fine art that you consider "obscene" or players who also create things for the game company or, well... whatever they want to have... in their games. If these things are legal, then Game Company X gets to choose. If you don't like their choices, then either don't use those pieces for your doll or room or city... or just go away; it is not up to you to try to change them for everyone.

The same goes for what you think you deserve. I mean, I'd prefer a higher login reward or better holiday prices for special events in some of these games, too, but I'm not going to demand it or threaten to walk. Game Company X owes you nothing, as - surprise! - you are not actually the center of the universe.

Go ahead. Walk. I assure you that Game Company X does not really care.