The 'Special Snowflake' argument. (A mostly personal view)

[Guavasaur]

I've seen over the past few months about raiders wanting things to be hard, challenging, etc, and one thing that tends to be brought up in a lot of these threads is someone (or more) calling them 'special snowflakes'. Now, I'll admit that a few times in the past, I've regrettably called people 'special snowflakes'. But I think something needs to be defined here: What exactly -is- a special snowflake?

In my own, personal opinion, I think a 'special snowflake' is someone who only wants to get something because they don't want anybody else to get it; They think it should be their own thing, no matter what, and they get upset whenever an alternate route is offered for people, because they will not longer be the 'only one' with it.

Example: Mr. Sparkles gets a Zulian Tiger, after the raid had passed 'current content' level (high level running a lower instance). Another person, Mr. Sprinkles, manages to save up a lot of gold and buys the Zulian Tiger off of the BMAH (assuming it will be on there, anyways.) Mr. Sparkles therefore gets upset because he won't be the 'only one' with the 'special' mount anymore, despite him also having 'unfair' ways of obtaining the mount, and so Mr. Sparkles spouts about how the BMAH is dumb, and should be removed from the game. Mr. Sparkles has no regard to people who actually had gotten the mount when it was 'current content'. (level 60)

The other side of this is people who, legitimately, want a challenge and as such should get an appropriate reward. I call these the.. uh.. 'The raiders who want a challenge because they want to earn something, not just roll over and click a box to get it.' TRWWACBTWTESNJROACABTGI. Yep. These raiders, commonly called the 'special snowflakes', just want to have a fair challenge and as such, get a reward. They don't think someone who just pulls the 'roll over and get it' method should get the same reward as them, because they didn't put in the same amount of time/effort. (Which is a resonable request.)

Example: Mr. Sprinkle's Guild goes in and kills Girm-Dahk Mean-blade on Heroic mode, no 'nerf' buffs at all. Mr. Sprinkle's guild gets a fancy achievement, as well as a fancy mount. (Along with the gear that they earned on heroic mode.) Mr. Sparkle's guild does the same raid, but has the full nerf-buff enabled, but still gains the fancy achievement and mount, as well as the heroic mode gear. As such, Mr. Sprinkles makes a post about how people who do something without a nerf-buff, should get their own stuff, while people who do it with a nerf buff, shouldn't be allowed to get the same thing. (Achievement, Mount. At least let them have the gear, so they can do it without a buff.)

Anyways, just to sum up; There's a difference between someone who wants to be a special snowflake, and someone who just wants to rightfully earn something without having to use a crutch to get it.

That's just like, my opinion though. Any thoughts?

[Mosotti]

Zulian Tiger is not a good example. I think that rewards based on incredible luck are completely retarded and only put in to make people repeat content until they throw up, but keeping them from realizing there is no content actually. It' nothing easier or harder in getting a 1% drop mount when the raid is hard or when the raid is soloable. The hardest part is to make it drop in the first place. Sure it's a little harder to get it when other people are rolling on it, but who cares, since you won't ever see it probably.

As for the 100% drop rewards, that are indeed skill related, as I know they are being nerfed when the expansion is over. To the retarded 1% thingy

[Last Starfighter]

People like doing things to set themselves apart from others. People like having things that set themselves apart from others. That is human nature. And it exists in hobbies as well. Let's take a deck hockey league. Friends get together, form a team, and join a league. Just for fun. But wanting to finish first and be the best team in the league, and getting a trophy isn't looked at as "Lawlz special snowflakes". Why? Because it's something that happens irl. People wouldn't walk up to those players and say "Fuckin' loser special snowflakes lawlz". But they will with something like an online game. Because the confrontation isn't there. And people use the internet to get out those things that they wouldn't let out in real life. So someone will use another person on a forum that may be competitive, and maybe in a realm first guild or top pvp'er, and use that person as the replacement for the real life person that they want to say that stuff to but can't.

That's why there's so much hate on the internet. Maybe there's a youtube video of some dude playing the guitar really well. Then we all know there will be a comment eventually that will pick the video apart and tell the guy how bad he sucks. And anyone that will defend the vid is a "fanboy". Same with all of this stuff. All of the "no lifer, special snowflake" stuff is said by passive people who get aggressive when there is an absolute guarantee of no real confrontation.

But back to wow, nobody is ever saying "No. Mine! You can't have it". All people are saying is "You want it, go get it.". And that's how things should be. All of these things can be done on a casual schedule. With the exception of the world first race. There are doctors, students, cops, and any type of person imaginable in top guilds, they may not log in but to only raid, but that's what they choose to do. But people want things without having to do anything for them. And that's what is going to be what takes wow down at some point. Because the mmo model is successful. Despite what people seem to think.

[Deleted]

People like doing things to set themselves apart from others. People like having things that set themselves apart from others. That is human nature. And it exists in hobbies as well. Let's take a deck hockey league. Friends get together, form a team, and join a league. Just for fun. But wanting to finish first and be the best team in the league, and getting a trophy isn't looked at as "Lawlz special snowflakes". Why? Because it's something that happens irl. People wouldn't walk up to those players and say "Fuckin' loser special snowflakes lawlz". But they will with something like an online game. Because the confrontation isn't there. And people use the internet to get out those things that they wouldn't let out in real life. So someone will use another person on a forum that may be competitive, and maybe in a realm first guild or top pvp'er, and use that person as the replacement for the real life person that they want to say that stuff to but can't.

That's why there's so much hate on the internet. Maybe there's a youtube video of some dude playing the guitar really well. Then we all know there will be a comment eventually that will pick the video apart and tell the guy how bad he sucks. And anyone that will defend the vid is a "fanboy". Same with all of this stuff. All of the "no lifer, special snowflake" stuff is said by passive people who get aggressive when there is an absolute guarantee of no real confrontation.

But back to wow, nobody is ever saying "No. Mine! You can't have it". All people are saying is "You want it, go get it.". And that's how things should be. All of these things can be done on a casual schedule. With the exception of the world first race. There are doctors, students, cops, and any type of person imaginable in top guilds, they may not log in but to only raid, but that's what they choose to do. But people want things without having to do anything for them. And that's what is going to be what takes wow down at some point. Because the mmo model is successful. Despite what people seem to think.

This and nothing else.

Wanting to be "a special snowflake" is not uncommon. WORK for your loot and you'll feel the satisfaction of achieving something.

[Deleted]

But back to wow, nobody is ever saying "No. Mine! You can't have it".

This is factually incorrect.

[Mekh]

...nobody is ever saying "No. Mine! You can't have it".

Actually, the crowd that wants LFR removed does.

[Ryme]

Actually, the crowd that wants LFR removed does.

It's a common misconception, they don't mind other people getting it, they just want them to go through the same thing they did to reach it.

[Mekh]

It's a common misconception, they don't mind other people getting it, they just want them to go through the same thing they did to reach it.

LFR is not "getting the same" though. LFR is less both in loot and gaming experience. And some people won't allow others even that.

[Deleted]

A week ago I bought a curry from tesco at full price
this week its on 50% sale..why should someone else be able to enjoy that curry while only paying half the money I did?
nerf tesco

[Deleted]

A week ago I bought a curry from tesco at full price
this week its on 50% sale..why should someone else be able to enjoy that curry while only paying half the money I did?
nerf tesco

It's not about money, it's about the effort put in to get it.

If you work you ass of all days to get enough money to buy a widescreen TV, you're going to feel proud of yourself and you earned it.

But then your best friends dad buys the same TV for your friend.

[Yogg-Saron, God of Death]

LFR is not "getting the same" though. LFR is less both in loot and gaming experience. And some people won't allow others even that.

This is -- quite frankly -- the ultimate truth.

There are a bucketload of snowflake raiders who demand that they are the center because they are the best players while they are, at best: average. Those people are commonly called badcores and they are the problem.

---------- Post added 2012-08-27 at 10:15 AM ----------

It's not about money, it's about the effort put in to get it.

If you work you ass of all days to get enough money to buy a widescreen TV, you're going to feel proud of yourself and you earned it.

But then your best friends dad buys the same TV for your friend.

And your friend's father earned the money to buy that TV, and there is nothing wrong with that father buying the same TV for your friend, nor is it illegal.

Also, stop linking an online game and effort to each other. Last time I checked, there are not many people who work out as they play WoW or any other computer game. No, they sit on their arse and tap keys on their keyboard, likely with our left hand in a bag of crisps for MINIMAL physical effort and exertion.

The word you're looking for is dedication.

[Deleted]

It's not about money, it's about the effort put in to get it.

If you work you ass of all days to get enough money to buy a widescreen TV, you're going to feel proud of yourself and you earned it.

But then your best friends dad buys the same TV for your friend.

That is a common cognitive bias, but completely silly. The whole history of human progress is about making stuff easier to do.

Laziness for the win. if the TV (or raid boss) or whatever had value in and of itself you wouldn't care how much effort it took to get it. My ham sandwich doesn't magically taste better if I make myself do a 5 mile run before I eat it.

[Guavasaur]

Whoah! I didn't expect so many replies to this.

Wanting to be "a special snowflake" is not uncommon. WORK for your loot and you'll feel the satisfaction of achieving something.

This is basically what I wanted to get across, haha~ I'm just really bad at wording out my opinion. I think having a challenge set out for yourself is a good thing for someone, no matter what.

I just think Special snowflake has gotten to be a put-down type of word now. Which is why I normally use it towards people that literally want their stuff to not be available to other folks. (People who don't use LFR/LFD but still want it removed, etc.)

---------- Post added 2012-08-27 at 10:19 AM ----------

That is a common cognitive bias, but completely silly. The whole history of human progress is about making stuff easier to do.

Laziness for the win. if the TV (or raid boss) or whatever had value in and of itself you wouldn't care how much effort it took to get it. My ham sandwich doesn't magically taste better if I make myself do a 5 mile run before I eat it.

I dunno about you, but whenever I make a cookie myself, it tastes better than a store-bought one..

(Who the hell runs 5 miles and then just eats a sammich?)

[Deleted]

And your friend's father earned the money to buy that TV, and there is nothing wrong with that father buying the same TV for your friend, nor is it illegal.

Also, stop linking an online game and effort to each other. Last time I checked, there are not many people who work out as they play WoW or any other computer game. No, they sit on their arse and tap keys on their keyboard, likely with our left hand in a bag of crisps for MINIMAL physical effort and exertion.

The word you're looking for is dedication.

What I'm trying to get at is that it could feel a bit unfair. Just because you pay to play a game it dos not mean you should get to see the last level instantly.
Also, Effort in game =/= effort outside the game. Or you want a effortless game where everything is accessible from day one? How much fun is that? There need to be a certain amount of effort (or difficulty) in the game in order to make it fun.

[Yogg-Saron, God of Death]

But back to wow, nobody is ever saying "No. Mine! You can't have it". All people are saying is "You want it, go get it.". And that's how things should be. All of these things can be done on a casual schedule. With the exception of the world first race. There are doctors, students, cops, and any type of person imaginable in top guilds, they may not log in but to only raid, but that's what they choose to do. But people want things without having to do anything for them. And that's what is going to be what takes wow down at some point. Because the mmo model is successful. Despite what people seem to think.

Actually there are people who say that. Just look at the countless "Remove LFR", "Remove loot from LFR" and "Remove stats from LFR" threads. The LFR people "want it and they go get it" and the raiders say "No. Mine! You can't have it."

---------- Post added 2012-08-27 at 10:23 AM ----------

What I'm trying to get at is that it could feel a bit unfair. Just because you pay to play a game it dos not mean you should get to see the last level instantly.
Also, Effort in game =/= effort outside the game. Or you want a effortless game where everything is accessible from day one? How much fun is that? There need to be a certain amount of effort (or difficulty) in the game in order to make it fun.

Again, the word you're looking for is "dedication".

[Vorkreist]

Actually there are people who say that. Just look at the countless "Remove LFR", "Remove loot from LFR" and "Remove stats from LFR" threads. The LFR people "want it and they go get it" and the raiders say "No. Mine! You can't have it."

---------- Post added 2012-08-27 at 10:23 AM ----------



Again, the word you're looking for is "dedication".

Is someone holding them with the hands tied to their back? Last time I checked Normal mode was open for all people.
Oh wait. THey want free epix thrown at them through LFR and not to actualy Go get it

[Yogg-Saron, God of Death]

Is someone holding them with the hands tied to their back? Last time I checked Normal mode was open for all people.
Oh wait. THey want free epix thrown at them through LFR and not to actualy Go get it

Ironic, as that is also an argument against LFR. "bwaaah I am forced to run it!"

Also, again; according to Blizzard, they ARE going and getting it. It's only the badcores who argue that they don't and they are wrong, simple as that.

[Mekh]

Is someone holding them with the hands tied to their back? Last time I checked Normal mode was open for all people.
Oh wait. THey want free epix thrown at them through LFR and not to actualy Go get it

The items may be purple, but they are worse than normal mode loot. Problem?

[Vorkreist]

Ironic, as that is also an argument against LFR. "bwaaah I am forced to run it!"

Also, again; according to Blizzard, they ARE going and getting it. It's only the badcores who argue that they don't and they are wrong, simple as that.

I bet you can't understand how it feels to be forced to run LFR Normal and HC over and over since you probably run just 3 lfrs a month and that says all about your wow experience. And yes you are forced. If you can't understand why it means you are totaly clueless about how raiding works in general.
You "lfr people" ( i'd call you something else but i'd get banned) have done a fantastic job in ruining the game so far. I wonder how many retarded changes this game has to suffer because of you untill I'll drop this game for good.

[Adam Jensen]

The items may be purple, but they are worse than normal mode loot. Problem?

This. It's always amazed me that people get upset that LFR drops tier.

Worse tier than Normal and Heroic mode, yet they still get upset. Last I checked, 384 is still less than 397 and 410. Are they mad that people have gear with the same model in spite of the lower ilvl? Boggles my mind.

And the real snowflakes are the ones who bitched about the very idea of T3 being available, as a replica for transmog, at DMF. "Wah, I got T3 and held onto it even after Naxx40 was removed, no one else should get access to it, there's the recolored T7, take that, wah"