I dont want to title this thread \"why wipe?\" or \"Players vs GMs\" or \"PLers vs RPers\" or \"Devs vs everyone\" because everything is connected to each other.
I am aware that I hit a wasp nest _again_ and I am aware that this thread probably get closed if people bring the same arguements again.
The purpose of this thread is to clearify the situation and try to end the ongoing splitting of the community while trying to be as objective as possible.
Each lifeform, in this case humans, have needs. Once all basical needs like need for food are satisfied the need get more abstract.. the need for religion, for instance.
The problem here is not religion but the need for fun, the need for acceptance, the need for solving complex problems and the joy to see them solved.
Our community is not uniform. This is our biggest strength but also our biggest weakness. And _no_ we don`t have all the same goal, although many wished. There are the players who are there to play a good game for fun without paying something (those are more the PLers).
There are the players who play the game because of the community, finding friends, to chat, to roleplay.
There are the players who play the game to get acceptance, they work hard for _something_, _anything_ to get admired. And one has to admit that the most obvious thing to work for in PS are skills, stats, money.
There are the GMs and moderators who are there to work for a good community, to settle differences and who have joy in seeing those (interpersonal) problems solved. They try to protect the integrity of the community.
There are the Devs who enjoy solving technical problems, enjoy seeing the game getting more and more complete. Though they may less interested in interpersonal problems, problems of the community, the ones who play the game will benefit from their work.
Most people would leave them out, but they are also part of the picture: the griefers, n00bs and such. They try to satisfy their need for fun by annoying other people. They try to solve the \"problem\" \"how to get the biggest feedback of another person?\". The biggest feedback is when one gets annoyed and shows that by insults and such.
So what is the point in listing who is part of the community and trying to find out who is in need of what?
Short answer: it is the solution of our problems.
Keep in mind whom are you talking to. Try to find out what your opponent might be interested in. Respect those needs. And furthermore: Think about what he _gives_ you and think about what you give him (and this also includes leaving somebody alone).
I was about to list what who might give whom in return... but I think there is not much sense in writing and preventing you with that from thinking about it yourself. On the other side I most probably would have forgotten something and one of my needs is not to get flamed for a mistake, though I really like to hear your thoughts on this matter.
It is all about respect.
