LitRPG Author Interview with PaulBellow

When I joined zk the community was smaller and I remember having fun. I usually am and was quite anxious and community was helpful with that. Few people accused me of smurfing (I was familiar with spring games playing them way in the past) and it was quite endearing.

There was one thorn in that and it was Firepluk 's attitude. I've grown to resent him for throwing games, saying he does not care. I considered quitting the game feeling bad when I saw people circlejerking around that (Firepluk's behaviour ruining games) and I noticed that while he was a jerk to me (and probably other noobs), many veterans liked him. I understood that he's probably a guy who played the game too much and normal gameplay was boring to him so he did weird shit and resigned usually when it didn't work. Playing with a Firepluk on your team was like getting trolled all the time and it ruined my fun. Being called names and lobsters without anyone explaining what it means wasn't helpful or inviting either.

Now after quite of time has passed I've seen positive changes in your attitude Firepluk and am happy to see that. I am not sure if that's because of my time getting used to you (probably partially as well), but as I've been stressing that when I started playing: the community should not only be great for people belonging to it but especially it should be great for the newcomers. Having fun at cost of new players' fun is often great fun but only for the part of the community.

I've wanted to say good job Firepluk . I don't know what was the cause of that gradual change, but my attitude towards you has certainly shifted and I've grown to like you. It shows how the community is great and how we all can work to make it better.

I have always tried being nice to people and especially towards the newbies - although it often is a sunken cost; say playing with a noob a bot game trying to explain some aspects they are getting wrong. Often you get ignored (and quit game after few minutes without a word) or people do not respond and it feels like a lost time you could be better spending having more fun in team games for example. (I know personally this kind of frustration is very severely felt by @_Shaman ) However, the times when people are happy (sometimes grateful) and you see them later still being the part of the community is rewarding enough to keep doing that.

Sincerely,
Your top casual lobster
whatever it means