You can’t make everyone happy.
Our gaming culture has become accustomed to wanting everything. When gamers are given everything, they expect everything. The moment you don’t meet their expectations, you’re vilified. Once that happens, there’s no coming back. The people that likely couldn’t do better themselves are the same people that think they know better.
I feel for developers, R&D, and designers across all games. Their job is already difficult enough. They bust their ass, day in and day out, to deliver the best product possible. Yes, mistakes are made, a whole lot of them. Some of them suck. I certainly couldn’t do a better job though, and I’m of the thought that if you can’t do it yourself, sit your ass back and shut up.
But I also understand that mistakes need to be acknowledged and talked about. The argument isn’t acknowledging the mistakes, it’s how the players—the customers—approach those mistakes. You are wrong for stating your opinion as if it were fact. This is a game for everyone, and what you believe isn’t for everyone. I get that it’s hard to get out of that mindset because everyone at a tournament at any level has that mindset. But it’s an awful way of thinking that harms those around you, whether you realize it or not.
Now, why do people always say: “You can give Magic players a hundred dollar bill, and they’ll complain about how it was folded”? Because it’s true.
How many times have we seen this type of thing happen? Where a free promo for a Grand Prix was met with “This is stupid, I hate that they can’t give us better cards!?” How many times have we heard how awful an FNM promo is from a PTQ/GP grinder? It’s okay to not like things. It’s okay to be completely put off by something. If Wizards does give you a hundred dollar bill, you are completely entitled to feel however you want to feel about whatever they release or give out or produce.
With that said, you don’t deserve a damn thing. You’re lucky enough to even be playing Magic in the first place, where so many more people aren’t able to play because they don’t have the money, resources, or time. How far are you going to push that sense of entitlement when your FNM promo isn’t the best card in the format for this month? How about you try turning that into something good, like giving it to the new player in the LGS, or giving it back to the store for a giveaway. Do something positive.
Lastly, the worst of the worst. You do not get to dislike something, then put others down for liking something you don’t. It’s hypocritical and condescending. If you don’t like Invocations because of the art or the border or whatever, that’s fine. If you don’t like a spoiler that someone else seems to like, that’s cool too.
What isn’t cool, however, is telling them, “Don’t get too excited because of this thing I perceive as factual but is just my opinion that I’m pushing on to you when you likely didn’t ask for it.” And please, let’s not act like you don’t do it. You probably do, or have before. Just because it wasn’t that exact way, that doesn’t mean you didn’t do it. Be honest with yourself.
You can’t make everyone happy, but the unhappy don’t have to bring the happy down with them. Don’t be the person who ruins everyone else’s fun.
Anthony has been competing in games for the better part of his adult life and is dedicated to improving his game, improving his community, improving himself as a person, and most importantly having fun and enjoying himself while doing so. You can check out his stream to find out which video game is the latest to catch his attention.