Posted by [Gabe] on December 11, 1999 at 01:41:41:
In Reply to: One does not need to ignore the former to make the point of the latter. posted by Graatch(VIP) on December 10, 1999 at 20:16:40:
> Saying there is immortal abuse or "cheating" is not mutally exclusive with saying the immortals are also responsible for the game we all love to play and are owed much thanks for their efforts in creating and maintaining it. > Both are perfectly maintainable simultaneously. So don't criticize someone who attempts to discuss the possibility and existence of imm abuses of knowledge/power. > It takes nothing away from gratitude and debt owed the imms who are responsible for the game to at the same time expect and look for fairness and not "cheating." > Why, you ask? Because they say they don't. If it said in the motd "this is our game, we run it how we like and that includes giving our mortals characters benefits, and using our intimate knowledge of the game and of upcoming changes to abuse things that the regular player cannot," then there would be no basis for even commenting upon, let alone lamenting, the existence of such abuses. > However, the imms (rightly, in my mind) have made it public information that they do *not*, as a rule, abuse such things, and attempt to police themselves, and keep the imm staff in check regarding use of ooc information of these sorts. Once that standard is decided, then it is perfectly reasonable to expect and look for adherence to it, and to comment or discuss when lapses seem to appear. > Of course, such discussions must be done with respect and without rancor, certainly at first, because generally speaking people are thinking of the "bad apples", rather than claiming the _entire_ imm staff is corrupt. > So decorum, while discussing how some imms may be acting inappropriately, is required. And to discuss it does not mean one is not at the very same time perfectly aware and thankful for the work done to keep the game going. > End of diatribe. > > Look, you don't pay for this game, it's a PRIVILEGE that it's here for you to enjoy. While this does not necessarily give the go-ahead to immortal "cheating" as you two call it, it does make your accusations all the more ludicrous and just makes you look like idiots. > > If rampant immortal cheating were as big a problem as you, widowson, would like to make it seem, there'd be no playerbase. I doubt very seriously that the imms have put forth all kinds of effort just so that they could play their own mud and be the only ones that play it. > > I'm sure that some immortals might "cheat" but I'm also sure that any "cheating" that occurs is trivial at best. I know some immortals use ICQ to at least discuss the game with others, whether or not secrets or answers to questions are passed is unknown, but these people are humans and restricting their right to "assemble" and speak to others would be wrong. > > If you think the immortals cheat, don't play the damn game. I think they might a little, but it doesn't bother me in the least, think of it as coming with the territory. It's like the "cheat codes" that programmers sometimes write into their video games. Complaining about immortal cheating is like complaining about people who buy Nintendo Power to find out the cheat codes. It's just stupid.