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by Mary Van Tyne, Editor
Oh, Be Nice! First of all, before I start yet another of my (hopefully brilliant) social commentaries, I have a few people I'd like to acknowledge and recognize, because the email they sent me was so profound. Thank you to everyone who sent me complimentary mail. Jon Howard, you may already know this, but I want everyone else planning to write me hate mail to take note as well. I am not a geeky boy, I am a geeky girl. All those planning to write violent angry letters to me, kindly realize that I am female. Thank you for your time. The topic that I chose this month to address was one that people have probably noticed, but not cared too much about. Magic players are inherently mean to each other. I don't know what this stems from, but I'll try to list some reasons and examine them more in-depth. First, Magic isn't really accepted by so-called "normal" people in regular society. Most players have endured torment and ridicule at some point in their lives, and may take it out on the people that they interact with the most - Magic players. I have personally been an outcast...I still am, in a way. There is a tendency toward taking out anger on the nearest availible person. Secondly, people tend to get a little bit mad when they lose. Okay....some of us more than others. The most graceful of players, though, will get over this temporary rage and instead, look forward to the next game. However, none of us can really be that graceful all the time...unless your name's George Baxter or Olle Rade. There are few things more frustrating than scrubbing out at a very large tournament, and having no food, money, or stuff to do for the next six hours. It's enough to make the most well-balanced person lose their mind. Thirdly, there's the issue of newbies. This relates, because most players will try to rip off newbies. Being mean to people takes more forms than simply getting angry when you lose or turning cranky because you're not normal. Though I'm not proud to admit it, I have ripped off newbies in the past...and I was once a newbie and got ripped off by people. I was happy to get what I did at the time, but what did I know? I'm not advocating turning into a completely angelic Magic player, one who never gets mad at anyone for anything. Stupid stuff will happen...like your best friend spilling soda all over your favorite deck (don't ask). The trick is to minimize your anger and start being nicer to your fellow Magic players. The first problem is more on a personal level. You have to know yourself, and know how mad you may be at the extenuating circumstances in your world. Try starting a conversation with a Magic player that doesn't revolve around trading or what's in their new deck. You may share similar interests outside the game. The second problem is one that's universal. Everyone has bad days, days where you just want to scream, "WAAAH!! MANASCREW!!!" in the middle of a Pro Tour Qualifier, and if you do, you'll make the sort of reputation you really don't want to have. The only way to get around losing is to win, a completely obvious and yet elusive situation. About all you can do when you lose is congratulate your opponent, grit your teeth, and look like you're enjoying your moment as a scrub. Sulk if it makes you feel better, but don't revert to Problem One and take your anger out on others. The third problem is the one that's the most easy to fix. Newbies, or at least, little kids, are everywhere, tempting targets for good deals in your favor. Resist the urge to rip them off. Offer them deals that are not only fair, but slightly in their favor, and they'll become your devoted followers. It is nice to have minions, and though it may cost you a few cards now, it's definitely worth it in the long run. Newbies are particularly attracted to commons from new sets. They've never seen the cards before, generating instant interest in whatever they may be. And minions are useful for playtesting new decks against, driving you to tourneys when you don't want to get behind the wheel, and providing money for food. Not all minions are this nice, but if you're nice enough to them, it does pay off. Additionally, having minions creates an instant Aura of Good Player-Ness (tm). People will be scared if you have a couple of reasonably experienced minions running around, spreading the word that you're good. Watch them be scared. The aforementioned minions will also gain benefits from your experience. They can learn what cards really work and what cards don't, how to build a decent deck, and the feeling of being included in something. But this only happens as long as you don't keep an iron hand over them. They may become, or already be, your friends. Maybe even some minion-reciprocation would be in order....oh, wait, they call that teaming up. :) What I'm really saying here is that Magic players should start being nicer to each other. Most people who play Magic possess above-average intelligence, and scornfully compare themselves to other athletes. They like saying that Magic is more "intellectual and challenging" than a conventional game like hockey or football. But, if Magic players continue to alienate each other, sulk for hours when they lose one game, and refuse to teach newbies the nuances of the game, Magic will degenerate into a pastime where only the strong, physically and mentally, will survive.
Mary Van Tyne
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