Farewell, Crackageddon

Started by Taven, February 07, 2017, 12:40:02 AM

Hello everyone,

I am permanently quitting Armageddon.

This is not a new or sudden choice for me; though what made me leave at this time is the culmination of long-term frustrations with staff over the last six or seven RL months. I do not care to elaborate on those at this time. I do thank staff, however, for working with me to resolve and store my character, helping me to take extra steps to help finish my characters' PC story.

My advice to the GDB at large is that if you have a good, supportive staffer that enables you, that encourages you, that you refresh your email just because you look forward to seeing their reply to your requests: Send them kudos. Let them know how wonderful and amazing they are.

However, my decision to store, while influenced by the last few months, is ultimately not about staff at all. It's about me. And this post to say good-bye? It's really about you.

We jokingly call this game "Crackageddon" because of how fun and addictive it is. I know that for me, and many out there, there's a painful truth behind that. It's easy to lose yourself in this wonderful, immersive world of ours, to prioritize your character over getting out and about in the world, over seeing friends, over doing what you have always dreamed. It's easy to ignore this and make excuses, and pretend you are not addicted.

The truth is, I cannot stop playing Armageddon if I am having fun. I will log in during the week for five or six hours every day. I will stay up until the early AMs despite having work. I will spend my waking moments thinking about what my character will do next, planning and obsessing when I am not near a computer.

This is why I am quitting. Because from now on, my life will belong to me, not my character. Because from now on, I am going to prioritize my dreams, my friends, my goals.

Many of you may laugh and wonder how someone could be this bad, this crazy, about a game. But I am not the only addicted player. I am not the only one who pours so many hours into this game, who neglects friends and family.


These are the signs of addiction:


1. Salience – The activity becomes the most important thing in an individual's life.
  • Cognitive Salience – When an individual often thinks about the activity.
  • Behavioral Salience – When an individual neglects basic necessities, such as sleep, food, or hygiene, so as to perform the activity.

If you are regularly putting off sleep in favor of playing Armageddon, this is you. If you cannot stop thinking about Armageddon, if you constantly dream about what your character will do, this is you. If you would rather do Armageddon over nearly anything else, this is you.


2. Mood Change – Subjective experiences are affected by the activity.

If your mood matches how things are going for you and your character in Armageddon, this could be you. If actions of other players or staff have the ability to either make you extremely happy in your life as a whole, or extremely angry and upset, this could be you. If your mood because of something that happened the last time you logged in follows you around, to work, to school, when you're doing other things: This is definitely you.


3. Tolerance – The process requires continually higher doses of the activity to achieve the original sensations.

Armageddon is a game driven by people. The high that it gives often results from finally connecting with the right people. If you feel antsy if you don't log in, but when you do will commit hours of your time to staying in the game, just hoping you'll find the right person to make it fun, then you qualify here.


4. Withdrawal Symptoms – Negative feelings and sensations that accompany not being able to perform the online activity or termination of the online activity.

If you need to log on every day or you get antsy, this is you. If you will occasionally do other activities first, but it only serves to remind you that you haven't logged in yet, this is you. Sometimes, it is possible to go without logging in for awhile, if sufficiently distracted. This can be a way to lie to yourself that you don't really have a problem. However, if you are routinely logging in for hours a day, and this is the primary thing you want to do: You do have a problem.


5. Conflict – Interpersonal or intrapersonal conflict caused by the online activity.
  • Conflict is often accompanied by deterioration in school or work results and abandonment of previous hobbies.

Think about back before you played Armageddon. For many of us it may be multiple years; for me it is almost a decade. What did you do with your free time then? What did you love to look forward to doing? For me, the answer is writing and drawing, by in large.

If you have ever had Armageddon get to the point where it is causing a lack of focus on your school work, you are addicted. If it is causing you to have a poor sleep schedule, if it is making you not do as well at work... Do not try to pretend this is otherwise, if it is happening. If this is happening, your life and priorities are out of perspective.


6. Relapse – The tenancy to return to addictive behavior even after periods of relative control.

When we say that Armageddon is an addiction, I like to think of it like being an alcoholic. Maybe this isn't true for everyone; but it's true for me. If you are an alcoholic, you don't tell yourself that just one drink is okay. You don't tell yourself that you can drink in moderation. If you do tell yourself these things, you will end up drinking again. This is true with Armageddon. Please, do not let it fool you.


I realize that not everyone is an Armageddon addict. There are some of you who can genuinely play this game and enjoy it, and not let it take over everything in your life. That is wonderful, and if that is the case, keep playing. However, I know I am not the only one out there with this problem. If this is you, quit.

Don't do what I did. Don't tell yourself "I'll quit when this event happens". Don't pick a future date. It is tempting to want to see certain things resolved and finalized, and I've been there too. I've been there for a very, very long time. But the truth is, if you are an addict, this is a problem right now. It will be a problem for as long as you allow it to be one.

Quitting is hard. But if you are determined, you can do anything. Even leave this game.

I am taking the steps I need to insure that I will be permanently leaving: I will ask staff to ban me from both the game and from the GDB. It is possible I will eventually return to the GDB, but I won't be playing again.

So I say good-bye to you, the people I have made so many stories with, and had the pleasure of meeting so many characters of, the people I have argued with and discussed with here on the GDB. Don't think of this as a sad parting: Instead, know that I am doing something good for my life.


As of February 2017, I no longer play Armageddon.

Well. Okay.

in before that nerd named "armaddict" posts
Quote
Whatever happens, happens.

I like toast.
"Don't take life too seriously, nobody ever makes it out alive anyway."


Solid message. It's difficult for me to maintain a balance as well.

It's particularly frustrating as it's rather easy to get wrapped up into a position where other people rely upon you. I don't like to disappoint, but I can't put these in-game obligations above my many other obligations.

February 07, 2017, 02:51:07 AM #5 Last Edit: February 07, 2017, 02:55:57 AM by wizturbo
Godspeed!   I think the 'ban me' part is overkill, especially your GDB account, but whatever gets you out into the world to get into RL adventures I support :)


Farewell.  I just came back not to awful long ago, and I at first had all of this going on.  And because of a crazy circumstance I'm up this late typing this, but that shouldn't be common.

But I felt this for a few days after coming back too.  Though I make video game video's for a living.  So sitting at my computer is normal for me really.  But I get it.  I hope everything goes well for you and enjoy your time in the sun.  :)
At your table, the badass dun-clad female says in tribal-accented sirihish, putting on a piping voice, incongruous not the least because it doesn't get rid of her rasp:
     "'Oh, I killed me a forest cat!' That's nice; I wiped me bum after taking a shit.

Goodbye, Taven. You were one of the reasons I stuck out my first tenure as Tuluki admin, despite other problems at the time.

But even before that you kept me in the game by giving my AoD private Shem someone to care about. Good luck with whatever you do.

You're a great writer, Taven. I hope you find... something better, healthier. I hope you reach a point where you can visit us and argue about the semantics of tribals' use of idioms regarding a fictional, extinct mount, or just comment on other games. If not, that's okay.

You're a great writer, and a good person, especially for taking the time to post this. Thank you.
Quote from: Miradus on January 26, 2017, 11:36:32 AM
I'm just looking for a general consensus. Or Moe's opinion. Either one generally can be accepted as canon.

I've felt this a bunch of times, and usually after a few months I find myself wondering how a certain person would be represented. I don't know if I'm happier in those break periods, but I know that my normal life is often affected by what happens to my PC that day.

Good luck, Taven. Your well thought-out posts have always been a huge help to my understanding of the game and the community.
Quote from: IAmJacksOpinion on May 20, 2013, 11:16:52 PM
Masks are the Armageddon equivalent of Ed Hardy shirts.


Peace dude, and may life be kind.  You are an amazing person, and a tremendous player.  Take it easy.
Yes. Read the thread if you want, or skip to page 7 and be dismissive.
-Reiloth

Words I repeat every time I start a post:
Quote from: Rathustra on June 23, 2016, 03:29:08 PM
Stop being shitty to each other.

Hey, good for you, Taven.  I'm wishing the best for you, kiddo.  I, too, found myself floundering as I started playing video games late in life, after I'd already accomplished success in the real world.  But what happened was, I became so focused on those video games, my personal relationships began to fall apart.  And I really need to fix that.  So, thanks for the reminder.  Even though it has nothing to do with Arm, I could definitely take a look at how I spend my time.
Where it will go

Good luck to you, friend.

I've been questioning my own online behavior and the hours I pour into the game, as well.  Your post is a good reminder and wake-up call to those of us who might need it.
Quote from: Dalmeth
I've come to the conclusion that relaxing is not the lack of doing anything, but doing something that comes easily to you.

Yeah, this is why I don't think I'll ever really be "playing" Armageddon again. It has nothing to do with Staff or the game itself.

I know that when I'm really into a character, there's no way I will go to bed at 10 pm every night or spend those extra 1-2 hours with my gf just lovingly doing nothing on the couch together and watching television and falling asleep in her arms. Or take the extra time to make sure that my essays are near perfect or that I'm cooking really good dinners, etc...

Armageddon would always be tugging at the back of my mind like.. Just log in for half an hour to get some training then log out and go cook - I know that this is just a lie and I'll probably stay much longer.

With "normal" video games I can quit easily whenever I want to (which is really true) and by now I usually even get bored with them before it becomes "dangerous".

Anyway, good on you Taven and I'm just a little sad because you were really dedicated to Arm and it really needs players like you -badly- these days.
"When I was a fighting man, the kettle-drums they beat;
The people scattered gold-dust before my horse's feet;
But now I am a great king, the people hound my track
With poison in my wine-cup, and daggers at my back."

Sad to see you go, glad to see you shifting your priorities to make yourself happier.
QuoteSunshine all the time makes a desert.
Vote at TMS
Vote at TMC

Is this serious?


He/She will be back.
I'm taking an indeterminate break from Armageddon for the foreseeable future and thereby am not available for mudsex.
Quote
In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.

Good luck in the real world, man. You've been an amazing person to RP with, and I wish you all the best later on in life!

Hey, Taven, lots of good memories. So long and thanks for all the MCB.

Quote from: ShaLeah on February 07, 2017, 12:24:47 PM
Is this serious?
He/She will be back.

I hope not.  At least not for a long time.  Taven's got some living to do.

Bye, Taven

Will always remember the great times we had with that giant cookie at the Fale Party.  Good luck!
Child, child, if you come to this doomed house, what is to save you?

A voice whispers, "Read the tales upon the walls."

Oh my god that cookie...


Anyway, good luck Taven.  I've definitely been there with the addiction.  It's possible to achieve balance with this game afterwards, but you do what you gotta do.

February 07, 2017, 05:19:36 PM #22 Last Edit: February 07, 2017, 05:22:45 PM by Armaddict
Quote from: TheWanderer on February 07, 2017, 01:12:34 AM
Well. Okay.

in before that nerd named "armaddict" posts

NO U R A NERD.  AND U R WRONG.  Now let me keep free-basing this text cuz it makes me...makes me feel so goooood.

Fare thee well, brave Taven, know that the addicted nerds behind you mourn the loss.
She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together. --J.D. Salinger

I don't know you but I understand why you left.

Shade and profit, Taven.
No shade and zero profit.

Well, shit.  We are poorer.  Go make yourself richer, then, dammit.

You were a stellar playmate. 


Seeker
Sitting in your comfort,
You don't believe I'm real,
But you cannot buy protection
from the way that I feel.

Godspeed.
Quote from: Fathi on March 08, 2018, 06:40:45 PMAnd then I sat there going "really? that was it? that's so stupid."

I still think the best closure you get in Armageddon is just moving on to the next character.

You will be missed. Best of luck.

February 10, 2017, 03:37:37 PM #27 Last Edit: February 10, 2017, 03:42:38 PM by Melkor
Hello. I'm Melkor. I am an Arm Addict.
(hello Melkor)
It has been about 30 seconds since I have last played.... I already want to log back in.
I was off the wagon for nearly 10 years, with Jesus Christ on my side.... Last week, I got to reminiscing.... Then, before I knew what I was even doing, I had already submitted a character App... It was over. 10 years in a flash.
Every minute of my free-time is now within Zalanthas. It is even worse now than it was for me 10 years ago... Now I can play when I am away from home, on my smart-phone. I find myself playing on my 10 minute breaks at work, and on my lunch break. I literally struggled not to play on the drive to and from work. (though I did not. driving is dangerous, kids). I would like to find a balance, but I cannot reasonably see that happening, especially now that my character is ~~involved~~ in totally cool events. It has gotten to the point I am even thinking of getting my woman hooked on it....
The addiction is real...
and fuck is it good.




P.s. Good luck with all of your future endeavors, friend. I hope you have some wonderful adventures.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

I have no idea if I've ever had the privilege of RPing with you, Taven.

That said, I can't recall a post on the GDB from you that hasn't been enlightening, inspirational, and plain out awesome.

You will be missed.

I'm incredibly sad that you feel the need to banned from both the game and the GDB to deal with the issues the game presents to you. I very much hope you return to the GDB at the very least, and perhaps one day the game itself - although I fully understand how it can demand more attention than is strictly healthy.

February 11, 2017, 09:41:46 AM #29 Last Edit: February 11, 2017, 10:33:29 AM by Harmless
Farewell. I understand fully. My happiest years of life, maybe, were those when I was not actively playing arm. I think my goal is to play a character's life to a satiafying end then take a long break from the game ao I can look back on the story that was made between me and my fellow players. I definitely have had a few signs of addiction in the past. I think I may be coming up on another year-long break soon, I hope, and look forward to that more now that I read your helpful post. Take care and good luck in life.
Useful tips: Commands |  |Storytelling:  1  2

I don't know whether or not I interacted with you
In game or not, but It's always a bummer to see one
of you vets go.

But, as someone who suffers from addiction and has been/is
in treatment/programs for it I definitely recognize a lot of the
signs in your post if I substitute a few word. Just want to say
good luck, hope you find peace in your 'sobriety'.
The Ooze is strong with this one

Quote from: 8bitgrandpa on June 28, 2016, 12:01:20 AM
You are our official hammer, Ooze.

Malachi 2:3

sad to lose a veteran!  best of luck to you on your journey of self discovery.
"Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation."
-Kim Stanley Robinson

I missed this thread.  I thought the GDB felt a little quieter and a little less shiny, lately. 

You will be missed.  If it's something you really struggle to control, cutting ties is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Quote from: Lizzie on February 10, 2016, 09:37:57 PM
You know I think if James simply retitled his thread "Cheese" and apologized for his first post being off-topic, all problems would be solved.