For the love of eSports
All I want to do is light the fire.
All I want to do is light the fire.
The reason I was drawn to StarCraft as a community and eSports as an entity surpassed the gaming aspect and drove straight into the heart of what I always saw - a place where outcasts the world over were accepted and celebrated for what they contributed to a game they love.
Not everyone can be a professional gamer but everyone can bring something to the community to strengthen it, to enrich it. Artists, musicians, photographers and countless other talented people have made their mark on who we are as one living organism, an ecosystem of our very own.
What really discourages me from this community is something which is coming to light more recently, something that I try to fight against and can no longer ignore. We have evolved too quickly and we never prepared for what was to happen.
Our community is not governed. There is no elected committee to oversee what is right and wrong or any legality for disclosure of what is going on under the covers. What is most viciously appalling about this is not the activities which have occurred, yet how we have chosen to chastise those who take a stand against them.
I get that no-one wants to be outside the circle looking in. It is human nature to want to be part of the club. It is wrong and it is primitive but we cannot really fault it, because it is coded into us from birth.
I have never once flown with the other birds.
I empathise deeply with those who cannot or will not speak up because they fear what others might think or say. Moreover, I really feel sad that they will never have the freedom that I have in my life to live outside the circle, to look inside.
Engaging in debate and demanding answers, questioning leaders and wanting truth above all is what should be written into every fibre of our beings. What makes this most difficult is that people want to believe in their gods, their heroes and their masters - even in eSports. Yet, like it or not, corruption is rife in our community from the top tier organisations to the smallest of tournaments, teams and sub-communities.
This occurs across every level of the eSports ladder, from Professional Gaming Organisations to the grassroots communities. Every team or faction has their own “content editor” and “journalists” who are, for the most part, volunteers. It is their job to display their team or website in the most shining of lights. They love who they represent and support and want to have the best shot at working in the industry in the future - who doesn’t want to work in an industry they love? So there is bias, hiding of facts and lynching of anyone who suggests otherwise.
Those who have the access to the platforms of mass readership distinctly need maintain a certain standard - which ultimately means keeping their mouths firmly closed - for several reasons. Firstly, they want to stay where they are because any influence is better than none - being a sort of somebody is better than a complete nobody. Additionally getting a legitimate job or career in this industry relies almost entirely on who you know and what reputation you hold with those key hiring means toeing the line in the lower leagues, or you do not pass go, you do not collect $200. Then there is what I refer to as ‘The Banishing of the Witches…’
In the game ‘Lemmings’, you watch them all line up and walk off a cliff. This is sort of how the banishing occurs. One at a time, people gather up their research, present their evidence and the court of eSports dismisses them. Never a show of numbers, no eSports-Truth Party rallies and no war is raged, just one person battles the majority before being chastised, mocked, bullied and hung out to dry like a treasonous leper. Then the next hopeful detective presents his case…
This happens from the biggest fish to the smallest tadpoles. Those who question, demand transparency or even suggest a notion that something is not as it is being presented, are set to like witches, out casted and bullied for speaking up. The higher up you sit in the chain of eSports hierarchy, the more pull you have to shun, shame and exile - you also have the furthest to fall. Because of this, we see those with influence constantly taking advantage of those with none.
In an industry exempt of any governing body or overseeing entity, people can basically do whatever the hell they want. We have seen thousands of dollars go missing, “Professional Teams” sink like battleships, and countless players, staff and fans be taken advantage of. No-one is every held accountable.
Afterwards, as the community settles from the shockwaves, kind-hearted individuals gather aid like relief workers. Sometimes those in need get helped, but that doesn’t mean the truth is ever really exposed. Because of that, the community doesn’t learn and the power holders do not fear.
Not every piece of dirty laundry needs to be aired. Yet if no one fears they may be exposed for what they are doing they may well go “full Russia” and suddenly we have a real Sochi on our hands. My biggest issue is with those who attack the forward thinking individuals who do the research and initiate the debate - which, in the most part, is not only thankless, but moreover, simply depressing. No-one should have the eSports hit squad set onto them for having the gonads to discover the truth everyone is hiding from because THAT is real journalism.
In my opinion true journalism is the ability to inspire debate and get the fire started. Not only should we all have a voice, but we should exercise our right to be heard. The future of eSports will be defined by who speaks up, not who sits quietly in the corner in their brand new Evil Geniuses t-shirt, watching streams, buying merchandise, donating and going to tournaments. All which support eSports, but, contributing your ideas and questioning the key decision makers is what keeps eSports ours. Honesty and transparency must prevail above all else.
In 2014, make an effort to be counted, make an effort to swim against the constant swell of fellating fanboys and be passionate about those who really love eSports - not just those who really love the dollars it brings in.
Never be afraid to inspire change or to question something you think is an injustice. You will never be alone outside the circle looking in. For I am here with you, whether our opinions are in line or not, it matters not. Use all the weapons in your arsenal and fight back.
Re: All I want to do is light the fire - For the love of eSports
holy crap I think this is one of the best blogs that I've read on here!! It rings true on so many levels.
___________________________________ "Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you." - Tyrion Lannister
Re: All I want to do is light the fire - For the love of eSports
You put a lot of effort into this blog, and it really shows.
The singular mindset or 'hivemind' of a community does bring restrictions upon individuals that can actually hinders growth instead of providing a flourishing, diverse community. Having a mutual goal is fine, but not strangling out the wishes of others and what they wish to achieve. Instead of battering the ideas and aspirations of others we don't agree with we should be tolerant and respectful of their ideas, even if they don't meet ours
It's fine to feel passionate and strongly about a topic or occurrence, but just badgering or 'outnumbering' the opposition to the point of submission doesn't bring growth, but just scares the potential for it away and chokes out the chances of a more diverse and engaging community. Expansion is better than competition, and in some cases we need to swallow our pride to and provide more to others in the community rather than take away from them and their ideas.
Re: All I want to do is light the fire - For the love of eSports
This community doesn't grow because it is restricted by this website and its community to be quite honest.
If you look at the other regions they have many portals for sc2 discussion and are not bound to a single platform of communication that is out dated, boring and a bit of a circle jerk. In the last year this site has become so stagnant I can check it once a month and nothing new will have happened; the same people post the same blogs, the same tournaments happen over and over, the same drama, the same everything, nothing new.
I check the introduction thread and see no replies, this community is exclusive, small and exclusive. There needs to be a reboot somewhere and more events to try and encourage more people to join up. The way it works at the moment means if you aren't on sc2sea you see nothing, this is not good.
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I keep it real bruv.
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