Elitism in the Pokemon TCG
- Thread starter Card Slinger J
- Start date
- Status
CarlosDuranJr said:
I didn't keep updated on prices. Also, I still stand by my point that if both people get what they want, it is a fair trade.
@Above, you don't have to be particularly wealthy, but you have to have some money to spend on cards.
Isn't elitism one of those people who think they are so cool just because they are better at the game than everyone else, and to show newbies how to play, they use their best deck to "pwn noobs", so they feel like they have bragging rights, and as such, make everybody else in the room feel uncomfortable?
Imagine for some kids event, a Major League Baseball player comes in and plays at MLB level against some little league, and saying, you kids suck. Yeah, that is what elitism is.
Imagine for some kids event, a Major League Baseball player comes in and plays at MLB level against some little league, and saying, you kids suck. Yeah, that is what elitism is.
After reading through this thread, I decided to google "magic the gathering elitism".
The one of the first links was a thread discussing elitism in the game, and the attitude towards it was quite funny, half of the comments are basically shut up and deal with it. While it may not be as prevalent in Pokemon TCG, it is still there. You can even see it in some comments that people say on this forum.
At the end of the day, it's just a card game, lighten up and have fun with it.
The one of the first links was a thread discussing elitism in the game, and the attitude towards it was quite funny, half of the comments are basically shut up and deal with it. While it may not be as prevalent in Pokemon TCG, it is still there. You can even see it in some comments that people say on this forum.
At the end of the day, it's just a card game, lighten up and have fun with it.
Today at League I was playing a little kid, this guy had lots of the EX Promos and a badly damaged Mewtwo EX FA, his father was watching and told me to use all of my tricks, I won in around 13 turns, and gave him a prize (game prize). Then I gave him a free Dark Claw for being so cool. His deck was a variation of Empoleon, I felt good, as I also helped him with his deck. He was a good player though.
Oh there is lots of elitism. It discouraged me to stop playing the TCG a while back because I couldn't take the attitude of competitive elitists. This is mostly in league, where fun is usually had, and unlimited decks roam free of worry. However, snobbish elitists seem to ignore the fact that Pokemon was made for fun, sure winning is an aspect, but some of us enjoy a lot more than just the gaming aspect of Pokemon. It's not always about winning, or acting like you're better than someone. Elitist attitudes are unwelcoming and pathetic. I could care less about how much a person spends on their decks, how much time they throw into making a "perfect" deck. It's just a game, and while a hobby is understandable, I'm not saying it's bad to have, far from it, I LOVE card games. However, when I'm at league I prefer having a normal conversation with someone that doesn't involve bragging about where they placed in a tournament, or what's top tier in meta, or what they pulled out of a pack the other day. Gimme something to talk about that won't irritate or bore me. I don't care about how high ranking of a player you are, I just want to sit down, play a card game, and talk about something that isn't their ego. Sometimes I'll add them on facebook, or instant messaging contacts, but if all they talk about is card games and again, how "great" they are, I simply will just ignore them because it's not worth my time.
So yeah, elitists annoy me because they quite frankly can't think of anything other than a card game.
So yeah, elitists annoy me because they quite frankly can't think of anything other than a card game.
Over this year I've seen a good variety of people playing the game, and I wholeheartedly agree that elitists exist all around, just not in the was the OP described it, what with the seemingly blatant disrespect towards less skilled players. Northern Illinois, in my opinion, seems to congregate a good number of skilled players from around the Midwest, and I've seen what some can be like. However, the truly good players do not seem to be elitists. They know they're good, they know they can win, but they're all respectful, friendly, and incredibly fun to play with. The people who fit in more with the OP's description are not those who consistently win, but those who come with no goal but to win, with no intention to interact with the others. I will simply mention that when I played Jason K, two-time world champion, at States, he did not come off as an elitist. It's obvious he knows he's a great player, but he does not show off that fact. At the same time, I've played people who I've never heard of or seen, who treat me coldly, and I can really just tell that they consider me inferior. I can compare this to something that my English teacher taught our class about millionaires. Those who are actually rich will not usually flaunt their wealth. My teacher had a friend who was a successful millionaire, but he did not show off. In public he dressed like a normal guy. Then he compared that to people who attempt to seem rich dressing in suits and driving expensive cars, when in reality they have nothing. So I would say that yes, elitism exists in Pokemon, but oftentimes it is not those who are actually good disrespecting the others, but those who so desperately want to seem good, that they feel a need to put down the rest, like schoolyard bullies, just so that they can feel better than others.
Any tips on prventing someone from becoming an Elitist? I fear my 11 year old cousin may be one. (screaming how happy he is to finnaly beat me in a TCG battle, being a sore loser, somewhat brags when he wins a BRs, not battling me because he knows I can beat him, ect.)
It is truly pathetic, and quite humorous to say the least. Pokemon is a game, but people treat it as something much more than that. Ultimately, it is for enjoyment. Not pride. So for the people that are stuck-up because they think they are good really need to reconsider their priorities. For these elitists, they are repulsed when they battle someone who wants to improve. It's funny because they all s tarted in that position at one point.
TheAuraIsWithMeBV: Yeah. Tell him straight up. Dude. People are going to hate you. Stop being so rude. Film his behavior secretly, and show him after a match. He should be surprised with how he behaves. Should.
Serperior said:
The only problem is I rarely ever see him and he just moved further away from me making it even harder to battle him. Thanks for the suggestion though, I'll try it if I get the chance.
This sounds more like a case of a competitive 11 year-old being a competitive 11 year-old. In my area, there's a 10 year-old who cheats to win and cries when he loses and stuff. But he's 10. Give him a break. :XBrave Vesperia said:
He'll probably be more mature in a couple years.
Celebi23 said:
There's an Ian Robb in my area who is a Junior and qualified for Worlds 2011 on ratings but is as close to elitist of anyone I've ever played with. At Regionals 2011, he lost at T4 and ran from the room crying. At Cities, the judge made a ruling against him that lost him the game and he lost it. He ran to his mother and started crying in her lap.
But yes, he is a Junior and i should give him a break.
Anyway there isn't much elitism where i play i don't think, but since i go to about 10 tournaments a year, and 2 won't be in the area, i shouldn't be talking.
The years I've been running my league I've taught my players not to be elitist. I don't do it to make them think being a great player is a bad thing, I do it so they never get complacent and buy into a false reality that could get them in a bind later. I do it so they won't just win and win and keep to themselves; they'll go and share everything they know with others to make them better players. A lot of my players are great. Two of them swept through Cities last year and took 1st and 2nd place in just about every single event. They won't brag about it though, but we do love to show off all the trophies and medals they've earned when we host premier events.
The desire to win doesn't make the person an elitist. An elitist only works on people who are already on top, and are already winning. The elitist is the person who feels that they should deserve more respect than the new kids, because they win a card game, and therefore are much better than the newbies.
If anything, the only people elitists don't play against are people who they know they can beat, because they think that playing against a newbie, or playing for fun is a waste of time, and therefore they want to find a challenge, while being disrespectful to the players who isn't as good as the elitist.
It's sort of like those washed up sports pros who thinks that whatever they say is true, and that everybody else is wrong, even if everybody else may be right.
If anything, the only people elitists don't play against are people who they know they can beat, because they think that playing against a newbie, or playing for fun is a waste of time, and therefore they want to find a challenge, while being disrespectful to the players who isn't as good as the elitist.
It's sort of like those washed up sports pros who thinks that whatever they say is true, and that everybody else is wrong, even if everybody else may be right.
^Yeah, though I intended to, I didn't really drive that point home in my last post. Being upset when you lose and not wanting to play people can beat you is a completely separate thing from elitism.
And to clear it up for anybody still confused, here's a definition of "elitist":
And to clear it up for anybody still confused, here's a definition of "elitist":
dictionary.reference.com said:
I personally don't know anyone who's an elitist about Pokemon TCG in real life, so I don't have examples, but I can use myself. I am generally considered one of the better players in our local league despite that I do not consider myself a tournament level player yet.
I don't disagree that I know a lot about the game, but I am always willing to help other people with their decks. Just today I gave suggestions to one of my friends playing a Six Corners deck. While the deck is not as strong as others, I will never dissuade people from playing a deck they like.
Just the same, my brother plays Reshiboar because that's what he has and it's worked out pretty well. He won two rounds at BRs last week and for that I am proud of him.
An elitist player probably wouldn't help others because they think they are superior and their strategies are theirs alone.
I don't disagree that I know a lot about the game, but I am always willing to help other people with their decks. Just today I gave suggestions to one of my friends playing a Six Corners deck. While the deck is not as strong as others, I will never dissuade people from playing a deck they like.
Just the same, my brother plays Reshiboar because that's what he has and it's worked out pretty well. He won two rounds at BRs last week and for that I am proud of him.
An elitist player probably wouldn't help others because they think they are superior and their strategies are theirs alone.
Cinema said:
I agree. I don't like playing noobs or non-competitive players too often because it's not a challenge, I love to be challenged. But that doesn't mean I won't battle them if they ask me to. And I show them respect just like I would to a competitive player. (the only time I ever turrn down a battle anyways is if I have to do something or I'm busy trading)
DecaDang said:
Actually I have seen a few elitist players help others out, but the downside is a majority of them kinda...
Change the person's deck to the point where it lacks any pokemon they liked/wanted to focus on in exchange for a competitive level deck. While said players who wanted their deck fixed, really don't want to play competitive, and would rather play with the pokemon they like. I don't know whether it's they think they're doing a good deed or they feel new players should be brought into the competitive aspect. Though this is a serious deterent and turning a fun player's deck into a competitive, bland, "everyone uses this" deck, will most likely make them not want to play and they'll start from point 0 because they don't want to use that deck.
- Status