The bit about WOS nobody wants to talk about
We all know the game is a social experiment like a modern day 'Lord of the Flies'.
I think it is easy to form friendships in the game, it designed to work like that but whereas friendships in real life can easily be assessed in face-to-face the WOS world doesn't allow that. That allows anyone to pretend to be whomever they want to be.
People play for different reasons and without usual social constraints their personality traits can become exaggerated.
Gaslighting, Bullying. It goes on. We find out on here when someone finally has enough as they vent their experiences and mods step in to remove content that breaks Reddiquette rules.
I have been playing three years now and I honestly think its got worse. I play because i enjoy the strategy and tactics, I am ftp and its not easy but i don't mind the grind.
I have friends in the game, some that i have played with for the entire time i have played but this year has taught me a valuable lesson about trust and that not everyone who claims to be a friend is. I used to think it was easy to spot the narcissists, manipulators, toxic players but its got harder and this year i thought hard about quitting. If for me as an older adult, mum of four adults and someone who thought herself as 'worldly -wise' got fooled then the younger players must really struggle. Mental health is a real issue in this game as young players come in and form friendships then find out that they have been betrayed, you start to doubt your own judgement.
I guess what i am trying to say is that not everyone is your friend, that you should be careful of whom you trust, don't give them any part of your life or personality they can turn against you or use as 'evidence' that you are the toxic one. Its easy to get drawn into 'pretend friendships' where the other player has an agenda, those that defend it as just 'strategy' I would argue that strategy to win shouldn't include destroying another individual to get ahead in a game.
Its a game. Its a game of tactics, strategy, resource utilisation and teamwork. But still a game. its not real life, don't get drawn into it to the extent it affects who you believe you are as a person. If you find its affecting who you are just turn it off.
