02-13-2011, 09:33 AM
So, what do I think about play by mail gaming, and how things panned out for the hobby?
Oh, like most anyone else who has an opinion on the subject, I tend to be of many minds. I have many different opinions about it, all simultaneously. From time to time, I like to share a particular thought or three on the subject with others who, while they may or may not share my opinion being voiced at the time, nonetheless retain at least an interest in the subject matter being discussed.
Sometimes, I talk about what I label the Old Guard of PBM. Sometimes, they catch Hell. At other times, they still catch Hell. But, such should not be wrongly equated with me hating the Old Guard. Heck, many times, no one more so than myself would enjoy hearing from them sharing tidbits and morsels about the good old days, or hearing them expounding upon their companies' respective role on the hobby. Even hearing why they seem to have lost interest in the hobby to which they are linked would be a nice change of pace from the omnipresent silence that seems to emanate without end from numerous Old Guard PBM companies and moderators.
My role in the whole not-so-sordid affair is pretty much whatever I choose for it to be, I suppose. Of late, I am inclined to think that the role for this website to play is that of a facilitator. If people want to discuss the hobby of play by mail gaming, then that's fine. If, however, they don't want to discuss it, preferring silence to participation, then you know what? That's fine, too. I can still carve out a niche for this website, I believe, no matter what course that others - either singularly or collectively - may chart.
It's ironic, I think, how much that things are still pretty much the same, as they were back in the days when David Webber was still the editor of Paper Mayhem magazine. He had trouble getting people to contribute and write about the hobby. It's no different now, in that regard.
David couldn't save the hobby from itself, as things turned out. He did put forth effort. He tried different things. He made a positive difference, overall, I think. Even still, look at how things turned out.
So, as David Webber did his thing, likewise, I'm going to continue doing my thing. What that "thing" is may evolve over time, or it may even dissipate in a wisp of smoke, but I'm not going to worry about any of that.
If you want to contribute, then contribute. If you don't, then don't. Sure, I would like to hear from you, as others would, also, no doubt. But, regardless, I am going to take things at a pace that is leisurely to myself.
The site is PlayByMail.Net - and we're here to stay.
For a while.
At least.
Unless I'm wrong, of course.
Oh, like most anyone else who has an opinion on the subject, I tend to be of many minds. I have many different opinions about it, all simultaneously. From time to time, I like to share a particular thought or three on the subject with others who, while they may or may not share my opinion being voiced at the time, nonetheless retain at least an interest in the subject matter being discussed.
Sometimes, I talk about what I label the Old Guard of PBM. Sometimes, they catch Hell. At other times, they still catch Hell. But, such should not be wrongly equated with me hating the Old Guard. Heck, many times, no one more so than myself would enjoy hearing from them sharing tidbits and morsels about the good old days, or hearing them expounding upon their companies' respective role on the hobby. Even hearing why they seem to have lost interest in the hobby to which they are linked would be a nice change of pace from the omnipresent silence that seems to emanate without end from numerous Old Guard PBM companies and moderators.
My role in the whole not-so-sordid affair is pretty much whatever I choose for it to be, I suppose. Of late, I am inclined to think that the role for this website to play is that of a facilitator. If people want to discuss the hobby of play by mail gaming, then that's fine. If, however, they don't want to discuss it, preferring silence to participation, then you know what? That's fine, too. I can still carve out a niche for this website, I believe, no matter what course that others - either singularly or collectively - may chart.
It's ironic, I think, how much that things are still pretty much the same, as they were back in the days when David Webber was still the editor of Paper Mayhem magazine. He had trouble getting people to contribute and write about the hobby. It's no different now, in that regard.
David couldn't save the hobby from itself, as things turned out. He did put forth effort. He tried different things. He made a positive difference, overall, I think. Even still, look at how things turned out.
So, as David Webber did his thing, likewise, I'm going to continue doing my thing. What that "thing" is may evolve over time, or it may even dissipate in a wisp of smoke, but I'm not going to worry about any of that.
If you want to contribute, then contribute. If you don't, then don't. Sure, I would like to hear from you, as others would, also, no doubt. But, regardless, I am going to take things at a pace that is leisurely to myself.
The site is PlayByMail.Net - and we're here to stay.
For a while.
At least.
Unless I'm wrong, of course.
