@Ghost said in How to Escape the OOC Game:
I believe that there is very little actual real damage that happens in this hobby and that cases of cruel behavior, stalking, and cheating at games are the actual offenses.
You know, I'm just gonna put this out here:
I agree with Ghost on this. And I want to take it one step further.
Yes, there are some bad actors out there, but ultimately, in almost every instance, they cannot actually hurt you. It's words, on a screen, on a game. You always have the option to walk away. There are some very rare exceptions to this, such as @Sunny's thing with her ex, I suppose, but the vast majority of the time? The only power these people have over you are the power that you give them.
And so, with that, I think that some of you are invested way too deeply in this shit. Like, to an unhealthy level. Sure, there are bad actors out there that do questionable things, but if you're letting them have so much power over you that they can cause you long-term anxiety issues, this level of paranoia, and anger that lasts for literal years, you maybe need to reevaluate how deep into this particular rabbit hole you've gone.
Someone else said that they think emotional distance is one of the problems with the hobby. I concur with the thought, but not the conclusion. You need emotional distance. You need to not be so invested in this stuff that a setback or a loss is an emotional devastation. If you have anxiety so badly that you are constantly on the lookout for X or Y person, and the very thought of maybe, just maybe running across them causes you actual distress?
You need to step away.
Go make an RL friend. Find an alternate hobby. Take up video games. Something. But for the love of god, realize that this level of investment in and of itself is also a problematic behavior, and a sign of instability.
Just -- detach, people. For everyone's good.