[JonlovesHilo]

Hi Everyone,

I have been holding this in for quite a while and have decided to write this now because I have seen another wonderful person get too caught up in the competition of DMI and other online games. As many of you know Dabaum has resigned and left the DMI. She felt she was too caught up in the game and was so involved in so many things , she wanted to get back to real life. which I truly understand and wish her the best. Same thing happened to my cousin, BVE last year. In ways , this is our escape. Our little pleasure. But it can be addictive also to some. Please do not get too caught up in it, that you forget what is most important to you, life. DMI will be here waiting, you don't need to schedule your life around it.

Please listen to me , THIS IS A GAME! By no means is this meant to put anyone down or tell them what is right or wrong. It's a wake up call to some. I know many of us have made some great friendships in DMI and enjoy the banter between one another. But please, please, do not let this take over any part of your scheduled life. Signing on at midnight to get SBs, complaining that you were cheated out of SBs, or even that Branches are too big or too small is the first sign. What this was designed for is for social networking - FUN!!!! For the past 3 years , I have seen this site change to the most competitive site ever. Needing to be in the top ten, needing to get all your SBs. And for what? A booblehead as a reward? Now , I know I am going to upset some people who are going to say that I am wrong and in some cases I am. But I am not wrong to remind people to relax, enjoy the game. The shrutebucks will come, your desk item you want can be obtained by asking for an item from people, instead of going crazy trying to collect shrutebucks. Tasks are to be a fun thing not a chore to collect SBs.

Ask people who have worked their butts off in this game to win and what feeling they have of stress, always looking at top ten list, worrying about getting the most dollars in a challenge. Learning the cheats, instead of playing it for fun.
I was like that for the first year and half of this game. I had clones, I jumped from branch to branch, all to win.
Then one day , you look at what you have become and you become very bitter at the wasted time you have used to do this. At the end of the day , when you sign off, it's just that, you sign off.

I have seen way too many good people burn out on this site and I just wanted to let people know that this site can be a blast, you can make some great friends, learn about fun things and enjoy the office for what it is worth. But it also can suck the life out of you very easily. If I have hit a nerve for some people who are hardcore players , I am sorry. I am not telling you how to play or enjoy the site, I am just giving a word of advice to prevent losing more friends on DMI. Please , Please , I am begging you don't make this site a major part of your life. And this goes for Facebook, Farmville, and other sites. Scheduling your life around that certain time you feel you have to be online. You will one day wake up very empty. Rather, enjoy it as a side item. If you push something in your normal schedule back in your real life to jump on the site to collect Sbs, you need to figure out why you are doing that? Is it worth all the effort to win a $12 item ? One can get a real addiction to online. Just use your time wisely. And every once in awhile, when you feel the major need to sign on, don't. Do something different and enjoy something new in your real life. DMI will always be here and so will all the wonderful things about it.

Thanks for your time....

Jon

[Duffey]

Very interesting. I agree, this is just a game and like you said, it is an escape from the real world. I think people really do get a little too caught up sometimes. I think that if everyone just relaxes and comes here to have a good time then we all will be able to enjoy DMI a little more.

Thanks for posting this.

[JadeCorsett]

I know this is cause of dabaum, and I just want to say that she was a dmi gem. Hilo was truly blessed to have her as an RM, and I know we'll all miss her.

Her and I were both in top 10 last season and we made a pact to be stress-free this year. The thing is, when you're used to winning, it's very hard to easily give this trait up. I know she felt like it was definitely consuming her and sometimes I feel the same way too. She did the only thing she could do to get rid of the stress, and I applaud her for it. Though, that doesn't make me any more happier about the situation. But she's happy, and that's what should count.

In general, many people are on here for different reasons. I honestly think that more than half the site plays for fun. A small percentage of DMI has definitely made this game more serious than it might've originally intended to be. But everyone handles it differently. And whatever way people want to enjoy the site, is their choice. If they resign as a result, well then... it's a shame.

[Bubs]

Well said Jon!

[garylmoore78]

I agree! I myself fell victim to similar scenario on a racing website that I wrapped my life and emotions up into. I learned a lot about how to limit my full emotional involvement into something meaningless on a grand scale. It can be emotionally taxing and you certainly lose site of reality and the things that are most important to your life. In addition I think on the other side of that, with the facelessness of the internet its so easy to be a complete jerk for no reason. Respect others feelings and thoughts.

It is a great tip to throw out there.. I hate to see great people leave this community, but I understand the reason. It's so important just to have fun and enjoy what we have instead of complaining and getting overly involved.

[glindas]

Bubs, on Nov 12 2009, 09:25 AM, said:

Well said Jon!

I So Agree Jon.

[konamouse]

Thank you, Jon, for putting this in perspective.

If you practice a task for hours and hours, postponing the game until you feel you have perfected it, you might be addicted to DMI.
If you spend hours photoshopping for a $50 sb task, you might be addicted to DMI.
If you create spreadsheets, cover your monitor in saran wrap & marked spots, you might be addicted to DMI.

I love the social aspects of this site. So much fun meeting people in person. A fun place to hang out while living in a hotel room. That's the best part of this game. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[JadeCorsett]

Who doesn't cover their computer in saran wrap? Even without being on DMI.

[JadeCorsett]

Jon, I know you mean well, but I can't help but notice that your post sort of looks down on dabaum. Obviously she resigned in Hilo and DMI for reasons that she was feeling consumed by the online world, but this whole post just seems like it's a "don't be like her" post.

I love dabaum, and I respect her. And I do NOT want her memory being tainted. She was a great RM and she did a lot for the site. She wasn't trying to set a negative example by any means.

Don't take offense, but I'd like this clarified, if you don't mind.

[djkw418]

Didn't i tell everyone the "its a game" posts were coming?

[amleonard83]

I'm new here, and have already seen a lot of addictions going on (i'm guilty a little as well)
I'm on a couple times throughout the day, mostly at night when there is nothing else to do. I'm glad to see a post reminding everyone that it's a game.

[JadeCorsett]

djkw418, on Nov 12 2009, 09:11 PM, said:

Didn't i tell everyone the "its a game" posts were coming?

I'm honestly getting a little fed up of it.

[David_Brent_UK]

JonlovesHilo, on Nov 12 2009, 03:23 PM, said:

Signing on at midnight to get SBs, complaining that you were cheated out of SBs, or even that Branches are too big or too small is the first sign. What this was designed for is for social networking - FUN!!!! For the past 3 years , I have seen this site change to the most competitive site ever. Needing to be in the top ten, needing to get all your SBs. And for what? A booblehead as a reward?

Sounds like loser talk to me

[Deagle]

I agree Jon, It is a game. It is a fun game.

[KristyKremey]

I love dabaum!
She is one of the most wonderful people Ive met online.

Hilo loves Jon too!!

I did my Office Poem task as an ode to dabaum
I'm not going to post it here,
cuz it'll look like I'm fishing for votes.
Maybe if it gets past branch voting,
I'll come back & fish! LOL

[Mandy11]

I nominate John as President for the DMI Coalition Of Reason

The addictive behaviour displayed here just baffles me, but to each his own, as long as your addiction is not adversely affecting anyone else trying to enjoy their time here.

For the record, I can't see anyway that post could be interpreted as 'looking down' on dabaum.

[JadeCorsett]

Fine Mandy, I'll break it down.

Quote

Needing to be in the top ten, needing to get all your SBs. And for what? A booblehead as a reward?

Quote

Ask people who have worked their butts off in this game to win and what feeling they have of stress, always looking at top ten list, worrying about getting the most dollars in a challenge. Learning the cheats, instead of playing it for fun.

Quote

you look at what you have become and you become very bitter at the wasted time you have used to do this. At the end of the day , when you sign off, it's just that, you sign off.

Quote

Scheduling your life around that certain time you feel you have to be online. You will one day wake up very empty.

This is all basically making assumptions about dabaum. It's like bringing her dmi life into this thread after she's gone. Even when I showed her this post she was a bit heart-broken. I take offense for her, not for myself. She's not bitter. She doesn't feel empty. She's proud of her time on DMI. I have been and am a top 10er, but I choose to be involved in this site. It's not a sick disease of mine to want to be here.

Can't we just respect/honor someone who's gone instead of preaching about the effects of making the game your life?

[Mandy11]

Jade the first paragraph, only, was referencing dabaum.

The remainder of the post was referencing other members who do take the game quite seriously - over identify much?!

[Bubs]

I don't think Jon's post was looking down on dabaum (or anyone else), but more of a characterization of some players.

I think he was just trying to point out that if someone is over-stressed and putting DMI over RL maybe they should rethink their approach to DMI. There are many types of players here. If someone is competitive and has a goal of being in the top 10, etc. and is comfortable with it, great, go for it. But I think some people maybe get dragged into the competitiveness before they realize it.

I also think 3.0 is much "darker". I haven't figured out what the reason for that is. I do think that the 2000 SB to join a branch is a factor. Although this was designed to allow a more casual player to play without having to be in a branch and of course the clone issue, at the same time I think it raised the competitiveness of the game, but in a much less friendly way than in the past.

Just my 2 cents....

[leftnwrite08]

Whether part of this was directed at a particular member or not, it sounds like we all agree that ... well, on the obvious: it's a game Maybe we should take this as a lesson, too, that part of it being a game is not calling out other members (especially once they leave), and not letting it, or other people even, get to you! (and just to make sure I'm not misunderstood, this isn't an attack on Jade or Jon!)

Let's keep it fun, everybody!!

(ps-- and I'll admit ... I'm one of those people who signs on at midnight to get my ASBs started and/or out of the way, lol, but it's also mainly because if I don't do it right away I'll forget and part of the fun for me is getting the most SBs as I can to make my "desk" more amazing than my real one could ever be!!)