Save the drama for your momma!

I love nerd drama.

It's a complex vice I have. I normally despise drama. Interpersonal conflict makes me very uncomfortable, and I'm embarressed to admit that when drama flourishes, I get very soap-opera in both speech and action. Trust me when I say that, despite what you've seen on TV, that sort of behavior gains you nothing but odd looks and ridicule in real life.

Nerd drama, on the other hand, is delectible. For one thing, it almost always rears its ugly ("I'm not ugly! I'm misunderstood!") head on the Internet, and as we all know Internet arguments are arguably the very best kind. Almost everyone that enters a forum discussion enters with a few preconceived notions on their mind:

1. They're right.
2. Anyone who disagrees with them is wrong.
3. Never back down! Never surrender!

I use the term "discussion" lightly, because these bouts of ideology typically descend into a screaming match. The anonymity offered up by the Internet often grants people the cajones they lack outside of the dull glow of their monitor, and the things that fly off the tips of their fingers when they're all riled up is nothing less than incendiary. I soak this shit up like a damn sponge!

It's also entertaining due to the nature of these fights (did I say fights? Whatever...a spade's a spade, and whatnot). Forum fights are not toe-to-toe conflicts. People have ample time to prepare their counter-arguments, and take advantage of that fact. Also, there's a time gap between posts because, you know, people have lives and whatnot outside of the forum. It's even better when the fight gets carried over into forums other than the one it originated in! It's like watching a barfight spill out into the street!

Another reason I love these little releases of pent-up rage is that they are all masked behind a thin layer of nerd-dom. The best, the very best, of all nerd drama that I have come across is Guild drama, especially when it's a Guild that is imploding. It's like watching an entire society crumble before your very eyes. Accusations, personal attacks, revealed vendettas, acts of vengeance...it's just...too...good!

I don't know why I love it so. It's so against my everyday character that it makes me scratch my head. But love it I do.

Some excellent nerd drama can be found here, here and here. I wish I had more specific links, but that's more research than I'm willing to do this morning.

Peace!