Love in the Spiral?

Just what is it?

Well, I gotta tell you, I don't really know.  I just know that it seems to filter throughout the game, and sometimes with unusual or alarming consequences!

Only today, I was in the Commons and the language started.  One guy was getting cranky with another for 'staring at his girl'.  After some verbal jousting, the physical threats started.

Now, this might be a surprise (lol!), but I am not one of those wizards that stands by to listen to that rubbish.  I asked them both to calm down and...fortunately, both eventually did with only a little persuasion.  But this kind of scene happens all too often, and I am a little bemused as to why!

In fact, let me tell you another story...one day, a young wizard caught me in the Shopping District.  She was a new friend from earlier in the week.  She insisted that I tell her that I love her(!)  I explained I didn't even know her...but she then went from bad to worse, even threatening to kill herself if I didn't!

What can you do?

Well, without saying anything to inflame the situation, I sought to calm it down and then left as quickly as I could.

Was she just a crazy random?  Maybe a desperate person irl?  Perhaps someone just playing with me?  Who would know?  From where I sit, the only thing I know is that I'll never know the real answer...just like this random comment in the Commons one day...

I hear about weddings in the Spiral, I hear about people's bf or gf, I hear about husband and wife.  I laugh when my irl wife gets approached by a random to be their gf...

But...seriously?

And I know, for some, this is deadly serious stuff.

As a result, I will never trivialise this as I know there are many people in the world that are going through different challenges, both personal and emotional,.  Sometimes it is in the wonderful, magical place that we call the Spiral that the shackles of real life can be shaken free.  I also know that people invest of themselves in their character and that investment means that the lines for some can become blurred.

I also know that some irl friendships have begun in the Spiral.

I think it is at those times that we need to remember that, just like irl, everyone has a story, a past, a perspective and we have little to no way of knowing what that is.  I think that the same rules apply, whether in the Spiral or not, respect is always the key.

Treat other wizards with respect.  Consider that no two situations are the same.  Consider that different Wizards play for different reasons...and, as ever, everyone is unique, and that is a very good thing.

Enjoy your time in the Spiral, and try to help others do the same.

See you 'round the Spiral!

Morgrim