Gear Score | Pugnacious Priest's Warcraft Blog

Image from Think Geek – Equal Measure Product page

I’m just going to say – I get an little thrill when I see my GS getting higher
Come on – Don’t lie and say that you don’t.

You know you’ve made it when you break the GS mod ( anyone over 6000 broke mine) I’m not there yet. Getting close.

People fervently hate Gear Score. Why? Because it gives you a number and puts you in your place – and a way to compare just how many people are better than you. Or Because It’s measurement is too easily manipulated.

Why does this epeen metre mean SO much – why does it get you so worked up?

It’s not like Gear Score = Skill. Everyone knows that. But it’s still used.

Why?

It’s a Universally recognised measurement tool – and no other in WOW has become so legitimised by use, and popularity.

This post here is legimising it. Me boasting about my gearscore legitimises it, linking a gear score measurement website www.wtfismygearscore.com , your comments legitimise it Your downloads legitimise it.

Using it as a measurement tool. Talking about it, downloading the mod. We are acknowledging it as a universally recognised gear measurement system. Perpetuating it’s use – making it part of our experience, and expectations.

Much like we measure I levels, and Blues, and Plum. We recognise the value it stands for.

Remember the days when Rum was a currency – it was given a recognised value and used. ( early colonial Australia) – or even consider the our own RL Measurement systems, regardless off the conflicts between Metric and Imperial. You say Inch, I say centimetre. The values of that measurement is drummed in to us by, our times, our country our laws, and cultural expectations bred into us via society, the family we grow up in, religion, schooling – all these things.

We perpetuate it.

Perpetuate.

And again.

OH LOOK – Blizzard has now put it as a feature available to all users. We don’t need a mod anymore ( Future possibility This is not currently true.)

Your not going to change culture by complaining about it. We have grasped this need to measure Epeen, We now have an identity. I am Shadow Priest 5.9 Gear score.

Complaining about Gearscore is not going to make it go away ( unless Blizzard doesn’t like it) A hole, a need has been filled.

I feel so much better that I know my place in the world. Don’t you?

In order to change it – we need to replace it with a better system.

I am Shadow Priest AIL 260.24

I am … WH – A 22

I am … BEI 725.42

I am… WCGS 2124

I am … NE F P S 4t10 10/12 10icc 10/1225icc HM 10-2 10-3 10-6 25-1 25-3 25-6 ( Better stick that in a Macro)

I am … Frack this. This isn’t working. Look me up on the damn armory.

Oh? You want me to link you my armory link.

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Blackrock&cn=Zahraah

Url too long?

I could make you a Tiny URL http://tinyurl.com/2d5rp7p

What? You don’t have a Chat mod to use links in chat. You’re going to have to type my name in and look it up then and every other noob that Pst you.

Q Whats your GS?

A 5.9

Easy. Simple. Done.

Find something as simple as using GS has become, and you have a winner. You will change culture. You will change how we measure each other, but untill you find that new something, or blizzard takes it away. You are stuck with it.