Michael Grays Ready check: How to make that vital member show up made me think about when the idea of when a committment to people on the interwebs became as important as a committment to people in my real life, and how easily I can be manipulated when it comes to wow commitments. There are some things I don’t say no to that I should.
The main point I got from the article was about getting that vital person to turn up to your raids, and basically applying social pressure, via guilt trips and ego stroking to make them. ” We need you.. stroke The raid can’t go ahead without you ” stroke
In a progression guild environment, if you needed to apply this type of pressure on any of your essential people, then your already in trouble – guilds work because there is an automatic assumption of commitment as per your agreed raiding times, you turn up – you get purples – progression – prestige – what ever the aim. Most non casual guilds have attendance requirements. If you don’t meet them, then you will miss out on things and get replaced.
How to make a raid member show up, is worth a read, but I am going to assume that it’s written partially tongue in cheek. You should not have to manipulate someone into a commitment. In game. In real life.
One point of the article that disturbs me a little in it’s use for exerting social pressure is the part of Michael’s article “Trade some contact information” It’s no longer just posting on a forum saying your late – not available. It’s having your personal email address, Mobile number, Home number made available to people who will try to peer pressure you into being available for what they want you to be. Of course it’s still your choice to share this information.
I can tell you the exact moment when my Wow/Real Life commitment priority switch got confused for the 1st time. I was sitting in a dodgy Irish Pub In Sydney on a weekend drinking beer with friends, and getting anxious that I might be missing out on late night bit of raiding they were trying to squeeze in outside of normal raiding times. Having to be anti social and email from my phone the raid leader telling them, that I would not likely make it home in time, and that I was sorry. Looking at my friend laughing at me when I explained what I was doing.
That was by email, not so bad.
But imagine getting a call from someone. ” The Raid will be called if you don’t turn up” How does that make you feel? Even the coldest of hearts has to be thinking. “If I’m not there – 9 other people have had their time wasted. ”
This is my list of what I consider to be the methods of communicating social/peer pressure with the most affective at the top, based on methods to make it difficult to ignore social pressure ( so yeah if you really want me to do something you better be asking me face to face.)
1) face to face
2) Phone call / vent
3) text message
4) Whisper In game
5) email
6) forum post
There are people I have shared personal contact information with, while it can have it’s uses I probably have been somewhat pressured to be available by my ability to be contacted . ( I am not talking about you. Yes I know that’s what your thinking.)
With the implementation of real ID – hiding on an alt will be difficult and I’m undecided as to if I want to use it because of its additional way it makes me contactable.
I know your playing, and you are in… Why are you ignoring me?
I don’t have a secret alt I hide on, but I know some people who do – or only share it with some people.
Like most social media trends it will depend on if my friends use it – and whats it’s used for. So I will wait – am happy to be a sheep rather than a trend setter. I am interested in its potential, and eagerly await the scandals that I am sure will appear in trade channel and forums, and will be interesting to see if it will be used to exert peer pressure/social pressure
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