I used to avoid playing FotM toons. Then I rolled a SS/Elec Brute and had more fun than I'd had playing any other toon. Some things are popular because they're really good and some things are popular because they're impossible to avoid.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
hai gais am i teh only one who hates teh bandwagon look imma start an edgy fread to be different
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This. You're either conforming to the majority, or conforming to the minority. Either way, you're still conforming, so you might as well stop caring, and do what you want.
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Originally Posted by Golden Girl
I think it's better to just go with what you like, rather than what's popular/unpopular.
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So... you avoided Harry Potter and much later you loved it.
What was the point then? Trying to gain reputation with the 'cool kids'? Did it make a difference in your life to read/watch Harry Potter later? Do you feel cooler or non conformist because of that? I mean, who cares?
Your post reminded me of when I was 15 and was a bit wary of buying Offspring CDs when they were playing everywhere (TV, radio) because of what my 'heavy metal' friends would think. I bought them anyway, and I liked it. Then again, this CD episode is typical teen behavior, I had classes about that in College.
Yes I do think it makes you weird, especially the cell phone thing (I know people with no cell phones, but not because of your 'weird' reasons, they just don't like cells), because your attitude may lead you to make decisions that may be prejudicial in your life. No offense intended, honest. This is just my opinion, I'm not judging you. It's just that I know some people (older than me, like 35-40) who take this 'non-conformist' thing so seriously they got screwed in situations just because of that, the high need for self-worth validation and the 'against the conventional rules' thing made them suffer in situations they didn't really have to, and it was for nothing, I'm not talking about cases where one would have to change completely to avoid personal/social/work/academic troubles. Just situations that if they had lost the attitude for just a little bit of time they'd have done fine. But I may be psychobabbling here, maybe you aren't like that in other aspects of your personality.
As for CoX toons, I just play whetever seems fun at the time, I don't care if there are 5000 or 5 other people playing the same powerset. I was one of the only high-level DM/DA scrappers on Freedom in i9-i10 (only saw another one at 50 on my way to level her up, took a while but she got to 50 later). My first toon to 50 was a Mind/Emp which I never saw another except in low levels (like 1-10) where you see every kind of combo and people give up later.
And I didn't feel any more 'special' with those two toons than when I leveled my Fire/Kin a bit later. He's even named 'Yet Another Fire Kin', and I loved leveling him to 50. Never felt like a 'sheep' or 'clone' just because I was playing a toon that half the players have at 50.
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mine is close, the clothes are the same, but ususally there are self inflicted wounds on his arms and the song "crawling" by linkin park playing in the background. basically, being a "nonconformist" is just as pig-stupid as being a conformist. You are still letting other people determine your actions, but you also have the bonuses of apparent severe social impairment and an inflated sense of self worth. I make whatever i can either make a good concept for, a good costume for, or a mind-numbing pun with, period, the only consideration i give to others is that usually they try to synergise with my regular playing group, but beyond that bugger it.
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Originally Posted by DKellis
Because of the contexts the word "sheeple" seems to be usually used in, I keep imagining the one who used it as a sort of wild-eyed, unkempt young man (and it's always male, which probably says something about my gender biases), highly-pierced in all sorts of places both likely and unlikely, in ill-fitting clothes with some sort of slogan on them, carrying a placard in one hand and a dangerous improvised weapon (a cleaver, a Molotov cocktail, a half-brick) in the other, and waving them around madly while flecks of spittle fly as he rages against... something or other. Something relatively trivial that nevertheless signifies some sort of greater social dysfunction according to him. How the world will end with the malicious conspiracy of shadowy old men in high positions, because many people like Halo or something.
It's not an intentional image. I know it's wrong, and I know the person actually using the word "sheeple" is someone I know nothing about, and they are likely more intelligent and more worldly-wise and just generally more than I ever could be. (This has been true at least once in Real Life.) But it's just such a persistent image. |
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I avoid the Anti-Bandwagon bandwagon. It's just too much hypocrisy for me to cope with.|
Originally Posted by MaestroMavius
That avoids something simply because its popular?
I hate bandwagons. If something is really hyped or FOTM I'll avoid it like the plague. Even if it's something I've looked forward to. I refused to watch any Harry Potter movies until the hysteria died down. Then I of course fell in love with the series. I was still rocking my pager in 2000, refusing to give in and get a cellphone. Now I can't live without one. I'll end up avoiding Demons and Dual Pistols for at least 6 months after GR is released. I still haven't made a Shield toon because its still so shiny. Does this make me weird? I think it boils down to me not wanting to be sheeple. I don't wanna be someone doing something just because everyone else is. Even when it's something I might enjoy. Just can't stand being a clone I guess. So I'll wait and let the newness go away, wait until everyone stops gushing over something, then in the shadows I'll watch it, or I roll one up, and ask myself why I waited. Anyone else avoid bandwagons like me? |
Instead, I simply go with what I like regardless of what everyone else thinks about it.
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
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This!|
Originally Posted by Grouchybeast
The funny thing is, you're still letting those other people dictate your behaviour, just in a negative way rather than a positive one. Does that make you a black sheeple?
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Ive rolled both toons that are quite common (BS/Shield scrapper, Electric/Shield tank, Bots/Traps MM) but also rolled some toons which aren't (Fire/Fire tank, Grav/Storm 'troller, Mind/TA 'troller, Ice/Stone tank).
I play around with power combos on Mid's and if something looks fun and I have an idea for a concept I will give it a go. If I get bored playing it then I will shelve it (occasionally delete it).
Avoiding something because its either popular (or unpopular) is pointless in my opinion.
Edit - I love the word Sheeple btw
Member of GGRRR, a SG on Defiant - check out our website - GGRRR
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
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So now everyone's on the "I do what I want" bandwagon instead? Or is that a series of individual bandwagons? A flotilla of bandwagons?
What IS a bandwagon anyway? Some sort of parade float?*
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Could be a bandwagon, I suppose. But the chief point is that none of the individuals on it care if anyone else is on it or not (which is to say, whether it's popular or not popular doesn't matter).|
Originally Posted by Carnifax_NA
So now everyone's on the "I do what I want" bandwagon instead? Or is that a series of individual bandwagons? A flotilla of bandwagons?
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What IS a bandwagon anyway? Some sort of parade float?*
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Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
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I lol'ed |
Originally Posted by Carnifax_NA
So now everyone's on the "I do what I want" bandwagon instead? Or is that a series of individual bandwagons? A flotilla of bandwagons?
What IS a bandwagon anyway? Some sort of parade float?* |
The point is... If you're on some sort of bandwagon, be it in this game or 'real life', who cares? Your 14-year old friends you want to impress, provided you have any (and more unlikely, want to impress teenagers with your 'non-conformist attitudes')? Hell I'm past 30 and I do have some 16-20 year old friends IRL who wouldn't care if I jumped into some 'bandwagon' or not.
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"Literally, a bandwagon is a wagon which carries the band in a parade, circus or other entertainment."|
Originally Posted by Tenzhi
Could be a bandwagon, I suppose. But the chief point is that none of the individuals on it care if anyone else is on it or not (which is to say, whether it's popular or not popular doesn't matter).
Here. |
Yay. I was right. Roll out the "Carni was right" bandwagon.
...
What do you mean it doesn't exist?
This whole thread reminds me of Marges "Am I cool kids" bit from the Homerpoluza epsiode of the Simpsons to be honest.*
I don't see the point (which of course makes me cool. Until I point it out.... damn!)
I avoided making a fire/kin for a long time because everyone seems to have one.
After a while I said "You know what? I kinda like the way those two sets synergize, I think I'm gonna make one, and screw what everyone else is doing."
I have a Fire/Regen scrapper too. I made him for concept, completely not realizing that it is a PvP FOTM as far as scrappers go.
My signature used to say "Because everyone else is doing it is the best reason not to".
I have come to realize that while the sentiment reflects my views nicely, the actual wording doesn't.
What I really meant by it is: "Whether or not you do something should never be determined by what everyone else is doing" Basically, NOT doing something because everyone else is is just as dumb as doing it because everyone else is.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
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/this.|
SwellGuy has it: Not on purpose I just don't tend to like the trendy/popular stuff. |
My tastes don't tend to match up with the mass of the populous, not because I'm trying to avoid it, it just is. That said I won't dislike something JUST because it's popular, though. At most it might make me blush a bit as I admit liking it.
Dec out.
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I agree. I pay little attention to what is and what isn't fotm. I just play what I feel I'll enjoy. My first hero when CoH went live was a spines/DA scrapper. What a journey that was. But I had fun and hardly ever saw another till DA got some revamping |
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
I think it's better to just go with what you like, rather than what's popular/unpopular.
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Whenever the new powersets come out if I think I'll like them I take them for a 10 lvl spin and decide if I want to keep going or not.
Spines/ D A lvl 50 Scrap, stone/wm lvl 50 tank, Kat/reg lvl 50 Scrap
Grav/Kin lvl 50 Cont, Fire/Enegry lvl 50 Blast
Warshade lvl 50, PB lvl 39, nightwidow lvl 50, crab lvl 42
plant/thorns lvl 50 dom, ice/fire lvl 40 dom, grav/nrg lvl 41 dom
all non-conformists drink coffee...
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You're not the only one - I avoid them too. I've still not seen any of the Harry Potter movies, nor do I really want to. I haven't seen Avatar either. Admittedly, I don't see many movies - but these I have developed a bias against based on their popularity.
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Originally Posted by MaestroMavius
That avoids something simply because its popular?
I hate bandwagons. If something is really hyped or FOTM I'll avoid it like the plague. Even if it's something I've looked forward to. I refused to watch any Harry Potter movies until the hysteria died down. Then I of course fell in love with the series [snip] Anyone else avoid bandwagons like me? |
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Didn't really expect this kind of response. I'm pleased to find out I'm just a weirdo though.
To clarify, I don't dislike something simply because it's popular. I'll just avoid it until the hysteria dies down.
That way, when I finally get around to doing/watching/playing I know it's because I want to and not because everyone else is.
Some of it more than likely has to do with wanting to be 'original' I suppose. But then again, as others have pointed out, that really is a stupid reason.
Although it does pay off in other ways. Harry Potter for instance.
When I finally got around to watching the 1st one I didn't have to wait years to see the next 2, they were already out!
My main reason for making this thread was Kick-***.
I'd been looking forward to seeing it for some time, until the hype machine kicked on and everyone and their grandma now wants to see it.
I was looking forward to seeing it as more of an underground/ in tha know
kinda feeling. But, as others have made clear, I am just robbing myself of the experience in a misguided attempt at being original.
Afraid I can't take credit for 'Sheeple' either. It's a word I learned on the boards here. Not sure from who though.
Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
Talsor Tech - Talsorian Guard
Keep Calm & Chive On!
In a game with as many different power combinations as we have, I view the flavor of the month/moment thing to be something as a shortcut. All sets when they pair up have different chemistries. I really enjoy finding new and different pairings, seeing what their strengths and weaknesses are, making characters with new (to me) specialties. The whole FoTM things bugs me when it becomes a peer pressure thing. "You don't have a XX/YY? Dude, you have to make one!" "I've gotta make me a XX/YY, for 'Z' specific task!"
When this happens it comes off as a lack of creativity to me, a lack of appreciation for what a player can do with their set. Certain power combos may make some tasks easier, but they are just one means to an end. Other combos can do it in a new way. A bad player using an XX/YY will fudge stuff, end up making a mess. So when I'm playing and someone on the team say we need a /YY, XX/, or XX/YY, I'd rather look at the abilities of the team, and see what we can do with what we have.
On the other hand, if I make a new character with a cool combo I like, and find out it's one of the combos that is being pushed as 'Uber,' I shrug and do with it what I will. Look at the powers, see what its strengths/weaknesses are, and figure out what my play strategy will be accordingly.
"The Crowd: Yes! We're all individuals!
Brian: You're all different!
The Crowd: Yes! We're all different!
Man in crowd: I'm not... "
Dec out.
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You are a unique snowflake, just like everyone else.
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Originally Posted by Carnifax_NA
So now everyone's on the "I do what I want" bandwagon instead? Or is that a series of individual bandwagons? A flotilla of bandwagons?
What IS a bandwagon anyway? Some sort of parade float?* |
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We're all weirdos, in one form or another. |
Originally Posted by MaestroMavius
Didn't really expect this kind of response. I'm pleased to find out I'm just a weirdo though.
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Home server: Guardian
My 50s: 3 scrappers, 2 tankers, 1 blaster, 1 defender, 1 controller, 1 warshade, 1 stalker, 1 brute, 1 corruptor, 1 widow, 1 dominator, 1 mastermind (on Liberty)
Current project
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It isn't weird but I don't see any problem in liking something that a lot of people like at that present time. Don't do something because everyone else enjoys it, do it because you enjoy it, eff the rest.
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Originally Posted by MaestroMavius
That avoids something simply because its popular?
I hate bandwagons. If something is really hyped or FOTM I'll avoid it like the plague. Even if it's something I've looked forward to. I refused to watch any Harry Potter movies until the hysteria died down. Then I of course fell in love with the series. I was still rocking my pager in 2000, refusing to give in and get a cellphone. Now I can't live without one. I'll end up avoiding Demons and Dual Pistols for at least 6 months after GR is released. I still haven't made a Shield toon because its still so shiny. Does this make me weird? I think it boils down to me not wanting to be sheeple. I don't wanna be someone doing something just because everyone else is. Even when it's something I might enjoy. Just can't stand being a clone I guess. So I'll wait and let the newness go away, wait until everyone stops gushing over something, then in the shadows I'll watch it, or I roll one up, and ask myself why I waited. Anyone else avoid bandwagons like me? |
Virtue: @Santorican
Dark/Shield Build Thread
It depends. For example...
I don't care about soft-capping.
I haven't seen Avatar.
I won't pay money to watch Kick-***.
But
I was there in AE during the "early boom." >.>
Iron Man is my favorite superhero movie.
And The Dark Knight is probably my second favorite.
Tales of Judgment. Also here, instead of that other place.
good luck D.B.B.
"What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular."-Unknown
to 
TO THE END!Villains are those who dedicate their lives to causing mayhem. Villians are people from the planet Villia!
I still have not seen Avatar....
Home server: Guardian
My 50s: 3 scrappers, 2 tankers, 1 blaster, 1 defender, 1 controller, 1 warshade, 1 stalker, 1 brute, 1 corruptor, 1 widow, 1 dominator, 1 mastermind (on Liberty)
Current project