Exactly What’s Wrong With Just Having Fun?

I came across this thread on my realm forums the other day that’s got me thinking a little bit.  The thread itself is your basic “lol you/your guild/your server sucks” thread that is ripe with all kinds of trolling.  However, there was a comment in there where a couple of posters commented that they not only clear all of the content, but have fun doing it along the way, and how they didn’t see anything wrong with that.  And of course the trolled response they got was basically if you aren’t a top 100 guild, you suck and should get a life.

Um…ok?

The commentary going back and forth almost got me riled up enough to post on the realm forums, but then I remembered that I should “never argue with an idiot.  They will only pull you down to their level, then beat you with experience”, and abstained.  But as the post goes back and forth, my mind is still perplexed.  I am curious exactly what is wrong with just having fun?  Why is being “ranked” they only measure of a guild’s strength for so many?

Why is it that people are criticized for just enjoying something without concern for competition?  In the thread above one of the posters even comes out and says they aren’t about the same things as other guilds.  They place their values in different places, and they quite enjoy the game the way they play it.  And yet they are criticized for doing things they way they would like?  They don’t want to be the best, and they 100% understand and make no claim that they are, yet critics tell them that because they aren’t the best they are a failure.  How does that work?

So many times you will see someone achieve something that is huge for them, only see some jerk comment “grats on being months behind noob”.  It’s to the point that people have to qualify their accomplishments with “I know it’s old” or “I know we are months behind”, which in my opinion is just flat out wrong.  An accomplishment is an accomplishment regardless of when or how it is achieved.  Everyone is entitled to celebrate their accomplishments, regardless of how small they may seem to someone else.  Who cares if they killed Boss X 3 months after Guild A?  They still killed Boss X.  They still put in the time, and had the fortitude to set a goal and meet that goal.  That is a lot more than many people can say about themselves in, and out, of game.

So what is so wrong with having fun?  What is so wrong with being “months behind” if you are enjoying the journey along the way?  What effect does it have on you?  If you don’t like it, just stay away!  As my mother used to ask me as a child “Does it hurt your big toe?  No? Then what does it matter to you?”.  (See Mom!  You knew someday I’d see the wisdom in your ways!).

If being highly competitive and the rush of being first is what you are looking for, then it is fine to place yourself into that environment.  But I think it’s important to understand that not everyone is after that, and not everyone should be expected to have the same goals that you placed for yourself.  For some people finding a pleasant environment to enjoy the game is more important; for others finding an environment that fits their playtimes and lifestyle is more important.  But what gives anyone the right to begrudge others for having a different set of goals than they have for themselves? 

Whether it be the person that is looking for the hardest of the hardcore, or the gal that just wants to see everything before the next chapter but takes her time doing it, or the guy that just wants to play with his friends, everyone is equally entitled to participate in the fashion that suits them best and in which they have fun.  And nobody has the right to begrudge them for that.  Ever.

So tell me, Mr. Forum Guy, exactly what is it that’s wrong with just having fun?  Who are you to dictate what makes something “good” or “bad”?