I am coming to A&C tomorrow if you guys are. 3pm, right?
Bring $5 for admission?
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Russell, I read your thread in full. I have these comments, which are more for you, but I suspect they have a more general utility. Please advise if you think I should copy to your thread:
I have one thought in response to this message, Russell. If it hurts, you gotta leave it . Not permanently; hear this out. This is a whole new system. All kinds of fun moving parts. The one and only one thing to do with this discovery period is play around and see how you respond to it. Rediscover what you want from this game, don't evaluate it to an emotional standard you bring before the fact - not one that is just making you hurt.
It is entirely reasonable to hang up the mask (or whatever the costume/equipment metaphors are for Yoshis) at this time, in this context. It is not a snap decision. It is not set in stone. It is simply you recognizing a way to interact in a more wise, more self-serving manner with this game, because you are a complex creature, and taking time to "get it right", whatever it is you choose to do, is inherently valuable. Here, 'getting it right' includes serving all of your needs, including the need to feel there is a point to what you're doing, even at play.
The first step was identifying your discontent - which you did! (Aside: your writing has a certain high quality, Russell. Even though I misread when you get more jokesy, you have an articulate voice.) Now, you perceive, and you ... respond.