Negativity

We discussed this in an officer meeting once, though we never continued the discussion afterward or formed plans of action.

When you say something negative about someone else, even if you're just joking, it gives people who don't know that person a bad impression of them.

Even the smallest and most harmless negative remarks create a negative persona for the subject, a persona that eventually alienates them from your guild. And while there is often truth in negative comments, those same comments can keep a player from improving -- whether it's in attitude, gear, or skill -- by ostracizing them from groups when they otherwise might have gotten opportunities to change.

A negative reputation limits player opportunities.

For example, if your worst player has trouble finding groups to learn how to play and practice their rotation, you don't want people going around saying "This player can't tank/heal/dps" because it makes people pass that player by for groups. Which gives them no opportunities to improve. Likewise, an "annoying" player who is excluded from groups (and thus can't interact with others except through guild chat) has no way to learn more appropriate behavior.

If you talk about someone in a negative way, even just to your own personal friends, it limits their chances to change. I'm not saying you personally have to take responsibility for everyone with problems in the guild -- I'm just saying that negativity can only make things worse for people who already have rough circumstances. Thus, it should be avoided.

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Beth Blevins is a former officer in In Vino Veritas.

She's a writer, artist and avid blogger.

Beth's been married since her junior year of college.