The role of the GM

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by Frost

From my own experiences with more than my fair share of jerks, you are both correct to a point. Most of the real jerk gamers I have known were equally happy on both sides of the screen, I don't think I have ever met one who wasn't happy to GM (if they were ever alowed to) but none of them ever complained about playing as long as they could play 'properly'.

The hallmark of a proper jerk seems to be a sort of twisted love for the hobby in general. In their eyes this justifies disruptive or downright creepy behaviour, bad GM'ing etc because they ultimately help 'improve' the game by fixing defective characters, setting elements or rules or educating or removing players who 'don't get it'.

All this does is demonstrate that, even in our hobby, we have our share of people who have their heads permanently stuck up their @$$e$, and that happens on both sides of the screen.

Me, I treat fellow gamers who act badly in the same way I treat anybody who acts badly. They don't get to be a part of my life.