Editor’s Choice: You Beautiful, Self-Entitled Narcissists
Here’s a story:
A man didn’t care very much about things. Something bad happened. He didn’t care.
What a shit story. And that’s why you should all be completely self-entitled.
Ok. Fine. I’ll pad out my 30 words with some substance.
Self-entitlement, the mode your brain goes in when you’re old and you read the Daily Mail and you’re offended by black people and demand they leave the country, is good. It means you care about something and you’re happy to make a little fuss. It means, in this example, black people can’t get away with ruining our great nation without at least some friction.
Poor example, but it gets my point across. Sort of.
Entitlement is a guarantee of access to benefits because of rights or by agreement through law. It also refers, in a more casual sense, to someone’s belief that one is deserving of some particular reward or benefit. It is often used pejoratively in common parlance (e.g. a “sense of entitlement”).
In the world of gaming, being self-entitled is seen as a terrible thing. “Oh those stupid [group] wanting [something], how very self-entitled”. Ironically of course this opinion is being said via articles, comments, Twitter or Facebook with the author’s assumption they are entitled to have their opinion heard. Just like the [group] who want [something], they feel they’re correct, and they feel they should make some noise about it and other people should listen.
And that’s also a good thing. Though not entirely what I wanted to focus on. I only mention it as I quite like irony. Like when it rains on your wedding day, or when you get a shit-load of spoons when you want a fork.
The reason why self-entitlement is number one on my list of “things people should be” above kind, generous, making love to me, cats and Socialists is because it lets people be annoyed, and gives them the internal will to do something. It’s more powerful than courage and often leads to a result more noticeable than intelligent discussion. In an online space with thousands of voices yammering at once, those who are more passionate (even too passionate) get their plight heard more.
We, speaking as a member of the highly influential games media, bridge the gap between the proles and the kings. And if the proles are not happy, we should be on their side. Or at least give them a fair listen.
Obviously there has to be a big grey fuzzy line somewhere. No, you probably shouldn’t get free bananas when you download a PSN game. No, I don’t think it’s sensible to expect the next Call of Duty game to be set in a 1980′s council flat in Birmingham because you like that idea. But maybe you should expect to be treated with respect from developers who say they respect you. Maybe you shouldn’t have to pay for a service which funnels more adverts into your face.
You can feel entitled whilst not being a narcissistic prick. It’s a balance I admit (from atop my giant steed of being correct, with my glowing beard of All The Ladies Want Me, and my waistcoat of awesome) but it’s not as black and white as a lot of people seem to make out.
Let’s take Ron’s report into the Dragon Age 2 announcement that turned out to be a big wet fart. People were told there was a big surprise coming. They were excited. The announcement they got, a few days late, was for a Facebook game. Oh.
This made some people, like me, reach the conclusion the company had forgotten about the really exciting promise they made, and upon realising this annoyed people, hurriedly pretended the Facebook game was the announcement. It made other people’s self-entitlement glands flare up.
People were feeling they were entitled to something better, and were annoyed. I’m not a member of the BioWare community, I’m not a fan of most of their games, and I don’t even necessarily agree with the complaints, but because of their community’s self-entitlement issues I became aware of the situation. Fans should expect more in situations like this.
Just as how I feel entitled to a better games press. I feel entitled to more readers of this article. I feel entitled to a cheaper Xbox Live. Perhaps self-entitlement pushes my opinions a bit more extreme (that, and sharing them on the internet), but that’s far more likely to get things changed.
We are all a little bit too self-entitled I agree. I have a Twitter for god’s sake. But we need to be in order to drive those in power to do better. If we didn’t expect them to put effort in, most of them wouldn’t bother. And if we didn’t have child-like entitlement issues, nobody would ever kick up a fuss when something rubbish happened.
It’s hypocritical at best to complain about people complaining. And it’s damaging to gaming at worst. We need, as a collective, to work together to prevent the giants of this industry screwing us all over. If somebody is being self-entitled, give them some slack, they might be right.
Solidarity, brother.
“Like when it rains on your wedding day, or when you get a shit-load of spoons when you want a fork.”
I see what you did there, and I judge you for it.
Interesting stuff. It’s strange to think of self-entitlement as a vehicle for change, but in a sense it’s something that pervades history. Think of any equal rights movement ever, and you’ll find its ideological roots in a feeling of entitlement. I would never suggest that the Women’s Suffrage Movement is in the same intellectual camp as Tales fans pining for a localisation. However, my point is that self-entitlement isn’t a bad thing by DEFINITION, merely by CONNONTATION. It is these connontations that create the taboo surrounding what really boils down to gamers wanting stuff.
Of course, it can become quite pathetic, but as the article said, it is kind of necessary.
OR SOMETHING WHATEVER I DON’T EVEN CARE I JUST WANT JAZZ JACKRABBIT 3.
It’s really difficult to put this argument into words…
I see what you’re saying, but there is a quantifiable difference between entitlement, and wanting something, or demanding something, or asking for something, or feeling disappointed by something.
I think… I view entitlement as the act of believing that someone should have considered your expectations and feelings. Any other part in that, acquiring the expectation, or being let down, or asking for it to be met, even demanding that it be met, are all natural and beneficial.
If I say “HEY! Nukezilla! Stop posting all those articles about entitlement!” Now you know that I don’t like that, and can chose either to consider it or ignore it, if you see what I mean.
But if I said “Fuck you, Nukezilla for posting about entitlement, I didn’t want that!” THAT would be unreasonable, since it assumes that you should have known better – it places my demand on a pedestal, and assumes that there could be no other reason for feeling jilted than the your incompetence.
In this particular case, while the reception was actually quite measured, as I said before, it could very well be that the developers were actually quite excited about the Facebook game they’ve worked on, and felt that it was a big announcement. It could have been anything. But some people felt entitled to a demo, because they had caused themselves to believe it. Rather than admitting their own mistake, or ask the developers to be more clear about it in the future, or be happy about the demo release in like two goddamn weeks, or hell, play the Facebook game, they complain about it all.
Entitlement certainly is a powerful tool, but it’s a case of the necessary tool for the job.
I like this argument. There is often that attitude that expecting anything from anyone is simply some form of entitlement. Well, if that someone is a large company who you give your money to, then yes, you are entitled to expect a certain degree of whatever it is you want at a certain quality.
COD map packs spring to mind as something that people should be entitled more of, at cheaper price and better quality.
@Sam
Hmm, not really. You’re a responsible adult with a responsibility to look after your money and take reasonable risks with what you spend it on. You’re not giving them you’re money, you’re purchasing a product.
I mean, you’re entitled to want it, you’re even entitled to complain about it, you’re just not entitled to it. COD map packs are actually a great example; people buy COD maps at a clearly displayed price and with a clear description of the product. They know what they’re buying into. Personally, I don’t buy map packs because I they’re not worth the money. I also don’t buy Guitar Hero songs or Wii peripherals or technolust-gimmicks. If people decide to ride the hype-train and live on the edge and all that, they need to be willing to admit their situation. You will end up with shit purchases and disappointment.
The only case of that I’ve had was buying a DS, on which I have a single good game out of the 18 I own. There are alright games on there, but not worth the stupid price tags I paid for them. But I still take responsibility for that mistake; I was naive about the handheld market and had no way of testing the water before I jumped in, since there’s no demo marketplace and no other way of gauging quality. That being said, I haven’t bought any other Nintendo products since, and I am entitled to ask and wait for Nintendo to provide better accessibility to their products before I do so. They probably won’t, and I’ll continue to trial iPod games until I find something worth paying for – because that IS giving me the information I need, and that’s competition.
I love this piece primarily because I’ve been “suffering” some very ego stinging experiences lately related to self entitlement: Broken PS3, lost save files, disappointing multiplayer gameplay, etc…
I think we all here try to intelligently digest and discuss these issues of public self entitlement and though we may not all agree on each instance, the complaints of a vocal majority (or minority) are still valuable.
With few exceptions, discussion is beneficial. Developers seem to fall on all sides of this issue. Some seek out their communities while others openly mock the practice. Who is to say what course is best, but the Internet as a tool for communication and participation is powerful either way.
@UglyDuck: I see what you’re saying, but I don’t think that applies to everything.
For instance, I believe I am entitled to something in regards to Fallout: New Vegas since Obsidian/Bethesda dumped one of the buggiest games in existence onto the market.
I purchased the game, sure, and that’s my fault, but Obsidian/Bethesda clearly did not play test the game thoroughly enough and rushed the release and that’s their fault.
And I believe, correctly, that I am entitled to expect to actually complete a game I’ve purchased.
Again, I didn’t have to pre-order the game (I could’ve waited until later and not had as many problems), but doesn’t Obsidian still deserve a shitpile of entitled complaints for releasing the game as they did?
If not, what would stop them from doing it again?
Or did I miss the point of what you were saying?
@UglyDuck: I agree the consumer has a certain amount of responsibility. It’s my money, I should make informed choices.
But…
Companies also have a responsibility to make products to a certain value. With games, you’re often going in without ever playing them. Yes, I know My Little Pony Adventures is going to be shit, but that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t have a responsibility to make the best pony game it can.
Just because they show the price of COD map packs and describe what’s in, that doesn’t mean charging £15 for a couple of new maps and old ones is right. Yes, I’m not going to buy it but they shouldn’t be trying to rip us off either.
@Jack Frost: Eeehh, you missed the point a little bit. Which is my fault because I really can’t find the right way to word it. It’s just such a complex thing to discuss, and a lot of it just comes down to your definition of entitlement.
In the case of FO:NV, you’re arguably entitled to be able to complete the game, yes. If the game is broken and you can’t complete it, then that’s akin to buying a broken vacuum or a bucket with a hole in it.
What I’m saying is that you’re entitled to transparency, to honesty. You’re not entitled to have your expectations met, though. If those two happen to overlap, then okay.
And like I said, you’re entitled to expect it, you’re entitled to most things inside your own head, just not for someone to deliver on it.
@Sam Jordan: “Shouldn’t”
doesn’t really mean much. Nor does “right” or “wrong”. I agree that we should complain about it just to make it feel a bit more radioactive perhaps, but it’s obvious that charging more money is not going to make people happy, they know what they’re getting into. I dunno. I don’t bother complaining about big problems like that. You just make an ass of yourself and it falls on deaf ears. Other people do a predictably good job of complaining anyway. I don’t know that any of that is a good philosophy to take, I guess it’s like the reason why I don’t play TF2 – I don’t feel my contribution is being valued. Instead, I play L4D where what I do has an impact. I prefer to support small, focused projects and support independents rather than throw stones at aircraft carriers.
Anyway, that’s mostly rambling nonsense. What I’m basically trying to say is that what someone “should” do doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. It’s no-man’s land; we’d like them to, but they can waive their responsibilities if they like. Again, a large part of it comes down to your definition of entitlement.
@UglyDuck: Ah, okay, I see what you’re saying, and you’re right.
By the way you said: “Which is my fault because I really can’t find the right way to word it.”
But I think this sentence does it all:
“You’re not entitled to have your expectations met…”
That makes perfect sense. :)
The problem with discussing entitlement is that it’s a totally western creation. We’re entitled through law, social conventions and commercial competition. When you take that away, what good reason do you have to demand anything from anyone?
I’m trying to relate it back to human values, rather than ones I’ve acquired by being spoilt.