I was sent to your post from Jasyla’s blog and I initially related to a lot of what you were talking about. I completely understand the frustration, with regards to the near mandatory requirements for raiders and with the way that Blizzard has continued to make it so that this path towards being prepared and better geared is also a must.

Where you lose me, Stormy, is with the fact that you feel forced to do this. Nobody is making you do this but you. I’m not yelling at you. I’m not mad at you and I’m not trying to be condescending here. Your post does come across as having a tone like you absolutely have no choice or like it has been taken away from you. It hasn’t. You have chosen to give up the freedom that comes with saying “I’m not doing this and you can’t make me.”

I believe that you’re angry enough and I believe that you’re fed up, but it does feel almost masochistic. When you feel this passionately about something, and especially in such a negative way, you can’t turn around and say that it’s all worth it or that at the end of the day you really love it. That line of thinking works sometimes, but not in situations such as yours. There is way too much feeling and emotion here (largely negative and rightfully so) to wrap it all up in a happy ending.

I think you are definitely someone who could use a break, if not altogether stepping down from raiding. You don’t love it. You’re not happy. That’s painfully obviously.

Reclaim your choice and find your happiness.

Please take care.

- O.

“I’m just warning you: in this post I am going to commit pretty much every blogging sin I can possibly think of.”

Really? Is there some sort of “bloggers do/don’t list” I’m not aware of?
The simple concept is: “Your blog, do as you wish.” I’ve certainly read many, well known bloggers who’ve had the ‘occassional rant day’. Everyone is certainly entitled to one.

Although I’m on a PvE server now, I started out on a heavier PvP server, so world pvp does’nt really bother me. Avoiding it on a pve server can be a headache now and then when you’re trying to focus on a new pve career, understandably. Perhaps, try taking some guildies or friends with you on those dailys. Should make things a bit more tolerable, if not more fun. “May your feet find good paths.”