Well, I got another two-week ban. (An introspective and informational look into behaviour here)
That's the fourth one in as many years!
Now, I can guess what you're thinking. It probably ranges from any point of "what's wrong with you" to "why hasn't this jerk been perma'd yet", and I can honestly say that you're justified in thinking that. I'm the last person who will tell you that you're wrong to think that. But, what's really going on?
I've been unapologetically rude in my games as of late. Not just rude, but vicious and mean. I recognise this. I recognised this when I got a 10-game chat ban, followed up by a 25-game chat ban. I still didn't relent. I honestly didn't think of the consequences. I just played games and wanted to win so badly that I was extremely critical of my allies and their decisions.
Does anything I say here excuse my behaviour? Absolutely not. Even acknowledging that I've done wrong won't do any good, since people may construe it as me being above the situation.
I think the big question I should be asking here is "why?". Why do I persist in engaging in negative types of behaviour even when I've been told that it's wrong and detrimental? Is it a failure on my part to actualise the wrongdoing? Do I just acknowledge it, but lack the follow-through to make permanent changes in how I deal with people? In previous times, I've done what I can to reform and treat others well, but I end up coming back to it.
What, in a person or environment, causes someone to continually engage in these types of behaviour? More importantly, when punishment isn't getting through, what can be done to make a person permanently change their attitude? What sort of punishment can be handed out to repeat offenders, such as myself, that would allow them to keep playing the game while limiting their negative influence on the game? What can be done for such a person to truly reform? What steps would it take, and how long would it take?
I'm interested in looking at the identifying traits that cause people like me to continue acting in such a way, and I'm equally as interested in looking at what can be done to help.
Despite what you may think, I'm truly interested in reforming. Two week bans are annoying, for sure, but I don't want other players to feel like the players I've wronged in the past.
What do you think?