Insecurity is
a major problem on the dueling scene, and even in
everyday life. We’re constantly being put down,
either by our piers or by advertising companies with
pictures of perfect people that lets face it, we
can’t compare to without intense physical training.
There isn’t much we can do about the advertising
problem , which isn’t such a big deal, as I know I
can compare to their models any day. Joking aside,
we can however combat the problem that is our piers.
Unfortunately, not everyone is gifted in the art of
the snappy comeback, and as a result will suffer the
consequences by at least one person who has a sense
of superiority over them. This is un avoidable, as
eventually, we meet someone who will find the
compulsive need to insult those less gifted than
themselves. The sad thing is - we all do it.
The question is why? Why do we feel this desire to
hurt others to make ourselves feel better? This is
the kind of perplexing question that a psychologist
could sit down with for hours , but I’m gonna keep
it short and sweet - People are insecure.
Insecurity leads to low self esteem , which leads to
further low self esteem, eventually depression. The
problem is, the more insecure you are about
something, the more people will pick up on it, for
instance if you feel embarrassed over your looks you
will try to hide away from the crowd, remain unseen.
That won’t work. If someone notices you for even a
second you will become prey, and their natural
predator instinct will take over. You see, the thing
about self esteem is , if you take away someone
else’s, you are rewarded it yourself. Dignity shows.
But how does this relate to dueling? Well, this
relates to everything. Low self esteem produces low
performance. High self esteem produces better
results in anything, the problem is though, people
delude themselves.
People are so convinced, especially the CC that they
are very secure when it comes to dueling. The ironic
thing is, they couldn’t be further from the truth.
Duelists who claim to be secure in their dueling
style, often you will find are lying. If a duelist
was truly secure then they would present the deck
that they want to run , and not subject to any
criticisms made by their piers. They wouldn’t
suddenly decide that the train was the must have
just because everyone else thinks so, and they’d
stick to what they like no matter what anyone else
says.
Unfortunately, most of us are sheep, followers, and
only a few standouts in the herd are true duelists.
It’s like the old saying, ‘If you cheat and copy,
you’re only cheating yourself’ , this definitely
applies. You could also argue that ‘Imitation is the
Sincerest Form of flattery’ though, which is
definitely true. The origins of certain decks are
for the most part unknown, especially until
recently. Who pioneered Don Zaloog? Who decided that
Control was the way to go? Whoever they were must be
feeling pretty smug right about now. Entrepreneurs
are the most secure duelists, as they had the
courage to try something different, against other
peoples guidance, and they end up changing the game
forever.
Before you class yourself as secure, just think
about this, have you ever submitted to pier
pressure? Have you ever stopped running a card just
because others said you shouldn’t ? There are very
few people who can say they haven’t, and I myself am
not among them. The fact is, we’ve all done it at
one point in our lives, it’s human nature to
conform, but its never too late. There’s still time
to prove your independence and get secure.
Insecurity can ruin a duelists career irreparably.
Just imagine for a second, a previously CC duelist
has decided that just for one tournament, he’s going
to try and play with an ingenious combo that he
alone has discovered by sheer coincidence. He turns
up at the tourney, deck prepared, and his side
decked CC in case it doesn’t work out. The first 3
matches he plays he gets torn apart, and right there
and then he reverts back to his original deck, for
fear of being persecuted by the other duelists. What
this duelist doesn’t realise is that it is not his
fault, or his decks fault. The problem is that the
deck is new, and therefore takes a different
strategy to his other deck. He needs time to settle
in in order to make this deck a success.
Unfortunately this duelist is insecure. Maybe they
aren’t the most quiet, shy duelists out there, they
may even be quite the opposite, but the fact is that
they don’t have the security to try something new
and see it fail at first. Against his instincts, the
duelists surrenders to his CC and does, in his eyes,
considerably better. This duelist couldn’t bear the
intolerable abuse and criticism he suspects would be
coming his way if he continued with his original
deck. The reality is quite different though.
In truth, no one would have noticed him, even if he
had defeated them with his pioneer deck type. No one
would have paid him the slightest bit of attention
because the fact is, as long as THEY are safe from
such criticism’s they couldn’t care less about their
opponents. As long as they keep their head down,
they won’t be picked up on anything, and they won’t
be noticed. Insecurity prevails over all.
However, the story doesn’t end here. Our hero of
this tale, the insecure duelist pioneer may have
given up on his deck, but that doesn’t mean the deck
dies. Fortunately, just because the creator has
given up hope, it doesn’t mean that the deck will
fall.
One of the opponents of our hero noticed his deck,
and noticed the combo’s that it created. A duelist
with a bit more gusto, and a bit more confidence.
This duelist uses what he has saw as a blue print,
and goes on to further develop these strategies
further, until HE is famously it’s creator, and
everyone else wants a piece of the action.
Amongst the swarming crowds of duelists, desperately
trying to get to their matches, our hero stands
still. He is unseen, he’s un noticed , and he’s
kicking himself for not having the bravery, for
lacking the courage , for being in need of the
security to go it alone, and to rise above the
sheep.
Insecurity is a massive flaw in the dueling
environment , and it’s something that this article
won’t solve by any means, but maybe it will alert
people to what’s been under their noses this whole
time. No one cares what you do until you’re famous
for it. You’re not going to be picked on , or
particularly remembered for running that deck you
used at one tournament so give it a try, you never
know.
Well, its been fun guys, expect to see the 3rd and
final ‘Broken Duelists’ for a while any time now.
Till then, you can mail me at Toddyhole@aol.com with
your thoughts. Remember, I WILL reply. So long guys,
till next time !!!
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