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The Dark Sanctuary
 Role Models in Yugioh!
by Dark Necrophi

09.09.05  -  Remember back when you were a little kid, and there always seem to be someone you wanted to be like? Someone who you looked up to? Well, you might not, if there wasn’t anyone you looked up to, if you had no role models. But, most people do. As do the kids now, it’s only been about 8-10 years since I was young enough to look up to people older than me, though I kind of wish I do still have someone to look up to, but that’s not the point. The point is, just like when you were little, kids that are little now look up to people as well, kids love to imitate, they always have, and they always will. If they look up to someone, they will often imitate them. The problem is, they often cannot tell the good from the bad, they will copy the person’s good habits and traits, but what about the bad habits and the bad traits? We certainly don’t want kids picking up bad traits or bad habits, due to being a bad role model. If you think a kid looks up to you, you should be a good role model for them, you don’t have to, but if you don’t, they could pick up your faults, and I doubt anyone really wants that.

Now, I am sure you are all wondering, what does this have to do with Yugioh? Well, allow me to explain. Lots of children play Yugioh, some as young as 4, possibly even younger than that. You will see kids of ages 8-10 especially, and that is often when they reach the age where they are really impressionable, especially by those they look up to. You can have profound effects on a kid around that age group (could be younger than 8, or older than 10, mostly around the ages of 6-12, though 12 is pushing it) these effects can be good or bad, depending on how you conduct yourself.

The fact of the matter is, if you play Yugioh, there are more than likely kids that also play Yugioh, that see you play the game, that see how you play, and how you conduct yourself as you play. There is a very good chance 1 or more of these kids could look up to you (especially if you play at a local comic book store) and what you do that has to do with Yugioh, they could very well end up imitating. Sure, they might not look up to you at all, but If you win a lot, or use cards that kids think look really cool, and do well with them, there is a very good chance of you catching their attention. If they do look up to you, then you have a huge responsibility. Now, I know people don’t like huge responsibilities, but the fact is, the responsibility is huge, what you need to do isn’t that hard at all. Now I know that some of you may think that what they imitate that has to do with Yugioh isn’t important, but I am not talking about them playing the way you do, like as in the same cards, or decks, no, I am talking about how you conduct yourself as you play. If you have a good attitude, then you could great things, you shape their attitude for the rest of their lives.

You don’t have to act incredibly humble when you lose, but if you just shake hands when you lose, and congratulate your opponent on playing well, you could set a great example. If you lose to luck, suck it up, shake hands and congratulate your opponent. If you do, you could set a good example. It is hard to swallow your pride and keep quiet, I know it is, I am far from perfect, and am speaking to myself just as much as I am to anyone else. But it can be done, you choose what you do in life. And if you think about it, what’s more important? Keeping your pride in an insignificant card game, or making a huge difference in the life of a child? Which do you think is more important? And of course, in the event that you do win, congratulate your opponent on playing well (even if they sucked) and shake hands. Don’t gloat, if you do, you could set a horrible example and screw up a child forever. And if your opponent goes on about how he lost to luck, you don’t have to take it, but you don’t have to get into an argument either. Just say “whatever” or something to that effect, and move on to you next opponent. People like that are not worth it, and once again, what is more important to you? Your pride, or the possible lifelong attitude of a child that looks up to you?

I cannot make you be a good role model; the only person I can make be a good role model is myself. I can only inform you of what you can do, simply by being a good sport, of the tremendous power you have, to change lives forever. The choice is yours, and yours alone.

Please let me know what you think of my first article, I will answer emails, but it may take awhile. I prefer an open forum discussion, so if you wish to discuss it with me, I would be glad to do so on the forums Pojo so generously provides for us.