Hello to Pojo and Yugioh fans one and all! Today, I come before you to sort of a compare and contrast state. Mofox just recently did a very well written article that covered a couple of topics. There are a couple of things you need to understand about being a writer.

First, and most importantly, you need to remember that people will like you and on the same note, people will not like you. I, as any other person who writes, has written, and will write experiences both side of this boat. I have fans and supporters and, in turn, have people who don't agree or support what I say at all.

Secondly, this came from Mofox when was stated that being a writer gives you a thick skin. This goes along with my first point.

Obviously, you take warmly and happily the positive, and even the constructive criticism from your supporters. On the same note, negative critique hurts, regardless of how much experience you have writing. Whether your first article (or novel, or whatever else have

you,) or your 1000th, or your 1,000,000th, you will receive criticism.

It is how you respond to your criticism (or don't respond) that defines you.

People say things about how a certain card, or a certain decktype, or the changing of a format can make or break the game of Yugioh. These are true, at least to an extent, but this is a game that people play.

A player or player's influence on a game is just as powerful as anything previously mentioned.

Don't get me wrong...there have been many a broken card. There have been several broken decktypes. There has even been a broken formal, do you remember the Trinity Format? Of course you do! However, how you, how I, how WE decide to deal with these problems in our game is what will save our game.

On the same token that we as the players (can) save our game, we as the players (can) destroy our game, just as easily. The number one solution to people who are threatened by a card, or deck, or format, or believe the game has been ruined by the unchanging environment is to simply quit the game.

Yet, I digress. These are the same people who complain about the "so-called" problems of Yugioh! Now, I use the term "so-called"

loosely. Very loosely, I say. There are problems, but a problem only goes as far as the people invoved, and what, if anything, we decide to do about it.

I've said it before, so it doesn't require a lot, but trying new ideas, original deck building, and breaking away from the Cookie Cutters out there is the biggest part you can do. I admit, quitting is far easier for ANY problem than actually trying to solve or fix a problem.

Just remember, no one just put forty cards together or a certain type and said "yes, this will win and become the next Tier 1 Deck!" These things take time and effort from us. Do what you can. There is nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, positive or negative. So do what you can, help yourself help the rest of us. Do if for the team, the team being all of us who play and have a love and devotion to the game!

Well, that does it for today, and I hope you enjoyed it! I hope this gives you all something to thing about, whether you like me or not...whether you agree or disagree with my points. As always, I'm taking all your e-mail @ tsearcy@lssu.edu

You stay classy, Planet Earth :)

~Dark Paladin~