Christ, am I really going to have to do this yet again?

Ok kids, listen up. I posted a rant in the IHS forums. The same thing applies to anyone wearing the TG tags. Pay special attention to the end of the rant. I mean exactly what I say and it doesnt just apply to IHS members, but also regulars and tag wearers. I frequently go undercover on the server. I have a LOT of BF2 aliases, so your chances of recognizing me are slim to none. But God help you if I catch you doing something when you think nobody is watching.

Read up and absorb what I said.

(NOTE: Post edited from original content so as not to offend anyone's sensibilities)

Originally Posted by Ferris Bueller

Let's all think about what it means to wear the TG tags.

First, we all know that TG is the premiere gaming community on the internet. There is no place better for mature, teamwork oriented gamers, bar none. By simply being a part of this community, you have set yourselves to a higher standard. Wearing the tags puts you a step beyond that, a step above.

You are one of the elite few, the best of the best. Your participation, your attitude, and your ability to rise above the temptation of the ability to act juvenile due to the anonymity of the internet has secured you a place in the ranks of the "Top Gun" of gamers. For some people, this is out of a commitment to excellence, a drive to create the best possible place for gamers of all nationalities and skill levels; to foster an environment of learning, of respect, of maturity, of teamplay and camaraderie. For others, wearing the tags seems to have become a status symbol, something that they can flaunt and brag about.

Therein lies the negative.

Pride is acceptable and warranted. If you can respectably wear the tags, you have every right to be proud. You've proven your mettle amongst the best there are. But if your purpose in putting on the TG tags can be compared to a bright shiny medal that you can show off to your friends, you've missed the point.

The purpose of having tags is what I described previously. We are the best, we are the elite, and with that we shoulder the responsibility above and beyond any other gamers on the internet to set the example. We are the leaders. We are the minds behind the advancement of TG. We are the ones that keep the ball rolling, bring fresh and new ideas to the table, teach the new faces, clean up the trash and maintain the standard for which everyone should strive. If you cannot adhere to that goal, you need to re-examine your place.

That being said, we have reached a critical juncture on the Project Reality server. We are hosting the #1 ranked project reality server in the world. It is also the #2 ranked battlefield 2 server in the world, beating out all the other 24/7 infantry only ff-off instant spawn servers out there. We've brought it to that level through hard work and dedication, but that dedication is slipping.

Our admin staff does a marvelous job. They are frequently shorthanded and spend large amounts of their gaming time policing the server. As admins, they do this freely, having accepted the fact that they are going to have to miss out on some gameplay to keep the server clean, and we all salute them for that. I know for a fact that Dirtboy has certain keywords on the server set to trigger an alarm on his computer so he can come assist with problems even if he is asleep! That, my friends, is dedication. However, they cannot do this alone and our assistance is now required more than ever.

I have seen a decline in the level of maturity amongst tagged members on the server. Maturity isnt just applying to not acting like a smacktard. As tagged members, we MUST take this to the next level.

We have basically let the language and respect rules slide. I have seen an unacceptable level of swearing and name calling on the server. This is completely intolerable. Chat and comms need to be clear of foul language, name calling and inappropriate subject matter. There is a time and a place for you to shoot the bull with friends and it is your responsibility to know when and where that is. If you cant do that, feel free to consult the admin staff about it and I'm sure they can give you proper instruction. Your fellow gamers are to be respected regardless of what they've done. We are not to call people noobs, idiots, retards, or anything of the like, no matter what they've done to "deserve" that kind of disrespect. This doesnt just apply to tagged members, but to everyone. If you see someone violating those rules, your job is to politely correct them of their transgression and/or report them if necessary.

In recent weeks, I have seen tagged members grouping up and forming squads exclusive to tagged members or members of In-House Squads. The random players that join the server, as well as many non-tagged regulars are being ignored and pushed aside. On occasion, this is acceptable. Everyone has the right to play with their friends. However, it's not acceptable all the time. We are leaders, and as such, we need to open ourselves up to teaching the masses. This means that we need to spread ourselves out, preform larger duties of squad leading and commanding. Set your squads to have new people join up. Teach them how we do business, make strong, mature gamers out of them. There was a time when each and every one of you was new and someone showed you the "TG way" of doing things. That practice has all but come to a standstill. We are negligent if we continue this inaction.

I have also seen teams being stacked with tagged members. This isnt always a guaranteed win, but it gives the impression that we are being "elitist", refusing to play with anyone but our own. I have seen teams being numerically out of balance for long periods of time and very few people doing anything to correct it. These practices need to cease. If you join and all of your friends are on the other team, pick up the torch and lead a squad on the team you're on. Chances are that if the entire team is devoid of TG players or recognizable regulars in squad leading positions, they have no leadership, no cohesion. Take up the torch and lead. If you check the scoreboard and you see that one team has a player deficit, switch sides to even it up! Nobody is going to give you grief for doing the right thing.

We have to fight giving a bad impression. It might not be fun at times, but it's what we have to do.

The final word goes to assets. Assets are the server-killer. Everyone loves to hoarde them. Everyone loves to fly and tank. Thats fine from time to time. But we need to give other people access to them. In the past two weeks I have seen an almost excessive hoarding of assets by TG members, the vast majority of whom are IHS members. That needs to come to an end. Make a push to start playing infantry more and giving others a chance to flex their vehicular muscle. We may find other great tankers and pilots out there.

We have a responsibility, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great task which we all accepted when we put on TG tags, whether we realized it or not. Our charge is to be the top dogs, not in skill, but in value.

I expect nothing less of anyone wearing TG tags and I will hold to that. Believe that if you dont heed the call of excellent leadership and responsibility on the server, you will be hearing from me. I may not be an admin, you may not like or respect me, but you will be notified if you fail to live up to the standard.

The time for a paradigm shift is now. It is time for each of us to look inward and find the leader we know to be there and show everyone else how it is really done. Dont just be feared and held in high regard for your skill, be respected for your merit as a leader of the community. We have a job to do, let's go do it.

If anyone has a problem with any of that, well, pack sand. There is no reasonable way that anyone who wears TG tags can disagree with setting a higher standard. As such, we dont need lists of what it means to wear the tags. We have a stickied post regarding that. If you dont know what it means to wear the tags, you shouldnt have them on until you learn.

oldirti is right, we're not perfect, but if you choose to put on the tags, I damn well expect you to try to be. Perfection is an impossibility, but it is also a goal, one for which we all must strive, not in skill, but in our manner.

Bottom line, if thats too hard for you, remove your tags.