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1. Denial and Isolation
The first reaction to learning of a terminal nerf is to deny the reality of the situation. It is a normal reaction to rationalize overwhelming emotions. It is a defense mechanism that buffers the immediate shock. We block out the words and hide from the facts. This is a temporary response that carries us through the first few losses.
2. Anger
As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, opponents or team mates for NOT PEELING QUICK ENOUGH.
3. Bargaining
The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control–
- Maybe if i gem full resilience...
- Surely i can find a good shadow priest to play with.. hell maybe even a ret too!
- Damn it i'm good enough to ground EVERY DEEP!
- If we pop everything instantly we still have a chance!
Two types of depression are associated with nerfs. The first one is a reaction to practical implications relating to the loss. We worry about our team mates and rating. We worry that, in our nerfed state, we have less tools to help those that depend on us.
The second type of depression is more subtle and, in a sense, perhaps more private. It is our quiet preparation to separate from our friends and bid them farewell, for they can still play strong comps and yet we can not be with them :<
5. Acceptance
Reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. Nerfs may be sudden and unexpected or we may never understand the reasoning or the logic, for there may very well be none.
It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to re-roll or quit. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm and ultimately, vodka.
This post may have been subjected to some over dramatization.
Edited by Korzul, 27 November 2012 - 12:29 AM.
