Australian gamer, writer and ranter-from-the-sidelines SlamDance blogs about his experiences with the clan and gaming in general.
A Mindset for Success
Posted 06-27-2008 at 07:24 PM by SlamDance
Updated 06-29-2008 at 01:47 AM by SlamDance (Category assigned.)
Updated 06-29-2008 at 01:47 AM by SlamDance (Category assigned.)
At the moment, the PMS|H2O Australia Division is assembling a team to enter the recently announced GotGames.com.au Halo 3 Open 4v4 Tournament Ladder. This will be the first actual tournament that the division has ever participated in, and we’ll be fielding a skilled but inexperienced team, so we will be very much learning every step of the way.
I think we’re in two minds about this. On one hand, we’re a bit protective of the reputation of the PMS Clan. We want to make sure that when we step out into the cutthroat jungle of Tournament-land that we don’t wind up making our international sister-and-brotherhood look bad by bottoming out on the ladder.
On the other hand, there’s only one way we can learn what we need to do in order to compete effectively, and that’s compete. We’re all, as the saying goes, big girls (and boys), and we can take not only not winning but also the small-minded taunts of those who reckon we don’t have thirteen thirty-seven skills. And it's this mindset which will serve us best.
I remember when some workmates started a mixed indoor soccer team, which I joined partway through the first season. We didn’t do well on the ladder. But we learned from our mistakes and began to meld into a functioning team; in the second season, we came within a hair of the finals. Then, in our third season, we pulled the win.
But we wouldn’t have got that win if we were attached to success from the get-go, or else our mediocre performance in the first season would have blinded us to the real progress we were making. We also would have been blinded to the fact that the individual games themselves were also pretty damned fun, even the ones where we came second.
So PMS|H2O Australia will set its sights on first place, secure in the knowledge that if we don’t get it this time, we will soon enough, and we'll be having fun along the way no matter where we place. That's how we want - hell, how we ought - to represent the PMS|H2O Clan.
If anyone has a problem with that, well, that’s their problem.
(Added in Edit: ) Unfortunately, assembling the team didn't go so well. We seem to be living in, as the ancient Chinese curse goes, interesting times right now. Virtually all our quality players have been blindsided by real life problems. After discussing the situation with our clan leaders, we've decided to put our competitive efforts on the back-burner until we get our basic purpose - our community - stronger.
I think we’re in two minds about this. On one hand, we’re a bit protective of the reputation of the PMS Clan. We want to make sure that when we step out into the cutthroat jungle of Tournament-land that we don’t wind up making our international sister-and-brotherhood look bad by bottoming out on the ladder.
On the other hand, there’s only one way we can learn what we need to do in order to compete effectively, and that’s compete. We’re all, as the saying goes, big girls (and boys), and we can take not only not winning but also the small-minded taunts of those who reckon we don’t have thirteen thirty-seven skills. And it's this mindset which will serve us best.
I remember when some workmates started a mixed indoor soccer team, which I joined partway through the first season. We didn’t do well on the ladder. But we learned from our mistakes and began to meld into a functioning team; in the second season, we came within a hair of the finals. Then, in our third season, we pulled the win.
But we wouldn’t have got that win if we were attached to success from the get-go, or else our mediocre performance in the first season would have blinded us to the real progress we were making. We also would have been blinded to the fact that the individual games themselves were also pretty damned fun, even the ones where we came second.
So PMS|H2O Australia will set its sights on first place, secure in the knowledge that if we don’t get it this time, we will soon enough, and we'll be having fun along the way no matter where we place. That's how we want - hell, how we ought - to represent the PMS|H2O Clan.
If anyone has a problem with that, well, that’s their problem.
(Added in Edit: ) Unfortunately, assembling the team didn't go so well. We seem to be living in, as the ancient Chinese curse goes, interesting times right now. Virtually all our quality players have been blindsided by real life problems. After discussing the situation with our clan leaders, we've decided to put our competitive efforts on the back-burner until we get our basic purpose - our community - stronger.
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Sweet! That is such exciting news for me!
I am so happy to see this kick off and I wish I was there to see it happen! You girls and guys had to pull together through some rough times as there was no real strong group to start with and I was there in the begining to see you struggle and pull your arm sleeves up and get down and try try again. That is the competetiveness that will help make your team grow, and excel! Good luck to all of you who are taking part in your very 1st tournament! WOOT! Grandma's proud! Posted 06-27-2008 at 07:53 PM by MacGrandma 
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you write so well..
great post!Posted 06-27-2008 at 09:38 PM by PMS Seraphina
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My Pet Caterpillar, Rhodney, Is Pleased with this information... he says "those who fail to try, failed all together, those who try and fail, have succeded in trying.. "
Posted 06-28-2008 at 07:31 PM by Chocnutz
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Hi, folks. Thanks all for your comments, but per the additional text above, we've decided to step away from organising a ladder team right now in order to focus on building the bonds of our community.
Posted 06-29-2008 at 01:48 AM by SlamDance
