Wednesday 27 August 2014

27th of Blaugust - W - With Blackjack and Hookers!

It's felt like its been a while since I did a cloud-yelling rant that I feel long overdue for one. So if you don't want to read about me complaining then go and watch this video of a hamster eating a tiny burritos. For those that choose to stick around I wish to go on about what I call the "With Blackjack and Hookers," effect.


Named after a running gag from the second ever Futurama episode, the Blackjack and Hookers effect is when someone becomes so enraged with an event, community or group that they decide to take them on at their own game with a rival event, community or group. The concept isn't new but has been happening all the time. One Michel's Patisserie franchise told me that Michel's Patisserie originally started because an employee didn't like how The Cheesecake Shop ran their business. Most of the time it happens because of a falling out between people who do not see things the same way. Steve Jobs had a falling out with Apple in 1985 so he went and started NeXT. Eventually Apple ended up buying NeXT in 1996 and Steve Jobs came back to eventually run the company as he wished.

In business it happens all the time and is completely fine. In a community however, when it happens it's something that can be damaging to everyone. Especially in a small place like Adelaide. This sort of "chew-up-and-spit-out" behaviour happens all the time at AVCon where people rage quit and fortunately I've never heard the phase, "Well I'm going to start MY OWN Convention," recently. But it has happened. Back in 2008 I heard this at an EVAC meeting where some people didn't feel they were treated well enough. That was the first time I ever heard of Evacuation being brought up.

They were different times back then. The relationship between EVAC and AVCon VG were much much closer. EVAC and AVCon VG were basically one and the same as there were very few non-EVAC people on the AVCon VG team. But there seemed to be a bit on an anti-VG thing going on in AVCon at the time. I won't bother you with it because I don't even know all the details to be honest. So people at AVCon'y people at EVAC were complaining and so they thought they would start Evacuation, walk away from AVCon and watch and laugh while everyone else in AVCon failed to run the VG area properly. This never happened in the end (fortunately) and those that were complaining aren't even around. Some still support AVCon. Evacuation never happened but it is something that gets thrown around as something EVAC could still do in aid to the community. I was that latest person to try and make it happen.

Well I say enough! Evacuation MUST DIE! It was started for the wrong reasons and a major gaming event by EVAC will never get off the ground if it is to have the name Evacuation. Even the name was based on Evacuating from AVCon to do try to challenge AVCon. I'm not saying EVAC can't hold a major event but it can't be called Evacuation. Not even as a working title.

Even Bender his proposal to build his own Lunar Lander to "screw the whole thing," as he couldn't be bothered. Now we have to say the same thing about Evacuation for once and for all.

I am putting a ban on the word Evacuation at EVAC. Let's never speak of it again.

No comments:

Post a Comment