People usually think about banning things, but I would prefer to ask a different question: what game-playing skills are we missing out on due to a preference for blunt force? [1]
None, probably. Like, if you're asking about the possibility to emotionally manipulate low-investment players into throwing the game in your favor, ICT was already exploring that. Unsurprisingly, it's super strong, low-investment town players are scum's greatest ally. I'm sure you could
get better at that, but like, why? Yes, if players on the town are going to throw the game, the game is going to get thrown. You can like, fight water with water, or you can look for games with people that don't mind
just being wet.
Here's another thing to consider: it's hard to have a meta-based playstyle if you keep chewing through players. Even if new people keep coming, you are actively harming your ability to gain skill in meta play.
There's literally no reason to think that one thing or another is causing long-term active players to not join up. Nobody that's put a real substantial effort into the game has ever quit over any of the things that you've described in at least 3 years, and nobody that I can think of offhand in the last
As I said in-thread, personally, I don't wanna be called "it." That's my line in the sand. Can I handle it? Yeah, of course I can.
You're talking about trying to explore using soft power options but you haven't considered the soft power option of just being likeable enough that people would genuinely not want to offend you in the first place? Have you considered using your verbiage to position people so that they feel like it's not in their interest to talk shit?
I do want to say something here, though, which is that we frame this issue in terms of "people being thin-skinned" as opposed to "people exerting control over their personal environment when they can't exert control over their public one."
THIS IS THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT
I DO NOT NEED TO BE YOUR FRIEND TO PLAY MAFIA WITH YOU
IF SOMEONE SAID, "YOU HAVE TO BE VECTOR'S FRIEND TO PLAY MAFIA HERE"
I WOULD LEAVE
I do not think this sentiment is uncommon. I don't think most people would state it so unambiguously and there'd probably be some element of wistfulness or regret about the cruelness of the world or whatever.
I think that if the reverse of this sentiment were popular, you wouldn't be raising this concern.
Like, I don't think thin/thickskinnedness is a super useful concept, insults aren't a coherent category of action, etc., but that's another point and not very interesting.
If you have an ability to exert control over your public environment already, then this latter probably doesn't matter very much to you. Or you could just have a very different personality structure, idk & idc.
I'm glad you've put this here because I'm in a game with you and you've decided to pull this shit while the game is ongoing and I can't pull examples from the thread.
Why did you decide to so clearly state that you don't have any respect for me or intent to cater to my preference set? Do you think this will bring about the world you're hoping for?
There was a game where I yelled at Tiruin, the fucking nicest person around
Tiruin was/is a nasty piece of work but probably a good example of what I'm talking about positioning people with soft power so they don't talk shit about you even if you act like a complete cunt.