Off Topic: The Heart of a Tin Man

[Horseshoe_Hermit]

I just don't... feel that this article got at Truth.

It... I mean it seemed pretty scattered. I don't really get your point, and so I don't think you made it, if you had one.


Oh, and Blue isn't insight, RogueNewb. Insight is Green. Problem averted.

Insight is that knowledge gained from perceiving and understanding. Green can understand without studying. That is its power, in accepting all things as they are. It does not confuse itself with unifying theories, or obstruct itself with thoughts of its own goals.
But Green does not get the technology that Blue does. Blue learns what it can do to control something else. It tests and applies. It refines an ever-imprecise but increasingly powerful system of abilities... but fragile in that Blue does not know what to do with things it has not spent time on. Blue is nicely complemented with Insight, which is why Green-Blue is formidable. (Much more frightening than green-blue, the color combination in this card game.) The interest is there, comprehension for its own sake, but its Green's more than Blue's.


EDIT: I just love collecting these page heads. Mmm mmm, that's good page head.

[Evil Tea Cup]

From the general responses, I would say this article is vastly underrated. It is a quality read and one of the best off-topics in a long time.

[nytelyte]

HEAD ASPLODE!

The incorrect version of "you're" was used in the conversation with the husband/wife. graaaaah! This invokes my green/red based RAGE. (lol)

[Jiggy]

This was probably my favorite article of yours, Meyou. In fact, it increased my opinion of you in general, because I feel like I understand you better as a person now. I was previously just barely a fan of your articles; not knowing much about how you operate, I could only assess you by virtue of your writing (specifically, ideas and technical execution). Being a Grammar Nazi myself, and being a little hit-and-miss regarding my interest in your topics, I've been pretty ambivalent toward you and your articles. However, two very nice things happened from reading your article. First, I see some common ground between you and myself, in that we're both more intellectual than emotional. I sometimes use myself and my wife as an example of the difference between INT and WIS (respectively) in DnD. Seeing that you are similar to me in that respect, I feel I understand you better and have a more thorough appreciation for your point of view.
Similarly (and yet conversely), I see that while on a broad level you and I are similar (more intellectual than emotional), we have some differences in the specifics. For instance, I am (as I mentioned) a Grammar Nazi. I am also a rules nut; the kind who can hardly stand to play a game without reading the rules myself, and who has never had any trouble resolving a Warp World. My intellectual "specialty" is the understanding and "solving" (in a sense) of a logical system and the integration of data into, or the extrapolation of data from, said system. Yours, it seems, has more to do with the selection and execution of a proper course of action, and the ability to focus properly on said action. Knowing your specific strengths, coupled with understanding the common ground you and I share, really increases my ability to appreciate you and your thoughts.

Even enough to overlook your imperfect grammar and logic flow. You just got a new fan, Meyou.

[Jenesis]

I'd say "I feel for you" in dealing with people who (irrationally) want you to get as emotional as they are, but that would be inaccurate. So: "I think I know how you feel."

(cynical ramble ahead)

Humans don’t senselessly kill one another and only treat each other with kindness.

...you're kidding, right?

Oh, translate: Those human behaviors our modern society doesn't like, we label "inhuman." We portray non-human entities as displaying these beliefs and behaviors so they can be more easily fought against. Hence the Tin Man has a "heart." The Tin Man is "human." The Wicked Witch is not.

...or is doing that what it means to be human?

In doing so, I’ve watched car after car go by without even hitting brakes once.

And I'm sure you know why, but to belabor the point:

I am not an EMT. I do not have any medical training, and my STR and CON are in the gutter. If I stop to help, at best I will be uselessly wringing my hands, while at worst I will be an obstruction to the police and hospital personnel who actually know what they're doing. Presumably, since I am on the road, I have someplace I need to be, and the life or death of these other people ultimately has less impact on my life than me getting to my destination on time. If our positions were reversed, I know that the people driving by would think the same. And that is human too.

That's my Blue take on it. But it isn't necessarily a Blue take. It could be Red or Black or even Green (though probably not White) as well.

[Clairval]

Originally Posted by Agiussword

next time try saying the blue mage is anal retentive, it classifies them a bit better.

IMHO, that's more white , but ojectively it better fits at the joining point of the two colors (purity for white, perfection for blue).

Whatever, the analogy between blue and autism, even for a large audience, doesn't seem accurate. Blue, besides its whole "ivory tower" stereotype stuff, is the core reactive color, meaning that it's the most careful about what other players are doing - which is contrary to autism.

[jigplums]

im sorry to say i didn't get the point of this article, and i found it very boring, switching off very quickly. Maybe a little more magic in a magic article is needed

[mutantman]

Originally Posted by Lorenik

Blue players strive for efficiency, with less of that awe flavor. Its what blue is, methodical and efficient. Competition and game play is what they strive for, kinda like chess or texas hold em. This is why good efficient creatures like sphinx of jwar isle are printed, and prefered over the more over the top winners like baneslayer angel. Why use a finisher that's not a sure deal, all globals aside. Blue does what it does for the intellectual integrity of the game, not just the timmy side.

Don't think a Timmy can't be blue. Efficiency can be applied to any player profile's goals. Example of a blue Timmy's thought processes:
"Hmm, why do I play Magic in the first place? I don't expect to win any high-level prizes, so all I gain is the enjoyment. As long as I'm playing to have fun, I should be having as much fun as possible; therefore, I should play to maximize my enjoyment of the game. Which aspects of the game are the most fun to me? I'll emphasize those as much as possible."

[Archbounds]

I sort of feel the same way about being an EMT cadet. I'm 17 and I'm on the town's First Aid Squad and am probably going to be trained soon. Although I've never really been on a "bad" call, I don't really feel empathy for the victims. The only time I had an "oh, sh-" moment was when it was a 1-year old in a car crash not responding, but then they RMA'd.

I liked the article, it was philosophical, in a way.

[arcane7828]

Totally enjoyed this article....

I actually read it yesterday but could'nt post for the life of me =P

I think using the colour pie is always going to be risky .. but should should be fine so long as people know one colour does not totally and utterly define a person... in most cases anyways =)

I like the fact that you highlight that emotions are not a prerequisite of compassion, something I can relate to

overall a good read... and on the way you switch topics rather randomly (between articles I mean)? Its one of the things i like about your column keeps things fresh

[faeriedustedfate]

I quite liked this article. It feels to me that it took a turn from your original ideas into some fairly deep self reflection. This is what blue is to you, and I cannot disagree with that.

For those saying it is not blue, think of each color as a cloud rather than an object. It contains a nebula of different possibilities. Blue could be heavily influenced by the ideas knowledge, denial, reasearch, and control. Deeper, less common threads could be exploration, technology, and hoarding. The color coulds often merge as well, as has been said with Purity (in both white and blue) or reanimation (blue and black).

Everyone will see different particles in the clouds, and will see them in a slightly different place. If we all thought the same way, or thought as just a few archetypes, there would be just a few decks played and the fun would leave the game.

I'm a timmy, and I love the flavor, texture, and depth of this game. It's the only one I can keep coming back to year after year.

[musicworld1]

i stooped it.