Shall we all pause...
It snowed where I live today, I've been making snowballs and enjoyed tea in the midst of a snow fort made by my son. It was fun and what life is all about... Family.
Ultimately we still need a core community that are able to work together rather than reading sarcasm into every statement (no sarcasm was in that statement). This community will never run by strategy but ultimately as Elmacca rightly summarises, it will work by community and communication, with what is inferred in his last post 'trust'.
Looking at the way this thread has gone over the last few days; looking at how it began to deteriorate after accusations of blanket snobbery was hurled generally in the direction of anyone found to be disagreeable or hold contrary opinions (not a put down or sarcasm), there has been a blanket disregarding of huge efforts that have been put by people into players and the NT over countless seasons (not a put down or sarcasm and I do not include myself in that group so you cannot claim that I am bemoaning not being appreciated). There are overcritical attitudes from some and others reading overcritical attitudes into others where there is none (not a put down or sarcasm).
It is rather obvious that there is a significant level of trust within the community that needs to be brokered before things can improve.
Myself being positioned now in the ebbl has given many reason to see that as a reason to read that whatever I say is from a position of putting people down, please do not, never do, I would happily drop to D3 just to make sure nobody felt put down. That is the way I live my life and frankly that is the furthest thing from my mind. I personally do not get my sense of self worth from playing online games, so what would be the purpose of point scoring (and that is not a put down either)? There are clear power plays on this forum (not a put down), where individuals are seeking influence and to be the 'main man' (not a put down), honestly if you need someone to recognise your greatness (not sarcasm) I'll happily call you wonderful (not sarcasm) so we can all move on and work as a team (not sarcasm or a put down). The ones this most applies to will probably become apparent as anyone that feels affronted by even that statement probably has a share in what is going on here (which is not a put down but a call to work together).
So shall we all take a night off, some may want to make a snowman, others may just watch a movie and have a glass of wine.
And lets come to the table in a day or so, warm hearted and with a commitment to overcome our assumptions and differences and actually pull a team together for the NT?