Encounters

There are many times that you meet someone in the most unexpected ways. In a cashier’s line, a wrong phone number that someone answered, a business transaction or some kind of civic meeting that you attended. There may be a time that you go away with an uplifted feeling and assure yourself whatever the feeling you encountered is surely a fluke and as a self-protective device kicks in, you brush it off. It was just that, a one time and self-asserted silly, non-mature notion.

But when you have further conversations with the person that you have found intriguing and have an interest in, you realize that they are in the process of adding to your life and it becomes problematic as you have no idea what it is. Unfelt emotions begin to seep into your mind without definition being a combination of anticipation, confusion, an unexplained hunger for more information and the overwhelming and stern demands placed on oneself to keep reality in check.

Recently, this happened to me. You see, I play an internet game of peace and war as I had completely outgrown the previous game of all things, farming. This game was different in the fact that it of course was different and allowed me to interact with people from far regions of the country and for that matter, the world. Good people, bad people, those who were willing to be of help and those that were without question, some the nastiest people I have ever encountered in my life! I began to get the hang of what needed to be done, how to do it and started making sincere and probable life long friends.

It amazes me and frightens me that a so-called game can have the impact on one’s life that it does. I have taken situations to bed with me, trying to sort out what needed to be done, what I should have said, or how I should have reacted in a given situation. I have been both frustrated and angered beyond words. The game has taken on its own form of reality with days filled with accomplishment, a form of financial accomplishment, territorial supremacy, and even at times it feels as though real life enemies.

I don’t think I have ever been a member after arriving here. I have never had someone else to be responsible to. I have self confidence in my own capabilities and seem to convey to others that I am in fact a leader, not a follower. Using this position over the years, I have built up a rather large team and with never a question being asked, those people accept my leadership and are loyal. I am a King! My domain of followers will follow me into battle and protect one another till the death. I am blessed.

But as war games go, there is always a conflict of some sort which is usually based on one’s aggression or the desire to be noticed by an authority figure for praise. One thing that is sometimes caused is monumental conflict when one alliance’s member attacks another larger, more aggressive alliance without just cause. The outcome of this can be all but lethal if not handled correctly and with great damage being inflicted to the smaller group. Such was the case a month or so ago. The day started with little care, trivial problems as usual and no forecast of what the day would eventually bring. The leader of a larger alliance contacted me and I found her to be arrogant, self-centered, demanding and controlling with a fragile ego. Other than that, I liked her.

One of her people had made an attack on one of my members and I contacted the attacker and told him that he should stop being aggressive with my people and if he didn’t, I would be contacting his Leader who I had never spoke with before and had no clue in regards to the situation I would soon be placing myself in. It seemed logical to me at the time to voice my concerns to the offender rather than involving someone with many more pressing things to deal with and I didn’t wish to bother her assuming that the thus far minor conflict could easily and quickly be resolved. Some decisions I have made in the past were spot on and praised. This would not be the case for this instance.

Chance Encounter