To grow old is to see your own memories grow smaller and smaller on the distant horizon. When you turn to look back on your life you see a thousand faces of the people you have been, and the thousand faces of the people you have met.
And if you are SK_MC, you also see the hundreds of thousands of dollars you have won.
Starting his StarCraft 2 career with the very first GSL Open in August of 2010, MC has been by far the most successful Protoss-player in the history of the game. While his form has gone through a series of inevitable ups and downs over the course of three years, his long-term consistency has been nothing short of remarkable. He has dozens of top four finishes in major tournaments with plenty of championships among them.
That kind of consistency brings in a lot money. By taking second place at WCS Europe and finishing in the top eight of the Season 3 finals, MC became the first SC2 player to break through the $400,000 prize winnings barrier to extend his lead atop the rankings. Perhaps not enough to be set for life, but more than enough to say that his time as a progamer has been quite lucrative. But no sooner had MC earned the title of the four-hundred-thousand dollar man than he looked ahead to the next goal.
"You’ve gone over $400,000 in prize money earned this tournament. Is prize money something that’s on your mind when you play tournaments?
When both Mvp and I were doing well together it was something I thought about a lot. But now that I’ve continued on at #1 for a while, it doesn’t matter so much. My biggest dream right now is to win the grand finals and reach $500,000 this year."
Oh well, then.
******
There is one very nagging concern for the BossToss as he heads to the goldmine called Blizzcon: He hasn't actually won a tournament for over a year. Ever since he took first place and $15,000 at Red Bull Battlegrounds Austin in May of 2012, MC has failed to win another championship.
Which is not to say the money stopped flowing in, far from it. A jam packed tournament schedule and consistently high finishes has seen MC collect a steady stream of paychecks. But at the same time, his trophy display case has probably gotten a bit dusty, waiting for a chance to welcome in some new hardware.
No one can question MC's ability to sniff out a payday, but one must now wonder how much of the old "championship MC" remains alongside "prize-money hunter MC." BlizzCon doesn't just mean playing on the biggest stage of his career, for the biggest prize pool of his career. It also means playing against fifteen top class players in what might be the most difficult tournament he has competed in. MC may be the only three time GSL finalist Protoss in history, but that last final came in the middle of 2012. The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer.
Maybe MC is okay with all of that. The money is still very good, and he seems to enjoy his role as crowd-pleaser and entertainer supreme. His English is improving, and he now joins the announcer's desk with enthuisiasm instead of apprehension. Of all Korean progamers, he seems to best understand the compromise between entertainment and competition that has been reached in the West. Hence the trash talk. Hence the Murloc dances.
At the same time, we hope MC also understands the other stakes. He is the first Protoss great of StarCraft 2, but victory at Blizzcon will make him not only first but unsurpassable by all future comers. Alongside Mvp and Nestea he is one of the three best players of StarCraft 2, but a victory at Blizzcon would reduce it to a two-way conversation with him and Mvp at the top. Perhaps MC thinks differently, but for us those are bigger differences than the one between $400,000 and $500,000.
No matter what happens at Blizzcon, MC will be remembered as a legend of the game. But as of now, it seems like the legend has already ended, and the book of MC is merely being filled with an extended epilogue. MC, show us there's more than just checks left to sign. Show us there are still chapters to be written.
I know he hasn't won a major tournament in a while, but I will always love MC. He's done so much for the game--both in developing Protoss play, but also in pushing the envelope in terms of entertainment value and interaction with fans. A lot of progamers understand the "gamer" part, but don't realize that "pro" means a lot more than playing the game well. MC gets it better than anyone.
I don't know how much you wrote for story's sake, but I really feel this is the culmination of a second chapter for MC, not an epiloque.
When he was going to foreign tournaments and only doing ~R08 or below, losing to mid level Koreans, I was thinking it might be the epilogue.
With the 2-0 against Soulkey, his own confidence in PvP despite being shattered by Dear 0-3, I think this is the new age of MC. Maybe not as strong as the old days, but a strong contender for any tournament now.
MC has grown... fat... and ugly... He must be living the good life with all his monies haha. I used to be an MC fan, pity he hasn't pulled out any awesome ceremonies lately.
"The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
"No matter what happens at Blizzcon, MC will be remembered as a legend of the game. But as of now, it seems like the legend has already ended, and the book of MC is merely being filled with an extended epilogue. MC, show us there's more than just checks left to sign. Show us there are still chapters to be written."
Loved the last paragraph. Favourite writer so far ^^
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
MC's naked pursuit of cash diminishes my enjoyment of him as a spectator.
Maybe it's idealism, but I always liked competitors who pursued greatness, or "immortality" in the form of a championship or multiple championships, rather than money. So players who talked about the importance of their place in history, like July[Zerg] or Jaedong, somehow resonate more with me.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
you do have a valid point. MC is what a 3 time code S GSL winner? Those were hard tournaments. MVP in my mind is the most sucessful SC 2 player at this point in time. But they never bring him down even though he hasn't really done much lately. MMA is playing great but again MMA hasn't done much. IF anything MC deserves to be included and respected as much as MVP and MMA. Also I mean people play for money they gotta eat. Glory comes from winning.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
MC left for foreign pastures long before Mvp or Nestea did.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
People would say that about Mvp and possibly MMA too.
MC's starting to make a case that he still has some left in the tank though.
By aiming to earn money, isn't MC also striving to win championships? It makes no sense to exclude one another. So you can't really say MC is not trying to achieve greatness.
On November 07 2013 13:49 Random_0 wrote: MC's naked pursuit of cash diminishes my enjoyment of him as a spectator.
Maybe it's idealism, but I always liked competitors who pursued greatness, or "immortality" in the form of a championship or multiple championships, rather than money. So players who talked about the importance of their place in history, like July[Zerg] or Jaedong, somehow resonate more with me.
I don't know... The players who make it no secret that they love the money are usually very entertaining. Think of Stephano for example. He was in there for the money, and he was blunt about it and boy he brought this rockstar flair to SC2 like no other.
Plus I am not sure how many true idealistic players there actually are. I think everyone loves the money. All the while the chance to be in the spotlight and gain a certain amount of immortality are very pleasant side effects.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
Woah, GJ cpt.obvious, i didnt deny that fact. learn to read pls.
Edit: Btw, GJ restating what the quote says. that's a form of plagiarism in higher institutions of academia. just bcuz u change a few words does not make the meaning any more (or less) different. gl passing ESL in college.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
Woah, GJ cpt.obvious, i didnt deny that fact. learn to read pls.
Edit: Btw, GJ restating what the quote says. that's a form of plagiarism in higher institutions of academia. just bcuz u change a few words does not make the meaning any more (or less) different. gl passing ESL in college.
I am pretty sure it was a deliberate stylistic choice in this case (which btw is absolutely fine in non academic literature ).
It's the first article of this series that baffle me.
I agree that you may think MC as a prizemoney hunter. But if MC gets that much money, it's because he's actually still fucking good. You don't reach the finals of WCS EU twice in a row like that, even if you consider WCS EU to be the nest of old Code B players.
He's still fucking scary and still can take games off anyone. He's not the MC that had just won two GSL and was considered the best player in the world. But he is still a killer and he can still win tournaments.
For example, Seed and Sniper are GSL champions that are in the epilogue of their careers (well, I still root for Seed to comeback). MC is just in an extended slump.
Uh, MC placed second in 2 straight WCS Europe seasons, he's been tangling with and beating the best, he's the best protoss we've ever seen and is in no way at a low point in his career.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
thats because both mvp and mma have won wcs europe this year
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
Probably because MC's period of dominance (late 2010 through early 2011) was so long ago compared to MMA's equivalent period (late 2011 through early 2012) and compared to Mvp's most recent GSL successes in 2012. I think MC is always a little underestimated though--he did make the QF of GSL 2013 S1, narrowly losing to the eventual champion in an era when winfestors still ruled the game. You can argue it's not very relevant to the current HotS metagame, but as a result it's about as impressive as winning WCS EU. Even more impressive is how well he played at S3 finals against Soulkey and Hack. I think MC has about as much chance of winning Blizzcon as MMA does, though neither would be a favorite for me.
No, seeking money and seeking greatness are different things.
Look at what Jaedong has done this year. By the standards of money, Jaedong has been exceptionally successful. According to SC2Earnings.com, he has earned $66,235 in 2013, well more than MC has.
But, I would guess that he would trade all that cash for a championship like WCS America. MC, on the other hand? Would take the money. Which is why I savor Jaedong's victories far more than I will MC's.
Frankly speaking i like this article less then other ones, especially considering that im a great fan of MC, anyway its great to see oldschool bonjwas such as MVP and MC fighting, games against Soulkey showed that MC is still The Boss Toss, i was astonished by his play and great builds! FTW MC! Jae and MVP :p but MC first!
Even though Ive never been a big fan of MC or any other toss for that matter (T bias, haha). This and especially the last paragraph made me want him to do well.
Im still cheering for Terran though. And duckdeok.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
Woah, GJ cpt.obvious, i didnt deny that fact. learn to read pls.
Edit: Btw, GJ restating what the quote says. that's a form of plagiarism in higher institutions of academia. just bcuz u change a few words does not make the meaning any more (or less) different. gl passing ESL in college.
wtf is wrong with you to suggest that is plagiarism? not like he wants academic recognition for it
No matter what happens at Blizzcon, MC will be remembered as a legend of the game. But as of now, it seems like the legend has already ended, and the book of MC is merely being filled with an extended epilogue. MC, show us there's more than just checks left to sign. Show us there are still chapters to be written.
why are the last lines in the blizzcon hype .. so .. so good !
MC is awesome but i dont see him winning .. everybody is just too deadly in blizzcon
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
He didn't get there through WCS Korea though which makes a world of difference
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
It goes beyond that. MC has proven so many times that whenever you count him out he'll win the hole thing. Plus did he not just get back to back 2nd places in wcs eu? For all I know MC might as well win Blizzcon and I wouldn't even be shocked. 400k speak for themselves, you don't get those by droping out early in tournaments.
On November 07 2013 15:22 Random_0 wrote: No, seeking money and seeking greatness are different things.
Look at what Jaedong has done this year. By the standards of money, Jaedong has been exceptionally successful. According to SC2Earnings.com, he has earned $66,235 in 2013, well more than MC has.
But, I would guess that he would trade all that cash for a championship like WCS America. MC, on the other hand? Would take the money. Which is why I savor Jaedong's victories far more than I will MC's.
If you and the writer of this article watched MC's interview at WCS Europe season three where Incontrol mentioned money and MC's response was I have a lot of money, all I need now is my fans, my friends and my managers, you would not write such a thing. Also your comparison between MC and Jaedong is very poor, they are in fact very similar. Both are members of the old guard trying to recapture their previous heights, the only difference is that MC's success is in SC2 and Jaedong's is in BW.
You could also look at MC's reaction at the recent Season three finals when he beat Hack and went straight into the crowd and embraced the fans, along with what he said in the following interview that shows his passions for his fans, the game and to be a champion again for himself and his supporters.
Finally Jaedong has earned 66,000 this year as you say, but if you bothered to look just a few places below you would see MC sitting with 56,000 for the year, far closer than the well more than you stated, and in fact MC stands a great chance with Homestory Cup and Red Bull coming up to end the year above Jaedong.
I appreciate that you are a Jaedong fan but that does not mean that you can make baseless statements about another player, especially when they contradict much of what he has said and done recently.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
He didn't get there through WCS Korea though which makes a world of difference
Nor did MVP, MMA, Polt, Jaedong, yet they are all considered to some of the best (Korean) players currently. You also need to remember that there's no reason to compete in the absolute hardest league if the end result is still having a chance at the finals, Blizzon in this case. In fact it's a smart move on all of their parts to choose easier leagues as they have a better chance of winning.
Fans and fame aside, Esports is a job/career and people need to make a living. If that means going for the easy money be my guest.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
He didn't get there through WCS Korea though which makes a world of difference
Nor did MVP, MMA, Polt, Jaedong, yet they are all considered to some of the best (Korean) players currently. You also need to remember that there's no reason to compete in the absolute hardest league if the end result is still having a chance at the finals, Blizzon in this case. In fact it's a smart move on all of their parts to choose easier leagues as they have a better chance of winning.
Fans and fame aside, Esports is a job/career and people need to make a living. If that means going for the easy money be my guest.
Polt won back to back WCS America, MLG and WCS Season 2. Jaedong got 2 places in WCS America, WCS Season 2, 2 Dreamhack MVP is not currently rank as a top korean even if everyone acknowledge the fact that he is the king of preparation period. I will never ever doubt even a vanquished MVP in a BO5 MMA is in the same shape that MC I guess
On November 07 2013 18:47 Fjodorov wrote: Dont like the tone or focus of this article. MC deserves better.
Totally agree, after the MVP article first I was expecting MC to be the last one posted considering they are the two old guard players and it is incredibly impressive that they are even at the grand finals considering how many other players have come and gone in that time.
What makes it even worse is that MVP did very well in season one but did nothing after whereas MC did the opposite and the way he prepared for and subsequently crushed Soulkey, the best zerg in the world at the moment, in the group stages shows that he can in fact compete with and beat the best in the world. To focus on the fact that MC is the biggest money winner in SC2 is fine if you use that to lead into his incredibly consistency,longevity and ability to win when the community had already agreed that his time was done. But in this case they made it seem like his only motivation is to win money but it was clear even in the quote in the article that he only cares about money because he is at the top of the leader board, so of course he wants to keep it. He will never catch MVP's number of GSL titles but he has a chance to set a money winning total that no one else can ever match. It may be true that his legacy will at least somewhat be tied to how much money he won throughout his career but to pretend that money is the be all end for MC is just not true.
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
I respect the hell out of MC for his perseverence and for everything he has accomplished in SC2, but obesity is bad. The appearance aspect of it is actually irrelevant, obesity is bad for your health. Not because he looks fat - I couldn't give less of a shit, but because it could potentially be bad foor his health.
Of course, the comment you're replying to wasn't trying to say that, but keep it in mind.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
He didn't get there through WCS Korea though which makes a world of difference
Nor did MVP, MMA, Polt, Jaedong, yet they are all considered to some of the best (Korean) players currently. You also need to remember that there's no reason to compete in the absolute hardest league if the end result is still having a chance at the finals, Blizzon in this case. In fact it's a smart move on all of their parts to choose easier leagues as they have a better chance of winning.
Fans and fame aside, Esports is a job/career and people need to make a living. If that means going for the easy money be my guest.
Polt won back to back WCS America, MLG and WCS Season 2. Jaedong got 2 places in WCS America, WCS Season 2, 2 Dreamhack MVP is not currently rank as a top korean even if everyone acknowledge the fact that he is the king of preparation period. I will never ever doubt even a vanquished MVP in a BO5 MMA is in the same shape that MC I guess
Meanwhile MC took 2nd in WCS Seasons 2+3 for Europe, 3rd/4th at IEM Shanghai (2013-07-28) and 4th at the 2013 MLG Winter Championship (2013-03-17). Sure he hasn't taken 1st in a major tournament recently but that doesn't mean he's passed his prime. His results speak for themselves.
Everyone he lost to in those tournaments, expect Revival, is playing in Blizzcon so he could certainly be knocked out early but, to say he's not up to par is ridiculous.
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
I respect the hell out of MC for his perseverence and for everything he has accomplished in SC2, but obesity is bad. The appearance aspect of it is actually irrelevant, obesity is bad for your health. Not because he looks fat - I couldn't give less of a shit, but because it could potentially be bad foor his health.
Of course, the comment you're replying to wasn't trying to say that, but keep it in mind.
Well of course I do agree if he'll continue gaining weight it'll end up being bad for his health. But imo compared to some of the people I have seen I'd describe MC as slightly overweight and besides the risk of gaining more weight I don't really see anything wrong with that. In a perfect world all progamers would be in perfect shape and super healthy with government supported health programs for them. However we live in a world were, especially people who live on their own like MC, sit in front of a computer all day and tbh I'm shocked that there aren't more koreans who are a bit more overweight. I guess I just think that MC is a lot less overweight as people try to say it. There are a bunch of westerner pro gamers, not gonna call anyone out, who are actually so overweight that it does endanger their health.
Apparently now Soulkey isn't among 'the best his homeland has to offer'. Disappointed with this article, all the rest were awesome, this one just disrespectful. Not that such a thing is new in regards to how people treat MC, but that doesn't make it right.
As an MC fan I also resent this article somewhat - the last paragraph is the only thing that saves it in my eyes.
I don't know which Games the author watched, but from what I can see MC is in his best form since quite a while, his games looked crisp and perfect as in his prime - sure every once in a while he stumbles, but no one can be perfect for an extended period of time.
In the season finals he lost to the Dear who simply totally dominated that tournament, there is no shame in that. I am also pretty sure that at his current level MC could be beat all of the other old stars.
Last but not least, there is no other player that did this much for SC2 as an E-Sport, simply by communicating, interacting, creating a good show and generally putting in effort outside the game.
Hmmmm, I think that writer wrote the article based on the assumption that MC already has his fans and the hype is there already, and therefore - the idea of the article was identity over hype instead.., i.e. - "renew" the hype in those already having it..
So - if a new "follower" is about to come, the article's to show them or at least glance-through a bit in the identity of our beloved BOSS from Aiur i.e. - Korea it is.. =============================================================
Though I agree that there could be more about the Undertaker/Murloc/Casting/interaction with the crowd mentionioned, that kind of ceremonies seem to have.. Or maybe his singing performances.. Maybe write a bit about the slump-towards-the-WoL-ending period as well as the glorious rebirth in HotS with the "brand-new" Oracle play.. But the guy's been there always among the top and always among the fans already.. I even now think that it's not about his interactions with the fans all-over that defines him, but even more - his "busting" or even "bully" to some extent ingame style of play..
============================================================= Therefore when people talking about the MC money - (almost everyone) people know that MC's not a "bounty-hunter" or "assassin"/"back-stabber" of some-kind while talking about "money" as if they were his "goal" or something.. But rather the Protoss President armed with "24-carat-gold-unbreakable-fists" that 1-hit-knock-out opponents or "frontal-trample" roll-over them style of play that people most amaze when watching..
That's what I depict/like/praise when watching MC games.. HELL, that's what even expect before the game itself begins.. I don't imagine it as a SC2 game when MC plays, but rather like 1 SC2 player playing and 1 "cyber" Gladiator fighting..
That agression that rolls-over bunkers like they were made of carton or paper, smashing turrets, blocking ramps forever while gathering the "invasion force" below or over, and if it happened that the opponent was a Zerg - then dissecting the Hive Clusters from within while continuously blocking.. I don't imagine him "winning championships or holding trophies", instead I imagine him knocking down everything that stands on the way.. For MC it's THE WAY, not how long it lasts that matter, and THAT's what made him lots and lots of fans (including me).. That Destroying/Killing instinct that makes the forces of Aiur do what they do when he's playing and makes us all have our Jaws dropping when watching..
I imagine him having Stalkers at 10 minutes withing the game with 15 kills or something, I imagine Immortals all covered in Roach or Marauder blood.. Voidrays that burn down bases to ashes or Oracles revealing how little HP the Hatchery he just attacked had survived just so to calculate the force needed to bring for the next attempt to kill it..
============================================================= Everyone knows that just aggression is just impossible for tournament-wins.. I'ts a needed, but not certain condition for the ultimate win.. Especially cause people are changing, learning, and constantly improving.. But one thing stands for sure - NOONE ever had, or ever will have "THOSE GOLDEN FISTS" he has and knock-down opponents in 1-swipe or 1-hit.. Having the "trophy" is just a bonus of some kind or sth.. Though surely I'd love to see the Boss on top on the world again, only this time I wanna see him having a golden Belt with a sig or prayer from all the nerds he slayed over one of the shoulders instead of holding that "tiny" Trophy instead..
MC's not one of those to be hyped about, MC is one of those to be praised.. MC is not "the best", but MC surely is the "undisputed".. with lots of battles, and lots of history and "scars" from his already proven attacking/busting quality..
============================================================= Still, another win would certainly be welcomed, hearthy (and wealthy - i.e. - worthy )
B O S S T O S S F.T.W
============================================================= edit: rofl, the more I try to "depict" and try to tell people what the article was about, the more I find out it's badly written.. Good idea, but badly written.. not cause it's badly written, but because there's too much "free space" to be misundersttod in some ways
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
The fact of the matter is, MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer
If this was true he wouldn't be in a tournament with the best his homeland has to offer.
He didn't get there through WCS Korea though which makes a world of difference
Nor did MVP, MMA, Polt, Jaedong, yet they are all considered to some of the best (Korean) players currently. You also need to remember that there's no reason to compete in the absolute hardest league if the end result is still having a chance at the finals, Blizzon in this case. In fact it's a smart move on all of their parts to choose easier leagues as they have a better chance of winning.
Fans and fame aside, Esports is a job/career and people need to make a living. If that means going for the easy money be my guest.
Polt won back to back WCS America, MLG and WCS Season 2. Jaedong got 2 places in WCS America, WCS Season 2, 2 Dreamhack MVP is not currently rank as a top korean even if everyone acknowledge the fact that he is the king of preparation period. I will never ever doubt even a vanquished MVP in a BO5 MMA is in the same shape that MC I guess
Meanwhile MC took 2nd in WCS Seasons 2+3 for Europe, 3rd/4th at IEM Shanghai (2013-07-28) and 4th at the 2013 MLG Winter Championship (2013-03-17). Sure he hasn't taken 1st in a major tournament recently but that doesn't mean he's passed his prime. His results speak for themselves.
Everyone he lost to in those tournaments, expect Revival, is playing in Blizzcon so he could certainly be knocked out early but, to say he's not up to par is ridiculous.
WCS Europe isn't as stack as WCS America MLG was at the very begining of HOTs IIRC
In my eyes he is at the same level that MMA, aLive or duckdeok (and MVP even if : never count MVP out in BO5 format). Not really on par with the others. I maybe wrong and bosstoss will dismantle everyone but to me since 2012 he is like andre miller always there and more or less kind of good, never on par with the very top
Edit : Maybe It's just me hating WCS system but it really make me sick seeing someone like duckdeok at blizzcon when Rain isn't.
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
Why the fuck would that matter for anything?
So many disrespectful comments about his appearance, I don't get it. :/
they're not being disrespectful, they're stating facts. plus, in korean culture talking about people's weight is like americans talking about the weather
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
he isn't saying MC isn't awesome, he is saying that MC is out of shape, which is a pretty reasonable opinion. there is not disrespect in that, more like a concern.
at his age, his weight (or just what we can see from his body size) is not that healthy.
The thing I love most about MC is how he can use unusual unit compositions to win in seemingly impossible situations. 1 base for 40 minutes with only stalkers and oracles against a guy with 2 bases, stim, and a dozen bunkers? No problem. He just uses the Oracles to keep the guy supply blocked and then blinks into the main, bypassing the dozen bunkers. He then uses the mothership core to slow down the reinforcing infantry.
Wow. People in this thread + OP seriously underestimating MC. Extreme big ROFL @ the person calling MC "rather an entertainer than a programer"
I would rank MC out of the top 16 in the world at least in the mid-field, maybe even ro4 material on a good day.
He has shown us really good results in the last year, only falling by a small margin to reach his next major titles (such as losing to duckdeok in WCS EU). He can even beat the best of the best on a good day as he has shown times and times again. MC is without a doubt the best of the once-great champions. He has surpassed Nestea BY FAR even surpassed MVP by skill.
On November 07 2013 21:56 Caladan wrote: Wow. People in this thread + OP seriously underestimating MC. Extreme big ROFL @ the person calling MC "rather an entertainer than a programer"
I would rank MC out of the top 16 in the world at least in the mid-field, maybe even ro4 material on a good day.
He has shown us really good results in the last year, only falling by a small margin to reach his next major titles (such as losing to duckdeok in WCS EU). He can even beat the best of the best on a good day as he has shown times and times again. MC is without a doubt the best of the once-great champions. He has surpassed Nestea BY FAR even surpassed MVP by skill.
MC is still hot and can crush you any time.
I know right ?
I think that when the OP talks about MC as "bounty-hunter" other people tend to think as if he's money-driven or sth.. (i mean everyone is), or like maybe "entertainer over player", like as if he has to "interact/play" to win the money..
But in fact - It's rather about his style of play.. Like a Gladiator in a ring fighting.. His extreme ingame killer-instinct.. That's what/where his money came from, and that's why money is talked about - feardom.. Not cause he's the best, but rather because he's the undisputed..
It would even more make sence if the trophy was a gold-wide-belt of some kind worn over one shoulder rather than that "small-thing" that MC could even 1-arm carry if it was to crown MC..
On November 07 2013 21:56 Caladan wrote: Wow. People in this thread + OP seriously underestimating MC. Extreme big ROFL @ the person calling MC "rather an entertainer than a programer"
I would rank MC out of the top 16 in the world at least in the mid-field, maybe even ro4 material on a good day.
He has shown us really good results in the last year, only falling by a small margin to reach his next major titles (such as losing to duckdeok in WCS EU). He can even beat the best of the best on a good day as he has shown times and times again. MC is without a doubt the best of the once-great champions. He has surpassed Nestea BY FAR even surpassed MVP by skill.
MC is still hot and can crush you any time.
I know right ?
I think that when the OP talks about MC as "bounty-hunter" other people tend to think as if he's money-driven or sth.. (i mean everyone is), or like maybe "entertainer over player", like as if he has to "interact/play" to win the money..
But in fact - It's rather about his style of play.. Like a Gladiator in a ring fighting.. His extreme ingame killer-instinct.. That's what/where his money came from, and that's why money is talked about - feardom.. Not cause he's the best, but rather because he's the undisputed..
It would even more make sence if the trophy was a gold-wide-belt of some kind worn over one shoulder rather than that "small-thing" that MC could even 1-arm carry if it was to crown MC..
Absolutely agree. His playstyle wins the money, his entertainment wins our hearts. All the time people complain about robotic Koreans and now we have this great mix of rockstar, entertainer and great player and this is no good either...
I'm fairness, these articles are for hype. They are exaggerated for effect (i.e. to make the players more distinct and to make it seem that they all have something to prove). The truth is that MC doesn't have to prove anything. He has already proven himself many times.
However, I think the bounty hunter theme was a poor choice. I wish the article had focused on his quote about not playing so much for the money anymore, but for the fans. He is the greatest entertainer of all the competitors. And Blizzcon may be his largest audience yet. I could re - write this for TL if you wanted. The theme would be "All the World is a Stage, and MC is the Star Player."
On November 07 2013 21:56 Caladan wrote: Wow. People in this thread + OP seriously underestimating MC. Extreme big ROFL @ the person calling MC "rather an entertainer than a programer"
I would rank MC out of the top 16 in the world at least in the mid-field, maybe even ro4 material on a good day.
He has shown us really good results in the last year, only falling by a small margin to reach his next major titles (such as losing to duckdeok in WCS EU). He can even beat the best of the best on a good day as he has shown times and times again. MC is without a doubt the best of the once-great champions. He has surpassed Nestea BY FAR even surpassed MVP by skill.
MC is still hot and can crush you any time.
I know right ?
I think that when the OP talks about MC as "bounty-hunter" other people tend to think as if he's money-driven or sth.. (i mean everyone is), or like maybe "entertainer over player", like as if he has to "interact/play" to win the money..
But in fact - It's rather about his style of play.. Like a Gladiator in a ring fighting.. His extreme ingame killer-instinct.. That's what/where his money came from, and that's why money is talked about - feardom.. Not cause he's the best, but rather because he's the undisputed..
It would even more make sence if the trophy was a gold-wide-belt of some kind worn over one shoulder rather than that "small-thing" that MC could even 1-arm carry if it was to crown MC..
Absolutely agree. His playstyle wins the money, his entertainment wins our hearts. All the time people complain about robotic Koreans and now we have this great mix of rockstar, entertainer and great player and this is no good either...
On November 07 2013 14:41 LongShot27 wrote: Uh, MC placed second in 2 straight WCS Europe seasons, he's been tangling with and beating the best, he's the best protoss we've ever seen and is in no way at a low point in his career.
Wait, did you just use WCS Europe and the best in the same sentence? What?!
On November 07 2013 14:41 LongShot27 wrote: Uh, MC placed second in 2 straight WCS Europe seasons, he's been tangling with and beating the best, he's the best protoss we've ever seen and is in no way at a low point in his career.
Wait, did you just use WCS Europe and the best in the same sentence? What?!
Reading comprehension fail much? the best part is another part of the sentence, them comma's.
How do you draw the line between "championship MC" and "prize money hunter MC"? Does finishing in top 4, and not winning equals 'money hunting'? How does that work?
It is pretty cool that all 3 races had a legend of WoL. I think this is because DK did so many huge balance changing nerfs and buffs. I think MC surpasses time the best out of the 3 masters of WoL because he is so well rounded in all aspects of the game. His meta-gaming is great, his builds are innovative, his mechanics are solid, his standard macro is stable and well thought out, and he has one of the best stage presence.
However, he won't be making it past Maru. People can talk about parity between regions all they want, but it is pretty clear that other than JD, Taeja, and MMA there are no threats to players qualifying from WCS Korea.
I don't know why so many people count MC out and are calling him just a prize hunter. 2nd place twice in a row in WCS EU isn't bad whatsoever. Recently he may not have been going far in the season finals, sure. But the one before he lost to Jaedong, but looked like the only protoss who could put up a halfway decent fight against his ZvP, then lost to Rain who was considered best PvP in the world at that point. This time he beat 2nd place Soulkey 2-0 and lost to the eventual winner. No shame in the people he's lost to in these tournaments.
On November 08 2013 02:58 Zealously wrote: People seem to forget that MC himself builds on his reputation as a money hunter.
He keeps mentioning in all of his interviews and twitter that he wants to win championships, not a word about money really. Maybe in the past, but nowadays he wants to win. I'm not delusional to think that MC will win, but if the brackets work out in his favor he could be top 4 IMO and could've gone further in each season finals if he had some different opponents.
On November 07 2013 13:38 Advantageous wrote: "The bitter truth is that MC is no longer a player you expect to tangle with the best his homeland has to offer."
I resent this quote as a MC fan (since prior to winning his first GSL against July)... Yes, I can read that it says "The bitter truth", but I still resent it... Would we ever say this about MVP? no. MMA? no. then why MC?
On November 08 2013 02:58 Zealously wrote: People seem to forget that MC himself builds on his reputation as a money hunter.
He keeps mentioning in all of his interviews and twitter that he wants to win championships, not a word about money really. Maybe in the past, but nowadays he wants to win. I'm not delusional to think that MC will win, but if the brackets work out in his favor he could be top 4 IMO and could've gone further in each season finals if he had some different opponents.
One tweet that I remember getting a lot of attention was before the Season 2 Finals (I think) where he essentially wrote "I need to do X and I'll have won $400.000". Few, if any, players do this. I'm not saying it to fault MC, but he does seem to be much more aware of things like that than other Korean pros.
Polt won back to back WCS America, MLG and WCS Season 2. Jaedong got 2 places in WCS America, WCS Season 2, 2 Dreamhack MVP is not currently rank as a top korean even if everyone acknowledge the fact that he is the king of preparation period. I will never ever doubt even a vanquished MVP in a BO5 MMA is in the same shape that MC I guess
Meanwhile MC took 2nd in WCS Seasons 2+3 for Europe, 3rd/4th at IEM Shanghai (2013-07-28) and 4th at the 2013 MLG Winter Championship (2013-03-17). Sure he hasn't taken 1st in a major tournament recently but that doesn't mean he's passed his prime. His results speak for themselves.
Everyone he lost to in those tournaments, expect Revival, is playing in Blizzcon so he could certainly be knocked out early but, to say he's not up to par is ridiculous.
WCS Europe isn't as stack as WCS America MLG was at the very begining of HOTs IIRC
Geez, we are still not past that point?
The "back to back roflstomping superpro" Polt bombed out of the season finals during the group stage - back to back, if you want to call it that way. During which, by the way, MC 2-0ed the WCS KR runner-up Soulkey. Looking at both the season 2 finals and the blizzcon participants I see equal representation of the EU and AM region. 2 of each region made it past the group stages at the season 2 finals. 5 of each region made it to blizzcon. I don't really see why WCS AM is more stacked. If anything I would argue that WCS AM has a handful of very good koreans at the top and nothing after that. "Stacked" as in "our top 4 koreans are better than your top 4 koreans derp".
Let's get further down that road: Polt didn't win season 2 finals, Bomber did. Polt dropped out of the group stage 0-4 against First. Your beloved MLG was almost exclusively AM + KR with just a couple europeans sprinkled in here and there. You really want to talk down that winter MLG? Let's get busy comparing: Polts way to the MLG final: 4 americans, 2x Naniwa and (the early) Dear. MCs way to the semi-finals: herO, MVP, Bomber with a loss against Life, the eventual winner. Most recently MC performed better than Polt at the WCS Season 2 finals. Directly comparing those two results in the following: The 2-times WCS AM winner did worse than the 2-times WCS EU runner-up.
Ok listen, I'm really tired of that general argument, we had it over and over and over again. You don't need to come in a MC-hype thread to talk down on the EU region or MC. If MC isn't fit to compete with the best of the best anymore you could say the same about basically anyone who dropped out of the season 2 finals groupstage or didn't even make it to said tournament. Sure, I don't see MC on the same level as, say, Dear. But the same could be said for Polt or aLive or half of the blizzcon participants aswell.
While I appreciate the effort put into this sorta-hype writeup I still don't understand why you would pick "money" and "not on par with the best anymore" as the general theme when you have what feels like a billion positive stories that you could tell about MC.
fixation about the money in the article... ;-) actually he played some really stellar games recently he has also been on a consistent rise for a while, building up a form-peak at Blizzcon if he gets it right. old vs young in the first match-up, will be fun to watch, mind/experience vs energetic pushplay :-) MC's worst matchup is vs T though... interesting ;-)
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
I respect the hell out of MC for his perseverence and for everything he has accomplished in SC2, but obesity is bad. The appearance aspect of it is actually irrelevant, obesity is bad for your health. Not because he looks fat - I couldn't give less of a shit, but because it could potentially be bad foor his health.
Of course, the comment you're replying to wasn't trying to say that, but keep it in mind.
So its ok to insult people who are overweight? bc its bad for you?
On November 08 2013 02:58 Zealously wrote: People seem to forget that MC himself builds on his reputation as a money hunter.
He keeps mentioning in all of his interviews and twitter that he wants to win championships, not a word about money really. Maybe in the past, but nowadays he wants to win. I'm not delusional to think that MC will win, but if the brackets work out in his favor he could be top 4 IMO and could've gone further in each season finals if he had some different opponents.
One tweet that I remember getting a lot of attention was before the Season 2 Finals (I think) where he essentially wrote "I need to do X and I'll have won $400.000". Few, if any, players do this. I'm not saying it to fault MC, but he does seem to be much more aware of things like that than other Korean pros.
When you're the #1 earner it makes sense that you'd think about money more than others, because you already stand out from that.
It gives me a feeling of some1 past his prime, still respected by many, trying to overcome and prove the world. Haha, my imagination.
Yeah except that he doesn't look that awesome anymore just obese... Hope he gets back in shape.
How can you even say such things? Don't we all love gaming as it allows all of us to compete as equals without giving advantage to anyone based on gender/race/size/weight? Judging somebody like MC simply because you don't like his physical appearance is not only rude it also makes me question how someone like that can even like esports. If you use the retarded standards of society for what is "pretty", sure pro gamers are just a bunch of nerds. However isn't one of the beautiful things about esports that anyone can become the star just based on his mind and hand/eye coordination? MC didn't get to his huge fanbase by looking pretty, or being physically appealing based on our current western standards, no MC won his fans by his beautiful play and his ability to overcome all odds over and over again, by wanting to win more than anyone else. And to disrespect somebody like that who I truly look up to by simply saying he is "just obese", to reduce a great man like Jang Min Chul to the fact that society has told you that being obese is something you should look down upon is just beyond sad, I truly feel ashamed using the same forum as you do. I for one only hope for MC to be happy, and if he is happy being "obese" then fuck it who am I to judge?
Lol it's not about being skinny. I liked him before he gained the extra weight, right now though he looks like July or Hwansin. I don't want him to be skinny or even in shape, but losing some of the weight that he has gained over the last 3 years would be a start.
He used to have class now he looks like the average Mcdonalds customer.
I'm calling it now. A couple years from now when MCs play falls off, he will go full time caster and be just as successful as he was playing. I think it was HSC where I saw him casting the first time? I really hope we see more of him casting as his english improves. He's hilarious. On topic though: MC in the finals would be sick. GO MC!
I find the weight conversations to be pretty hilarious, whether about MC or Incontrol, they are making money playing a video game, in MC's case, probably over half a million dollars including salary at this point. They both have pretty attractive girlfriends, and from what I've seen of them on streams, they look vastly more socially adept and confident than the general public. I don't think they care, bro.