Board Thread:Survivor: Isla Del Sol (Season 10)/@comment-24985023-20150726195340/@comment-24776269-20150727175237

Thank you Ivan.

First I'd like to defend Grace.

You and I and Grace are all playing an online social game that inherently involves deception and dishonesty. The friendships we make need to stay separated from that aspect of the game. If it doesn't, all that happens is everyone becomes miserable when friends ultimately have to turn on one another. You have to use people to an extent in this game to get ahead. That's just the facts. Mature, responsible human beings are able to understand that and are willing to separate the harshness of Survivor with the friends you can make on the outside. That's what leads to an ORG community, that's what leads to long-lasting friendships and that's why I play. For the experience of coming online and playing a game and being able to laugh about it later. I think you're doing Grace and yourself a great disservice by not being able to sort out your emotions and forgiving her for what ultimately is a pure game move and move on with y'alls friendship. It would be really sad to lose a friend over something so ultimately trivial as that.

Now, onto your questions.

In regards to whether I can make or command an alliance. I can. I have done so in previous games. I helped create the BZB (Blake Zane Blaine) alliance on the original Cobo that basically held the majority. Every scenario is different because sometimes, being the leader of an alliance isn't the best way to play. I didn't want to be in command of an alliance here on Isla del Sol because I didn't want to paint any sort of target on my back. I played it somewhat safe and kept my distance from any sort of formal alliance. Now I did have solid verbal agreements with Blaine, Grace, and Trace at one point or another, and it was my relationships with those people (plus bonds with you and Tom) that helped me through the merge. I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of. It's just an alternate way to play, and a way that I happen to excel at.

Now, in regards to my physical inability, that's just something that comes with me. I'm a relatively busy person. I go to uni. I juggle responsibilities at home. I take care of the old lady that lives down the street on occasion. Like everyone else playing this game, I have a life that comes first outside of this. I don't think that's something that should count against anyone (it shouldn't really count against Trace either; judge Trace based on his social game). I've never been very good at flash games. I always submit something, but it takes me awhile to get the hang of a new game, and I usually don't have the time to properly get the hang of a game before I need to submit and move on. If you count this as a detriment, then that's fine, I understand. But let it be known that I always give some sort of effort in any challenge. I helped out a lot in the opening challenge that wasn't a flash game. I came in second in Final Immunity. I spent hours on that intro video even though it was just an automatic 5 pointer. Why? Because I wanted to show that I wasn't just making it for the points. The goal was to create a good intro for our season. I did that to the best of my ability.

I think this all leads back to what I've said before: my goal from the beginning was to be social and create a loyal base from which to work. I think it's quite an accomplishment that I got where I am now without "commanding" a large alliance or dominating in challenges. But that's for you to decide if you want to reward my game or not. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain.