Subject: ISSUE A Love Affair with Magic (Re: Nostalgia Revolution)
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:36:20 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Ted J. Vessenes" <vessenes@cig.mot.com>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

It seems to me that the "good old days" everyone's talking about
refers to an age of innocence.  They long for the days when no
one knew about this month's popular deck, be it Oath of Druids,
Props-Bloom, or the Black Summer Necro.

In some sense, we have "eaten of the forbidden fruit of the tree of
knowledge", and "know both good and evil."  We were once ignorant
("Why would you _not_ play 4 dark rituals in a black deck?"), but
that's passed.  Some people want a return to innocence, but I don't
regret learning anything I've learned about Magic.

Or consider a different analogy: Consider your relationship with
the card game Magic like a relationship with a significant other.
In the beginning, everything is fresh and new and wonderful.  As
time goes on, you learn more and more about your significant other
(Magic) as you explore it's "personality".  Some people like what
this game really is, and some people don't.  Some people like it
for a while but eventually grow bored with it, _just_ like in
interpersonal relationships.

The key to continually enjoying a relationship (besides chosing
the right person or card game) is to keep things as new as
possible-- don't forget the first days of "romance".  If all
you do is copy the latest fad deck and play it for a few months,
your relationship with Magic has become routine and you will
eventually grow bored with it.  Try building new decks, or
ressurecting old deck concepts.

If someone says they only loved magic when it was fresh and new,
they're implying that they had a superficial relationship with
the game, and it's not suprising that these people quit playing.
You might never be able to feel the same giddy romance you felt
with magic in the beginning, but you can still appreciate a deep
understanding of Magic.  This may be difficult for some people,
but that's okay-- some relationships are just harder than others.

-Ted