What's holding us back from more interactions like this? ​

There’s a legend in New York. Not long after PC Chris picked up a MLG victory, he wanted to expand a bit on other games he played. He went to SRK to learn a few things here and there. Someone recognized his username, and inquired as to his identity. He confirmed that he was in fact PC Chris and was met with a reply of “Oh, ready to play a game without training wheels?”I'm no scientist, but I'm willing to say that it is a fact that people are passionate about the games they play. You’re aware of this, you’re on SmashBoards because you care very deeply for at least one Smash title. You’ve probably heard that type of reaction about the game you play: you are playing the wrong game, you’re not playing a game at all, you need to play a real game, this game is dead, this game is old and decrepit, it hasn’t earned its place, it's the same 2 characters, so on and so forth. However, too often it comes from the mouths of people playing the same series.It’s something that too many of us still miss the point on. I can look on Facebook, or Twitter, or Reddit and see that the seeds from 2008 still hold root. I see a lot of people who take pride in what they play, and too often than not it becomes a boisterous cacophony of hate toward other games or the people that play them. I say this as someone who has been on both sides of it, someone who received a diatribe or two for sticking with a “dead game” and someone who lashed out in anger.Is there a true Smash community? No. I guarantee that even if everyone came together for one title, people would mostly stick with the groups and cliques they know. Yet, when each of them bands together for something great, amazing stuff happens. A lot of people will think of a just a select few individuals driving EVO 2013, but not many give credit to members of the other Smash sub-groups that helped get to that point with donations or spreading awareness. There's a Facebook group for Smash Commentators, and people are getting advice and critiques from various commentators; conversations involving Coontail, Keitaro, Gunblade, TKBreezy, Wife, Pierce, D1 and a host of others.Is there a possibility for one? I believe so, but it is going to be the hardest task that the community could ever undertake. Even with tournaments that have multiple games present, most people don't interact with others outside of their scenes, whether by game or by region. I can think of a few people who I saw weekly for Smash that now I only now see on Facebook. Friends from Long Island or Philadelphia, that drifted apart because of "picking sides" in an inane rivalry. We should still have a great bond like we used to, but instead this disconnect is still here and we're relegated to likes, comments and retweets instead of Smashfests until 4 AM and Qdoba or Wings Over Farmingdale.A lot of people right now are probably laughing to themselves and saying, “Well duh.” I can’t blame them, the hate has been spewed everywhere from AIM chatrooms to these very boards. Hell, I said words in the “Smash Brothers” I wish I could take back or rephrase.Even more people are going to question where these words were six years ago. I assure you no one would listen to me six years ago, and even if people would, I doubt the message would be the same. However, we’ve all gotten older, I can only hope that we’ve learned from the past. I hope that we’ve also learned from each other. Blood is on everyone’s hands. It may not be on yours as a person, but there are certainly members in your local scene, well respected people that are still shoving salt in the wounds. Some people are fine clawing things apart even more.People are going to play what they enjoy. No one has the right to tell them that is wrong, that they are wasting their time and their efforts. A pianist won’t scoff at an oboe player. Everyone is working to improve or master their craft. All I ask is that you respect others, their grind, and their decision to play what they like. This is 2014, and for many people it’ll be a second chance. Another opportunity to rightfully receive the admiration they deserve for their efforts, or an opportunity to let people live and abstain from the foolish things they said not too long ago. If it’s your first chance, be wiser than we were, do what you can to halt the cycle.I’ve been looking at what people from various scenes are saying. A lot note the toxicity, because in this modern era, everyone has a voice. And well, the voices are strong. Imagine all of the hours you’ve put into your favorite game, making it to the top of the mountain, and no one recognizing you or validating you for it. You keep striving and keep attempting, but you can’t even bring yourself to play it anymore. It’s happened in this scene. Multiple times.This is a point where at a time when we should be talking about crossbreeding and bringing scenes together to continue driving numbers, and increase interest in Smash. Instead, we’re seeing people plead for segregating events so people don’t have to play a tournament match and have people disrespect them and the effort they’ve put from just a few feet away. Does anyone want to be associated with this type of community? You are already, by virtue of being a Smasher. You don’t get to pick and choose the good and the bad, it is all attached to you.There are people who are multiple game threats who remark on the aura of the different games when they are present at the same tournament. A lot of it comes down to bashing someone’s game of choice in earshot of the players, or about how much vitriol a community can hold for years. Some of this hate is active, never ceasing, which forces a reactive hate as a response. It happens in person at events, everyone remembers Nairo getting less than a minute to enjoy his win eight months ago. It happens in stream chats, the emotes change from game to game.You are going to like certain games, you aren’t going to like other ones. I'm pretty sure I'm not excited for Barbie Dreamhouse Party (but who knows, I may end up playing it anyway). If you love your game(s), go for it, invest your time, efforts and dedicate yourself to improving both as a person as well as improving that scene(s). Reach out to people in other scenes, let them know what you are doing so they can follow your example and apply it to what they care about, because we can all learn from one another. But please, don’t detract from people who are doing the same thing as you under a different banner. If you have negative opinions, take that energy and instead of ranting and raving, do something else to benefit what you care about; I didn’t think about it back then, and I have certainly hurt my fair share of people unintentionally.Look at people who are driving on the same highway as you, just not in the same lane. Don’t try and run them off the road, we’ve seen too many casualties already.