[Dino]

I'm bored, girlfriend has gone home and I'm not tired enough to go to bed, so this is just to kill some time and provide a few laughs.

My most recent observation; The oddworld forums is a game.

The reason for this theory? Think about it - you log on each day, and by posting entertaining content designed to earn the respect of others, you work your way further up or down (but preferably up) the ranks. If you command enough respect among the forum leaders, you can make it all the way up to being a moderator, which is a highly saught after sacred status.

Modship increases your % chance of earning respect after making a comment, as well as giving you certain god powers that give you a serious advantage over other gamers. Also, it carries an inherant advantage, in that suckups hoping to fast-track their way to high status will automatically side with you, adding weight to your arguments and alienating your opponent, thus removing his respect. Modship also has one other inherant advantage, in that you have the unconditional support of the most powerful members of the forum - this allows you to effect powerful "moves" that are beyond your sole abilities.

The following goals are all inherant in the sacred modship, but may also be persued in seperate quests - custom titles, access to the employee lounge, the ability to break the rules without consequence, etc.

Above all, respect is the currency of the game. And like it or not, if you've spent any amount of time trying to gain respect, you've played the game.

So have you played the game?