(WIP) Some views on speed with WR/new runners/elitism yes ok

WIP - still have lots more I want to write on this topic

Here are some hot takes on some speedrunning stuff that's been on people's minds lately. Maybe now that I have had a WR at some point (Crash 1 100%), people will consider this argument valid, though I think it is regardless. Keep in mind that I just want to get some opinions down on paper here so this is pretty messy.

Disclaimer: I'm trying to speak in general about these topics and not about specific communities or people.

These new runners with these "bad splits" in your discord could eventually grow to become a WR holder in that game/category and/or find a better setup for that strat you hate or just strats in general that optimize the game more. I've seen too many cases of current WR holders telling me they were too shy to enter a community at first because they saw how snarky people in it were. "irrels irrels irrels reeee." Who are you to assume that a runner who posts a run with barely any strats in it just doesn't care or won't ever improve? Some people need some time to figure out what exactly they want to get out of speedrunning. I'm not encouraging people to play safe all the time, but at the end of the day, speedrunning is a hobby and people can go about it in many ways (I think an exception for this is we should only have good runners in big marathons because the games need good showings). No, not everyone wants to do all WR strats from Day 1. No, not everyone wants to aim for WR on Day 1. No, not everyone wants to put all the hours in needed to get to top level at first or at all. Some people wanna speedrun just for fun and at a level they are comfortable with? Nah fuck you mate, gotta be on the grind from day 1 or you're a let's player. Speedrunning can be a very gradual experience for many people. I thought it was a simple concept that people need to develop skill first, but apparently not. Everyone starts somewhere, and I can't believe I have to point this out.

Also, I see a lot of people pointing fingers saying "this runner isn't practicing," "this runner isn't putting effort in," when really you don't know that. A person may be putting in more effort than you think but you just don't see it. If you think someone isn't putting in the effort they should for their goal or whatever, reach out to them in a kind manner (without seeming like you're forcing them to) but understand that they can run the game how they want.
And if you do this, tell them HOW they can approach things like practice and grinds better instead of just saying they're doing it wrong. Again, cut the arrogance and the ego.

And what's with people constantly stroking their dicks off saying "oh i could beat this wr easily" or "i can bop you easily if ___". Like lol it can only mean so much until you actually do it. I've noticed that cocky people in speedrunning often don't get as far as the more kind runners that help new runners and encourage them. Also, it's fair to comment on a new wr that plays some stuff more safe than you'd think or whatever, but why not just go beat them yourselves if you think you're capable (again there's a point where you must prove yourself).
If you want the game to be muh optimized, then maybe you need to drop the resets at the dumb frame savers that you don't need for your goal/several hour long run, and resets over tiny ass mistakes, otherwise is the game even getting optimized at all when it takes you 8 months to PB, meanwhile the runner that takes out a strat here and there (and probably adds them back in as they become more needed) is able to keep bringing the time down?
Jfc I see people bitch about the strats in a WR for games they don't even run. Just point fingers and spam your keyboard on discord and twitch chat without even doing anything for that game, sounds good.


"WR is the only run that matters." First, I'll state the obvious which is that the world record doesn't always have the best strats, so other runs should be appreciated as well. Next, when a new runner shows up and sees WR and assumes they will never be able to get to that level and hears the shitty mentality that "WR is all that matters", they could get very demotivated. Like I said before, these runners could have potentially grown up to be people who optimize the game. Instead, you tried to boost YOUR ego by shoving away new runners. Sometimes I wonder if some of those snarky WR holders are scared of new runners getting good and snatching their WRs.