A Treatise...
Sept 17, 2010 2:00:12 GMT -8
Post by WaterWizard on Sept 17, 2010 2:00:12 GMT -8
...on the reversal of the consolidation of the Ruins of Alph...
What is a university? For an institution of learning to be called a university, it must have more than one school or college, thus providing a multitude of degrees. Without this plurality of learning, the institution is simply a college. A university derives its appeal from the fact that each college provides individual teaching for unique subjects, while still being a part of the larger whole. The advantage of having individual colleges is maintaining a focus on one thing. Students of one school/college can give their undivided attention. These same students may be involved in other parts of the university, sometimes even in collaborative (intercollegiate, if you will) efforts, yet boundaries are still maintained. Thus, a university provides specific groupings for the diffusion of knowledge while also bringing together a number of individuals with one common goal.
Is Smogon University really a university by this definition? With the recent consolidation of three "schools," this has been called into question. A reduction in the diversity and individual devotion each generation of pokemon deserves seems like an overall negative change. Granted, the slight reduction in links on the home page of smogon.com might seem like an incentive for the throwing together of three generations, but is it really worth the loss of designated centers of learning?
Combining three generations of pokemon – with three different metagames and three different sets of mechanics – is surely not supportive of the idea of specific areas of education. While Smogon does have many established trainers, it also boasts a constant influx of new trainers. These trainers are often completely ignorant of the intricacies of each metagame. Each new generation of pokemon has brought a new generation of battlers, and each generation has invariably looked to the older games for enjoyment. With the advent of Black & White, a new wave of trainers will arrive at Smogon School (or was it University?), and they will want to learn about all the other generations. Unfortunately for these newcomers, they will not enjoy the luxury we had of learning about each generation individually, being taught by devotees to each game. Instead, they will be bombarded by three unique generations at once.
Does this seem like a fair and rational method for diffusing knowledge? Instinct and common sense say "no." Yet some in power have even said, "Who cares about the new people! They’ll figure it out." This seems counter to the goal of a learning institution such as Smogon.
Even with the option of color coded tabs, the cluttered information still inundates the precocious young trainer and annoys the veteran old-gen devotees. And all for the sake of a few pixels of free space on the welcome page? For shame! An extra click or two seems worth it if it means having complete devotion to the discussion of each generation.
Another problem with the abrupt consolidation of three historic and fundamental pillars of the Smogon site is the overall magnitude of the third generation discussion compared to that of the first and second. Threads pertaining to RBY and GSC are lost in a sea of ADV topics. Perhaps some organization will medicate this, but the root of the problem will not be remedied.
So students of Smogon, ask yourself this: are you willing to again relinquish an extra two lines of space on the welcome screen – as you have for years – for the sake of future trainers and old-generation devotees? Your opinion is important in this matter. The change was made suddenly and very oligarchically, but it can be reversed if reason is consulted.
As this recent consolidation is purportedly a test, your comments on this thread will help influence the decision to keep or reverse the change. Speak up! The maintenance of the past and the prosperity of the future depend on it!
WW
PS: I'll be posting this on Smogon soon. Reply with anything I should change or include! Thanks!
What is a university? For an institution of learning to be called a university, it must have more than one school or college, thus providing a multitude of degrees. Without this plurality of learning, the institution is simply a college. A university derives its appeal from the fact that each college provides individual teaching for unique subjects, while still being a part of the larger whole. The advantage of having individual colleges is maintaining a focus on one thing. Students of one school/college can give their undivided attention. These same students may be involved in other parts of the university, sometimes even in collaborative (intercollegiate, if you will) efforts, yet boundaries are still maintained. Thus, a university provides specific groupings for the diffusion of knowledge while also bringing together a number of individuals with one common goal.
Is Smogon University really a university by this definition? With the recent consolidation of three "schools," this has been called into question. A reduction in the diversity and individual devotion each generation of pokemon deserves seems like an overall negative change. Granted, the slight reduction in links on the home page of smogon.com might seem like an incentive for the throwing together of three generations, but is it really worth the loss of designated centers of learning?
Combining three generations of pokemon – with three different metagames and three different sets of mechanics – is surely not supportive of the idea of specific areas of education. While Smogon does have many established trainers, it also boasts a constant influx of new trainers. These trainers are often completely ignorant of the intricacies of each metagame. Each new generation of pokemon has brought a new generation of battlers, and each generation has invariably looked to the older games for enjoyment. With the advent of Black & White, a new wave of trainers will arrive at Smogon School (or was it University?), and they will want to learn about all the other generations. Unfortunately for these newcomers, they will not enjoy the luxury we had of learning about each generation individually, being taught by devotees to each game. Instead, they will be bombarded by three unique generations at once.
Does this seem like a fair and rational method for diffusing knowledge? Instinct and common sense say "no." Yet some in power have even said, "Who cares about the new people! They’ll figure it out." This seems counter to the goal of a learning institution such as Smogon.
Even with the option of color coded tabs, the cluttered information still inundates the precocious young trainer and annoys the veteran old-gen devotees. And all for the sake of a few pixels of free space on the welcome page? For shame! An extra click or two seems worth it if it means having complete devotion to the discussion of each generation.
Another problem with the abrupt consolidation of three historic and fundamental pillars of the Smogon site is the overall magnitude of the third generation discussion compared to that of the first and second. Threads pertaining to RBY and GSC are lost in a sea of ADV topics. Perhaps some organization will medicate this, but the root of the problem will not be remedied.
So students of Smogon, ask yourself this: are you willing to again relinquish an extra two lines of space on the welcome screen – as you have for years – for the sake of future trainers and old-generation devotees? Your opinion is important in this matter. The change was made suddenly and very oligarchically, but it can be reversed if reason is consulted.
As this recent consolidation is purportedly a test, your comments on this thread will help influence the decision to keep or reverse the change. Speak up! The maintenance of the past and the prosperity of the future depend on it!
WW
PS: I'll be posting this on Smogon soon. Reply with anything I should change or include! Thanks!