Deep Thoughts With Gustav

[Gustav 6,407]

It's 2:30 in the morning, I've got nothing better to do, and I have 2 more TPE to earn for the week. I'm also fresh out of ideas because I'm not good at coming up with them on the spot. So, I'm going to just sit down and write for a bit on whatever comes to mind--I guess this is a bit of a @flyersfan1453-type "random thoughts" article, though I doubt mine will have as much actual substance as I just plan on rambling for however long I feel like and I don't plan on talking about anything specific.

 

I guess we'll start off with the grand old work-life balance thing that's caused many a member to scale back on their activity or leave the league entirely. I haven't had to cut back significantly on my activity here, but I can absolutely understand why someone might--which isn't something I necessarily would have understood last year. Last year I would have been all over applying for the VHLM commish job, and this year I find myself purposely not applying to avoid taking on a big time commitment. It also means I've got a lot less time to work on big league-related projects. I've had a couple things on the back burner for a while and these days they're off the range entirely. Whether it's a question of what I've got going on this semester in particular or what I'll end up with in the future as a whole is a question yet to be answered, but suffice it to say that when someone leaves because they're busy, I totally, totally get it. At the moment I'm doing perfectly fine but I've got my limits.

 

That also had me thinking that I probably would not have the reputation I had as a VHLM GM if I became one for the first time today. My first year of college (and good chunks of the second) had a lot of general coursework and I had AP credit for a good chunk of that. So, I could actually afford to do nothing in the way of studying and the bare minimum with homework most of the time, and as a consequence could stare at the forum all day and not be shooting myself in the foot. Now, if I do that, I am killing myself academically, and I need to actually take time to figure out what the hell just happened in one class or another every now and then. Part of why I was so successful retention-wise was that I was basically always around, something I can still do to a fairly good extent but no longer something which I am far and away better than just about anyone else at. As such, the best I'd realistically be as a VHLM GM today is above average, though I'd bet I'd never be worshipped and wouldn't have any reason to write Gustav Effect articles.

 

Speaking of retention and VHLM GMing, I think it's great that the commissioner team is finally enforcing retention-first policies. I saw some winning-over-retention things happen during my time in the minors (which, for the sake of avoiding drama, shall go unspecified) that were absolutely appalling--even from teams and GMs who would talk about how much they supported retention and were always there for their own players. Doing something like that loses you some level of respect in my book, but the added hypocrisy of claiming that you're all good with how things should be takes it to a whole new level. As a whole, I think the VHLM is a good deal better in this regard than it was 5-6 seasons ago, so this isn't necessarily a critique of any current situations, just something I'm adding because I'm tired.

 

One final point relating to such things: if you're a VHLM GM whose sole objective is to get promoted, I don't actually think that's necessarily a negative point so long as you understand what I'm about to say next--NOBODY CARES if you can build a VHLM team with a winning roster. What the blue team wants to see is someone who shows that they're passionate about the league as a whole and are able to build an active community and gain respect as a leader. I use myself as the prime example of this--I have not proven on any level that I can win cups (or even games, or even build a good player of my own). Yet, I ended up with a VHL job because I checked the other boxes. Had winning played any role whatsoever in the selection process, it's highly likely that I'd still be running the Hounds.

 

That's all here; hopefully there's some sort of actual point to this and it isn't just some sort of stream-of-consciousness word dump.

[Beketov 9,025]

2 hours ago, GustavMattias said:

NOBODY CARES if you can build a VHLM team with a winning roster.

Say it again for the people on the back!

[Fire Tortorella 2,653]

5 hours ago, Beketov said:

Say it again for the people on the back!

 

NO ONES CARES IF YOU BUILD A VHLM WINNING ROSTER*

 

*with inactive players