Episode 508: Dial it Back

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Dave

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Zombie Cliche Lookout: Teaming Up

Even when you’re not trying to survive the zombie holocaust, compromise can be tough. Despite that, it’s often one of the keys to having a successful relationship, whether that’s personal or business. It’s easy to dig in your heels and demand that the other person back down and see things your way. It takes confidence and maturity to try to meet people in the middle, and a hell of a lot of confidence to cross that center-line and give the other person the upper hand.

It’s hard, but that’s also why it’s so important. By showing someone that you’re able to sacrifice something that’s important to you for the good of the relationship or group, it demonstrates commitment and loyalty. It also makes it easier for others to follow suit, and maybe even give you more latitude the next time there’s a point of contention. Provided, of course, everyone doesn’t get eaten by zombies in the meantime.

About this Episode:

I’ve always been a big fan of characters dramatically screaming at the heavens. It doesn’t make sense to scream when zombies can hear you and attack, so Russell is doing it quietly here, but I’m embracing the trope in spirit. The dutch angle is just a little extra.

Other News:

I just received the second part of the prize pack for our soon to be announced contest, and let me tell you, it’s pretty awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I’m going to be expanding the contest a bit. Look out for updates.

Discussion Question: Bend or Break

This is a question about you personally. Are you someone who finds it easy to compromise, or is it a struggle for you? Have you found that changes with age?

For me, I’ve absolutely found that compromise comes much easier the older I get. I can be one of the most stubborn, pig-headed people around, but occasionally I’ll realize that doesn’t always work. Hopefully someday I’ll be a functional person.

14 thoughts on “Episode 508: Dial it Back”

  1. Typo alert, Zombie Cliche Lookout, first paragraph, last sentence: over–>other 😀

    Other news, last sentence: This sentence is referring to something that is happening “often”, but there doesn’t seem to be any other part of the paragraph that tells us what is happening often! 😀 I wonder if a sentence went missing during copy and paste operations? 😀 perhaps Dave meant to say “awesome” instead of often? It would seem to make sense, anyway. Over to Dave! 😀

    • I totally meant to say awesome. The worst part was that I wasn’t copy-pasting anything. I must have just been thinking about something else when I was typing it. Bizarre.

  2. When I was younger it was like talking to a brick wall but now I’m willing to listen just not willing to accept an outside influence (especially when it comes to my own family). I still get unnerved when someone is half or less my age. Smart @$$ kids!!

    • Glad to see I’m not the only one!

  3. I have to agree that Im a lot more flexible then I was when I was younger. But I think its actually more a factor of experience then of age. One of my favorite quotes came from Winston Churchill “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results” kind of says it all to me. Innumerable screw ups in my life have taught me that Im NOT always right and that I DONT know everything. If I was perfect then my life would be perfect, and while I have a pretty great existence, its not by any means perfect. Once you get that though your head then you learn to appreciate another persons opinion and realize that it might have some merit.

    Still, I am always amazed by the people who will stand there amongst the mangled wreck they have made of their own lives and give you advice on how to live yours. Its like having a morbidly obese personal trainer.

    The other reason I tend to listen to those around me is that I don’t tolerate idiots well. The vast majority of people in my life are people I have respect for and that I have made a decision to have in my life. By definition then, when they have a point of view that differs from my own then it MUST be worth some consideration.

    • Wow, well said Damage. I really like how you talk about looking at your own failures to give you some perspective.

  4. This is actually something a bit that I’ve had to deal with quite a bit as of late as a dungeon master. I’ve been forced to know when to be stubborn and when to be accepting, and it’s not that easy I tell ya. Especially when you have players pushing for things or seeing what they can do constantly to keep them in check when it seems that they are asking for unreasonable things is a bit difficult. But to also understand when something is entirely reasonable is also something that might find itself being difficult (If not only to make sure that it is entirely reasonable).

    • Another fine point. There’s always a delicate balance, and it’s easy to go wrong in one direction or another.

  5. I find true compromise fairly easy. However, I have also learned that some people think “compromise” means “do it my way”. Those are the dangerous ones. Worse than the zombies, for sure.

    • Oh man, I know a few people like that too Kim. Awful.

  6. Found another typo: First paragraph, second sentence: heals–>heels 😀

    Don’t know how I missed that typo but nobody else spotted it, either! 😉

    • *third sentence, and it’s in the Zombie Cliche Lookout section! 🙂

      • Good spot, BrickVoid. Fixed!

  7. I have always had to be flexible for my jobs and i can easily find a middle ground and try to stay there to keep everyone happy.

    PS i have a feeling that when they go back in Michael and Joy will have incapacitated the others inside and have their guns back.