Terraria Brainrot

So ... I've been watching some Terraria stuff the past few ... uh ... weeks? ... Well ... and ... watching old Terraria content is almost like a view into a different Universe. A Universe where saving wood made sense because ... people didn't really build Farms ... I suppose? So, the Axe of Regrowth is a new item and ... it makes working with wood SO MUCH easier. "It's like a whole new game".

Anyway. While watching TB and Jesse go against the Eye of Cthulu ... or ilovecheese going through old Boss Guides ... I ... I remember just how much Respect I had from these bosses. Defeating the Eater of Worlds, the first time, to me ... it wasn't just another Boss in a list of Bosses to beat, but like ... the End Game.
And it's like ... the Game wasn't made to be played like that. That was always like ... how I saw it. So, for me as someone who enjoyed the game as it was ... it's also something that had to be done, eventually, like ... a final exam of sorts ... while it was, in a way, kind of optional. Things just felt differently. But then Hardmode was introduced to the game ... and people would rise to the challenge.

I don't really know why. I suppose ... because Terraria is a "building game" ... and Boss Progression is tied to world progression - in a way - like, You need to work towards defeating a boss, as ... to go out of Your way ... and then, beating certain bosses comes with consequences ... to the world ... it wasn't like ... "natural progression". It felt big and impactful. And do I feel like awakening the slumbering corruption?

It was like ... a time where the Mech Bosses were basically in-game memes. But so, Terraria became more of a game one would, or might, play through ... rather than ... just playing.


From today's perspective, that old footage ... it maybe even feels wrong. Like, how silly, stupid and naive we all were ... !

But because I enjoyed the game the way I did, I saw those that turned it into a Boss Rush ... with mixed appreciation. It wasn't for me ... not at the time, but I respected it; And yet it felt off. Like ... almost a celebration of Apocalypse and World-Ending horrors. But so, I wasn't all that invested in the game ... and ... after I had my fill I wouldn't care too much.

Well, until the Moon Lord dropped and I felt like ... yea, that's a mountain worth climbing.


And it was ... challenging. Though I was playing Classic mode ... or was I? It's somewhere along those lines where something just clicked. It must be the overwhelming BS and the moment where You start handling it ... .

I don't know ... but I find it interesting and fascinating.


But, "let's resolve this later". For now, it's a thing. Just ... a thing.
And I feel like ... it's something to keep in mind ... somehow ... when looking at and judging videogames from the outside. It's not about videogames per se ... but about the Human role in it. The ... learning, the growing ... the evolution.

It is, in that sense, a Microcosm of sorts.


Monkey see, monkey do ... also. Things become manifest ... what works, works ... .
And banking on dealing damage rather than defense ... it seems reasonable. Maybe better than me, as I usually end up with a mix of indecisiveness.

But uhm, anyway.


I have to agree, that Expert Mode is pretty much the sweet spot when it comes to difficulty. Master Mode is really just ... that little bit of difficulty that pushes the experience on into the horror genre.
Not because it's scary, but because it's gruesome. Dreadful. Watch a 5 minute build take 30 minutes because enemies just won't stop spawning. They might, but it also takes a whole lot longer to kill them.
And like wild lmao showcases in his x30 spawnrates video ... all that difficulty mostly just means that you have to play more cowardly. And if that's what You want ... well, Expert mode might still be what You're looking for.

Unless ... You might die to Classic Mode Eye of Cthulu.
(And if You do, You have to acquire new Materials ... which ... raises the stakes ...)

Which would be shameful if You considered Yourself a gamer. It's kind of like losing to King Slime. It ... let's just say it never happened.


And what makes one a gamer ... that's all about being able to intuitively navigate a game. Like ... I've been watching ... I forgot the title but there's some dude that got his old man to play Dark Souls ... and what's painfully obvious while watching that is how ... the intuition to navigate (control) virtual Avatars isn't innate.

I mean, just ... . It took a while until "WASD" became a thing. Or looking ... . Like, looking wasn't a thing because there was only turning left and right. It's a far stretch from double-tapping, having shortcut keys (shortcuts to what?), hotbars and all of that good "QOL" stuff. (I'm not going to count what Doom has ... as shortcut keys or a hotbar).


So, I tried beating the Eater of Worlds, Master Mode, with a Diamond Staff. It's kind of a work in progress still. (Damn, I didn't know that the thing shoots in Master Mode ...)
Well, some things don't need to be done ...


Anyway ...

---

Hardmode

Why am I writing this?

Well, I DO have a little bit of an agenda ... and I feel like ... it's complicated. To me at least. I mean, I'm sure things are "easy and simple" - like "obvious" - except ... all of that is Bullshit.

Like ... I don't feel like ... "this world" has any business telling anyone about what a "waste of time" is.


For me ... the "waste of time" comes in between me ... like ... wasting my time on affecting positive change.

Not that it's meaningless, but ... looking at all the things one could do to do that, and how they're doing these days ... it kind of seems like ... a huge waste of time. Well, not ... in the all and all, but ... it's clear that some people would have to look a bit further, and dig a bit deeper ... to make it so that all of that effort ain't going to waste.

And how's that working out for me? ???


So, whenever I'm in a gaming phase, it sure makes me feel like I'm doing nothing else because at the time I'm basically not doing anything else. But then I'm like done, I start writing again ... and it's like ... it doesn't register. Like, in Your minds I'm probably still playing Terraria right now. Maybe I have the game open, AFKing for some item drops. Except ... for me the game pauses when I move the cursor of screen.

Maybe I should have a second computer for that.

And yea, THAT to me is like ... wasteful. When in game things become like a real world/life commodity ... I feel like ... that's a bit too far ... maybe.


Like, at that point You're not even playing the game. You're farming ... and not for the game or the play ..., so, what are You doing?

And somehow I feel like those are the same people that would have us believe that gaming is a waste of time ... and yea ... I can see it, except ... it also feels like a brick to the head.


And it's like ... if You're a noob and You try to be objectively neutral about gaming; You'd look at what sells best, a.k.a. "what is most popular" ... and take it from there. So, people who enjoy Dark Souls must be alien to You, Terraria ... I supppose You can make a point of how "stupid" gamers are when looking back far enough and drawing unfair comparisons ..., and so ... what You're left with are like ... "X-Box Live Teenagers" in some CoD Lobby ... and uh ... a lot of folks ... would feel insulted by this comparison.

And ... I don't need to make this shit up. It comes up, on its own, ever so often.


I mean ... I ... personally ... based on my WHOLE LIFE experience ... cannot tell myself that people don't fall for such nonsense. And I am disturbed by it.

I mean, the twisting of facts is one thing. We might have ways around that, like - if nothing else helps - we could just ignore it; Which is what (arguably) smart people did, during Gamergate. But yea, something is wrong. And then it gets worse due to people in power ... not having the first clue of what they're talking about. It's like ... it's own genre of dread.

Eventually, we might think, those Dinosaurs would go extinct. But the way it looks ... they're just evolving and getting worse. I mean, there are a few prominent ... Characters ... and it's spookie. I mean, I forgot his name but there was this dude shitting on Elden Ring that ... got a lot of pushback from the community for being silly, something along the lines of "Quantum Gaming" or whatever ... where it gets clear that their GAME isn't IN gaming. That guy's a perfect example in that he at some point also namedrops God and ... pulls out all the anti-gamer rhetoric ... so, nah, certainly NOT a peer that is.

And God? I mean, ... I try not to be prejudiced ... but Religion has a history with being abused by people who don't care about the values it conveys. And if we're still supposed to act like it's unheard of ... in 2026 ... I don't know under which rock thou hast dwelt.


And sure it all gets further distorted by people who like ... play Videogames for a living.
It adds extra depth to the concept of Gaming, like ... it CAN definitely be a career. Like sports.
Or entertainment.

I mean ... YouTube content is weird. And my brain can't handle the ... "conventional wisdom" type stuff. You know, the cookie cutter nonsense. The moment I hear a super excited voice-over ... I'm quasi-out. Maybe I can watch One video like that ... but then my brain is like "please .... don't! I beg You!".

But then there's ... the channel is named 'Sipho' I think. "Two Certified Idiots ... [something]" ... and it's borderline ... but there's artistry in there. Some might call it "an excuse for entertainment" - but ... hey, they're trying! It's Terraria! At least they're like ... doing the thing. The content is the content ... while ever so often the content stops beyond the thumbnail.

"Hello Dear Viewers ... today we're going to learn all about using WASD to move Your Character".


I mean, I suppose it's a thing and every single person that starts a YouTube channel has to contend with the matter sooner or later. How not to be ... average.

And sure, being all engaged and focused on catching attention ... it might seem like the way to go; Until everybody does it.

And that's not supposed to be a condemnation of the individual. If I more or less specifically dunk on You ... "even if You're not a Terraria YouTuber" ... I don't want You to take it personally. If I namedrop You and make a case of it, sure ... You may feel insulted ... called out, whatever ... but other than that we're like all stuck in this together. Whether You're on this or that side of THE line ... that'll come down to other things.


I mean, I try to be ... sensitive. And personally, I hate being mean to people. Hence I direct my attention to the stuff around. And whether You're a part of it or not ... I suppose we all know that something isn't 'going well' with this whole ... entertainment of today.

I mean, how did we go from "PayTV is a failed model" to being subscribed to multiple streaming services?


And as we're "falling for it" ... it only gets worse. I mean, the moment we say: "This is getting out of hand" ... two more pop up.
But what You wanna do? Watch TV?

I mean, if the programming were any good ... .
I kind of miss those days ...
But also kind of not ...


Anyway. It's all ... kind of corrupt. I mean, the Algorithm doesn't seem to help as much as it ... makes things more difficult. It doesn't care about value ... it only cares about views. The most primitive essence of it all.
I mean, back when Star Trek was for nerds, it was uplifting. Positive. But then it became mainstream and had to get "dark" and "realistic".
And I bring this up because ... there used to be value. Now it's like ... there's a handful of "positive messages" that we expect from our entertainment; But all that people seem to care about is how badass the villain is.

And while there are complaints, up come those who make it about feminism. Like ... that whole Ghostbusters debacle.
I mean ... the trailer was horrendous ... how not to hate on it? But of course ... it's women's fault. At least that's what "the debate" settled on ...

And no. Nerd Culture didn't become mainstream that way. It got gutted and sold for scraps.


And I'm not sure what to make of it. The value sure is there. People are trying. Is it now that people really don't care about it? Is the algorithm distorting things? Are we under siege? And how to ... even begin to ... salvage this?


Well, worthiness. It is a real thing, it's important ... and I feel like people give it too little care. Or if they do, they probably start at the wrong end ... because the right end ... that's where things get scary.


Anyway ... that's my rambling for the moment ...
Here's to the worthy ... and those rising up to the occasion.

The uncomfortable part

I don't know. I'm sometimes ... like on autopilot. That means that I formulate things that end up being wrong - for instance, glancing over things perhaps too carelessly ... all because the matter on mind, the thing I'm concerned about, is something else.
And then I don't care because ... I would think that once people start to focus on the important things, the rest is going to follow.

So, even if RIGHT NOW - as of yet - You're like on "the other side" of the line, if it were up to me ... like, say, You're just in it for the money ... or You're a conservative ... there's a way. There's hope. I mean, for however vile and wrong and disgusting I find the attitude that we're basically all the same, it is ... kind of true. It is however not a one-way road.

There's this saying: You either die a hero or watch Yourself become the villain. And needless to say (I hope) ... I don't like it. But what it means is that it's difficult ... to do the right thing ... if the further up You come in the hierarchy ... the more problematic the individuals You'll encounter.
And then ... You're in no position to challenge their ways. So You either adapt, or die trying.

And I can't look at this world and ... tell You that the way out is "easy" or "obvious". Well, I would go out of my way to ... applaud those that have their heart in the right place and don't mind listening to it ... but then, in this political climate, that too is like fuel to the fire.


So, I never cared much about innocence. It doesn't exist. At least, looking at myself, I can't say that it is. I mean, I'm trying and I have been a goodie-two-shoes for most of my life. But then I also have a somewhat ... we might say ... abstract relationship with concepts such as property.

And it used to be more abstract than it is today.

Nothing too serious, I'm sure ... but not really innocent either. I mean, well. We could say that Truth is a malleable thing, and like so, innocence is a relative matter. Like, the law dictates a level of right and wrong that society should for the most part operate on ... and while guilt is determined on that basis, and laws can differ from place to place ... "who is to tell"?

Well ... silly answer: Wait for Judgment Day to find out. I mean, while it is a distant abstract ... fine. Who is to say? No matter how much in the right I may be ... I have to look at all this relativism and ... accept it for what it is. The way of things, in this world, as it is.

And ... though it's an oversimplification ... there's a lot of room for doing the right thing, and still being dead wrong about all of it.
And ... hmm. So, I was watching Blacklist the other day and there was this Episode with the Avocados. And I had to wonder. I mean, I have heard at some point that ... growing Avocados takes a lot of water. Then, seeing Avocados pop up in the context of that show ... while also having taken note of the "Fad" around Avocados ... it's like ... almost like ... someone wondered: What is the most harmful fruit/vegetable (what is it?) to popularize these days?

Are they even ... THAT good?
I mean, I'm sure if all I got in my veins is some form of toxic it may seem like a Godsent. But then, when I'm like Hydrated on Aloe Vera perhaps ... I don't know ... it kind of ... takes the edge off.


And sure. That's like ... almost "woke brained" if the anti-woke didn't also operate in that same way. To ... see a thing, recognize it for problematic ... and then go on a cancel campaign impervious to alternative suggestions.


Anyway. My narrative does in fact, sometimes, rely on a villain. So, that initial time I wrote about Terraria this time around ... I kind of skimmed the edge of it. And ... well, I don't want to start pointing fingers because ... I'm aware that my experience of these things is somewhat subjective; And practically, within sobriety and reason, the main issue is most likely systemic.

So, I kind of had to think about the relationship between Reddington and Tadashi. So, if You're a Tadashi and Reddington is the bad guy ... You're a bad guy by proxy and ... I would assume that the consequences thereof would show in one way or another. Be it moral ambiguity, as like a baseline for corruption to take hold or some irrational behavior for the sake of astroturfing and opinion farming ... I don't know. Nor do I really care.

I don't really have the tools to "operate" on that, and would therefore leave it as a You problem. You know who You are.


Another way into this topic, for me, is to talk about Mods. I don't really like Mods. Which is weird, because ... in an alternate timeline I would have been a modder myself. On my resume I'd have Wolfenstein 3D (if that can count), Duke Nukem 3D and ultimately Deus Ex with a dash of Half Life somewhere. Mostly just ... custom maps. For anything beyond that I mostly lacked the tools and the expertise.

But so ... there's lines in the sand. At some point games become unrecognizable ... and if You use mods to quickly mine ore-veins ... I myself see a perversion of the game. I don't mean to judge, I can see the reasoning behind it ... but my mind passes a judgment nonetheless because somehow it's also my time and I don't have an unlimited amount of it.

Then, in passing I might (well, I say that because I'm sure I didn't) write negatively about modding, just to then be exposed as not playing all of the games I play perfectly vanilla.

And overall ... judgment stings.


And then ... there's all the unspoken "rules" - where, trying to engage with a thing that's squarely on everyone's mind but overall never talked about ... it can easily get weird. I mean, we might say that there's a reason why it's never talked about. Everyone might not even want to go down that road ... but by virtue of it being on everyone's mind ... there's tension.

Not active tension. But passive, lingering tension. The feeling like You're being watched ... and judged ... while those that are watching and judging don't actually mean to.
It kind of requires us to give each other the benefits of the doubt, to look past the grievances and look forward. To keep going.


As for where we're headed, if it were up to me, there is no ... point or value in making any drastic changes. I'd even go as far as to say that ... we shouldn't think about restrictions. Like, we might discuss things where we'd be concerned about the age of who's allowed to tune in ... but, this is 2026 ... like ... if You're ABLE to tune in You're probably already spoiled beyond salvage.

And ... that can be a valuable resource.


So ... I suppose ... just ... keep Your head up, Your eyes open and Your mind sharp.
Anyway. I sort of have to return to pondering upon the error of mine ways ... I suppose. ... I wonder ...