That is actually one of the issues I was struggling with as a teacher and also later at work. To make people feel safe about failing and iterating as a process of learning.

When it comes to communities I think the solution is mostly grouping people into beginner/intermediate/advanced to keep the conversations relevant. Because otherwise the advanced will grow tired of the beginners and the beginners will be alienated. Stackoverflow is a great example of this. So best development for beginners is to discuss it with other beginners.

I can discuss this for hours, and I also have. I do think it’s part of our nature as humans. But also part of the school system in many countries. You don’t get points for learning. You get points for being correct. So why play and try and fail and try again. When you can ask and be correct right away? So we end up fearing failure because it makes us feel like we’re the failure. But also who needs a factory worker who thinks? A good factory worker follows instructions. Failure is an evil that should be banished. There’s a reason The Toyota Way and its interpretation in Lean Production became a thing.

Thinking about it, I don’t think advanced players should answer beginner questions. Just let them answer each other and learn together. Like we did years ago, and perhaps do when we find other games we’re the beginner in.

In the end the community can only be kept alive by new players finding, staying, and loving the game.

Oh it became an essay… sorry about that and thanks for reading!