Why Cantr II is so Addictive

[sammigurl61190]

Many of us have become incurably addicted to Cantr II. This question has been previously raised many times, yet we still find ourselves utterly baffled as to why we keep visiting this site.

The fact is that most of us are baffled by any sort of addiction. For example, let us consider cigarettes. It's generally accepted that the nicotine contained in cigarettes is an addictive substance. However, if we were pressed to further explain this, we'd probably parrot some explanation we got from our high-school health teacher, an anti-tobacco group, or those insignificant little Surgeon General warnings on the side of cigarette cartons. The usual explanation is that nicotine is rapidly absorbed into the blood through the surface of our lungs and into our peewee brains. Receptors in our brain respond to nicotine stimulation by producing dopamines and other neurotransmitters.

But the truth is that we have absolutely no idea what this means. We can't answer such fundamental questions such as: What the hell are " neurotransmitters"? How come I can't see them? Do they bounce around little protons and electrons against our skulls? Why can't I feel them transmitting? Oh my god, can they transmit outside of our bodies?

Let's face it - most of us couldn't answer any of these questions. The pathetic truth is that if someone told us that cigarettes are addictive because they are made from the same ingredients as double-stuffed Oreos, we'd repeat that too. When it comes right down to it, we cannot explain even the most basic addictions, such as our idiotic fascination with reality television. Therefore we naturally assume that addictions are way beyond our comprehension.

But that is not necessarily the case! In fact, being addicted to Cantr II operates on simple principles that can be easily understood by anybody with some common sense, a little imagination, and a doctorate degree in nuclear fission. So let's put on our thinking caps and get right to the discussion of:




WHY CANTR II IS SO ADDICTIVE

Usually, the first thing that happens is that one of our friends is on Cantr II. Because they are incurably addicted, your friend, your compadre, your buddy, the person you supposedly trust, thinks it's a brilliant idea that you join too. So you join. You make a character. And talks to you. Wow! Someone talked to you! They love you! So you talk to them back. Wow! Someone else joins the conversation! And you start trading knowledge! And then you start giving each other things. And then you trade those things for other things. And you finish projects. And you leave town to travel! Then after you leave, you meet someone else to have a conversation with! And they happen to like you too! After several cycles it practically turns itself into an intercontinental Cantr group hug.

A question many people ask, after several failed characters and their attempts at Cantr II fame and having Cantr crap out on you after you try and post a 500-word message, LOSING THE WHOLE THING is: How come Cantr's servers crap out so often? To answer that question, we need to understand exactly what a "server" and "server traffic" is.

Basically a server is a supercomputer that has a lot of storage space, and we, as players of Cantr II, get to freely use that space. The rate at which we use this space is considered server traffic. It's sort of like an all-you-can-eat buffet. You can eat all you want! Until you sit there waiting to get some of "Granny's" fried chicken and...OH NO! What is the guy in line doing in front of you? HE JUST TOOK THE LAST PIECE OF FRIED CHICKEN! THAT BASTARD! DOES HE REALIZE HOW MUCH DAMAGE YOU CAN DO WITH THE SPORK THAT'S IN YOUR HAND? WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

No, he's not thinking about that at all, is he? He's stuck in his own self-centered, short-sighted little world, and it never would occur to him to consider any of the broader issues affecting our society such as:




WHY CANTR II IS SO ADDICTIVE

Cantr II, in their almighty wisdom allows a certain amount of characters per player. You get bored one night, and try and make a sixteenth character...and...

...it doesn't work. It's sort of like getting a car oil stain on an article of clothing. No matter how many times you try to wash the stain out of your clothes, it just doesn't go away. It simply doesn't matter what brand of detergent you use, for they all don't work. You would think the marketing geniuses who work for these detergents would be more truthful in their television advertisements. A split-screen appears on your television set - one with the "average" detergent, that does absolutely nothing but permanently imprint an unwanted stain, and the other with the advertised detergent that voila! - it's made the stain completely disappear! There is absolutely no truth in their advertising! Don't listen! If their marketing experts were really any good at their jobs, they would be focusing their full attention on what people really want to know, which is:




WHY CANTR II IS SO ADDICTIVE

One key thing to understand about Cantr II is that there exists an entire plethora of cities and towns. Blojt, Drojf, Krif, Seatown, Pok, Pak, Olipfirovash, and many, many other cities on one continent. Then, on another, you have Quillanoi, Siom, Ladavictavoi, Blaman, Tircqi, Knatr, Cantr City, and even more cities than the last continent. The K island, featuring the big graveyard with laws and Hailey Blerks, also known as Kwor, Karnon, Kirinn, Kol, and a bunch of other K-starting cities that I am too lazy to mention. You then have the Sring-Sri, Bhak, Shai, Nraam, and Dhung continent, a very small one. But, if you travel from Bhak the right way, I have seen people end up in Naron, which is near Ladavictavoi! You see, it is all connected. There are even more continents out there! The internet--how it has enhanced global communication is truly beautiful.

And where do all these continents come from? Who takes the time to think of these things? Why do we care? To answer these questions we need to explore, in depth, the question of another matter regarding Cantr staff, but we're going to stick on the subject of:




WHY CANTR II IS SO ADDICTIVE

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to answer a complicated question like this in the small amount space remaining in the text box the Cantr II Forum has given me. Briefly, though what appears to happen is this: You join, you interact with other characters, you get hooked, and you join the forum. I frankly have no idea how this happens, but if I had to guess, I'd say it involves neurotransmitters.

[Genevieve]

rofl. Genius.

[sammigurl61190]

I just realized I have way too much time on my hands. ^__^;

[west]

since you're so smart, maybe you can do the homework I'm neglecting to play this game.

[new.vogue.nightmare]

That is the best adaptation of a Dave Barry format I have ever seen in my life. Actually...I think it's the only one. Masterpiece.

[sammigurl61190]

No. I don't do my own homework. I'm not doing yours.

And thank you.

[1959 Apache]

That was adorable!

[sammigurl61190]

Eh, I've gotten accustomed to the word "adorable" and the word "sammigurl61190" to be linked. But thanks, even if I don't think it's the optimum word choice.

[thingnumber2]

cool! now if you could just explain why none of my characters can ever maintain power...

[David]

um... its really not that hard: Escapism. Some people lust after raw power, others business success, others a sense of family how it "should" be, and there are a few other motivations...

Not too complicated - people are alienated from themselves in industrialized society so they harken back to a time where one could actually tangibly see their produce and effect on the world more readily... not that Cantr is ancient times... its just small town times...

So, just like everything else on the internet - its escapism, pure and simple.

Some may have a reactionary response to what I have said, because they don't want to believe that something is wrong with there life or that they are alienated from reality as about 90% of the industrial world's population is... ROFL It's there to fill in the gaps when nothing of import is going on in your life... like when I am in between classes, work and parties lol.

[west]

I won't deny that it's escapism...I use it to escape from homework, which isn't good because homework's catching up to me.

[David]

ROFL

[new.vogue.nightmare]

cool! now if you could just explain why none of my characters can ever maintain power...

It's because all your chars are stupid cheeseheads.

*doesn't actually know most of his chars*

[west]

It's twue

*channels Homestar Runner*

[sirlaser]

cool! now if you could just explain why none of my characters can ever maintain power...

It's because all your chars are stupid cheeseheads.

*doesn't actually know most of his chars*

I LIKE CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!