Every e-fedder out there has their preference for what they look for in a fed. Some people want to find a promo based fed over a fed that emphasizes character development and vice versa. People will find a reason to WANT to join a fed,, and of course, they’re also going to find a reason NOT to join a fed. Some people will choose to pass up a fed because they don’t believe that the style of writing they promote doesn’t suit their skills. Others will pass up a fed because they don’t want to do roleplay feds and would rather do angle feds. Others will decide to look elsewhere if a fed they’re looking at is posting late, half-ass results on a weekly basis and feel they can get a better commitment elsewhere. The reasons I mentioned are all understandable reasons to pass up a fed. I know this, because I, personally, have passed up a fed for at least two of those reasons I just mentioned.

However, there are some absolutely stupid reasons as to why you wouldn’t join a fed. Yes, there’s some understandable reasons, but the following reasons I feel, are the DUMBEST reasons to NOT join a fed.

1)      The board looks like a mess.

First off, the way a forum is organized has NOTHING to do with the quality of roleplays, the quality of the OOC environment or the quality of results, which most e-fedders agree are three of (if not THE three) most important qualities of a successful fed. So maybe the boards are too cluttered, or maybe the forum has too many subsections. So what? To pass up a fed because it doesn’t pass the “eye test” is both lazy and petty. A committed e-fedder would actually take the time to KNOW the forums they’re looking at as well as look over the qualities of results, RP’s etc. instead of looking at the forums and saying “this is a mess, I’m moving on.

2)      The fed is on a server host I don’t like (ie ProBoards, InvisionFree, etc)

This, I feel, is one of the most petty things I’ve noticed in e-fedding. Some e-fedders are so picky that it doesn’t matter if the RP’s are top of the line, or if the results are PPV quality show in and show out, they just won’t join a fed because “it’s on ProBoards and I hate ProBoards.” Often times, a fedder won’t even TRY to look at those qualities. They just see “proboards” in the link and chose not to click on the link. Again, the server host has NOTHING to do with the qualities of a fed. Suck it up and at LEAST TRY to look around. If you don’t like the fed anyway, then that’s one thing. If you actually DO like it, despite it being on a server host you hate, be above the petty hate, and join the fed.

3)      A handler that I didn’t get along with is in the fed, so I’m not going to join it.

To an extent, I can understand if a fed is FULL of roster members that you’ve had major issues with in the past. But if it’s only one or two people on that roster that you didn’t get on with from a previous fed, the fact of the matter is, not joining that fed makes you look immature and downright pathetic. At the end of the day, this is just a game. Be above the drama. You don’t have to be friends with the handler(s) that are making you tepid in joining a fed, but not joining a fed because of one or two people you had major problems with in the past not only displays immaturity, but it also means that you are ALLOWING THOSE GRUDGES TO HAVE POWER OVER YOU! Those that go this route are simply saying that they’re willing to let one or two people have power over them in a game that’s played on the internet. Doesn’t sound right does it?

4)      Women are fighting men and that’s not realistic.

Again, does that affect the quality of a fed? NO! Basically, anyone that chooses to pass up a fed for this reason is not only petty, but quite frankly, they’re basically douchebags. How is this any different than saying “the fed’s champions are all black, that’s not realistic” or “there’s too many gay wrestlers on this roster, I’m not joining”? See where I am going with this? “But it’s not realistic!” you say. The way I see it, holding down your best writer because he/she happens to write a female character shouldn’t be realistic (but it is in some places, sadly).

5)      I heard from someone that this fedhead/roleplayer/staff member on the roster is a troublemaker and I want nothing to do with him/her.

So you heard this from someone else? You didn’t give the fed a shot and actually get to know the person/people that you HEARD is a troublemaker? There are plenty of other feds out there. If what you heard is proven to be right, by all means, leave the fed and look elsewhere. Otherwise you’re basing a decision based on what you heard about someone that you’ve never even talked to, or met. Think for yourself, be above that, and give that person a shot. If it goes bad, like I said, plenty of other feds out there.

There are plenty of reasons not to join a fed, some good reasons (like a bad style fit) others just downright ridiculous (like the 5 above and many more). At the end of the day, there’s plenty of feds that are going to fit what you want, yes even those that contain one or more of the list above. Best of luck with your search, and remember, do NOT reject a fed for an immature or a ridiculous reason like the ones above.