There's a couple of assumptions here - that aren't necessarily a given.

1) That a bigger ban list encourages more social play.
I really don't see that. Is Vintage or Legacy more social than Standard? I mean those formats have bigger banned(/restricted) lists.

2) That the RC dislikes what the format is becoming
Since the original quote was from a random forum member and not a RC member, I don't see how that idea follows from someone saying the format is "supposed to be social."

If you don't like the concept of the "Social Contract" for the format - that's fine. There are many people who agree with you. But don't be surprised or offended if other people find your manner of playing to be unsocial and decide not to play with you. "I can play it because it's not banned" is not an attitude around here that gets you much sympathy.


And you missed the big part of the phrase that was used. Commander is "supposed to be social." How social will vary from group to group, but that doesn't alter the original intent. You can state that you don't find it a social format. You can state that you think it is morphing from the original intent .. that's all fine, and not something that can be really argued about (that's all personal taste/experience). But when the intent of the format is written down (with the Social Contract), trying to argue that the format isn't supposed to be that way seems ridiculous.

Simply put, saying that a person can't / shouldn't express what kind of game they want to be participate in simply because you're playing legal cards shows a big gap between what you vs what most others here want from this game.

That remains true no matter what the specific content of the banned list is.

I certainly don't mean to imply that you are.

I'm pretty sure it's a lot easier than you think. I wouldn't even say it's about "being the better man" so much as "putting your money where your mouth is". There's a reason none of my decks have Armageddon, even the ones it would probably be good in.

I have stuff to say to this too, but perhaps it would be best if that laundry was not aired on-line for all to see.

Of course it would. People complain about EVERY ban list. Having two just give the people who play by the "real one" (take your pick) a reason to hate out the other group. And two would be a lot worse than one, it would start getting better at ~5.