Sorry if this is a bit off topic. Thank you for this post. It's nice to see a thank you, even if it's from someone on the internet.
I'm a DM. I've had a Homebrew going for a year on Valentine's day. I became the DM because none of my players had played before and I've been playing/DMing since high school. Cellphone usage slowed down significantly as players gained levels and plot has progressed, but now it's just been replaced by the players mocking and threatening literally every NPC that isn't a meme.
They love the side gags like Moon Moon, and Willy Wang (a goblin), and will cross heavens and earths for them. But any of my more serious NPCs they basically just taunt and talk about poisoning or murdering or tell directly that they're worthless. When I've changed it to mostly humor, they get bored and want more plot progression and claim they miss the serious plot.
As soon as they start to get a whiff of a serious NPC it begins. "If this guy was so tough he'd have dealt with this quest on his own. He's clearly incompetent/useless/stupid." Or even "We had to help this NPC who held his own against a golem and an evoker for several rounds before being knocked out. And then he held his own against a whole group of caster cultists but became injured. (That the party ignored the clues to deal with) He must be SUPER WEAK. Let's make fun of him until he hates us!" If I run any NPC who isn't a joke, they have to be the same 3 canned snarky, thick skinned, or super flattering characters in order for the players to engage with them in any meaningful way. This makes NPC diversity difficult.
Example: They recently got to two settlements that are being newly constructed who were having a land dispute. Literally both towns were all still wagons and construction (one finished building each) and the lawful good paladin kept telling the human town's leader that his town was a piece of s*** and that he shouldn't even be bothering to call it a town. And the others equally crapped on the elven settlement too. Despite the fact that they're braving the wilds to build these towns, and despite the fact that they are dealing with several missing children. But no! Let's just insult everyone. (To be fair both sides were being kinda racist because they thought the other side had taken their children and there is a war going on between the two on the mainland).
I recently showed them the post about the NPC cards and they all got excited for the idea so I started making them. They've made fun of each NPC...
It's even gotten so bad that sometimes they realise it. I've time they were so mean to one of my NPCs that 3/5 players messaged me the next day to apologise to the NPC for how mean they were.
It really gets to me sometimes. I know they're not making fun of me when they're jerks to the NPCs. But it absolutely feels like it sometimes. Especially when they talk about TAZ and CR like they are the gods' gift to man but make fun of things in my campaign. It really makes it hard to muster up the energy on top of two jobs to put hours of prep into this weekly campaign.
I know they're having fun and they like the plot because they debate it outside of game. I get 3am messages about "hey. If x happened, could do y?" They're even very excited for the 1 year anniversary of the campaign. Even with this though... It's hard to DM when your players railroad you to some extent.
Anyway. Side rant aside. Thank you to all DMs who pour their hearts into their games. Who prep for hours. Who keep it up. Even if your players make you feel like it isn't worth it. I respect and appreciate you.