3 years later... what happened?

[Evil Smurf]

Yep, put me down as another user with a 5-digit post count who's none-too-impressed with how hostile the forums have become lately...

I hav'n't noticed

You sure? Didn't you get flamed a bit recently?

I'm sure you had to equip your flame shield a couple of times not so long ago...

Eh I suppose I did. Yeah I did get flamed. It is only the rare odd troll though.

 

[lunavixen]

I still find it hard to believe that i've been on the Escapist for over 12 months, even with a post count as low as mine, sometimes i just find it better to walk away from the arguments.

 

[Joccaren]

Well, congratulations. Still another year or so before I get there, but I'll get there eventually if I stick around. Not sure I want that badge so much as I want the Neo one though, just 'cause its got Neo. And the Morpheus one. And the Trinity one. There needs to be a Smith one. There probably is. I need to find it and acquire it.

Got to agree with others on the topic of the forums becoming more hostile. People on the forums always disagreed with you, but it was often a nice, fair and good argument between two people, at least in my experience. I got into a 20 wall-length post argument with one guy, and we decided to call it off and join forces against a third faction for a bit of a laugh at that point. Whilst there were still a lot of crap threads, there more user reviews that got into the top section of the site from time to time, and it at least seamed that a lot of people back then behaved more like they do in this thread, and go on and talk about how in their experience things have always been this way, and asking why everyone else thinks they weren't.
These days I try not to post most of the time. If I post anything I know I'll get into an argument that I'd really rather not have, with someone who so obnoxiously claims that they're right that I can't help but argue back against them. Even then, in the arguments, more time is spent calling the other person a troll, claiming they're stupid or otherwise just saying that they're wrong, or calling strawman at the slightest misunderstanding, rather than being polite and saying "Maybe you misunderstood me". Its done in a way that it doesn't break the rules, but its not much better TBH. Hell, I've even received PMs from time to time that DO break the posting rules just in an attempt to circumvent punishment. I mean really, there were always a couple of people that were like this but these days it feels like the aggressiveness that used to feel largely contained by the Religion and Politics subforum has spilled out into the rest of the site. Probably 'cause a lot of notable posters who did things right and were often polite and kind have disappeared. Still like a lot of the stuff this site puts out, and there are some nice threads to hang around in, but it does slowly seem to be fading into more hatred instead. Just my opinion though, and experience will vary.

 

[ToastedCorpser4Lunch]

Speaking as a lurker who reads most threads posted, the main reason for the "negativity" goin' round is more to do with crappy topics(feminism and just general hatin') and debate topics, the later of which become the former from the second post onwards(I'm so optomistic!)

On topic: Kinda wish I posted once each month so I'd get the badge with 36 posts exactly, but seeing my first 2 posts again in the ol' keyboard warrior days I think I have no regrets.

Off topic: Anyone else looking forward to soul sacrifice? Just asking...

Posting's such a pain.

 

[Guffe]

Kinda wish I posted once each month so I'd get the badge with 36 posts exactly

Now this would be cool!
Then again I think they should have it under 72 posts since if you get quoted you'd have to answer that if someone throws a question at you?
But that would be some feat

Would it be ironic for me to point out that, given the content, contributors and writing in this thread, that it is one of the more interesting, thoughtful and well articulated I have seen in some time ?

I guess it is xD
Maybe something in this thread made it go backwards 3 years in time?

Dude, this is so trippy. I just got my Landmark badge TODAY!

Congratz!! It's a nice feeling isn't is?

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

I feel the forums have changed a lot on here. Especially since late 2011. I used to frequent this site all the time, post a lot and generally spend a good deal of time here.

Nowadays I can't stand a majority of this sites users and their attitude towards things. A friend of mine felt the same and he just stopped coming to this site all together.

My thoughts exactly. This site used to be great. It's still fine as a news source, but the forums have turned into a wasteland of sludge.

 

[putowtin]

I used to post a lot more, but I found that since a certain game came out (hint it's a year old tomorrow) my interest has waned.
I?ll probably post more with the build up to the PS4, and once there?s more information on infamous: Second Son I?ll be chatting away!

 

[Evil Smurf]

I feel the forums have changed a lot on here. Especially since late 2011. I used to frequent this site all the time, post a lot and generally spend a good deal of time here.

Nowadays I can't stand a majority of this sites users and their attitude towards things. A friend of mine felt the same and he just stopped coming to this site all together.

My thoughts exactly. This site used to be great. It's still fine as a news source, but the forums have turned into a wasteland of sludge.

I still think we have hope.

 

[Zagzag]

I've also been around for a fair while, although I don't post a great deal.

Everything that originally brought me here doesn't exist any more, and virtually all the shows on the site have changed since I arrived. This isn't entirely a bad thing, but we've gone from the days when I'd watch everything on the site, to me only sticking around for a few things.

The forums aren't as much fun as they used to be either, but I was never the most active.

However despite this I'll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

I think everyone is just feeling grumpy and narky because spring can not be bothered to show up yet, it just reflects in the forum.

have some choco, hug your pet and carry on.

 

[ChocoFace]

Welcome to the club, OP. Have a complimentary cigar.
Personally, i've found the forums to be less and less appealing over time, so i only rarely visit anymore, but it was fun at first.

 

[BleedingPride]

Meh, it's certainly changed a lot here, but I still enjoy all of your company and input on things. Despite the changes I still think you guys are still great for the most part.

 

[Nikolaz72]

I feel the forums have changed a lot on here. Especially since late 2011. I used to frequent this site all the time, post a lot and generally spend a good deal of time here.

Nowadays I can't stand a majority of this sites users and their attitude towards things.

This is also how I feel.
I pretty much come here out of habit and I spend most my time in one user group nowadays. More fun, less hassle.

I know dem feels.

I don't know what happened to the forums in the last 6 months, but I don't like it.

I can't even put my finger on it, something just changed for the worse.

It's the same on the Religions and Politics forum. A 'lot' of old faces were banned, others just left after everyone slowly disappeared to bans. Its a cleaner place now, but it's just not the same.

It's Boring.

Sometimes I even find myself missing Xpowderx, sure he made me question my faith in humanity. But at least he made me question 'something' provoked a response.

 

[Vault101]

(see above)

Nah. All the good posters left when the shitposters arrived and the mods decided to get ultra-fucking-stingy on everything.
I'd love the escapist to survive, but it's just not what it used to be, and people are slowly moving on.

Jesus....cynical much?

ok fine, I can;t criticize people for how they feel but I mean your not helping with such volatile... cynicism

 

[Bertylicious]

I don't know what you lot are on about; The Escapist Community is as gentle as the breaking of a mouse's heart.

For years I was part of an unmoderated forum where the cut and thrust was so vicious that engaging in banter was like juggling chainsaws. Respect had to be earned but the no holds barred approach inspired some great posts and exchanges.

It also inspired .jpegs of old men felating one another, so it became a bit of an issue when reading at work. Also the acerbic nature meant that as the popularity of the site waned so too did the quality of new posters so I ended up here.

I do think that maybe we should all try to do some better posts than basically surveying one another endlessly, but then some wrinkly dude said something about being the change we want to see in the world and I haven't got any ideas. Perhaps we could try something framed around fiction writing?

 

[Seydaman]

I used to post more...but it has dropped off, I still post, but it's less frequent. Ah, how times have changed.

 

[Johnny Impact]

Oh hey, I have that badge too. Since... about a month ago I think.

And yeah, I'm going to agree with what others have said. This place feels hostile as all hell. However, I can't remember if it was always like this or if it changed or if I just started noticing it more.

It seems like you can't talk about anything without someone getting all venomous in your face. No matter the subject, someone with an agenda will charge in and start slinging turds in every direction. They may well be passive-aggresive turds or carefully aimed turds because the slinger wishes to avoid mod wrath, but they're still turds. Apparently nobody knows how to disagree with some or criticise a thing without being, well... a mean-spirited arsehole about it.

At this point I should probably mention that I'm guilty of this too. I've pissed on a few parades for no good reason. Although after seeing how obnoxious it is I've stopped.

Also, I'm trying to be less hostile in general. Although I still tend to break out the sarcasm more than neccesary. It can feel a bit pointless trying to hold yourself above the nastiness. It kinda rubs off.

No kidding. I got in quite a tussle not that long ago on an "is it okay to cheat" thread. Spent over two hours crafting an extensive and, yes, snarky reply to this one guy who hadn't followed his own train of thought to its logical conclusion. Finger poised to click Post.......

Then came a moment of clarity. Suddenly I realized I'd wasted my time. The whole thread was a no-win scenario, full of the kind of hostile, reason-impaired crap that gets people suspended. The other guy was a conceited tool who would not have budged one little bit no matter how reasoned or correct my argument might have been. The only way you win against such a person is by refusing to engage him. That I had lowered myself to argue with him in the first place was probably a comment on my own personality. I hadn't thought about it, I had simply done it. And what did that make me? Who was this person, full of self-righteous bile and why-can't-you-just-admit-I'm-right arrogance? Was it the other guy, or was it me?

Regardless, I scrapped the post and watched Netflix instead. Haven't been back to that thread since. It probably sounds like I'm overdramatizing but I really feel like I took a step away from the Dark Side.

OT: Congrats on your triple-stein. I've been a member for a loooooooong time but believe it or not I forgot the site existed for a few years. A shame, or I might have had the Neo badge by now.

 

[jdogtwodolla]

Man I'm so behind, I'm never gonna get any of the cool badges all the other Oldscapists have. Actually I have a month left for for 36. Congratulations OP!

What has changed for me is the Noticeable lack of regulars and users who I found enjoying.

 

[Jfswift]

I feel the forums have changed a lot on here. Especially since late 2011. I used to frequent this site all the time, post a lot and generally spend a good deal of time here.
.

that was when I started posting more frequently....I cant really remember much change... maybe the topics became more asinine?

OT: I think about the site and how I'm on it so much as second nature (its always the first site I go on) I'm beggining to think this place is some kind of addiction, but to be fair I havnt found a better forum

haha, love your animated avatar. I don't think the forums have changed a whole lot though. I've been lurking on here for quite a while now. If anything I'd say its slightly better now.

I still love this place, I dunno, there just seems to me more hostility than ever before and it's not even MM this year.

I haven't noticed myself. There's really only two posters that seem kind of hostile. One is elitist about dark souls and the other shows up in PC threads alot. Aside from that it feels pretty mello around here.

 

[Composer]

I lost interest with the forums around the same time I got Gone Gonzo