So, picture a thread about the game Tiger Bread Extreme Turbo 2: Advent of the Paraceratherium Rising. Due to the controversy that surrounded its release, you know people will voice the commonly-held opinion that the plot is really a thinly-veiled copycat of The Importance of Being Earnest.
You read into the thread, and lo! Of the first five posts, three of them say pretty much the same thing about TBET2:APR being an Importance of Being Earnest clone.
He're a situation we've all seen many a time: something is brought up, and people will chime in with the same, commonly-held opinion on whatever the topic relates to. This bothers me slightly because I feel as though, in a non-silly thread, there is rarely need for repeated information or sentiments.
There are a few common instances in which information is repeated:
1. The same comment being posted multiple times in response to the OP.
This is most obvious in threads that ask a question with few, clear answers. Threads like, "I have disposable income; should I buy Tiger Bread Extreme Turbo: The Pandora Paramecium since its on sale?" You know, the four people who say "Yes, at that price, its worth the money. The campaign will give you HOURS of fun" in various different phrasings. In some situations, I can see that someone would post the same thing as a way of pitching their vote, but I feel that an idea should stand on its meaning, rather than the number of people speaking it.
2.Like the above, but with additional information tagged on.
This happens anywhere #1 occurs- people wanted to voice their opinion on a thing, but someone else did, so they rehash the same sentiment, then throw in something else relevant to make up for it. I am guilty of this myself, usually in the form of quoting someone and adding "This" before going on to throw in my two cents. Unless it relates directly to one's new addition to the thread, it does as little to promote discussion in a thread as the first example.
3. If a topic is related to a thing, people will post their opinion/informational tidbit on said thing whether or not the thread is asking for this opinion/bit of information.
This is the Apple-related or Halo-related threads in a nutshell. A thread about a game coming to an Apple product will result in multiple people elaborating on their various reasons for disliking anything Mac. Not only is this bit of information almost always off-topic, I would just like for these people to find one person on the Escapist who hasn't heard the "Pro/anti Halo" spiel, or something of the likes. This isn't reserved for negative comments- people will merrily go on and on about certain games if the "Games as Art" topic is brought up in any capacity. As strongly as one feels, I just find it unnecessary and everyone's heard it before, even if it hasn't been brought up in the specific thread yet.
Now, by no means am I trying to claim that there is some perfect method for posting in forums. The use of "I" or "My personal opinion" is here because that's exactly what this all is: my perception on what I'd like a good serious thread to not look like in the aspect of repetition.
I've been quite specific here so that I can ask your opinions concerning repetition in your ideal visions of a thread.
[small]
Note that I'm not asking "does it bother you?" I wouldn't mind hearing the answer to that, too, but its the difference between asking, "What do you like the weather to be in your ideal picnic experience" and asking, "Do cloudy skies ruin your picnic."[/small]
You read into the thread, and lo! Of the first five posts, three of them say pretty much the same thing about TBET2:APR being an Importance of Being Earnest clone.
He're a situation we've all seen many a time: something is brought up, and people will chime in with the same, commonly-held opinion on whatever the topic relates to. This bothers me slightly because I feel as though, in a non-silly thread, there is rarely need for repeated information or sentiments.
There are a few common instances in which information is repeated:
1. The same comment being posted multiple times in response to the OP.
This is most obvious in threads that ask a question with few, clear answers. Threads like, "I have disposable income; should I buy Tiger Bread Extreme Turbo: The Pandora Paramecium since its on sale?" You know, the four people who say "Yes, at that price, its worth the money. The campaign will give you HOURS of fun" in various different phrasings. In some situations, I can see that someone would post the same thing as a way of pitching their vote, but I feel that an idea should stand on its meaning, rather than the number of people speaking it.
2.Like the above, but with additional information tagged on.
This happens anywhere #1 occurs- people wanted to voice their opinion on a thing, but someone else did, so they rehash the same sentiment, then throw in something else relevant to make up for it. I am guilty of this myself, usually in the form of quoting someone and adding "This" before going on to throw in my two cents. Unless it relates directly to one's new addition to the thread, it does as little to promote discussion in a thread as the first example.
3. If a topic is related to a thing, people will post their opinion/informational tidbit on said thing whether or not the thread is asking for this opinion/bit of information.
This is the Apple-related or Halo-related threads in a nutshell. A thread about a game coming to an Apple product will result in multiple people elaborating on their various reasons for disliking anything Mac. Not only is this bit of information almost always off-topic, I would just like for these people to find one person on the Escapist who hasn't heard the "Pro/anti Halo" spiel, or something of the likes. This isn't reserved for negative comments- people will merrily go on and on about certain games if the "Games as Art" topic is brought up in any capacity. As strongly as one feels, I just find it unnecessary and everyone's heard it before, even if it hasn't been brought up in the specific thread yet.
Now, by no means am I trying to claim that there is some perfect method for posting in forums. The use of "I" or "My personal opinion" is here because that's exactly what this all is: my perception on what I'd like a good serious thread to not look like in the aspect of repetition.
I've been quite specific here so that I can ask your opinions concerning repetition in your ideal visions of a thread.
[small]
Note that I'm not asking "does it bother you?" I wouldn't mind hearing the answer to that, too, but its the difference between asking, "What do you like the weather to be in your ideal picnic experience" and asking, "Do cloudy skies ruin your picnic."[/small]
