Hey! I'm new here! My name is Soaring Biscuit!
- Thread starter soaringbiscuit
- Start date
Only the old one got shut down. Someone made a new one, it just wasn't as popular.neoman10 said:
Max the Reaper. Resident psychopath. It's frankly amazing he hasn't showed up in this thread yet.Acid Armageddon said:
Well. it isn't so much a clan as just a list of the Escapists' Gamertags, so you can play with people from here. I play over XBL with Bling Cat, Spartan Bannana, NoMoreSanity, and FishFoodCarl all the time because of the first one.neoman10 said:
In case you were wondering why we tend to be so harsh on the subject of grammar, it is because a properly written post shows that you pay attention to and care about what is coming out of your keyboard, rather than just blurting out whatever half-formed thought tumbles into your head at the moment. It also shows respect for the people who read your post. A lot of people are poor typists or bad at spelling, so they drop their posts into Word or OpenOffice and give it a run through the spell checker.
That said, on to the advice.
When in a controversial thread, READ THE EXISTING POSTS BEFORE POSTING YOUR OWN RESPONSE. Often the point you want to make has already been made and discussed/fought over. Posting without reading just reignites dying flames and extends threads that are already painfully long and repetitive to begin with. Also, before you respond with something you think is playful or satirical, read it to yourself in the most obnoxious, aggressive, snotty way, and then be aware that there is at least one person in the thread who will take it exactly that way. Then edit your post with that in mind. I'm not advising self-censorship, I'm advising you to be aware that on the internet, no one can hear you tease.
Some people take public pride in their post counts. I suggest you take private pride in your read counts. In real life, would you jump into the middle of a conversation between people you don't really know without making sure you knew what they were talking about? No? Then don't do it here. It's just as obnoxious as it would be in real life, and much more destructive to the discussion because they can't simply pause, glare at you, and resume the the conversation.
If you find something overtly offensive or believe someone to be a troll, hold your tongue and hit the report button. If you have concerns or questions about the moderation of the site, PM the moderators. Do not complain about it in public. Remember that while this forum is open to the public, it is privately owned, and as any one of the many libertarians on this site will tell you, the people who own a thing have the right do whatever they please with it, including banning the whiny asshats who feel the need to post threads picking fights with the mods. Your right to free speech applies to your blog, not this website. You are in someone else's house. Show respect.
Don't take things personally, especially the personal attacks. This person does not know you. Their opinion of you is just that. The rest of the forum recognizes this. Also, consider trying something innovative and unexpected--when someone calls you on your shit, consider that they might be right, ask them why they disagree with you rather than becoming reflexively defensive, and DO NOT RESPOND WITH PERSONAL ATTACKS OF YOUR OWN. If they were jackasses for insulting you, why would you want to join them in their jackassery? Why lower yourself? The Escapist forum members pride themselves on rising above the general level of internet discourse. Prove them right whenever you can.
I guarantee that there is someone on this site who thinks your beliefs are stupid, your worldview is deluded, and your opinions are worthless. I guarantee you will come across this person if you spend any real length of time on this site. And the chances are, this person is one of many who will jump all over you when you try and defend your beliefs. As a personal example, I am a self-identified feminist, which means that, as such, I have been and will be blamed for everything from the death of chivalry to the miserable breakup of someone's last relationship. OK, then. It makes me angry, it hurts my feelings. I just have to suck it up and respond with dignity rather than flames. Or--here's a thought--walk away. And this will happen for Christians, atheists, conservatives, liberals, gays, homophobes, Americans, libertarians, socialists, people who voted for Obama, people who voted for Bush, people who play Halo, and people who play WoW. Prepare yourself for this and deal with it when it comes.
Conversely, I guarantee there is someone on this site who agrees with you and does it so badly, with such vocal and persistent idiocy, you will be reduced to chewing on your keyboard and pounding dents in your desk with your forehead. There is a very good chance that this person will be harder to deal with than the person who totally disregards everything you hold dear. Again, prepare yourself for this and deal with it when it comes.
This is a very lively site, with lots of smart people who have strong opinions and a lot of time to post them. In detail. Many, many, many times. This will be one of the reasons you stay here, if you do stay here. I hope you do. The fact that you actually asked for advice on how to get along here speaks well of you in my opinion. Welcome.
That said, on to the advice.
When in a controversial thread, READ THE EXISTING POSTS BEFORE POSTING YOUR OWN RESPONSE. Often the point you want to make has already been made and discussed/fought over. Posting without reading just reignites dying flames and extends threads that are already painfully long and repetitive to begin with. Also, before you respond with something you think is playful or satirical, read it to yourself in the most obnoxious, aggressive, snotty way, and then be aware that there is at least one person in the thread who will take it exactly that way. Then edit your post with that in mind. I'm not advising self-censorship, I'm advising you to be aware that on the internet, no one can hear you tease.
Some people take public pride in their post counts. I suggest you take private pride in your read counts. In real life, would you jump into the middle of a conversation between people you don't really know without making sure you knew what they were talking about? No? Then don't do it here. It's just as obnoxious as it would be in real life, and much more destructive to the discussion because they can't simply pause, glare at you, and resume the the conversation.
If you find something overtly offensive or believe someone to be a troll, hold your tongue and hit the report button. If you have concerns or questions about the moderation of the site, PM the moderators. Do not complain about it in public. Remember that while this forum is open to the public, it is privately owned, and as any one of the many libertarians on this site will tell you, the people who own a thing have the right do whatever they please with it, including banning the whiny asshats who feel the need to post threads picking fights with the mods. Your right to free speech applies to your blog, not this website. You are in someone else's house. Show respect.
Don't take things personally, especially the personal attacks. This person does not know you. Their opinion of you is just that. The rest of the forum recognizes this. Also, consider trying something innovative and unexpected--when someone calls you on your shit, consider that they might be right, ask them why they disagree with you rather than becoming reflexively defensive, and DO NOT RESPOND WITH PERSONAL ATTACKS OF YOUR OWN. If they were jackasses for insulting you, why would you want to join them in their jackassery? Why lower yourself? The Escapist forum members pride themselves on rising above the general level of internet discourse. Prove them right whenever you can.
I guarantee that there is someone on this site who thinks your beliefs are stupid, your worldview is deluded, and your opinions are worthless. I guarantee you will come across this person if you spend any real length of time on this site. And the chances are, this person is one of many who will jump all over you when you try and defend your beliefs. As a personal example, I am a self-identified feminist, which means that, as such, I have been and will be blamed for everything from the death of chivalry to the miserable breakup of someone's last relationship. OK, then. It makes me angry, it hurts my feelings. I just have to suck it up and respond with dignity rather than flames. Or--here's a thought--walk away. And this will happen for Christians, atheists, conservatives, liberals, gays, homophobes, Americans, libertarians, socialists, people who voted for Obama, people who voted for Bush, people who play Halo, and people who play WoW. Prepare yourself for this and deal with it when it comes.
Conversely, I guarantee there is someone on this site who agrees with you and does it so badly, with such vocal and persistent idiocy, you will be reduced to chewing on your keyboard and pounding dents in your desk with your forehead. There is a very good chance that this person will be harder to deal with than the person who totally disregards everything you hold dear. Again, prepare yourself for this and deal with it when it comes.
This is a very lively site, with lots of smart people who have strong opinions and a lot of time to post them. In detail. Many, many, many times. This will be one of the reasons you stay here, if you do stay here. I hope you do. The fact that you actually asked for advice on how to get along here speaks well of you in my opinion. Welcome.
All i can say is, treat yahtzee like the elephant in the room, don't bother mods, they don't bother you, and, in my opinion, only use the search button if you have a query or troubleshooting question. Nobody cares much for a resurrected post
P.S. expecting inflammatory replies in 3... 2... 1...
P.S. expecting inflammatory replies in 3... 2... 1...
For the record, we have a Welcome Thread. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.66931] Might I also direct a friendly hand towards the Guidelines [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.84119] with a hopeful welcome. Hope you enjoy your stay.
Thank you sir, this is the funniest thread I've read in a long time. You are my favourite person for today. Much as people moan, I like to read an occasional derailing.
Just enjoy yourself, really. Everyone else has thrown the rulebook at you but common sense should get you through, and you get enough second chances.
And don't be too surprised if people make references you don't get. We have a helluva lot of in-jokes round here. There's also an interesting almost generational feeling you might notice, too. Most of the major posters are newer members, while you'll occasionally get the older posters, or the veteran posters as some call 'em, turning up to have a moan about kids these days before slinking back to IRC where we usually dwell. Don't worry too much about our moaning.
Welcome aboard, look around, ask questions, enjoy yourself. But it looks like you've already started on that.
Just enjoy yourself, really. Everyone else has thrown the rulebook at you but common sense should get you through, and you get enough second chances.
And don't be too surprised if people make references you don't get. We have a helluva lot of in-jokes round here. There's also an interesting almost generational feeling you might notice, too. Most of the major posters are newer members, while you'll occasionally get the older posters, or the veteran posters as some call 'em, turning up to have a moan about kids these days before slinking back to IRC where we usually dwell. Don't worry too much about our moaning.
Welcome aboard, look around, ask questions, enjoy yourself. But it looks like you've already started on that.
Good damn this is a long thread :| and a funny one to boot 
you should add the offical derail thread because thats what it's going to be know as evermore
you should add the offical derail thread because thats what it's going to be know as evermore 
that body is startin to smellmikecoulter said:Oh Maxxx...... Will he ever learn to clean up after himself?
The body should be gone soon, don't worry about it.
*raises hand* i liked the derailing i found it allot funner then just saying welcome.Daye.04 said:
ps welcome =P
Yeah, fine whatever. Sure. You people seem to have disregarded my post entirely. But. I will not like it if you keep doing it on other threads, that is actually holding some value - Yes, I know you couldn't give less of a shit about what I care for or not. Just don't come complaining to me when you guys piss me off to such an extent that I'm forced to take a serious course of actionNeonbob said:May we continue, then, Daye?
*puppy eyes*
We'll behave.
*stuffs bodies into closet*