Poll: Smartest Forums on the Internet?

[Deleted]

I know many people are going to say the escapist, and I agree, but I'm wondering if anyone has other opinions. Or just wants to discuss how cool we are compared to the losers over at GameFAQs. Do you think this forum is the best on the internet (not counting niche forums for things like hobbies, we're talking big well-known forums)? And don't give me some quasi-intellectual reason like, "the smarter we all are, the dumber we all are on a less sophisticated level".

Now that my hands are warmer (Canada eh) I can type my opinion instead of the topic starter. I think The Escapist is the best because its full of people who are sick of the inane babble that goes on in other forums. We are all the "snarky magnificent bastard" so we all get each other.

 

[Neonbob]

Out of the ones you provided, I've only been here.
So I'm going to pick The Escapist.
That said, I'm sure there are much smarter ones out there.
I just don't have any inclination to leave this forum to such a thing.

 

[Mythbhavd]

When it comes to a gaming community? I like Moongamers and here. There are other forums out there of a more mature nature or that discuss much deeper subject matter.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

On the internet? No. Of those choices? Probably.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

If anyone's thinking of saying IGN, well...

Go to page 4. [http://rr.xbox360.ign.com/ReaderReviewIndices/CategoryList.aspx?channel=xbox360&reviewtype=xbox360&object=14235013]

Christ I hate that place.

Anyway, I'm going to say here.

EDIT: It seems they were deleted. Nevermind.
EDIT2: No they weren't.

 

[Deleted]

Feel free to give other examples and your experiences with them, those were all the ones I could think of.

 

[Plurralbles]

4chan, just to be a dick.

Oh and total war center is a good place to visit.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Unfortunately, I'm coming round to the view of 'none of them.' The longer I stay on the Escapist, the further back I trawl through the archives, the more I see that I was just lucky to avoid the most annoying of the annoyings in the beginning.

Still, I prefer the escapist, just doesn't mean I think it's the smartest. I don't really think any of the forums I've ever visited qualify for that.

 

[Curtmiester]

If anyone's thinking of saying IGN, well...

Go to page 4. [http://rr.xbox360.ign.com/ReaderReviewIndices/CategoryList.aspx?channel=xbox360&reviewtype=xbox360&object=14235013]

Christ I hate that place.

Anyway, I'm going to say here.

Wow, that was probably the most bullcrap I've seen in a long time.
OT: I've only been here, soooooo....

 

[LivingInStereo]

I'll say the escapist, but this just may be a slightly biased poll.

 

[Gadzooks]

On the internet there are plenty of smaller, more sophisticated discussion groups that are more intellectual. Though they are, as you said, for hobbies and esoteric topics. Typically most scientific, or literature discussion tends to be well informed or at least well thought out.

As for the Escapist, well it has some smart members, but any intellectual discussion is normally drowned out by threads about 'this and that of supreme insignificance' and threads that only require a one line entry, or even a one word entry.

The Escapist is generally free of trolling, or quite resistant to it due to decent moderation, and most people adhere to the guidelines... However I do not really come here for intellectual pursuits, since there are places less stagnated by importance of a high post count, or friendships, or derailing; which aren't necessarily a bad thing, but they hinder a lot of intellectualism and care in thinking and wording a reply.

So to sum up. The Escapist is a fun place, but even the Something Awful forums have more going for them intellectually. I love the Escapist, but it's one of those loves where I pine for it to improve in quality before I'll love it unconditionally. I think it might be a better place if those smart members posted more, but that would probably take away from their ability to only post when necessary or when passionate about the subject.

 

[SendMeNoodz84]

4chan?

 

[Deleted]

If anyone's thinking of saying IGN, well...

Go to page 4. [http://rr.xbox360.ign.com/ReaderReviewIndices/CategoryList.aspx?channel=xbox360&reviewtype=xbox360&object=14235013]

Christ I hate that place.

Anyway, I'm going to say here.

EDIT: It seems they were deleted. Nevermind.

You think that's bad. You should see the Modern Warfare 2 reviews, its the total opposite.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

The Escapist is, in my opinion, the smartest internet forum.

I'm just surprised that anybody voted for 4chan.

 

[Deleted]

On the internet there are plenty of smaller, more sophisticated discussion groups that are more intellectual. Though they are, as you said, for hobbies and esoteric topics. Typically most scientific, or literature discussion tends to be well informed or at least well thought out.

As for the Escapist, well it has some smart members, but any intellectual discussion is normally drowned out by threads about 'this and that of supreme insignificance' and threads that only require a one line entry, or even a one word entry.

The Escapist is generally free of trolling, or quite resistant to it due to decent moderation, and most people adhere to the guidelines... However I do not really come here for intellectual pursuits, since there are places less stagnated by importance of a high post count, or friendships, or derailing; which aren't necessarily a bad thing, but they hinder a lot of intellectualism and care in thinking and wording a reply.

So to sum up. The Escapist is a fun place, but even the Something Awful forums have more going for them intellectually. I love the Escapist, but it's one of those loves where I pine for it to improve in quality before I'll love it unconditionally. I think it might be a better place if those smart members posted more, but that would probably take away from their ability to only post when necessary or when passionate about the subject.

You made good points. I guess I like the escapist the best because everyone here is an "escapee" that is, they left the other forums and came here(there are exceptions, but you can tell by how they type).

I imagine many men and women in tuxedos and gowns, discussing whatever tickles their fancy, be it things of "supreme insignificance" or discussing common topics like the articles, but everyone is cool with each other and it isn't hard to start to know regulars.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I couldn't possibly have done the necessary research to make any kind of claim. The forums are just text on our screens...are we basing intelligence entirely on grammar?

 

[Gadzooks]

I imagine many men and women in tuxedos and gowns, discussing whatever tickles their fancy, be it things of "supreme insignificance" or discussing common topics like the articles, but everyone is cool with each other and it isn't hard to start to know regulars.

You raise a good point there, actually. The Escapist has some elitism, but mostly the regulars are very accommodating. As far as I can tell, it isn't that hard to gain acceptance here (as long as you are mildly competent with the English language, and not a troll). People seem more than happy to make friends with each other; it's a very friendly place.

That is probably a very good thing, though sometimes I wish people would be a bit more opinionated and get a debate going, rather than being such nice, friendly bastards =)

 

[Deleted]

I couldn't possibly have done the necessary research to make any kind of claim. The forums are just text on our screens...are we basing intelligence entirely on grammar?

Not 'intelligence' but I guess how good the experience is. And no grammar should matter not.

 

[Double A]

... no "other" option?

 

[alinos]

yeah in my view most of these game forums are a bunch of im better than you jerks should really be called smartest game based forums

only reason i come here is for zero punc and if one of the hot posts intrests me while i do that