Stop the Hate (and Start Loving)

[Phlakes]

inb4 Haters gonna hate-
-and posting it out of spite is not clever.

This used to be my internet home. I haven't even been here for long (at least not compared to a lot of people), but it was one of my favorite communities I had ever come across. I looked forward to every time I checked the forums.

And now? Every single day it's packed with hate and flaming. I've been casually keeping track for a while, and literally every time I come on there's at least one thread on the home page ranting about how terrible something is or one that's become a warzone over piracy or civil rights or whatever the hell is controversial these days. And that's what it feels like when I visit the site, like I'm walking into a warzone instead of, I don't know, a rowdy but friendly pub like it felt like before.

You hate the consoles you don't own, you hate consoles that aren't even out yet, you hate games that aren't even out yet, you hate games that don't live up to your expectations, you hate critics for not agreeing with you, you hate multiplayer, you hate no multiplayer, you hate publishers for being "corrupt" and "evil", you hate developers for selling out, you hate players for being dicks, you hate sequels that don't change enough, you hate sequels that change too much, you hate sequels in general, you hate anyone whose opinion differs from yours, you hate people who share your opinions but hate other people, you hate popular things because they're popular, you hate things because of their fanbase, you hate fanbases because of what they follow, you hate people who stand up for their morals, you hate people with no morals, you hate people who don't share your morals, you hate people who talk about morals at all, you hate people with different religious views, you hate people with different political views, you hate people with a different internet browser, and you probably hate me for this thread.

Just stop. Really, just stop. Just don't do it anymore. You're a relatively mature human being, so act like it. Now, I know some people out there would bring out the "this is a forum, forums are for discussion" argument. Feel free to discuss things. I don't have a problem with discussion. What I do have a problem with is when, after half a page, a thread goes from discussion to "nobody cares about your opinion, get a reality check".

I can't even make jokes about the Religion & Politics section anymore, because that's what the entire forum looks like now.

*Sigh. Do I expect anything to change? No. I expect this thread to either go down with 30 views and no replies, or to wake up with a dozen messages that I've been quoted, each one being more hate or flaming.

Also, inb4 the (marginal) irony of this being a rant.

And Nouw brings up a good point- don't stop hating. Start loving.

Suggested reading-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_polarization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attitude_polarization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

 

[Yureina]

Generally speaking, I agree with you. But... I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but things seem to have gotten a bit nicer recently. That's why i've been making something of a comeback.

Honestly, the only thing you can really do to try to "fix" things is to try to make nice posts of your own, in the hope that others catch on and make similar kinds of posts. That's the philosophy I follow at least, even if I don't stick to it 100% of the time.

I'm not sure if this thread will get flamed though. I mean... it's not a "I'm leaving, this site sucks!" kind of thread as far as I can see.

*hugs* Hope you feel better :3

- Rei

 

[Nouw]

I do agree with you, then again this message is going to relevant everywhere on the internet and all the time because you can't stop hate. What you can do is promote postivity so why not make a thread about the opposite? Start the love! Stop is a negative in itself so make a thread about joy!

 

[Erttheking]

I kinda get where you're coming from, I get tired about things constantly getting bashed on this site, it's like people can't think of anything else to do on the internet except whine about things. I would find this site a much more hospital place if people would stop being such jerks...huh, I guess this is why I watch MLP: FiM

 

[Vault101]

really? this is a recent thing?

I noticed this ageis ago but...well it doesnt seem like a recent thing...or even that bad right now, and I guess I kind of thought "ehh..thats the internet for you"

I will say though I have a feeling theres a strange amount of Bioware hate..I mean that thread "are you still getting ME3?" has been going on for ageis now..I suspect theres somthing going on in there (and whatever it is DO NOT tell me Im avoiding anything ME3 related) [/B]

Id like to know some specfic examples (threads and such)

EDIT: well actually this does seem to be more of a thing on the gaming section..I supose

 

[Phlakes]

really? this is a recent thing?

I noticed this ageis ago but...well it doesnt seem like a recent thing...or even that bad right now, and I guess I kind of thought "ehh..thats the internet for you"

It looks like Shooter Season 2011 and the whole SOPA fiasco kicked up a lot of dust. Or maybe I keep going into the wrong threads, I don't know, but I feel like I've been facepalming a lot more this year than last.

 

[Kae]

I don't know, I think the hate has always been there and I don't think it came out recently, but regardless, I do think that something has changed recently, everything seems more boring and I don't seem to get inspired to joke about myself as much as I did before, though most of the times I just repeat myself so it's not like it was great, but that did mean I was in a good mood, so yeah.

 

[Antari]

Snip.

Just on a side note, Lemmings is a great example of human behavior! Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary ... the community is pissed and venting. I'm willing to switch to popcorn for a while. I wouldn't worry about it, either it'll clear up on its own. Or EA will change its policies and we'll all die of heart attacks.

 

[Vault101]

really? this is a recent thing?

I noticed this ageis ago but...well it doesnt seem like a recent thing...or even that bad right now, and I guess I kind of thought "ehh..thats the internet for you"

It looks like Shooter Season 2011 and the whole SOPA fiasco kicked up a lot of dust. Or maybe I keep going into the wrong threads, I don't know, but I feel like I've been facepalming a lot more this year than last.

hmmm yeah, people love to hate on shooters (especially the brown variety)

with SOPA people are generally on one side of things (that SOPA is BAD) obviously, Ive been seeing alot of hate towards publishers..then again whats new?

 

[Nouw]

Spoiler: Hey You (With Love)

Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you hug me?
Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you hug me?
Hey you, dont help them to bury the love
Don't give in without a fight.

Hey you, out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone
Would you kiss me?
Hey you, with you ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out
Would you kiss me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, we're coming home.

And it turned out to be reality.
The wall wasn't too high,
As you can see.
Because of how hard he tried,
He could break free.
And the love became one with his brain.

Hey you, out there on the road
always doing what you're told,
Can you love me?
Hey you, out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall,
Can you love me?
Hey you, don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall.

Yeah it's not as imagiantive as Pony Wars...the Enlightment Due but it still puts my message across .

 

[Zen Toombs]

-snip-

I concur. In my opinion, more hugs are needed to make the world a much happier and smilier place.

*Hugs*

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't so much mind the hate, it's the way it's directed that gets me.

OMG, corporations are evil, big business is evil, government is evil!

Ok, fair enough, but:

OMG, people protesting about how corporations, big business and government are evil...WTF is up with those losers?

Seems odd that the vast majority of people seem to hold the first viewpoint, and a large number hold the second.

 

[Verzin]

I'm with you on the stopping hate. 100% hate is dumb.
but going as far as to Love? I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I definitely understand what you're saying, and agree to an extent.

For example; when someone announced that they uninstalled Skyrim, somehow that warranted nearly 500 comments, and over 20 000 views!

The mind boggles.

I could've told you within 5 seconds of reading the OP in that thread what was going to happen, and Duffeknol, his many protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, wrote that post with that exact outcome in mind. You can almost taste his excitement as he repeatedly references how large the thread has become.

Phlakes, I am 100% sympathetic, although god knows I'm guilty of being an argumentative prick from time to time. Confirmation bias makes it almost impossible to have a discussion about anything without it devolving into a slap and tickle fight 5 sentences in.

 

[Davatehi]

I agree, we need much more love on this site. Therefore, I have a very important question to you all.

Spoiler: Dear Escapist...

Would you like to marry me?

 

[Atmos Duality]

I've been here for about a year and a half, and even I can tell you that this community has taken a nosedive in terms of understanding.

Sadly, I can't help but feel partly responsible...

 

[veloper]

I'll disagree because someone has to.

I appreciate warnings so I don't have to fall into those holes myself. "Hate threads" about products, policies and other things can be valuable in their own right when the information is good, but in large numbers they point the way.

Example: games. I find the aggregate user score(on metacritic) is closer to my own opinion than most profesional reviews.
That's only because of all the haters, with their extreme down votes.

Thank you, all the haters out there!

 

[Lucem712]

To avoid a low content post, I think it's definitely coming out of the muck since SOPA/PIPA (ect) is falling into the background and that'll help all the piracy (hate or for) discussions go away (for awhile, at least)

 

[GrimTuesday]

I agree, we need much more love on this site. Therefore, I have a very important question to you all.

Spoiler: Dear Escapist...

Would you like to marry me?

No, its too soon, you've only been here for a bit over a year *looks down on you with scorn*

OT:I spend a lot of time in Religion and Politics and even I agree that things have gotten a bit on the hate side as of late. While the hate itself is not really new, the shear amount of it is getting to be ridiculous, and while a bit of hate is good, too much can just spoil the fun for everyone else. Of course as said previously, part of the influx of hate is coming from the whole SOPA/PIPA debacle which has lead to a lot of people starting threads relating to piracy and other things that apply to those failed peices of legislation.

Spoiler: Can't we all live in Harmony?

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I'm always up for love over hate. Come on guys, I'll give you all a hug!

*hugs you all even though some of you said no anyway*