[sub]I know better than to start this post with "Back in mah day" to get immediately written off as some complainy user that has spent far too long on a Gaming forum.Yet somehow I will be immediately assumed to be just as condescending, silently.[/sub]
The Escapist Magazine Forum is a Community. Maybe some of the frequenters have felt this sense of association between its users and the opinions they convey, maybe not. Or perhaps individuals feel that the Escapist is just another forum, or soon to become another wretched hive of trolls and lollery. How it used to be, was a smaller and quieter time. The real question however, is whether or not the exchange time has traded, was worth it; In the Earlier Days, The Escapist was a tight-knit group of users probably numbering less than two hundred. Ever since the large surges of popularity that the Summers since 2007 (due to Zero Punctuation[footnote]Zero Punctuation, first episode "Heavenly Sword and Other Stuff", August 2007 [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1-Heavenly-Sword-and-Other-Stuff]][/footnote]), that community has grown, until it was unrecognizable as of probably late 2009, due to those users and their posts becoming so dilute in the incomprehensibly large population that now frequents the forums and site. However the broadened gates of users going in and out of the site made it less Elitist and more accessible for the average internet goer while still maintaining the significantly higher standard of posting.[img_inline caption="An aside, I consider Ben Croshaw to be more of an entertainer or comedian than a reviewer or critic. " width=300]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/zero-punctuation-assassins-.jpg[/img_inline]
The question is, which could be thought of as 'better' (if either)- the smaller but more intimate community of users, verses the more readily accessible but larger group of frequenters, which relegated closer friendship as it used to be, to the confines of Groups or private chats outside the realm of the forum?
I joined, like many people, out of curiosity of a peculiar cartoon character on a yellow background saying funny things about games I had not played. It did not take long for me to find my place among many other people which I was pleased to discover were mostly my age, and liked video games. While obviously this is largely the assumption de facto of most given internet users, it was a big new world for me, and I was very delighted with the polite, rational and... akin to sophisticated atmosphere. Egotists came off as pretending to be Supervillains, Fanboys could be associated with and were quite friendly, even if a bit zealous regarding their preferred devices, and most trolls ended up having to erect a fisade resembling the Upper Class Twit-of-the-Year in order to not become banned within a few minutes, due to the eloquent and always delightfully malicious lone moderator the Escapist had, Joe[footnote]Before the summer of 2008, the Escapist Forums had Joe as the only moderator, until Wilsonscrazybed and Nilcipher.[/footnote]. One could describe the best of days as in and around the Fall of 2008 when the chemistry of the Escapist was most agreeable for the amount of users which had influxed of the summer of that year, and the community which still managed to thrive. The Escapist community had grown from probably 200 to about 2000 common frequenters, bringing all sorts of interesting and large scale engagements of its members. I recall events such as The First Escapist Presidential Election[footnote]The President of the Escapist Election formed two threads: The Original (No Longer Accessible) and the Ballot Box [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.69158]]. Also a Role-play [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.71342]].[/footnote], won by former President Darth Mobius[footnote]Darth Mobius was permanently banned...[/footnote], or the rather scherzo-addled division of opinions regarding the initiation of the Holiday Council[footnote]The Holiday Council can still be accessed. [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.79496]][/footnote], headed by Xitel.
Personally, I would like to instate the axiom of the history of The Escapist before I too shuffle off my usage of this modest user account, and the wonderful days of yesteryear disapear from all memory. Personally, the Escapist as a close community was an important component of my development as a person regarding how I thought and conversed. This site due to those days truly is the best site I've ever been on and doubt any website will ever surpass the meaningful and fun conversations I had in the past here.
TL;DR footnote complaints aside, as of late, the Escapist has been thriving in terms of usage and the ability to find and share ideas between many people has expanded greatly, but I really ask, at what cost. Feel free to consider such a dysjunction, Small but relationally tangible pools of people to converse with, compared to large, unencapsulatable social groups which can come and go as they please?
The Escapist Magazine Forum is a Community. Maybe some of the frequenters have felt this sense of association between its users and the opinions they convey, maybe not. Or perhaps individuals feel that the Escapist is just another forum, or soon to become another wretched hive of trolls and lollery. How it used to be, was a smaller and quieter time. The real question however, is whether or not the exchange time has traded, was worth it; In the Earlier Days, The Escapist was a tight-knit group of users probably numbering less than two hundred. Ever since the large surges of popularity that the Summers since 2007 (due to Zero Punctuation[footnote]Zero Punctuation, first episode "Heavenly Sword and Other Stuff", August 2007 [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1-Heavenly-Sword-and-Other-Stuff]][/footnote]), that community has grown, until it was unrecognizable as of probably late 2009, due to those users and their posts becoming so dilute in the incomprehensibly large population that now frequents the forums and site. However the broadened gates of users going in and out of the site made it less Elitist and more accessible for the average internet goer while still maintaining the significantly higher standard of posting.[img_inline caption="An aside, I consider Ben Croshaw to be more of an entertainer or comedian than a reviewer or critic. " width=300]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/zero-punctuation-assassins-.jpg[/img_inline]
The question is, which could be thought of as 'better' (if either)- the smaller but more intimate community of users, verses the more readily accessible but larger group of frequenters, which relegated closer friendship as it used to be, to the confines of Groups or private chats outside the realm of the forum?
I joined, like many people, out of curiosity of a peculiar cartoon character on a yellow background saying funny things about games I had not played. It did not take long for me to find my place among many other people which I was pleased to discover were mostly my age, and liked video games. While obviously this is largely the assumption de facto of most given internet users, it was a big new world for me, and I was very delighted with the polite, rational and... akin to sophisticated atmosphere. Egotists came off as pretending to be Supervillains, Fanboys could be associated with and were quite friendly, even if a bit zealous regarding their preferred devices, and most trolls ended up having to erect a fisade resembling the Upper Class Twit-of-the-Year in order to not become banned within a few minutes, due to the eloquent and always delightfully malicious lone moderator the Escapist had, Joe[footnote]Before the summer of 2008, the Escapist Forums had Joe as the only moderator, until Wilsonscrazybed and Nilcipher.[/footnote]. One could describe the best of days as in and around the Fall of 2008 when the chemistry of the Escapist was most agreeable for the amount of users which had influxed of the summer of that year, and the community which still managed to thrive. The Escapist community had grown from probably 200 to about 2000 common frequenters, bringing all sorts of interesting and large scale engagements of its members. I recall events such as The First Escapist Presidential Election[footnote]The President of the Escapist Election formed two threads: The Original (No Longer Accessible) and the Ballot Box [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.69158]]. Also a Role-play [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/362.71342]].[/footnote], won by former President Darth Mobius[footnote]Darth Mobius was permanently banned...[/footnote], or the rather scherzo-addled division of opinions regarding the initiation of the Holiday Council[footnote]The Holiday Council can still be accessed. [Link [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.79496]][/footnote], headed by Xitel.
Personally, I would like to instate the axiom of the history of The Escapist before I too shuffle off my usage of this modest user account, and the wonderful days of yesteryear disapear from all memory. Personally, the Escapist as a close community was an important component of my development as a person regarding how I thought and conversed. This site due to those days truly is the best site I've ever been on and doubt any website will ever surpass the meaningful and fun conversations I had in the past here.
TL;DR footnote complaints aside, as of late, the Escapist has been thriving in terms of usage and the ability to find and share ideas between many people has expanded greatly, but I really ask, at what cost. Feel free to consider such a dysjunction, Small but relationally tangible pools of people to converse with, compared to large, unencapsulatable social groups which can come and go as they please?
Special Thanks go to Irridium, The Monopoly Guy and Jumplion for assisting me in the recollection of the Older Days.
Very Special Thanks go to all the users who contributed in making The Escapist more than just a place to talk about stuff, but truly an energetic and synergistic place to escape to. Whoever, and wherever they may be.
NewClassic, The_Root_of_All_Evil, TheNecroswanson, Neonbob, MaxTheReaper, John Galt, Fire Daemon, Danny Ocean, Ivory Agent, J-e-f-f-e-r-s, Fish Food Carl, Jamanticus, Berethond, Lord Krunk, GenHellSpawn, Darth Mobius, The Iron Ninja, The Monopoly Guy, Poodonkis, Joe, Hey Joe, Ultrajoe, Eviljoe, The Sorrow, The Prophet, Shapsters, milskidasith,x434343, Larenxis, Lord Harrab, Higurashi,Portkins, mshcherbatskaya, rogueshadows, El Arab De Magnifico, Generally Mostly Electrified Steel, RAKtheUndead, Taxi Driver, Dastardos, Copter400, Gigantor, Conqueror Kenny, PedroSteckecilo, PurpleRain, Combined, Shivari, Spartan Bannana, stompy, Nivag, Xitel, Spinwhiz, Vanguard1219, Abako, TheBobMaster,
and the eternally tireless efforts all the Escapist Moderator, Tech and Administrative Staff, who were here since before the beginning.
~
Very Special Thanks go to all the users who contributed in making The Escapist more than just a place to talk about stuff, but truly an energetic and synergistic place to escape to. Whoever, and wherever they may be.
NewClassic, The_Root_of_All_Evil, TheNecroswanson, Neonbob, MaxTheReaper, John Galt, Fire Daemon, Danny Ocean, Ivory Agent, J-e-f-f-e-r-s, Fish Food Carl, Jamanticus, Berethond, Lord Krunk, GenHellSpawn, Darth Mobius, The Iron Ninja, The Monopoly Guy, Poodonkis, Joe, Hey Joe, Ultrajoe, Eviljoe, The Sorrow, The Prophet, Shapsters, milskidasith,x434343, Larenxis, Lord Harrab, Higurashi,Portkins, mshcherbatskaya, rogueshadows, El Arab De Magnifico, Generally Mostly Electrified Steel, RAKtheUndead, Taxi Driver, Dastardos, Copter400, Gigantor, Conqueror Kenny, PedroSteckecilo, PurpleRain, Combined, Shivari, Spartan Bannana, stompy, Nivag, Xitel, Spinwhiz, Vanguard1219, Abako, TheBobMaster,
and the eternally tireless efforts all the Escapist Moderator, Tech and Administrative Staff, who were here since before the beginning.
~
