Why are you people so negative?

[ShakyFiend]

I hope you realise the irony of being so damn negative about peoples negativity, brighten up man! Negative people aint all bad

 

[subfield]

i'm having trouble understanding how you can be so optimistic. can you not see the hurt in the world? can you not see the evil?

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Am I the only one who somewhat agrees with the OP? I've been here for a few years now, and I have to say I DO see quite a lot of pessimism around here. Perhaps it's not the most negative place on the entire internet, sure, but that doesn't mean it's not common. If I had a nickel for every time I see a thread titled "Why all the hate on __" or "Why are YOU losing faith in humanity?", I'd have several dollars. Not to mention the comments on every video that isn't Zero Punctuation, Extra Credits, or Moviebob. There's a reason I've stopped reading those.

I don't see anyone negative here, maybe you get the occasional troll or something but otherwise; it's a pretty happy community.

Oh-hoh, wait until you've been here a few more years my friend =P

 

[TheRenaissanceMan]

You people? what do you mean "you people"?

Nah just kidding. I think that the community here is actually a lot more positive about most things.

 

[Navvan]

Wanna talk negative!? Try being a Star Wars fan who likes The new ones and doesn't care about the added in stuff to the originals....you get eaten ALIVE!!!

Very few Star Wars fans are positive about this kind of thing

To the Sarlacc pit with you for this blasphemy!

Honestly I never understood all the anger with the new films and the remastering of the old ones either. I still prefer 4,5,6 and think 1,2,3 could have been done better, but they weren't a blight upon this earth like most make them out to be and I still enjoyed them. Remastering doesn't really matter since I have my original versions. Not to mention not all the remastering is horrible. I still don't understand what Lucus was thinking with redoing the NoooOOOOo though.

 

[Dr Snakeman]

-snip-

No, what the Escapist has isn't a surplus of misanthropes. What we have is a surplus of people who THINK they are misanthropes, brought in by lure of Yahtzee and his weekly dumps on the world. And then they stay when they find the forums, a sufficiently validating dumping ground for their grievances with the world, their regrets in life, and their general angst.

But no, most of them aren't misanthropes through and through. They've just diluted themselves into thinking so, because the community here is accepting to those types. It becomes their alter-ego, in a sense. They can be as negative as they want to be without the consequences and demands of social norms that functioning real society offers.

I really wish sarcasm were easy to read. I will agree with you, though.

Lol, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm being perfectly serious. From what I've seen these last couple of years, the Escapist has a lot of neat people, but too many of them are far too convinced that they are stone-cold, pillars of misanthropic logic in a world "overrun with idiots and losers." What they really need is a hug, a good cry, and something to get that stick that's been shoved too far up their ass.

...

I just slow clapped. Seriously. Thank you, good sir, for saying what needs to be said.

 

[ScruffyTheJanitor]

"Your all too negative"


Talk about self defeated points...

 

[Riccan]

The problem (for lack of a better word) isn't so much pessimism or negativity, but the apparent lack of balance. When one states that "Humanity is the bane of all existance and needs to be utterly destroyed.", they tend to not want to see any sort of positive aspect because that might cast doubt on to their previous belief. Without any sort of balance, one would typically drift towards an extreme of either blind misanthropy or blind idealism. Blind being you can not and will not see any thing aside from your current belief. It is typically easier to view things as white and black, right and wrong, but such things can not and do not exist.

People tend to view things in a certain way until either enough issues with that view pile up or something huge metaphoricaly ***** slaps them into a state of disillusionment. Is it their fault? No.

Now the people that just cling onto the bandwagon of cynicism because it is "cool", many first world societies seem to think that cynicism equates to badass and worldliness; basically portraying them as qualities of the world weary sage that has grown contempt with society. Or in laymen's, it is considered badass to be cynical now in the sam way that it was badass in the seventies/eigthies to have huge hair and look like a drag queen (see Twisted Sister and many other popular bands that are typically associated with that era).
It is a phase for many people and socity that will be grown out of.

Another issue is that people will equate cynicism to misanthropy or negtivity. No, they aren't the same, stop that. Cynicism is the doubt/cautiousness that one holds when dealing with others, not "OMFG HUMNZ R TEH GAYZZZ!!!!!1". I think that I am rambiling now, so good day.

 

[Legion IV]

To all the pessimistic complainers and whiners.

The saddest part about humanity and our biggest flaw is just how many people don't appreciate what they have and waste it.

I've some of the worst luck, i grew up having to fight kids twice my size who would jump me until i grew up and grew stronger to where am now respected, I've had to deal with some of the worst crap.

Yet i love life, i couldn't be happier. Am sure more then half of the people here complaining live in a decent city, if there here they can afford a console and a tv, which means they must have some food and shelter. No one should seriously be complaining.

Anyone ever lose there loved ones when there still at a young age and hardly receive any money from health insurance? just enough to get a small apartment and be rushed to get a job or else you'll lose it? While still grieving mind you?

Now years in the future am happy, i have my own place, live alone (i love peace and quiet) I have Internet and 42 inch tv nice desktop. Its the weekend i have 3 days off to do whatever, and my Import Copy of Agarest War 2 just arrived. Gonna call my best friend over to help translate and continue to teach me some Japanese as i teach him some English.

I went through more pain than more than half of these complainers probably will and am happy and there still sad? Thats pathetic, thats Sad.


Quick side note: What i find really sad about some people and kids growing up (Jesus am only 23 and calling them kids) Is how you will see a teenage boy or girl cry for days maybe months if they get dumped.Yet they will not even shed a single tear on remembrance day during the moment of silence. Thats just horrible, would it be horrible parenting? Teaching?

 

[PonceyMcTosserFaic]

Wanna talk negative!? Try being a Star Wars fan who likes The new ones and doesn't care about the added in stuff to the originals....you get eaten ALIVE!!!

Very few Star Wars fans are positive about this kind of thing

even mention the new ones in some circles and they ask for your nerd card.
yikes.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I'm not an optimist, to be certain, but "lie" implies that there is a truth, and there is only perspective. I spent the better part of my 20's as a pessimist, deluding myself, as many I see do, into seeing it as superior perspective and calling myself a realist.

I know there are unfortunate things in this world that I can't control, but the world itself is only terrible if you set it to a standard of your making, and putting it bluntly; (not just doc here, but everyone) Who are you to judge the standard that things must meet to be good?

Chances are you don't see the positives, because good doesn't upset you. Be guarded, of course. But I find I can't call myself any of those three. I see things, and judge them based on experiences. Things just are what they are.

Life is too short to be negative.

One of the most sensible posts in this topic.

Trust me...it's horrifying beyond description when you get into the depths of true depression. When one starts questioning the practicality of their own existence...definitely seek help.
It's fucking scary stuff, and I can say without a shred of doubt that it stems from someone who criticizes every little thing; cynicism is poisonous. You really do have to genuinely laugh once in a while or it will just eat you up.

Life is too short as it is.

 

[gabe12301]

i'm having trouble understanding how you can be so optimistic. can you not see the hurt in the world? can you not see the evil?

I see it and if possible address it. That doesn't mean I have to mope around IRL or over the internet. and It's not as if flowers sprout up at my feet and I shoot rainbows out my arse either.I never said anyone had to be prancing around optimistically in the OP. I can't understand why people can't just be satisfied.

 

[crop52]

Thanks for this thread OP. I was actually thinking of starting a thread like this myself. There are too many cynics on the internet.

 

[Triforceformer]

I blame Yahtzee.

 

[ltbigjohn]

don't harp on people for being negative on the net. 1. its a loosing battle 2. they are just going to troll you 3. you are most certainly right but your telling this to a crowd who doesn't care what you think of them, they just care what they think and good luck truing to sway that kind of opinion in another direction.

( this is not targeted at anyone on this site but may apply and also applies to myself sometimes)

 

[Boletes Net]

because everything is shit forever.

 

[Johnny Impact]

People here are negative?

Go to 4chan, you'll learn what negativity means.

Had my fingers poised to type exactly that.

OT: People are negative everywhere. One of the guys where I work has an abusive, on-again, off-again relationship with his woman. They drive each other insane. There's nothing but monkey sex, emotional knife-twisting, and ugly breakups. Why does he go back to her again and again? Because, in his own words, there's only the nookie. No such thing as love, or healthy relationships, so why bother even looking? That's dark.

One of the reasons gamers play games in the first place is dissatisfaction or disinterest in real life. This already indicates a certain level of negativity. I'm a great example of this. I hate sports, don't drink, suck at conversation, don't watch current TV shows, dislike crowds i.e. parties/gatherings, and don't date. There goes about 90% of what normal people involve themselves in. I don't fit in, so I stay home and play games. This kind of scenario leads to resentment towards other people, who have lives when I don't. I have to remind myself that Jersey Shore and America's Top Model are popular shows, then it hardly hurts at all.

Gamers tend to be young, teens to midtwenties, either just getting their first taste of real life or not even at that point. Young people are notoriously spoiled and emotional. Every disappointment is a crushing apocalypse of fury and despair. It's very fashionable to say life is shit simply because it doesn't offer them the free rides and instant gratification they've been spoiled into thinking they deserve.

Keep your flames to yourself, please, folks. I know everything I just said is generalization. But so is the question at the top of the thread. There are some very positive folks here on the Escapist. By focusing on the negativity, gabe has told us more about himself than he intended. Pot kettle?

 

[The3rdEye]

A) Look at the official content on Escapist and measure how much of it is attacking/pissing on something or someone vs complimenting or recommending it.

B)Look at the front page on any given day and count how many of the video articles have a screen grab showing the author/writer, whatever.

C)Compare the number of comments in "Such and such is bad" or "X is Y, replacing fact with opinion" threads to "They did a good job on X" or "I recommend Y" threads.

1) People like seeing other people angry, and people especially like seeing "big money" get ripped on. It's not anything new though, the entire mentality of the "less rich" taking enjoyment at the suffering of the rich goes all the way back to the silent film days.

2) People love being put into the spotlight, even if it is their alter ego or online avatar. Never mind if what you have to contribute is a wet paper bag, as long as someone comments or quotes on what you say you're validated.

3) Criticism is just easier than praise overall. You don't need to put your values or opinions in the line of fire so you have nothing to lose, and nothing is ever perfect so there's always something to rag on.

---------------

TLR - Your audience reflects your content and vice-versa.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

/b/ may be negative, but they do take a certain amount of enjoyment out of it. lol

OT some are negative, me sometimes, although i try not to be as its the easiest way to insult someone in a heated moment and get kicked off the site. I guess writing online is different than talking in person, online is less personal and thus we tend to be more blunt in what we say. For instance, ive see the Modern Warfare games are shit....but in reality they are great games for what they are, just that i dont enjoy playing them. Maybe we are all lazy and its quicker to say something is shit instead of writing two sentences explaining why.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Wanna talk negative!? Try being a Star Wars fan who likes The new ones and doesn't care about the added in stuff to the originals....you get eaten ALIVE!!!

Very few Star Wars fans are positive about this kind of thing

Ok new trilogy fine that is a matter of taste, JarJar again fine but come on some of the changes are down right stupid and don't make sense. Greedo shooting first while not a big one the reason for it is a bit of a cop out and goes against what Han should be at least at the start(A dirty smuggler). As much as I hate to admit it at least there is more sound reasoning(only slightly) in putting in Hayden despite the fact it is still more of a cop out and my personal most hated change.

-snip-

No, what the Escapist has isn't a surplus of misanthropes. What we have is a surplus of people who THINK they are misanthropes, brought in by lure of Yahtzee and his weekly dumps on the world. And then they stay when they find the forums, a sufficiently validating dumping ground for their grievances with the world, their regrets in life, and their general angst.

But no, most of them aren't misanthropes through and through. They've just diluted themselves into thinking so, because the community here is accepting to those types. It becomes their alter-ego, in a sense. They can be as negative as they want to be without the consequences and demands of social norms that functioning real society offers.

I really wish sarcasm were easy to read. I will agree with you, though.

Lol, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm being perfectly serious. From what I've seen these last couple of years, the Escapist has a lot of neat people, but too many of them are far too convinced that they are stone-cold, pillars of misanthropic logic in a world "overrun with idiots and losers." What they really need is a hug, a good cry, and something to get that stick that's been shoved too far up their ass.

It was always like this. For all the things that have changed on this site this has remained constant.