Yet Another Rant About You (/Us) Lot

[Stranger of Sorts]

This picture holds your attention​

Hi, Hey there, Hello... you don't know me do you? No? Good. My name is Jonny, I do not post an exceeding amount, I am not at all well known and I'm not nearly as interesting as I hope to be. But for this post these things are beneficial. I am the everyday man, the average user to put it in more relevant terms. So I have little bias in my observations.

So what am I doing with this thread then? Well I'm simply voicing my opinions in the hope that I may change the hearts and minds of some of you good people. My opinions concern this site and its forums.

My story starts a long long time ago, when I was a mere browser bought here, like so many others, by Zero Punctuation. There was a pretty nice atmosphere, I'd click on the threads in the 'latest post' box and it would mostly be full of people voicing their opinions on the topic at hand and then arguing their case against others. And while not always the case there was a pretty laid back atmosphere. So I joined, just in time to see it all change.

But now I look at the latest post box and what do I find? I find thread upon thread of 'What is your favourite' this and 'What's the best you've ever done at' that. I mean these threads would be fine if people discussed their views. But no, I see one sentence replies and then the poster is off with +1 added to their post count. And who are the people that post these threads in the first place? Are they trying to get anything out of this rather than the satisfaction of having dozens of replies? Probably not. This is not a competition of who has the highest post count or replies, or at least it shouldn't be but it is steadily heading in that direction. So get rid of these threads then, would be one idea. The mods of this site have certainly tried by introducing punishments for low content. But all the really needs to be done is a simple rephrasing of the title, try adding in a 'Why?' and I'm sure things would improve.

This frenzy of posting in the Off-Topic section can lead people to be glued to it and never come out. And this, my friends, is a terrible thing. The User Reviews section is constantly overlooked and someone's hard work will be seen be say, 50 people and feedback will be given by say... one. Whereas a thread on How Long Have You Stayed Awake? is at 120 replies and counting. What do you gain from typing '26 hours' and then leaving? Nothing, you have affected no one and shall continue to live in obscurity, congratulations you boring sod.

Spoiler

Sorry to pick out that thread in particular, it was the first one on the list

On a more obvious note. A lot of you on here seem to look down upon everyone else. Labelling them as nerdy forum goers so therefore you are better than them. But now you're one of them, remember everyone is equal on the internet, unless proven to be stupid. So treat your fellow forum-ers with respect. Each and everyone of them has their own personality, their own feelings and their own problems. Remember there are people on the other end of the internet.

So when you post, just think first. Do you need to post? Will you be adding anything to the thread that hasn't been said before? Are you going to challenge anyone opinions? But above all, am I being a twat?

/rant

Does anyone here hold any particular views on this topic? Or have you got bored and moved on yet?

 

[Curtmiester]

I'm sorry but are we reading the same forums? I do agree with the repeat threads(ironic that this thread has been done before), but I have never seen anyone "look down upon everyone else". And people who do that normally don't last long and are just looking for a few kicks. Most people on here are really nice. Infact, this is the nicest site I know.

 

[Dahni]

yes, you are being a twat, but fair point.
i'm not gonna condemn you for your opinion 'cause you actually make some pretty sound points.

one thing I really don't agree with, however, is things about threads pertaining to what our favourite things are. Now, sure, you get one word answers on those, but if someone posts one word and it happens to be a word I like, I reply and bang, here comes a conversation. "What is your favourite..." posts can lay the foundation for a good conversation with another escapist. just saying

though, the post you made an example of about staying awake, i do agree that's a pretty stupid post.

EDIT: also, when does anyone else "look down on" others and label them nerdy forum-goers or whatever?

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

[quote="Dahni" post="18.180529.5299842"
EDIT: also, when does anyone else "look down on" others and label them nerdy forum-goers or whatever? [/quote]

I guess that may be more of a general internet one. But I have seen it done here, though not as much which is nice.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

(ironic that this thread has been done before)

Just hammering the point home I guess.

 

[Dahni]

I guess that may be more of a general internet one. But I have seen it done here, though not as much which is nice.

the internet is full of people who do that, but I've only ever encountered it once here and that was only when I got caught in the crossfire of a stupid argument between my friend and some asshole.

 

[Cherry Cola]

What do you gain from typing '26 hours' and then leaving? Nothing, you have affected no one and shall continue to live in obscurity, congratulations you boring sod.

By that logic, you wouldn't really gain anything from a huge majority of your posts. But we are not here to gain something, we are simply here because of something.

I can see where your issues lie, but these problems are very much unfixable. It's like saying that nobody in the world should be racist. Sure, it would be damned good if it happened, but there will always be people who think differently, or act differently.

But then again, seeing as how this is a rant, I can probably excuse it. I too rant about things that wont really change.

Now, about the looking down part: I've had some people look down on me for having a lot of posts, and I've had people claim that I look down on them. I can't really change how they perceive reality, and so here it cannot be fixed.

 

[reg42]

I dunno. Sure, some of that stuff happens sometimes, but it's hardly something which makes me worry about the state of the forum. You're knit-picking problems that are cause by a few and labeling them to many.

 

[Cabisco]

EDIT: also, when does anyone else "look down on" others and label them nerdy forum-goers or whatever?

I'm not sure what he means by that, but I have seen and experienced people on this website who will quickly judge someone and label them an arsehole, retarded etc before actually fully viewing or understanding what their saying. For example, when I first started posting on this website, I thought as a joke I would make a thread about New Modern Warfare 3 announced. The link of course was to the onion where a clearly satirical (i mean extremly)video was. People, who had clearly not watched the video proceeded to call me a retard for believe the video to be real.

At that point I honestly considered leaving the forum thinking, god these people are Obnoxious and rude. But luckily I stayed, and I have seen alot of the good parts of these forums.

The general theme I find for the escapist is that when everyone is having a laugh and agreeing it's great, everyone is intelligent, funny etc. When someone disagrees with an opinion, or is being negative they tend to be very short with their answers. Very cruel, rude and just plain insulting to people. I have never seen a debate on this website, only kiddish little arguements that read like "your gay" "Your mothers gay".

So yeah, the best way i think these forums could improve is by having a couple of the more high minded forum goers (you know who you are) to have a debate on something, with a minimum word count enforced

 

[Cody211282]

Even in the short time since I've joined the escapist has gone downhill. I joined when there were still the occasional attempt at discussion and now there's none. For a "last bastion of intelligence on the internet" this place has a surprising lack of it what with the sheer amount of people who use 4chan memes and things like "fail", and OP's aforementioned one-liner topics.

For the topics in question I've posted in them simply because there really isn't much else to post in any more.

Its still alot better then most other places, and its fun to try to get people like you into the to actualy discuss something

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The Escapist: Dying Again.

A lot of you on here seem to look down upon everyone else. Labelling them as nerdy forum goers so therefore you are better than them. But now you're one of them, remember everyone is equal on the internet, unless proven to be stupid. So treat your fellow forum-ers with respect. Each and everyone of them has their own personality, their own feelings and their own problems. Remember there are people on the other end of the internet.

Ironic quote is Ironic.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I don't particularly mind the slew of seemingly needless threads. We are all here for one of two things: for intellect and for entertainment. The columns take care of both, but very heavily center on the first. The videos are the reverse, being very much centered on entertainment. The forums have always featured a mixture of the two.

As it is now, the composition of the Off Topic section may be mostly entertainment threads, such as those you have listed, but I don't really consider that an issue. It used to be that the Off Topic section had to be shared between mindless entertainment and serious religious/political discussion. Sure, those aren't the only types of discussion that can be serious and intellectual, but it does comprise the bulk of it, especially on the internet.

Now, the Off Topic section will be almost entirely the sort of entertainment content you dislike because of the Religion and Politics Section. It has always been true that around 95% of the intellectual discussions on this site have been on those topics. With them now secluded in their own section, the Off Topic has become a section almost purely comprised of things meant to entertain. Time wasters that get you give minutes closer to death. As for me, I enjoy both sections.

Here's a link to the Religion and Politics section so you can partake in the intellectual debates instead of writing drawn out posts about their absence:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/index/528-Religion-and-Politics

 

[Hutchy_Bear]

I agree on some of your points but I hate it when people say that the Escapist has gone down hill. Every forum I have been on always has the older posters claiming that it was better in the past. It's like the TV arguement, people claim TV is getting worse but infact there are far better series in now, there is just also a lot more shit. I mean there are still good discussive threads but they are hidden behind a lot more "What's your _________ __________"

Plus the boards have been diversified so whereas more political and religious discussions would occupy an off topic position they now have their own board.

 

[Cherry Cola]

What do you gain from typing '26 hours' and then leaving? Nothing, you have affected no one and shall continue to live in obscurity, congratulations you boring sod.

By that logic, you wouldn't really gain anything from a huge majority of your posts. But we are not here to gain something, we are simply here because of something.

I can see where your issues lie, but these problems are very much unfixable. It's like saying that nobody in the world should be racist. Sure, it would be damned good if it happened, but there will always be people who think differently, or act differently.

But then again, seeing as how this is a rant, I can probably excuse it. I too rant about things that wont really change.

Now, about the looking down part: I've had some people look down on me for having a lot of posts, and I've had people claim that I look down on them. I can't really change how they perceive reality, and so here it cannot be fixed.

Except unlike your example of an unfixable problem this one is VERY fixable. Mods just delete all the useless non-discussion topics from the bloody discussion forum.

That's not fixing the problem, that's fixing the symptoms.

Fixing the problem would mean to change everyone's attitude towards this forum.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

No offense, but the OP is the only one to make a one sentence post on this thread so far.

Anyway, I don't think the site has gone downhill, most meme usage seems to be more satire than anything else. Also, (crazy theory) more new users seem to be on the site, and they'll either start to post longer or probably get banned. Give it a few months.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I agree with you sir about the repeat thread and how annoying that gets but about the whole User Review section getting completely looked over i say no to you sir. I don't go to that section often because i try not to read other's reviews of a media unless i have participated in the subject matter they are discussing. As for my general posting habits i always try and make a valid and descriptive post where ever it is that i make a statement in.

 

[Croaker42]

(ironic that this thread has been done before)

Just hammering the point home I guess.

Some things need to be done more than once.

I have also noticed the growing number of one-liner threads.
Most of the time I add it up to a new member wants that hot topic badge. Though I don't doubt that many users see it as a good way to get to that "I spend all day here" post count.

My only thought is perhaps a two sentence minimum for any member created topic would help to root this out.

 

[jpakaferrari]

I have

But now I look at the latest post box and what do I find? I find thread upon thread of 'What is your favourite' this and 'What's the best you've ever done at' that. I mean these threads would be fine if people discussed their views. But no, I see one sentence replies and then the poster is off with +1 added to their post count. And who are the people that post these threads in the first place? Are they trying to get anything out of this rather than the satisfaction of having dozens of replies? Probably not. This is not a competition of who has the highest post count or replies, or at least it shouldn't be but it is steadily heading in that direction. So get rid of these threads then, would be one idea. The mods of this site have certainly tried by introducing punishments for low content. But all the really needs to be done is a simple rephrasing of the title, try adding in a 'Why?' and I'm sure things would improve.

Does anyone here hold any particular views on this topic? Or have you got bored and moved on yet?

Hey stranger of sorts, I have to whole heartedly agree with you. When I first started viewing this site last summer and then joined I found there to be many interesting discussions. Then suddenly right after one particularly long ranting thread in which several very unhappy members voiced their opinion about how the site had been going down hill (several members were but on probation or banned for that thread) suddenly all semblance of intelligent discussion and conversation disappeared. Since then I have rarely posted mainly sticking to posting on news articles and the like from the escapist and avoid user generated content all together. So I thought I'd just share that you are definitely correct in what you are seeing. I do not care if you "can do 120 pushups" (which I am doubtful for most people anyway). I really do wish there was more stimulating conversation going on about any topic. Yeah not really much else can be said about it.

 

[Lord Krunk]

The Escapist: Dying Again.

I love you, Root.

That said, the forums don't interest me as much as they used to, and thus I don't post much at all. Although there are traces of the Escapist I know and love on occasion, so I stick around for things like Review Wars, The Ratings War and various other things.

But they're just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Curtmiester]

I have

But now I look at the latest post box and what do I find? I find thread upon thread of 'What is your favourite' this and 'What's the best you've ever done at' that. I mean these threads would be fine if people discussed their views. But no, I see one sentence replies and then the poster is off with +1 added to their post count. And who are the people that post these threads in the first place? Are they trying to get anything out of this rather than the satisfaction of having dozens of replies? Probably not. This is not a competition of who has the highest post count or replies, or at least it shouldn't be but it is steadily heading in that direction. So get rid of these threads then, would be one idea. The mods of this site have certainly tried by introducing punishments for low content. But all the really needs to be done is a simple rephrasing of the title, try adding in a 'Why?' and I'm sure things would improve.

Does anyone here hold any particular views on this topic? Or have you got bored and moved on yet?

Hey stranger of sorts, I have to whole heartedly agree with you. When I first started viewing this site last summer and then joined I found there to be many interesting discussions. Then suddenly right after one particularly long ranting thread in which several very unhappy members voiced their opinion about how the site had been going down hill (several members were but on probation or banned for that thread) suddenly all semblance of intelligent discussion and conversation disappeared. Since then I have rarely posted mainly sticking to posting on news articles and the like from the escapist and avoid user generated content all together. So I thought I'd just share that you are definitely correct in what you are seeing. I do not care if you "can do 120 pushups" (which I am doubtful for most people anyway). I really do wish there was more stimulating conversation going on about any topic. Yeah not really much else can be said about it.

So what your saying is that all the intellegence and discussion on this site was between 5 or 10 people? That everyone here now has nothing interesting to say and that it has declined even though you stated yourself that you have not been here that long to know if it is better or worse then it was before?