I find comments like "I just reported this thread" or "A mod should lock this thread" or "Let's also get as many people as possible to report this thread so it can be locked and hopefully deleted" extremely unconstructive, distasteful, and more importantly against the CoC as they are both impolite and off-topic. If you don't like a thread, and feel the need to recommend it be locked or that someone should be disciplined for something said in it, there are very silent, very effective ways to bring that to the attention of a community moderator. Posting a finger-wagging reply in public to call a poster out so you can tattle on them in front of the community is wrong, in my opinion.
That practice is RAMPANT on these forums, and I've never spoken up about it before now, nor do I ever intend to to speak up about it again.
I generally just ignore threads I find distasteful, unhelpful, or unjustly negative. It does seem extreme to attempt to get threads locked and/or deleted, even if you find the comportment of it's participants unsavory.
Why not report the posts in question and move on? I think some simply enjoy arguing, and others seem inclined to rage when a dissenting voice can't be easily swayed to their stance. Many simply throw manners out the window while on the internet. They say and do things they'd never do in a face-to-face situation. It's sad, but a fact we have to live with if we wish to be part of communities like this one.
We all get tired of the incessant trolling, crying, *****ing and moaning, etc... but I've only ever reported one post in all the years I've been part of this community. I find it simpler to leave a thread. Trolls will move on when there's no food.
That's my
I have a feeling that this new thread will end badly, as well.
-Like you said, posters with no authority commenting that X, Y, and Z are CoC violations, or that [Insert Name] has/is/will break the CoC are, in and of themselves, CoC violations, and as such, are subject to discipline as well, if reported.
I find the calls for 'moderation' on these boards to be pretty bad. It seems that many people here find it easier to call for the mods to ban people they disagree with instead of actually try and discuss things.
I know the perception of internet arguments is that there's an overwhelming amount of trolls screwing people, but in reality there are maybe two people on these boards that I consider to be trolls. Everyone else are people legitimately stubborn in their beliefs to the point that they would defend them even after being unilaterally disproved. And so, anyone who disagrees with these people are either baiting or trolls or whatever.
It's sad, and the mods tend to err on the side of caution here and are more likely to lock/delete than leave a discussion open. It's sad, but there's really nothing you can do aside from ignoring those who have proven themselves to be immune to reason.
In the past, the mods have viewed "I've reported this thread/post" type comments as baiting. I don't know if that's still true or not.
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
I've deleted a large number of posts in this thread. This isn't the place for publicly calling out any specific users. While I understand the intention, it won't end in a good place and will simply serve to divide the community further.
Please, report conduct issues to Customer Service on a case by case basis so that they can be handled accordingly.
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
Actually, I think it just happened yesterday but I am not going to link 'cause that might be close to the same thing...
But, wasn't it being enforced with the thread that prompted this OP?
Actually, I think it just happened yesterday but I am not going to link 'cause that might be close to the same thing...
But, wasn't it being enforced with the thread that prompted this OP?
-His/her point isn't that it isn't done, but that people shouldn't do stuff like that to begin with.
-Suffice to say, when things are said that blatantly (as opposed to borderline) violate the Code of Conduct, report them, and let the moderators do their thing. That's why they exist. Depending on what is said/done, disciplinary action will be taken, be it editing a post, deleting a post, temporarily banning a poster, permanently banning a poster, whatever.
-Like you said, posters with no authority commenting that X, Y, and Z are CoC violations, or that [Insert Name] has/is/will break the CoC are, in and of themselves, CoC violations, and as such, are subject to discipline as well, if reported.
The funny thing, though, is that my post with a smiley was deleted... just a smiley.
-His/her point isn't that it isn't done, but that people shouldn't do stuff like that to begin with.
By 'his/her' I am assuming you were referring to samsael who posted both the OP and the post to which I responded.
I believe your statement is correct in its interpretation that people should not do it to begin with.
However my response was to the post that said this (emphasis added mine):
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
I was equating seeing the thread disappear with witnessing the enforcement.
I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same.
How are your friends going to lock a thread?
Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
How are your friends going to lock a thread? Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
REPORTED!
Stop trying to flame me, man. Jeeeeez.
How are your friends going to lock a thread? Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Yeah, he stated he was going to get his friends to lock it. Why it needs to be locked multiple times, though, I have no clue. Unless by "friends" he meant "friend". ;)
I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same.
Yup... pretty sure that's what he meant to say...
edit: /reported
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Yeah, he stated he was going to get his friends to lock it. Why it needs to be locked multiple times, though, I have no clue. Unless by "friends" he meant "friend".
Yup... pretty sure that's what he meant to say...
What I meant to say was that I called all of my friends to have them call all of their friends.
"I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same."
A> I just reported this thread.
B> I am pretty sure a mod should lock it.
C> I just called all of my friends.
D> I told them to do "the same" ie, C.
And it is all moot because I don't have any friends.
And consequently you've all been reported for feeding the delusions of an obvious troll. And I went ahead and preemptively reported this post for obvious trolling and unwarranted insults against the poster by saying he doesn't have any friends and calling him an obvious troll.
Thank you for your time.
This was to be part of a forum reply to a very recently deleted thread. In fact, it was deleted before I could click Submit on what should've been the first reply. Since the thread is gone, I won't bother addressing its content, but it did sort of bring up something I dislike about some of the posters here...
I've never noticed this practice, personally. I've seen people urging others to vote a thread down, but that's about it.
What I meant to say was that I called all of my friends to have them call all of their friends.
"I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same."
A> I just reported this thread.
B> I am pretty sure a mod should lock it.
C> I just called all of my friends.
D> I told them to do "the same" ie, C.
And it is all moot because I don't have any friends.
And consequently you've all been reported for feeding the delusions of an obvious troll. And I went ahead and preemptively reported this post for obvious trolling and unwarranted insults against the poster by saying he doesn't have any friends and calling him an obvious troll.
Thank you for your time.
But "the same" relates back to "lock it". That's the last behavior you talked about. Sorry, champ. Oh - consider the quoted post reported.
EDIT: I reported this one (mine), too. I ain't lettin' you guys get to it before I do.
But "the same" relates back to "lock it". That's the last behavior you talked about. Sorry, champ. Oh - consider the quoted post reported.
EDIT: I reported this one (mine), too. I ain't lettin' you guys get to it before I do.
OH YEAH!? Well, uhhh, well, I reported the next three posts!
Beat that!
OH YEAH!? Well, uhhh, well, I reported the next three posts!
Beat that!
But .... but .... I can't.
Unless I start reporting posts in other threads, too. Yeah, that's the ticket. ;)But .... but .... I can't.
I believe you should make about a dozen post drafts and put them in word:
1.
One for flaming.
One for baiting.
One saying some language or something alluded to is offensive.
One calling the poster a troll.
2.
About four which describe how angry you are
3.
And about four describing how you intend to respond.
Then you can make reports using a 'post' from one category or perhaps a post from two category or perhaps a post from three categories.
You can get over one hundred posts that way.
5 possibilities from 1st category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
5 possibilities from 2nd category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
5 possibilities from 3rd category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
125 reports with no repeats.
Of course, this would have one report with nothing being reported (none of each category), A report by mistake. Perhaps a report saying a previous report was in error.
and this one is by far the most vitriolic.
ENWorld? Nifty? Palladium? White Wolf? Those are equally or more vitriolic depending on what game you speak for or against.
ENWorld? Nifty? Palladium? White Wolf? Those are equally or more vitriolic depending on what game you speak for or against.
In some of the above examples, (I can't speak about Nifty or Palladium, as I have not visited their forums), most discussion goes on without negativity. It seems that the Gleemax D&D forums contain much more bickering, trolling, and flaming than the others. It makes it feel exhausting sometimes, trying to wade through the bile just to find the gems of wisdom.
In some of the above examples, (I can't speak about Nifty or Palladium, as I have not visited their forums), most discussion goes on without negativity. It seems that the Gleemax D&D forums contain much more bickering, trolling, and flaming than the others. It makes it feel exhausting sometimes, trying to wade through the bile just to find the gems of wisdom.
I feel part of the vitrol is due to the fact that this site is the "flagship" D&D forum. The D&D site is referenced on the back cover of most books. Heck, type in "D&D forum" into google and click "I'm Feeling Lucky" and it takes you right here. This site is most likely to attract both the.. er.. "detritus" of the internet, as well as the reasonable and responsible sort of posters. Trolls and the like tend to go where their voice will be heard the loudest, by as many as possible, unfortunately.
If you've got the shiniest car on the street, most people will notice right away. Unfortunately, that includes a few folks who want to key it.
If there are any "gems of wisdom"...
Yes, there are many gems of wisdom to be gleaned from these forums. Rules that I may have mis-interpreted, magic items I may have overlooked, balancing mechanisms in the rules I hadn't noticed, etcetera. That's not even mentioning the heads-up on unbalancing feats and potential rules-loopholes to watch out for (which all RPGs have, btw. The perfect RPG has yet to be written.)
If there are any "gems of wisdom"...
Yes, I agree... this is the most hateful, condescending, negative, and disrespectful forum I have ever visited...
IMHO
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
QFT. (quoted for truth)
Well, OK... to be fair, very few of them are trolls. The real problem is, some of our more "vocal" trolls of recent memory just happen to use that forum as a base. That likely hurts both forums really.
What I don't understand is why there *is* so much negativity on these forums. I have frequented a sizable number of RPG-related forums over the years, and this one is by far the most vitriolic.
Vitriol is a function of disparity in power between the forum owners and the posters. Wizards controls D&D; if they want to wreck the hobby, they can wreck the hobby. If the players want to stop them, they can make a loud noise, and that's about it.
It's also a function of the degree to which you're invested. Many D&D players have been playing the game for decades and/or haven't really tried the other RPG options out there. D&D isn't just a game, it's a part of their identity. It makes them get more emotionally invested.
I say that non-judgementally. Personally, I like vitriol. Responding to torridly unreasonably rants tends to bring out my best writing. In a world without trolls, I'd have no-one to be righter than.
Based on my impressions from a wide test group, I would rank the aggression level of the D&D forum to hover around mid-to high in a comparative scale. Elevated levels of aggression are to be expected in a primarily man-dominated community where the posters exhibit a wide range of ages and political affiliations.
However, the D&D forums do seem to have a few things going for them to counterbalance aggressive tendencies. Female representation appears to be higher than what I've found in other gaming forums. Also, the nature of D&D emphasizes social communication, so posters are more likely to engage in actual structured debates. More obviously, the absence of a topic section for political debate prevents much of the ideological conflict that contaminates across topics in other forums.
Compared to forums with similar demographic data, such as sports forums or video game forums, the general aggressiveness of posters here is less disruptive and long lasting.
Short word: Could definitely be worse.
I say that non-judgementally. Personally, I like vitriol. Responding to torridly unreasonably rants tends to bring out my best writing. In a world without trolls, I'd have no-one to be righter than.
Can't have greatness without the bumbling masses, right?
Personally, though, I would prefer if everyone else was notably a greater person than I. The privileges a fool enjoys in a land of wise men are astronomical in concept.
Personally, though, I would prefer if everyone else was notably a greater person than I. The privileges a fool enjoys in a land of wise men are astronomical in concept.
I second this. The people I've always hung out with have usually been incredibly intelligent, and some days spent around them, I just feel like I'm mentally challenged (8 Wis score has some nasty downsides, after all
).Imagine my surprise when I go online to discuss things, only to find people will fly off the handle with utterly incoherent rants on a whim, with no regard for Logic, facts, or other people's opinions/feelings. Being right a lot is nice, but "WTF?" moments shouldn't be this common, and it's sometimes just ridiculous how badly people can mangle the point they're trying to get across. :S
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
Odd, I don't take advantage of that fact all all times. As so-called 'foul' language is merely the remnant of a 1000 year old attempt at ethnic cleansing, I'm reluctant to downgrade a forum for such a thing.
I also don't find 'his' forum to be remotely near 90% trolls (that's not even a good estimate of the troll percentage here!).
I do agree there are some incredibly good arguments there, and understand how you could claim the these Boards are nothing like his board immediately after making such an assessment of the quality of arguments yourself.
For what it's worth, I also don't agree with Hater that these boards are the most hateful, condescending, negative and disrespectful etc. boards, ever. That dubious distinction goes to the Team Judge (no) Debate forums, and this place would be a distant second to that. But that would be a major digression, and a link detailing the goings-on there is best left to private discussion.
The latter is just my opinion, of course.
I generally just ignore threads I find distasteful, unhelpful, or unjustly negative. It does seem extreme to attempt to get threads locked and/or deleted, even if you find the comportment of it's participants unsavory.
Why not report the posts in question and move on? I think some simply enjoy arguing, and others seem inclined to rage when a dissenting voice can't be easily swayed to their stance. Many simply throw manners out the window while on the internet. They say and do things they'd never do in a face-to-face situation. It's sad, but a fact we have to live with if we wish to be part of communities like this one.
We all get tired of the incessant trolling, crying, *****ing and moaning, etc... but I've only ever reported one post in all the years I've been part of this community. I find it simpler to leave a thread. Trolls will move on when there's no food.
That's my
I have a feeling that this new thread will end badly, as well.
-Like you said, posters with no authority commenting that X, Y, and Z are CoC violations, or that [Insert Name] has/is/will break the CoC are, in and of themselves, CoC violations, and as such, are subject to discipline as well, if reported.
I find the calls for 'moderation' on these boards to be pretty bad. It seems that many people here find it easier to call for the mods to ban people they disagree with instead of actually try and discuss things.
I know the perception of internet arguments is that there's an overwhelming amount of trolls screwing people, but in reality there are maybe two people on these boards that I consider to be trolls. Everyone else are people legitimately stubborn in their beliefs to the point that they would defend them even after being unilaterally disproved. And so, anyone who disagrees with these people are either baiting or trolls or whatever.
It's sad, and the mods tend to err on the side of caution here and are more likely to lock/delete than leave a discussion open. It's sad, but there's really nothing you can do aside from ignoring those who have proven themselves to be immune to reason.
In the past, the mods have viewed "I've reported this thread/post" type comments as baiting. I don't know if that's still true or not.
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
I've deleted a large number of posts in this thread. This isn't the place for publicly calling out any specific users. While I understand the intention, it won't end in a good place and will simply serve to divide the community further.
Please, report conduct issues to Customer Service on a case by case basis so that they can be handled accordingly.
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
Actually, I think it just happened yesterday but I am not going to link 'cause that might be close to the same thing...
But, wasn't it being enforced with the thread that prompted this OP?
Actually, I think it just happened yesterday but I am not going to link 'cause that might be close to the same thing...
But, wasn't it being enforced with the thread that prompted this OP?
-His/her point isn't that it isn't done, but that people shouldn't do stuff like that to begin with.
-Suffice to say, when things are said that blatantly (as opposed to borderline) violate the Code of Conduct, report them, and let the moderators do their thing. That's why they exist. Depending on what is said/done, disciplinary action will be taken, be it editing a post, deleting a post, temporarily banning a poster, permanently banning a poster, whatever.
-Like you said, posters with no authority commenting that X, Y, and Z are CoC violations, or that [Insert Name] has/is/will break the CoC are, in and of themselves, CoC violations, and as such, are subject to discipline as well, if reported.
The funny thing, though, is that my post with a smiley was deleted... just a smiley.
-His/her point isn't that it isn't done, but that people shouldn't do stuff like that to begin with.
By 'his/her' I am assuming you were referring to samsael who posted both the OP and the post to which I responded.
I believe your statement is correct in its interpretation that people should not do it to begin with.
However my response was to the post that said this (emphasis added mine):
I think, once, I saw a mod post something along those lines, but I've never witnessed it being enforced and I still see it happening often enough.
I was equating seeing the thread disappear with witnessing the enforcement.
I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same.
How are your friends going to lock a thread?
Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
How are your friends going to lock a thread? Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
REPORTED!
Stop trying to flame me, man. Jeeeeez.
How are your friends going to lock a thread? Unless, of course, your friends *are* the Mods.
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Yeah, he stated he was going to get his friends to lock it. Why it needs to be locked multiple times, though, I have no clue. Unless by "friends" he meant "friend". ;)
I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same.
Yup... pretty sure that's what he meant to say...
edit: /reported
He means he got his friends to Report it... :p
Dude. Read it again. There is no way you could have come to that conclusion.
Yeah, he stated he was going to get his friends to lock it. Why it needs to be locked multiple times, though, I have no clue. Unless by "friends" he meant "friend".
Yup... pretty sure that's what he meant to say...
What I meant to say was that I called all of my friends to have them call all of their friends.
"I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same."
A> I just reported this thread.
B> I am pretty sure a mod should lock it.
C> I just called all of my friends.
D> I told them to do "the same" ie, C.
And it is all moot because I don't have any friends.
And consequently you've all been reported for feeding the delusions of an obvious troll. And I went ahead and preemptively reported this post for obvious trolling and unwarranted insults against the poster by saying he doesn't have any friends and calling him an obvious troll.
Thank you for your time.
This was to be part of a forum reply to a very recently deleted thread. In fact, it was deleted before I could click Submit on what should've been the first reply. Since the thread is gone, I won't bother addressing its content, but it did sort of bring up something I dislike about some of the posters here...
I've never noticed this practice, personally. I've seen people urging others to vote a thread down, but that's about it.
What I meant to say was that I called all of my friends to have them call all of their friends.
"I just reported this thread and I'm pretty sure a mod should lock it. I also called all of my friends and told them to do the same."
A> I just reported this thread.
B> I am pretty sure a mod should lock it.
C> I just called all of my friends.
D> I told them to do "the same" ie, C.
And it is all moot because I don't have any friends.
And consequently you've all been reported for feeding the delusions of an obvious troll. And I went ahead and preemptively reported this post for obvious trolling and unwarranted insults against the poster by saying he doesn't have any friends and calling him an obvious troll.
Thank you for your time.
But "the same" relates back to "lock it". That's the last behavior you talked about. Sorry, champ. Oh - consider the quoted post reported.
EDIT: I reported this one (mine), too. I ain't lettin' you guys get to it before I do.
But "the same" relates back to "lock it". That's the last behavior you talked about. Sorry, champ. Oh - consider the quoted post reported.
EDIT: I reported this one (mine), too. I ain't lettin' you guys get to it before I do.
OH YEAH!? Well, uhhh, well, I reported the next three posts!
Beat that!
OH YEAH!? Well, uhhh, well, I reported the next three posts!
Beat that!
But .... but .... I can't.
Unless I start reporting posts in other threads, too. Yeah, that's the ticket. ;)But .... but .... I can't.
I believe you should make about a dozen post drafts and put them in word:
1.
One for flaming.
One for baiting.
One saying some language or something alluded to is offensive.
One calling the poster a troll.
2.
About four which describe how angry you are
3.
And about four describing how you intend to respond.
Then you can make reports using a 'post' from one category or perhaps a post from two category or perhaps a post from three categories.
You can get over one hundred posts that way.
5 possibilities from 1st category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
5 possibilities from 2nd category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
5 possibilities from 3rd category (4 possibilities chosen or not choose any)
125 reports with no repeats.
Of course, this would have one report with nothing being reported (none of each category), A report by mistake. Perhaps a report saying a previous report was in error.
and this one is by far the most vitriolic.
ENWorld? Nifty? Palladium? White Wolf? Those are equally or more vitriolic depending on what game you speak for or against.
ENWorld? Nifty? Palladium? White Wolf? Those are equally or more vitriolic depending on what game you speak for or against.
In some of the above examples, (I can't speak about Nifty or Palladium, as I have not visited their forums), most discussion goes on without negativity. It seems that the Gleemax D&D forums contain much more bickering, trolling, and flaming than the others. It makes it feel exhausting sometimes, trying to wade through the bile just to find the gems of wisdom.
In some of the above examples, (I can't speak about Nifty or Palladium, as I have not visited their forums), most discussion goes on without negativity. It seems that the Gleemax D&D forums contain much more bickering, trolling, and flaming than the others. It makes it feel exhausting sometimes, trying to wade through the bile just to find the gems of wisdom.
I feel part of the vitrol is due to the fact that this site is the "flagship" D&D forum. The D&D site is referenced on the back cover of most books. Heck, type in "D&D forum" into google and click "I'm Feeling Lucky" and it takes you right here. This site is most likely to attract both the.. er.. "detritus" of the internet, as well as the reasonable and responsible sort of posters. Trolls and the like tend to go where their voice will be heard the loudest, by as many as possible, unfortunately.
If you've got the shiniest car on the street, most people will notice right away. Unfortunately, that includes a few folks who want to key it.
If there are any "gems of wisdom"...
Yes, there are many gems of wisdom to be gleaned from these forums. Rules that I may have mis-interpreted, magic items I may have overlooked, balancing mechanisms in the rules I hadn't noticed, etcetera. That's not even mentioning the heads-up on unbalancing feats and potential rules-loopholes to watch out for (which all RPGs have, btw. The perfect RPG has yet to be written.)
If there are any "gems of wisdom"...
Yes, I agree... this is the most hateful, condescending, negative, and disrespectful forum I have ever visited...
IMHO
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
QFT. (quoted for truth)
Well, OK... to be fair, very few of them are trolls. The real problem is, some of our more "vocal" trolls of recent memory just happen to use that forum as a base. That likely hurts both forums really.
What I don't understand is why there *is* so much negativity on these forums. I have frequented a sizable number of RPG-related forums over the years, and this one is by far the most vitriolic.
Vitriol is a function of disparity in power between the forum owners and the posters. Wizards controls D&D; if they want to wreck the hobby, they can wreck the hobby. If the players want to stop them, they can make a loud noise, and that's about it.
It's also a function of the degree to which you're invested. Many D&D players have been playing the game for decades and/or haven't really tried the other RPG options out there. D&D isn't just a game, it's a part of their identity. It makes them get more emotionally invested.
I say that non-judgementally. Personally, I like vitriol. Responding to torridly unreasonably rants tends to bring out my best writing. In a world without trolls, I'd have no-one to be righter than.
Based on my impressions from a wide test group, I would rank the aggression level of the D&D forum to hover around mid-to high in a comparative scale. Elevated levels of aggression are to be expected in a primarily man-dominated community where the posters exhibit a wide range of ages and political affiliations.
However, the D&D forums do seem to have a few things going for them to counterbalance aggressive tendencies. Female representation appears to be higher than what I've found in other gaming forums. Also, the nature of D&D emphasizes social communication, so posters are more likely to engage in actual structured debates. More obviously, the absence of a topic section for political debate prevents much of the ideological conflict that contaminates across topics in other forums.
Compared to forums with similar demographic data, such as sports forums or video game forums, the general aggressiveness of posters here is less disruptive and long lasting.
Short word: Could definitely be worse.
I say that non-judgementally. Personally, I like vitriol. Responding to torridly unreasonably rants tends to bring out my best writing. In a world without trolls, I'd have no-one to be righter than.
Can't have greatness without the bumbling masses, right?
Personally, though, I would prefer if everyone else was notably a greater person than I. The privileges a fool enjoys in a land of wise men are astronomical in concept.
Personally, though, I would prefer if everyone else was notably a greater person than I. The privileges a fool enjoys in a land of wise men are astronomical in concept.
I second this. The people I've always hung out with have usually been incredibly intelligent, and some days spent around them, I just feel like I'm mentally challenged (8 Wis score has some nasty downsides, after all
).Imagine my surprise when I go online to discuss things, only to find people will fly off the handle with utterly incoherent rants on a whim, with no regard for Logic, facts, or other people's opinions/feelings. Being right a lot is nice, but "WTF?" moments shouldn't be this common, and it's sometimes just ridiculous how badly people can mangle the point they're trying to get across. :S
Haven't you ever been to the site Psychotic_Robot comes from? Just a heads up, there's no language filter there, and every poster there feels the innate need to take advantage of that fact at all times. They're also 90% Trolls, with only one or two posters that have incredibly good points to their arguments. Believe me, these Boards are nothing compared to sites like that.
Odd, I don't take advantage of that fact all all times. As so-called 'foul' language is merely the remnant of a 1000 year old attempt at ethnic cleansing, I'm reluctant to downgrade a forum for such a thing.
I also don't find 'his' forum to be remotely near 90% trolls (that's not even a good estimate of the troll percentage here!).
I do agree there are some incredibly good arguments there, and understand how you could claim the these Boards are nothing like his board immediately after making such an assessment of the quality of arguments yourself.
For what it's worth, I also don't agree with Hater that these boards are the most hateful, condescending, negative and disrespectful etc. boards, ever. That dubious distinction goes to the Team Judge (no) Debate forums, and this place would be a distant second to that. But that would be a major digression, and a link detailing the goings-on there is best left to private discussion.
The latter is just my opinion, of course.