I've seen some bad complaints so far over the new year and it has been bothering me. In many cases the person complaining does have a point, but it gets buried under bad style. When someone wants to complain and/or understood by other posters and WotC please try to follow these basic rules. The same holds true for those that defend against complaints,
- Get the facts before you complain. This is the most basic step that anyone either complaining or defending against a complaint needs to do. I've seen a number of complains based on bad info or misinterpreted info. You should look up the info and make sure what you think of something is based on solid facts. If it isn't then you should twist your opinion to match the facts rather than try to twist the facts to match your opinion.
- It is up to the person putting forth a position to offer proof. This is related to the first rule and part of basic reason. If you write either a complaint or response that offer nothing other than your belief it is not only unlikely to convince anyone, but lacks a foundation in reason.
- You need to keep in mind that you could be wrong. A major point of reason is that it is a tool used to find the truth and it is normal that people make errors. When you refuse to admit that you could be wrong, no amount of evidence regardless of strength would ever change your mind. Just think of all the philosophers and scientist over the centuries that have made errors, and been proved wrong. You and I are no less fallible.
- Do not exaggerate or use hyperbole. One of the big problems I've seen with complaints is they overblow what they are complaining about to the point that it becomes false, just because they called a molehill a mountain. If you do this you can possibly Straw Man your own argument or someone else's. However there is a tool of reason called a Reductio Ad Absurdum that takes something it its logical extreme to show that it is flawed. The first is unacceptable and the second is valid.
- A statement being wrong doesn't make a opposing statement right, and by extension, just because one side is wrong doesn't make the other side right. Just think of two groups arguing over the answers to "2+2=X". If one side says 3 and the other 5 then they are both wrong and either could point to the other side being wrong to prove that they are right.
- Do not take your opinion as a fact or facts as opinions. Opinions are subjective, so it depends in the point of view of the observer. Facts are objective, therefor they are true or not regardless of what you think of it.
- It is not broke because you can fix it is not valid. This is one of the most common errors that I see and falls under the Fallacy of the Hypotheses Contradicting the Conclusion A.K.A. The Oberoni Fallacy. Such statements as "No good DM would allow that." fall under this when used to counter RAW.
- Try not to be rude and do not insult others. Both can overshadow your arguments causing them not to be listened to and can get you banned to boot.
Can we get this stickied in every thread ?
