An Uneasy Community is a Community nonetheless

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

Over the last couple of days, I've come to realize that I have come to expect and value all of your opinions. I missed the feeling of seeing some news and wondering what the various denizens of this place thought of the topic.

Frankly, I don't agree with a lot of you. I don't think I have actually a single friend (talking off forum or playing games regularly) here although I'm fond of several of you. But I like the fact that you're here. I don't have to agree with you to accept that you're apart of my online community. And furthermore, I wouldn't want an echo chamber as it is.

Hell, I know this will be met with indifference at best or disparaging viewpoints at worst. But it's cool. It will still be the viewpoints of my community here.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Goddamnit, I was ready with snarky comments until your last paragraph.

But yeah, the Escapist forums is a source of news and the odd historical debate I'd not normally see otherwise.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Am thinking maybe I'm also unintentionally attached to this place. [small]And people. shh![/small] There was definitely a pang of panic when it looked dead and the realisation that no other site felt like it was worth migrating to and no way of finding the people that have been intriguing in their presence here.

Though the notification system still doesn't co-operate and every page I load has an obsession with pausing whatever I'm listening to at best, or closing the app playing it at worst. But those are tolerated out of love, damnit! (Probably).

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

No, I feel the same. This community isn't the biggest or the most active but I'm glad to have it. I did miss it while it was gone. There's just no other one that fill quite the same spot for me. You know, it's sad in general how few medium sized forums there seem to be left on the internet. Each one that's still around is one worth preserving.

 

[CaitSeith]

I also missed reading these forums' non-sense.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

While the site was being re-made, I found myself still clicking my bookmark of the forums on old instinct. And it felt so weird to not see it around. I'm pretty glad to see the forum is put back together. There's really no place like this for me, there'd be no way to fill that void in the same way. This place has been a part of my life for a very long time

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

I hear ya. I didn't know the site was getting retooled and when I clicked my usual bookmark and got slapped with a 404 my heart sunk. Glad to see things are moving forward and we're all still here.

 

[Xprimentyl]

It?s funny, for months talk of this site?s slow and inevitable death was met with your typical internet cynical indifference, then when it finally and abruptly came to an apparent end, to see how much many actually cared. I too am glad to see the Escapist isn?t dead and the forums survived the near-death experience.

Now, feel free to resume your bickering, mod-trashing, cynical complaining about changes, and oh, the occasional decent and civil conversation.

 

[Casual Shinji]

While the site was being re-made, I found myself still clicking my bookmark of the forums on old instinct. And it felt so weird to not see it around. I'm pretty glad to see the forum is put back together. There's really no place like this for me, there'd be no way to fill that void in the same way. This place has been a part of my life for a very long time

Same.


In the last few days I missed not having a place to talk about whatever, if I felt like it, eventhough I might not have felt like it.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. But outside of that, I can't deny that I've made lifelong connections because I was an active poster at a transitional part of my life. I owe the Escapist some seriously good friendships.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

I kept typing "esc" into my browser to bring up the bookmark. I did it probably every couple of hours, usually by reflex.

I like writing about stuff and hearing other people's opinions on stuff and occasionally arguing with them about stuff. I found myself missing the ability to do that more often than I would have guessed.

I would miss a fair few people here if the forums died suddenly. I don't keep anyone's emails or anything, so I wouldn't be able to ever send out a goodbye PM.

In case that ever happens: goodbye! You know who you are.

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

Probably the most feel-good topic we've had on here for a while

 

[Saelune]

I like that this place, believe it or not, is NOT an echo chamber. Anyone who thinks this place is an echo chamber has never been on reddit.

I hate the karma system, it encourages downvoting instead of actual discussion. Sure, I like to read the left-wing reddits shitting on the right, but then I see the right-wing ones doing the exact same, and there is no arguing, if you disagree in either of them, you will just be buried in downvotes.

I dont think I have ever pretended to not value this place, even when at times it felt like it did not value me, but those days when the site was down, I was anxious and eager to get back.

I was really scared that I was going to lose the Escapist without it even going away. Atleast when it seemed like the site would one day collapse, atleast we would all go down together, but I would hate if the 'Magazine' part lived on without me, so I am grateful that the powers at be seem to intend to keep the forums around.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

While I was fine doing without these forums for about a year or so because of fatigue from a certain type of discussion, eventually I finally recuperated from general game discussion and when I did I couldn't find anywhere that would both have people actively discuss things but also not be an incredibly narrow field of discussion like all the Reddits are.

Everywhere else either has low mentally stimulating topics, slow replies, or is a hotbed of nothing but childish complaining. I was really down when I thought the forums were gone, I legit don't know of any other forums that could replace this place.

Perhaps it's just because there's so few of us left and so anyone still around are the types that also value the kinds of conversations I like but you guys aren't replaceable for me.

 

[the December King]

... so, these forums are now like, the actual basement of the site? Do I need some sort of additional login to comment on articles? Is the old concept of membership being phased out?

Yeah, I was nervous... not sure if I like the new look of the site, and it still seems to be suffering from some lag/adjustments, but I am happy it's not just gone.

 

[Satinavian]

I too missed the forums and you all.

It is one of few places that still allow controversal topics while still not being utterly partisan. It is pretty nice to have this.

 

[JoJo]

... so, these forums are now like, the actual basement of the site? Do I need some sort of additional login to comment on articles? Is the old concept of membership being phased out?

Yeah, I was nervous... not sure if I like the new look of the site, and it still seems to be suffering from some lag/adjustments, but I am happy it's not just gone.

For now at least, commenting on the new site will require a Disqus account. The plan is to transport the forums, accounts and all, over to V2 as soon as it's feasible. That's no easy task, though, and so it may be a little while yet.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I'm glad they're keeping these legacy forums for now at least, and that they're going to transfer over the accounts. Can't say I like the new site. Its not bad, the layout is fine and simple enough, but there are so many ads now that it just interrupts the experience. Especially on mobile, its one of those 'the final ad doesn't finish loading until you click on something, so the whole screen jumps down a bit and you miss-click' deals and grrr...

Desktop one is better, but still has ads set in the middle of an article while also being on both sides and the banner. It feels awkward, like its an ad site with a few video game bits, rather than the other way around.

 

[Marik2]

It's the best and worst place ever.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

So, anybody hear any good jokes lately?