Anybody else noticed how depressing the atmosphere is on the Escapist forums?

[repeating integers]

How fitting.

Anyway, I'm hoping most of you know what I'm talking about, because it's noticeable if you've been here long enough. The Escapist Forums is a very depressing place.

I finally noticed this properly on the comments to this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.315057-Fox-Finally-Starts-Assembling-Another-Robot-Film] news story. Now, I know the last robot movie only barely represented Asimov's book, to the extent it can't really be called an "adaptation". But it was only their first attempt, so surely they could improve on it with their next movie? Give it the benefit of the doubt for a little while, until we get more information, shouldn't we?

Its going to make big money but the fans will tears its guts out and ***** and moan.

At least they're not ruining other great Science Fiction authour's work like C. Clarke or Heinlein.

This going to be miserable -.-'

Samples. These aren't just concerns these people are voicing: They're saying them like facts. One short article on the movie, little information, and they've already given up on it. How cynical can you get?

Oh wait. You CAN get more cynical.

Remember the nerdily heartwarming story about the guy who proposed to his girlfriend in Minecraft?

Aww, till death do them part... for 5-7 years...

A thread about the upcoming Aliens game also prompted this unwarranted comment:

And i came to reading this article thinking it was going to be a decent game on a decent console.. how wrong i was.

These are just small snippets. I can't be bothered to go through every thread finding posts like this, but on most, they'll be there. Just making the atmosphere that little bit more depressing each time. In fact, I can't believe it took me this long to properly notice it.

I know, I know, this is the site with Yahtzee on it. Of course he's going to rub off on people. But sometimes, the endless scepticism and pessimism that creeps into every thread like wood rot just gets on my nerves, and now we come to the reason for this thread: am I alone on this? Have any of you ever felt anything similar about the forums? I know the alternative - endless idealism and hope - would be annoying to some people.

Voice yer thoughts!

 

[Kevak]

This is because reality is boring and almost everyone hates it, along with hating those who somehow enjoy reality, the site is called "Escapist" for a reason, most of us are pessimists or escapists or cynical or generally moody to some extent, not everyone is like that but most who browse the site sadly fall under these categories.

Personally I fall under the reality is boring part category with minor cynicism.

 

[Tharwen]

Without the canned cynicism, this website is a boring place where we fall back on rote thread-answering and Losing Our Faith In Humanity for entertainment.

See! I'm doing it right now and I wasn't even trying to!

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Because these days people seem to equate cynicism to intelectualism. Which is not only wrong, but its also obnoxious because its so prevalent.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Why thank you, I'm glad SOMEONE noticed.

I spend all my time [sub]trying to make things depressing[/sub]...

 

[repeating integers]

Without the canned cynicism, this website is a boring place where we fall back on rote thread-answering and Losing Our Faith In Humanity for entertainment.

See! I'm doing it right now and I wasn't even trying to!

But we do rote thread-answering anyway. Piece of news comes up (any news)? Fire up cynicism drivers! And instead of Losing Our Faith In Humanity for entertainment, we now Regain Our Faith In Humanity for entertainment.

 

[Esotera]

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Confirmation_bias

If you're actively searching for something then you're going to find it. I wouldn't say that the forums are depressing here, just full of realists.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

I liked I, Robot...

Plus on the internet, intellectualism = Cynical and pessimistic.

But we're not all like that! There is even a delightful bunch of individuals over at The Miracle of Sound Fans User Group [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Miracle-of-Sound-Fans], and some kick-arse music to boot!

/Shameless Plug.

 

[repeating integers]

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Confirmation_bias

If you're actively searching for something then you're going to find it. I wouldn't say that the forums are depressing here, just full of realists.

Realist is usually just used as another term for cynic, and I'm afraid this is no exception.

And like I said, this has been bugging me for a while. The evidence pieces were just examples that jumped out at me at time of reading, then when I whimsically decided to create a thread, I thought I may as well include them so people could see what I was going on about. Are you honestly saying you don't see cynicism (alright, alright, "realism") in the silly "5-7 years" quote?

 

[Atmos Duality]

I'm no stranger to cynicism and depression. I will say that from first-hand experience, it's very difficult to see the positive aspects of a subject when you're so hyper-focused on "trying to be speculatively correct". Doubly so when the world around you has that attitude that seems to go nowhere.
(Misery makes her own company online).

Of course, part of it has to do with people's tendencies to seek out bad news above all else to comment on. What sounds more interesting to you: Raging over how X Company is doing Y Bad Thing? Or a feel-good article on how adding puppies to a game makes it cuter?

Generally speaking, controversy is (or so we pretend*) more thought-provoking than saying "Yup. Those are some cute puppies".

[sub]*in reality, many are quick to respond out of anger, not logic, and then rationalize their responses afterward[/sub]

 

[winginson]

Hmmm I'm massivly cynical, pessimistic and ... happy.

The thing is there quite often isn't much to say when something is good.
When something is bad it is easy to come up with plenty of things you don't like, why you don't like them and how you would/ask others how to, improve the situation. This turns it into a proper discussion.

 

[RedOniBlueOni]

I LIKED THE PART IN FINAL FANTASY: ADVENT CHILDREN WHERE THE PLOT MADE NO CENTS AND SEPHIROTH SHOUWED UP AND CLOUD USED THE BIGGORON'S SOARD AND ALL THE CHARACTERS FROM FINAL FANTASTY VII SHOUWWED UP END IT WAS TOTAL FANSERIVICE. THAT WAS MY FAVORRITE PART!!!

hey, you're right. being positive does make it more fun!!!

 

[mjc0961]

Samples. These aren't just concerns these people are voicing: They're saying them like facts.

No, they aren't. They're saying them like opinions. We already know they are opinions by nature of the fact that what they said cannot be proven true or false, and thus must be opinions. But if you need a bunch of redundant "IMO"s or "I think"s sprinkled around to confirm to you that the statements in question are indeed opinions, that is your problem, not the problem of the other posters you quoted.

 

[Esotera]

Are you honestly saying you don't see cynicism (alright, alright, "realism") in the silly "5-7 years" quote?

Nope, seems like a decent guess. [link]https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Divorce#United_States[/link]

Realist is usually just used as another term for cynic, and I'm afraid this is no exception.

But cynics aren't depressing to me. There's good evidence that the first Asimov movie sucked, so why would it change this time? Saying that I am still vainly hopeful that it will be good...

 

[Ragsnstitches]

How fitting.

Anyway, I'm hoping most of you know what I'm talking about, because it's noticeable if you've been here long enough. The Escapist Forums is a very depressing place.

I finally noticed this properly on the comments to this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.315057-Fox-Finally-Starts-Assembling-Another-Robot-Film] news story. Now, I know the last robot movie only barely represented Asimov's book, to the extent it can't really be called an "adaptation". But it was only their first attempt, so surely they could improve on it with their next movie? Give it the benefit of the doubt for a little while, until we get more information, shouldn't we?

Its going to make big money but the fans will tears its guts out and ***** and moan.

At least they're not ruining other great Science Fiction authour's work like C. Clarke or Heinlein.

This going to be miserable -.-'

Samples. These aren't just concerns these people are voicing: They're saying them like facts. One short article on the movie, little information, and they've already given up on it. How cynical can you get?

Oh wait. You CAN get more cynical.

Remember the nerdily heartwarming story about the guy who proposed to his girlfriend in Minecraft?

Aww, till death do them part... for 5-7 years...

A thread about the upcoming Aliens game also prompted this unwarranted comment:

And i came to reading this article thinking it was going to be a decent game on a decent console.. how wrong i was.

These are just small snippets. I can't be bothered to go through every thread finding posts like this, but on most, they'll be there. Just making the atmosphere that little bit more depressing each time. In fact, I can't believe it took me this long to properly notice it.

I know, I know, this is the site with Yahtzee on it. Of course he's going to rub off on people. But sometimes, the endless scepticism and pessimism that creeps into every thread like wood rot just gets on my nerves, and now we come to the reason for this thread: am I alone on this? Have any of you ever felt anything similar about the forums? I know the alternative - endless idealism and hope - would be annoying to some people.

Voice yer thoughts!

You see, the thing about Yahtzee is, well, he's funny... most of the cynics and sceptics on this site aren't, in fact there the opposite... dry as shite if you will.

I completely and wholeheartedly agree with you... within the first page of a topic that might raise spirits, some unapologetic wank will attempt to drag it down. It's not so much his pathetic effort that disgruntles me though, it's that the effort was even needed to voice the bile he/she considers an opinion.

What's worse, these "cynics" will automatically call foul if people confront them, arguing that they are welcome to an opinion (with no basis more often then not).

 

[jopomeister]

Solution: Go to other places on the internet.
Oh wait, everywhere on the internet is like this.

Solution: There is no solution.

 

[Vandenberg1]

This is because reality is boring and almost everyone hates it, along with hating those who somehow enjoy reality, the site is called "Escapist" for a reason, most of us are pessimists or escapists or cynical or generally moody to some extent, not everyone is like that but most who browse the site sadly fall under these categories.

Personally I fall under the reality is boring part category with minor cynicism.

Realitys boring for pussies. Go rick climbing or hiking in the woods and tell me your bored... Now if your a fat guy on his laptop 24/7 I have no sympathy. I lost 88 pounds in 8 months and am becoming a Marine medic because being a heathen nerd got old... Heahthen soldier/doctor? EPIC

 

[Zorg Machine]

The pessimists wage is large, it's always better than what he expects. (sounds much better in swedish)

Think of it this way, two men order the great super delicious bacon tower. One of them assumes that it will be filled with shit and is pleasantly surprised when he finds out that it is in fact filled with more bacon. He walks out of the restaurant with a smile on his face, thinking that the bacon was much better than expected. The other man however, believed it would be filled with the essence of angels and, while he couldn't complain about delicious bacon he walked out of the restaurant with an appreciative look on his face that quickly disappears as he starts doing other things.

My point is, bacon is delicious and pessimists are happy.

 

[lacktheknack]

But cynics aren't depressing to me. There's good evidence that the first Asimov movie sucked, so why would it change this time? Saying that I am still vainly hopeful that it will be good...

You're still doing it wrong.

OT: Yeah, I've noticed. It's only just starting to grate on me.