Internet penis - Does it really matter?

[Hawkolf]

Internet penis, it's been there always. I remember first noticing it when I logged in to my first forum back in 2004. There were always those people who were always right, those people who no one dared to prove wrong, those people who everyone just adored without any doubt. I'm sure you've seen this in many places of the internet before.

And it's not just a forum thing. One example comes to mind: You know Nostalgia Critic's Let's Play video? It was pretty bad and Retsupuare ripped on it. This led to an interesting comment in one video where someone said that retsupurae went over his way to be mean and taht video wasn't fun at all This was answered with (actual quote):
"Did you guys just put down retsupurae?! Do you realize how popular and respected they are in the Let's Play community? They're basically the Nostalgia Critic of Let's Players! You don't put down retsupurae; it's verboten. I mean, for gods sake, one of them (Slowbeef) INVENTED video Let's Plays; he was literally the first person on the internet to do it."

That's when I just thought "What the fuck?". For years I've been trying to go through the internet, treating everyone as an equal but I will always see people who think they are - and who many people think are - over everyone else just because of their "internet status" which usually means having most posts or being there from the beginning. And Nostalgia Critic/Retsupurae is just one example, you see it everywhere.

So I'd like to know what do you think about this. Is one poster better because his internet penis is nearing the height of Mount Everest? And do you lick someones boots just because he's a big guy in the house. I'm not really sure how common this in the Escapist because I've been here only for a while but since it's been everyplace before hand I don't see why it wouldn't happen here.

*sips some red wine and adjusts eyeglasses*
Discuss.

 

[Esotera]

I never claim to be right on everything, but I'll certainly try and make it appear that way (barring the times when I get something completely wrong, and I'll try and back out of an argument with some dignity). It's good practice for life to look like you know what you're doing, so might as well practice.

If you get annoyed with the whole status thing then go to an Anonymous board, which eliminates that from the equation. This has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Hawkolf]

I never claim to be right on everything, but I'll certainly try and make it appear that way (barring the times when I get something completely wrong, and I'll try and back out of an argument with some dignity). It's good practice for life to look like you know what you're doing, so might as well practice.

If you get annoyed with the whole status thing then go to an Anonymous board, which eliminates that from the equation. This has its advantages and disadvantages.

There's a difference in being plain arrogant and with what you said. And I don't have problem with status, it's misusing that status by claiming you're all-knowing what gets me annoyed. And people backing up someone like that in their every post. No matter what person said.

 

[Erana]

Enh, its not the people themselves as much as so many peoples' insistance on putting people on pedestals.
The Escapist always has a few of these characters, though it started to get a lot more noticable with MaxTheReaper.
Its usually the person whose seen a lot, making the first post on a thread, usually with quip or humor as a top priority.

You know, its honestly kinda funny to see the subtle ways in which the Escapist moderation has become a lot more lax with the population boom...

Still, its happening right now with Daystar, though he seems to not make an ass of himself over it, which just proves that the group-mentality, elevate-certain-people thing can be fun and relatively harmless.

Though once you get to know, say, a guy who made stuff for some of your favorite games, or escapist staffs and mods, the luster of internet community celebrity wears off and you can enjoy people more easily for who they are. Because there are a lot of awesome people 'round these parts.

And while I haven't gotten internet famous, I don't really want to. I'd rather be important for things I'm more actively invested in, like among my friends, or just being a decent contributor to the Escapist forums 'round here. Being quoted as a "This, and 'X,Y,Z" is about the most rewarding thing I can get here.

Though I'm still in a mindset from a pre-user group and forum games section mentality, and take my post count as a point for a bit of personal pride. Back when "Gonzo" was an honor to congratulate someone on around here.
And at this point, my post is oozing nostalgia. Sorry 'bout that, but some oxyclean should get rid of the stain.

 

[Thaluikhain]

After reading the title of the thread, I'm a tad disappointed with the content.

...

Dunno, though. People shouldn't be put on a pedestal, especially just for stuff like doing something first, but then agian, if someone is consistently right about what they say, that's going to change the way you look at them. Or if they always agree with you, which is the same thing.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

I think retsuprae or however you spell it are sort of known for ripping on people aren't they? That's sort of their thing. I saw one video that was mocking an LP of Metroid other M release info, which was pretty hilarious.
But OT, internet E-Peens are dumb, and the reason people are assholes. Well one of them

 

[Don Savik]

I don't have a problem with people with big egos because I deal with that shit every day. (my best friend has QUITE the ego, we fight all the time) I don't like it, but I can tolerate it......to an extent. I'm only human -_-

I do however have a problem with people who idolize people who do nothing more than make videos. I'd rather have a person who is full of themselves, than a horde of idiots who are full of some random content maker they don't even know personally. I respect youtubers like everyone on The Game Station for example (Totalbiscuit, OMFGcata, Huskystarcraft) and they make great stuff, but I don't feel the need to be a kiss-ass. Nobody should be above criticism.

Support people that you like for making stuff you like, hell I don't even care if you make some fanart every now and again. Just don't grovel at their feet like soulless drones.

 

[Rastien]

Yeah... i'm not a fan of total biscuit to be honest :/ and i have found in the past if i make comments that disagree with him or perhaps slightly belittle what he has said. The fan boy army decends on me >_> so i refrain from such things now not worth the hastle.

 

[Bertylicious]

"E-Peen" is really nothing more than respect. Respect is as old as social interaction and not native to the internet.

Respect is also earned, not given, so respect is in itself a kind of legacy. A history, if you will, that is carried in a person's mind. I think that dismissing the reputation of a person out of hand is potentially foolish as you don't get something from nothing.

Don Savik is right though; what someone did before shouldn't grant them immunity to criticism.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Yeah, my wife says my E-Peen is tiny because I suck at Counter Strike...

 

[launchpadmcqwak]

Internet penis, it's been there always. I remember first noticing it when I logged in to my first forum back in 2004. There were always those people who were always right, those people who no one dared to prove wrong, those people who everyone just adored without any doubt. I'm sure you've seen this in many places of the internet before.

And it's not just a forum thing. One example comes to mind: You know Nostalgia Critic's Let's Play video? It was pretty bad and Retsupuare ripped on it. This led to an interesting comment in one video where someone said that retsupurae went over his way to be mean and taht video wasn't fun at all This was answered with (actual quote):
"Did you guys just put down retsupurae?! Do you realize how popular and respected they are in the Let's Play community? They're basically the Nostalgia Critic of Let's Players! You don't put down retsupurae; it's verboten. I mean, for gods sake, one of them (Slowbeef) INVENTED video Let's Plays; he was literally the first person on the internet to do it."

That's when I just thought "What the fuck?". For years I've been trying to go through the internet, treating everyone as an equal but I will always see people who think they are - and who many people think are - over everyone else just because of their "internet status" which usually means having most posts or being there from the beginning. And Nostalgia Critic/Retsupurae is just one example, you see it everywhere.

So I'd like to know what do you think about this. Is one poster better because his internet penis is nearing the height of Mount Everest? And do you lick someones boots just because he's a big guy in the house. I'm not really sure how common this in the Escapist because I've been here only for a while but since it's been everyplace before hand I don't see why it wouldn't happen here.

*sips some red wine and adjusts eyeglasses*
Discuss.

Dude...dont mess with reptsupurae...not cause they will own you or nothing, they are just awesome

 

[Easton Dark]

Everyone who plays or has played Runescape knows who Zezima is. If you were in the server with him, you were in a server with a god.

 

[Vault101]

Eh, I haven't seen it all that much, but then I don't generally go around talks about people who are well known on the Internet.

Well... I suppose there's people on specific forums who can get to be well known and they can have bootlickers, but that isn't their own fault necessarily.

...*ahem* speaking of which my boots are rather filthy from stomping other people in argument

get licking

[small/][sub/]I'm so sorry, couldn't help it, please don't hate me [/sub][/small]

well I think there are different types of this kind of thing...like absolute refusal to admit you're wrong in an "internet" argument and such...

Everyone who played or has played Runescape knows who Zezima is. If you were in the server with him, you were in a server with a god.

oh god I remember

and that's absolutely rediculous....

anyway, as for people who make videos I usually see alot more criticism than zealous following...

 

[Sassafrass]

That's my answer in a nut shell.

 

[Realitycrash]

"E-Peen" is really nothing more than respect. Respect is as old as social interaction and not native to the internet.

Respect is also earned, not given, so respect is in itself a kind of legacy. A history, if you will, that is carried in a person's mind. I think that dismissing the reputation of a person out of hand is potentially foolish as you don't get something from nothing.

Don Savik is right though; what someone did before shouldn't grant them immunity to criticism.

E-Peen is not exactly the same thing as respect. Afterall, having a high score in a game or great equipment in a MMORPG often gives E-peen, but not always deserves respect. E-Peen is more about "bragging rights".
I've seen sooo many WoW-players with huge E-peen, that do not give, nor deerve, respect, simply because their awe3sum-gear wasn't really earned by personal skill or team-work, but unbalanced game-mechanics.

 

[Palademon]

Without my e-peen I'd go mad.
The internet is where I get most of my confidence from.

God, what a sad person I am...
My e-peen isn't even very big, and yet it means so much to me.

OT: Yes, it is stupid to treat someone as infallible no matter what, which is part of the reason why I have something big against authority figures that use their position as an excuse to not have to make sense.
I was good student in school, but I instantly turn on any teacher or parental figure that does this. "Yes, I contradicted you, because you're wrong".

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

The internet penis does not matter...

...until the internet version of Lorena Bobbit comes along. Then, it'll matter if only for its entertainment value!

 

[Luna]

Go to a forum with reputation points and things get interesting...