Poll: Escapism Elitism?

[guardian001]

It's easier to assume every new person is an idiot until they prove otherwise. I won't ignore their opinions because of their post count, but I won't give them a free pass just to be nice to them.
If they want respect, they're welcome to prove they deserve to be respected. They just shouldn't be surprised when everyone hates them if their first post is starting another Halo thread.

 

[Teh_Doomage]

There will always be elitests, either PC/360/PS3, post count whores...always.

The more posts just means you have more things to say...or a lot of the same thing to say.

 

[DarkRyter]

Pff, I'm not gonna vote in your poll.

I'm too cool.

 

[manaman]

I feel out of place, I joined in '07, but only post occasionally and thus have a relatively small post count.

So I am the longest joined member (at the moment) in this thread but one of the lowest numbered posters.

Edit: Second Longest Manaman ninja'd me.

Join date elitists unite!

 

[Akai Shizuku]

I think there's a pretty big elitist problem here. However, I don't think it's so bad that it should keep too many people away. But we need to work on it.

 

[smithy1234]

There are those tossers who have the DDKR badge and think that because they got a rare badge they're allowed to talk down to everyone, what a bunch of assholes...

Now.... POSTER BELOW ME!!! WHERE THE HELL IS MY ICE COLD FIJI WATER WITH A SLICE OF ORANGE FROM THE GROVES OF FLORIDA???!?! Bring it to me AT THIS INSTANT OR IT'LL BE YOUR HEAD!!!

 

[Lord_Durin]

Maybe this is just because I'm relatively new to the escapist, I do get this feeling that some of the more senior members on the forums bash on the noobs alot. But I wouldn't call it an elitist problem as much as a neophobic one. from what I've seen, the escapist is , but with good reason; this place is filled with some of the smartest people, compared to the rest of the internet, and they don't want that ruined. so, if they see someone who is clearly new here, the just figure its just easier to go with the "idiot until proven otherwise" ideology. In the end though, while they are helping preserve what the escapist is, they are also preventing it to grow into something better.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Yeah, but I've noticed that since it's already a part of gamer culture, it kind of diffuses here, I've noticed we have more of a problem with intellectual elitism, what with the arrogant Europeans around here (having, or formerly having a world-spanning empire tends to do that to a culture, don't try and argue about it), and of course all of us Americans who have taken after our ancestors in terms of the elitism. And though I relish the opportunity to talk to plenty of Europeans around here, the mixture of Americans and Europeans will inevitably cause nationalist flame wars. I suppose it's just sort of a thing, but what I really dislike is the political elitism, just because you subscribe to a leftist and/or liberal school of political thought does not make your views superior to those with more conservative leanings. I'd call myself centre-left, so I generally agree with the majority political views around here, but I still find all the elitism very obnoxious and I think, for one, that it reflects poorly on us.

I still think Ann Coulter and Bush are more hilarious the more serious they try to be.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Edit:

Spip

Samurah Goomba is sux0r (or whatever it was, I remembered that one...)
:~)

wye u takin trashz abot meh?11!?

Thanks for remembering. Scott's thread has loads more great information, but it's a sticky, and therefore invisible to many posters.

I think of my posts as being critical of poor quality, but I hope people understand there's no genuine malice behind it. There's a difference between being an elitist, and always exhorting others to do better. I have no idea how I come across to others in posts, but this is my intention, anyway.

 

[MmmFiber]

I like to think the post count as being an indication of how much free time a user has, as in, if you have over one thousand and you joined less than a week ago, yes, you might want to take up a hobby [I hear WoW does wonders for free time].

As for Escapist Elitists, I think they boil down to people trying too hard, for example the Halo flamers/fanboys as well as console/pc flamers/fanboys. After all, its only a forum on the internet, like anyone cares about your opinion.

You sick bastard! I wouldn't wish wow on my worst enemy. Wow is like having a meth addiction but without the fun.

I agree with everything else though. Well I guess you could add a few things to your list. As long as no one brings up consoles, pcs, religion, politics, halo, final fantasy(and other jrpgs), wow(and "wow-killers"), and doesn't necro, spell someting wrong, fail to recognize something obvious about escapist etiquette, or dislike Yahtzee.... s/he(it?) should be fine. I probably missed something so flame away. No please, I deserve it.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Maybe this is just because I'm relatively new to the escapist, I do get this feeling that some of the more senior members on the forums bash on the noobs alot. But I wouldn't call it an elitist problem as much as a neophobic one. from what I've seen, the escapist is , but with good reason; this place is filled with some of the smartest people, compared to the rest of the internet, and they don't want that ruined. so, if they see someone who is clearly new here, the just figure its just easier to go with the "idiot until proven otherwise" ideology. In the end though, while they are helping preserve what the escapist is, they are also preventing it to grow into something better.

Honestly, I don't see that much. I see people bashed because they do a poor job in creating threads or posting, but I don't see a lot of "get off my forum, noob!" If every newcomer contributed posts like yours, I don't think there would be any problems at all.

You don't have to be perfect around here, but a little genuine effort can go a long way.

 

[Dr Pussymagnet]

I feel out of place, I joined in '07, but only post occasionally and thus have a relatively small post count.

So I am the longest joined member (at the moment) in this thread but one of the lowest numbered posters.

Edit: Second Longest Manaman ninja'd me.

Third oldest now, turns out I got here a day before you did.

OT: I remember a little awhile back that elitism on the Escapist became a big topic of discussion and I vaguely recall one thread that said if we don't get our act together, "The Escapist as we know and love it will be gone forever" or something like that.

I don't know what happened but after that the elitism problem started to ease up a bit. The only problem I really see nowadays are people who complain about people not using the search bar.

 

[Inverse Skies]

I think what happens is the longer users have been on this site, and especially the more vocal ones with the higher post counts, they tend to see the newer members do something which isn't in the spirit of the community and feel that in order to protect the site that they love they have to do something about it. I know myself that when I come across vs or picture threads I politely say that what is being done isn't what is best for the Escapist. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I like to think it helps at least.

I also call the older group of members The Hegemony. Just a little joke of my own.

 

[Dancingman]

Yeah, but I've noticed that since it's already a part of gamer culture, it kind of diffuses here, I've noticed we have more of a problem with intellectual elitism, what with the arrogant Europeans around here (having, or formerly having a world-spanning empire tends to do that to a culture, don't try and argue about it), and of course all of us Americans who have taken after our ancestors in terms of the elitism. And though I relish the opportunity to talk to plenty of Europeans around here, the mixture of Americans and Europeans will inevitably cause nationalist flame wars. I suppose it's just sort of a thing, but what I really dislike is the political elitism, just because you subscribe to a leftist and/or liberal school of political thought does not make your views superior to those with more conservative leanings. I'd call myself centre-left, so I generally agree with the majority political views around here, but I still find all the elitism very obnoxious and I think, for one, that it reflects poorly on us.

I still think Ann Coulter and Bush are more hilarious the more serious they try to be.

Well of course they are, they're extreme right, and in America, they're more funny than they are scary.

 

[Zildjin81]

snip

I'm afraid your opinion isn't valid as you have less than 5000 posts and thus don't have a title as good as mine.

Oh yeah?
Well, your opinion is even less valid!
Hah! Relative judgment wins again! X-D

I do think we jump the gun on calling people trolls sometimes.
Often, it seems to me that the accused was just a confused, new, or unthoughtful poster, rather than a troll.

You sir, have a ludicrous amount of posts.

OT: You just noticed?

 

[Archimedes88]

No. I would say The Escapist doesn't have much of an elitist problem, by and large the majority of you are really mature people. You have those that post alot and those that simply like to read alot (such as myself) it doesn't make my point any less valid when i do post something just because i may have a low post count, and most people recognise this. Obviously many people will disagree with varying opinions but i wouldn't let it get to me if a snide remark was made, it's simply how some people are ... Less mature.

 

[Snowalker]

I think elitism is ingrained into the entire gaming culture. It's much easier to compete with someone than it is to try and stand on even ground with them, be their friends and all that. At least, that's the case for some people.

I don't it is ever 'easier' to compete with someone, but I understand what your saying. Some people just think they should be better, so they say they are, even if they're not. Its not all uncoomon in any walk of life, though. You get competition everywhere.

 

[initialdelay]

As a person who signed up very recently, I'm shit scared to even post a new topic because of people's reactions. Not that I care about anonymous people mocking me of course...

In all seriousness though, it does feel a little.. inbred? It's like there's a small community of people who act extremely pompously, who make (by the standards of The Great Cyberspace) unreasonable demands of the spelling and grammar skills of posters, who laugh at those who've come across something that's new to them, who expect everyone to read The Great Essay of Ruling within five minutes of joining, who don't like overgrown sentences with lots of commas, etc. etc.

Not that I'm bitter! Now can I join the Higher Circle?

EDIT: Oh, and those who jump into the Great Orgy of Mocking when somebody new creates a thread which covers a topic already in existence

 

[Neonbob]

snip

I'm afraid your opinion isn't valid as you have less than 5000 posts and thus don't have a title as good as mine.

Oh yeah?
Well, your opinion is even less valid!
Hah! Relative judgment wins again! X-D
-snip-

You sir, have a ludicrous amount of posts.

OT: You just noticed?

<_<
It's okay. I've long since come to terms with the fact that I have no life.
^_^
Besides, elitism or not, this place is addictive as hell.