Poll: So some people don't like the Escapist...

[maninahat]

Some people just think the Escapist is smug and superior. Sometimes I agree. Sometimes I wish it was more smug and superior.

Incidently, I listed that under *other* rather than *false perception*, because really, what is the right perception? From what I've seen, there are stuck up attitudes on here. Whether its someone being dismissive of the COD crowd, or talking about how much better it is here than in some other forum, there is always a pervasive sense of superiority. Then again, every forum has that.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Then again, every forum has that.

I can get behind that sentiment. Any problems I have with this place are problems that I have with people on the internet in general.

 

[axlryder]

I'm personally starting to get tired of the Escapist. I feel like the community used to be more fun/lively/unique, and I'm not a fan of how stringent modding can be. The two might go hand in hand, but at this point it's getting a bit boring. I'd get more specific, but I'd probably get warned for it.

Yes, I'm aware this post makes me look bad and that I'm hardly an exception to the issue I pointed out.

 

[Maitresse Zem]

I think there's a distinction to be made. TS, are you referring to 1) people that have no (or a superficial) interest in the things Escapist magazine is about, say the internet/gaming/multimedia culture, or 2) people that are not interested in the Escapist as a website (but are interested in the subject of gaming in general)?

I feel these different groups have significantly different ideas and opinions and speculation about why others are not as into a website as you are is sort of like fishing in an empty pond. If those people you are referring to are not coming from the same place as you, shoving them anything in their faces and expecting them to enjoy it (hur di hur)is going to be somewhat of a gamble. While the Escapist might be part of your day to day life, you are actually a relatively small segment of users and there is an enormous amount of context to be understood before you are able to grasp what is being said and shown. I got introduced to the Escapist by a friend, and started off by just watching what he was doing and what he was checking out, before I got round to navigating the site by my self probably a week or more later. Starting with the video series my friend had shown me, then to the rest of the videos, then the news, columns and finally the forums (after several months). There is such an amazing output of content, it can be very overwhelming to the new visitor.
Since I can't be arsed to read through tutorials, this is also the way I approach new games, figuring out one control at a time before even paying attention to the rest of the game.

As to the other category, that can be any reason ranging from not having put in enough time to figure it all out, being turned off by community behavior, not having the time to stay updated on all the content, bad recommendation from a friend, anything really.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I dunno I mean I sometimes avoid the escapist because I feel like I have to add an additional filter when I come here. I mean I CAN articulate a well worded and lengthy analytical opinion of why i don't like final fantasy but sometimes id rather just say "nothing in it makes sense and theres a bunch of spikey haired faggots acting emo all the time."

Here even if that is the thesis of what I'm saying I feel like I have to phrase it different because otherwise I'll inevitably spend more time debating the colloquial use of the word "******" than I will the actual point.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well I never claimed everyone here does it XD

I'm rather surprised that ANYONE does it, since most of the threads I'm in seem to include unchallenged, batshit crazy claims.

Including my own.

I think he's going after the collective hate this site seems to have for CoD and Battlefield, and is just using spunkgargle because it was popular for a little bit.

Of course, I could be completely off, so who knows

I don't know, the full context looks like he's pissed off at the word itself. And it's been relatively common to rail against it, though even that's dying down now.

 

[Pinkamena]

Pretty much every discussion has a reasonably probability of degrading into a flame-war about sexism flavor of the month?

Fixed that for you.

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

It's been called elitist in the past which is interesting. That's a popular go-to word towards someone with power when you can't form a cohesive argument against why you don't like them without sounding a little strange. The people who write for it have been called unprofessional due to their origins of employment and lack of traditional schooling as well as their mannerisms and character persona. The Extra Credits departure led to criticism as well.

Now I know: This question has probably been rehashed on these forums over and over again or at least once or twice. But I'm genuinely curious to hear what supporters have to say. Is it like a straw feminist argument when people hate something without really understanding what the true movement is all about (actual feminist/equity feminist)? Does it involve Internet culture? Gaming culture? Culture culture?

I have my own opinions but I like to start insightful discussions and it helps me take an undeserved break from more important things like school. I am not criticizing the Escapist just to be clear, just questioning criticisms directed at it. So avast ye'...that was terrible. I'm sorry.

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking, OP. My opinion of the escapist? My opinion of people who don't like the escapist? My theory as to why they don't like it? People like and dislike things for a lot of different reasons (many of which they themselves often do not understand) and it'd be plain stupid to even try to come up with a Universal Theory Of Why Some People Don't Like The Escapist.

 

[hooblabla6262]

I would describe the community as entitled rather than elitist, though you could probably argue that they are essentially the same.

Gamers in general are usually big complainers. We know what we want, and we feel we deserve it. When we don't get what we want, we start threads and petitions. Sometimes over important features like DRM, and other times we get upset over an artistic/design direction.

But are we in the right? I was going to compare going to see a crappy movie versus buying a crappy game, but they are wildly different when you boil down to the details. And considering I never go to film websites, I can't say for sure that it isn't just the nature of mankind to complain when the silliest things don't go our way.

Regardless, I love all my fellow whiny Escapians <3

 

[scorptatious]

Probably due to the culture surrounding this place. Some people seem to come off as quite condescending sometimes.

One time I mentioned how annoying and difficult this one spot in Final Fantasy IX was, and this one guy quoted my post and told me "Really? Final Fantasy IX was one of the easiest games I've ever played." In a thread asking what parts in certain games gave you trouble.

I'm sorry, is this a discussion about video games or a dick waving contest?

Oh, and you gotta love all the guys who talk about how great games were back in the day and how shitty they are now. Those can be quite annoying.

Thankfully, those kinds of people are a minority here on the Escapist, and there are plenty of awesome people on here to make up for them.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Well, our mods are a fair bit more strict than normal, meaning that a lot of people get banned rather quickly, leading them to get a grudge against this place. Someone used to Youtube and such don't last long.
Also, low-content warnings.

 

[Mikeyfell]

Are you sure the Escapist is the right place to ask this question?

I can only tell you why I don't like the Escapist.
And it has nothing to do with the mods, because they are all mortal messiah who's existence is a boon to society.


Basically the community is full of morons, (My self included, obviously)
Every one on the sight either can't take a joke, or hasn't realized yet that nobody on the sight can take a god damn joke, and like true idiots continue to crack jokes. (or at the very least continue to express their honest opinion in a tong in cheek manner)

but don't think that anything I've said about the mods is tong in cheek, though. That is the real truth. All hail the Escapist moderators!

I don't know how anyone who wasn't an active community member would know that though.
But the Escapist does seem to attract a certain type

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I think there's definitely some merit to The Escapist's community being a touch pretentious. Granted, I don't think we're as pretentious as we used to be, but it doesn't take that much for these reputations to form really. Our shit-slinging competitions tend to be loads of passive aggressive bullshit due to the rules, but if the rules weren't there it'd just be flamewars, so it's sort of better. It doesn't help the whole 'pretentious' thing though. At least people have stopped doing a lot of the irritating things we used to have a reputation for (claiming we're all schizophrenic, copying Yahtzee parrot-fashion etc), although I don't really know what other people say about us.

I suspect most of it due to the overzealous almost power-mad moderation including but not limited to the no-tolerance slamming of warnings onto any post that any mod sees as being "low" content. If a moderator does not like you (which seems to be the case with me) they will find ANY reason to find that your perfectly rule-abiding post breaks rules and punish you for a crime you did not commit.

The whole Extra Credits thing did not help either!

I am sure it's to do with mods holding grudges rather than you not knowing the rules properly. I'm sure.

 

[StBishop]

My room mate isn't a fan.

He says (and I can't say I disagree) that, much like any forum, it's a circle jerk of people loving certain things and hating others. However I will point out that the liking at hating does tend to swing. I remember how it was cool to hat CoD, then it was cool to support it (counter-counter-culture at it's best) but I don't come on enough to notice trends like that anymore.

I think his biggest problem (besides not enjoying the articles for whatever reason, I put it down to personal taste) is that he just doesn't play games the way many of us do, he's not the target audience.

He "wins" games. All of them. He doesn't "experience" Bioshock, he beats it.
That's not to say he doesn't enjoy it, or appreciate the innovation, or the art deco styling, nor the ambience.

But if there's a game with poor mechanics, or clunky controls, or what he finds unenjoyable gameplay, he won't play it. Ever.

I, on the other hand, would; provided the game had something else to offer me. I play FF for the story and the character interaction.

He plays it to see how it ends and win.

If he finds a game breaking move, the game is shit and broken.
If I find one, I don't use it.

It's just a perspective thing. Some people simply aren't the target audience and to be honest

That's a popular go-to word towards someone with power when you can't form a cohesive argument against why you don't like them without sounding a little strange.

That shit does make us appear elitist.

I mean, lets be honest. How many people do you think with an IQ below 100 would feel comfortable here? I'd be willing to guess most of the people on here are slightly above that (but by as much as they might estimate).

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

My brother and I have a running joke that the Escapist is full of forever alone white knights who constantly produce threads with titles like "Please, why do no IRL girls love meee?" and "Is it sexist to have more than one waifu?"

Unfortunately this is kind of true.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Apart from the Valve fanboys (which I think have gotten better), a small percentage of users who lack basic empathy, and a somewhat large amount of -dare I say it- entitlement, these forums are pretty great.

 

[Remus]

The level of moderation on these forums forces some people to be reasonable and concise about arguments that in other forums would result in flame wars complete with animated gifs. This is a good thing. Is proper English language usage in correct context elitist? No but I can understand how it may appear that way for people that are accustomed to the vitriol of 4chan or 1up. In other forums a 20 page thread could be created with a single five word sentence consisting of "X is better than Y". But not here. I am glad this is not the place that can be easily trolled for post count and am a proud member of this community.

 

[Images]

Moral outrage on here can be a lil insane. Peeps who don't agree get burned pretty bad. Also, God help anyone who voices an opinion counter to an extremely liberal slant. Often times its, "Appreciate the beauty and wonder of every bit of this world and celebrate specialness and difference...OR DIEEEEE!".

That and smokers ARE THE DEVIL on here.

I understand the criticisms lobbed over buuuuuut the site entertains me mostly so meh.