Really, what's the purpose of arguing over games?

[Pink Gregory]

And I'm not talking about civil discussion and debate, which actually leads to positive results, new information and the like.

I'm talking about the 'You like this, your opinion is irrelevant because it doesn't match mine, you are also an asshole' attitude that some seem to have. I know, I know, it's a loud minority but I just...I just don't understand so many things about that mindset.

Do these loud few really feel somehow better or justified in persecuting each other for choice in entertainment, for fuck's sake? I suppose I just don't understand what they get out of it.

I know, I know, blah blah pointless internet radge with simple answers, but I won't lie and say it doesn't bother me.

Any ideas?

 

[Foolery]

Sure, I've got one idea. Games are subjective. What works for you, might not do anything for me. It's like arguing which Final Fantasy is the best. Well, technically all of them. Depends who you ask. I loved IV, VIII, XII, and X, but hated I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII. While someone else might hate IV, VIII, XII, and X but loved I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Sure, I've got one idea. Games are subjective. What works for you, might not do anything for me. It's like arguing which Final Fantasy is the best. Well, technically all of them. Depends who you ask. I loved IV, VIII, XII, and X, but hated I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII. While someone else might hate IV, VIII, XII, and X but loved I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII.

Seeing all those Roman numerals in one post is wonderfully hypnotic. You deserve a reward, but I don't have one. Are you any good with vague instructions and papier mache?

But like I said, I'm not talking about expressing your own opinion here (which I would encourage); I'm talking about the tendency for some of us gamers (again, probably a loud minority, and I'm overreacting to something that's terminally unimportant) have some tendency to call each other *baaaaaad names* for the sheer audacity of enjoying something; it just doesn't produce any results and I suppose I'm trying to gain some perspective as to why people do it.

Yes, I did already make a 'Why is stop liking what I don't like a thing?' thread a few months ago, but apparently it continues to fascinate and bother me in quiet moments.

 

[Tom_green_day]

It's that internet formula thing that everyone quotes- anonymity and an audience make people a dick on the internet. I'm not innocent of it, and I doubt anyone really is.
However I'm not sure argument is the right word, I barely ever see a conversation with people saying 'This game sux' 'No it's great' 'No it got bad graphix' etc. It's usually people being more like 'Call of Duty is objectively bad because I dislike it therefore it is completely officially a bad game and anyone that thinks otherwise is wrong.'

 

[Foolery]

Sure, I've got one idea. Games are subjective. What works for you, might not do anything for me. It's like arguing which Final Fantasy is the best. Well, technically all of them. Depends who you ask. I loved IV, VIII, XII, and X, but hated I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII. While someone else might hate IV, VIII, XII, and X but loved I, II, III, V, VI, VII, IX, and XIII.

Seeing all those Roman numerals in one post is wonderfully hypnotic. You deserve a reward, but I don't have one. Are you any good with vague instructions and papier mache?

But like I said, I'm not talking about expressing your own opinion here; I'm talking about the tendency for some of us gamers (again, probably a loud minority, and I'm overreacting to something that's terminally unimportant) have some tendency to call each other *baaaaaad names* for the sheer audacity of enjoying something; it just doesn't produce any results and I suppose I'm trying to gain some perspective as to why people do it.

Yes, I did already make a 'Why is stop liking what I don't like a thing?' thread a few months ago, but apparently it continues to fascinate and bother me in quiet moments.

Haha, why yes I am a skilled papier mache artist. But yeah I think I understand what you're saying. As for why people do it, it's easy I guess, and must fill some kind of emotional need. People who are insecure often insult others. And perhaps some do it for sport. It's entertainment to them. Plus, it's not hard to talk tough when you're thousands of miles away, behind a screen. Though, if you want a more definitive answer, it's all in the psychology of the individual. Their personality. Their background. How they learned to interact with the world. Nature and nurture. And honestly I've always viewed humans as being sponges, or playdough. They change and adapt to the situation at hand. People act different in public than they would at home or in variety of spaces with a variety of people.

 

[Smeatza]

It passes the time.

Plus it can be very fun. If both parties are aware that their opinions aren't objective, and that they'll never reach a mutual conclusion, then the journey can be quite interesting and enjoyable.

 

[MysticSlayer]

For starters, it helps build their own sense of superiority. If you've ever watched an argument among Call of Duty and Battlefield fans, you sort of get this a lot. CoD fans say the BF fans "just suck at CoD" while BF fans say CoD fans "are just a bunch of stupid little kids who like wasting mommy and daddy's money on the same game every year". If you have a Skyrim fan saying he doesn't like Dark Souls, then you can pretty much guarantee a Dark Souls fanboy will be there to insult the entire Skyrim community, saying they are "dumb" and enjoy "easy mode games". If someone says they don't enjoy BioShock Infinite, you'll inevitably get an Infinite fan saying they are "dumb and don't like complex stories" or are a "hardcore contrarian". These just tend to be some popular examples of the last few years, but they sort of reflect the sense of self-superiority that many of these people try to feel while insulting those who disagree with them. You also get similar arguments a lot when dealing with the console wars or the PC vs. console argument.

There's also always a few people who are just jerks and can't really help it. It is part of who they are. Some may also be trolls and don't need an extra motivation outside of the fact that they know that it makes people angry. There also might be some children involved who don't yet comprehend the nature of "subjective opinion" and "objective fact". Finally, given how vocal the minority is, some people may just really see those people and think it would be cool to make the same arguments.

Again, it's really just a vocal minority, and many of them probably aren't like that on a consistent basis. The thing is, sometimes it is hard for people to comprehend why something they love or hate so much can be viewed differently by another person. Given that this is the Internet, every once in a while you'll see that lack of understanding bring out the worst in people.

 

[veloper]

Fun. Arguing over games is fun.
During the argument you also may learn where prominent posters stand in regards to gaming preferences and interests, which may put future rants or reviews in a useful context.

 

[OpticalJunction]

It's fun. You get to know your own point of view better when you contrast it against anothers'.

 

[Zhukov]

Dunno.

I try to do it less these days.

Once an argument has gone for four quotes or more, I'm out.

 

[WouldYouKindly]

I would say shits and giggles. I just generally enjoy arguing and games are as good a topic as any.

 

[shrekfan246]

Because when you don't like something and see that somebody else does like it, it suddenly turns into "THE WORST THING TO EVER EXIST!" and mocked your father while having sex with your mother/sister/brother/stuffed teddy bear and possibly called you 'Son' the next morning.

Or when you see someone dissing something you like, suddenly all of its flaws become nonexistent and it's a shining example of purity and perfection in video game form.

 

[Fappy]

Most people participate in internet discussions because they're looking for someone to validate their preconceived notions. If they find resistance they get pissed off and will jump on anyone who disagrees with them. The narcissism of the internet.

 

[Evonisia]

It's quite fun in a kind of masochistic and air of superiority kind of way.

To quote Yahtzee out of context: "It's schadenfreudatastic".

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

If by "arguing" you mean "looking at games objectively and discussing them," quite a bit actually.

It gives gamers a chance to express how they felt the game held up within the genre/series, as well as picking at the highlights and lows of the title. All of this is meant to raise awareness and to see what the developers could have done differently/added for the next installment, or even another title with similar mechanics.

 

[Pink Gregory]

If by "arguing" you mean "looking at games objectively and discussing them," quite a bit actually.

That's not what I'm referring to. Again, it's more the attitude that if anything *doesn't* want to discuss games that I'm talking about, only make statements.

 

[Gormech]

It's a biological code that goes along the lines of protecting personal interests to ensure their continuation.
By 'winning' one of these arguments, the body produces a sort of chemical high that can provide pleasure.
Failing to see a 'win' will cause addiction-like effect where the person will continue to try until an ultimatum is met.
Logic can outweigh and remove the individual from the process if they are able to spare enough mental computation to it.
Others simply continue in order to get the positive effects mentioned earlier.

 

[Doom972]

What's the purpose of anything? It's just something that I sometimes like to do. My friends and I tend to be like-minded when it comes to games so I don't get much of an opportunity to argue about games. And yes, I sometimes like to argue about things that don't matter or don't exist. I assumed that this was the case for everyone here.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

If by "arguing" you mean "looking at games objectively and discussing them," quite a bit actually.

That's not what I'm referring to. Again, it's more the attitude that if anything *doesn't* want to discuss games that I'm talking about, only make statements.

I see...still, the reason for such attitudes is simply the lack of looking at a beloved and/or respected IP objectively, while still holding it in high regard.

I always attribute this to fans vs. fanboys. Fans will enjoy an IP/franchise, but still be willing to judge it by its own merits in hopes that it will become better and present new ideas/features. Fanboys will support an IP/franchise, regardless of its short comings and defend it fiercely for the sake of keeping it afloat and nothing more.

 

[ninjaRiv]

I think it's escalation, usually when people say something unkind or act disrespectful. Perhaps not so much disrespectful as much as they disregard the good points of a game.

I saw somebody insult Morrowind here on The Escapist and my knee jerk reaction was "fuck you, you don't know shit about games." (exaggeration) It's a brief thought- I mean, the briefest- but some people don't even leave it there, they develop the thought to make it as insulting as possible.

That's what I think, anyway. It's just debates and opinions taken too far by people looking for a fight.