So I'm doing an analysis of this forum for an assignment

[xynnia]

Hey everyone. This is a little out of the blue, but I'm doing a Masters in journalism and one of my modules is Social Media and Community Engagement. For an assignment over the holidays we have to write an analysis of two communities online, one journalistic and one non-journalistic.

I've chosen The Escapist forums as my journalistic community, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to talk about their experiences as a forums user? New, old, regular, irregular, anything is great.

Here are the questions I'm planning to ask everyone, so no-one is taken by surprise. You don't have to answer them in this thread - send me a Private Message if you're more comfortable with that.

Thanks, everyone!

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

4) What do you think of the moderation?

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

 

[Frission]

What is the assignment actually about? What pertinent questions do you ask? Just having a few posters will make for an un-focused assignment.

I mean I'm sure some people will want to help, but the instructions seem rather vague.

 

[Barbas]

You'll probably get more responses if you post the questions in the thread. People will be more comfortable answering if they know what they're getting into.

 

[Vault101]

erm...well ones experience as a forum user really depends on the development of ones own views and such

like starting out you might be alarmed at the amount of "negativity" present over everything, this might mean you have less discerning tastes

or you're being exposed to the common attitude of "the negative is always correct"

then if you get exposed to different views you can come back and see that most people follow a mentality you don't agree with

and also a rise in maturity means your not getting into internet slap fights over 'Most" things

 

[xynnia]

What is the assignment actually about? What pertinent questions do you ask? Just having a few posters will make for an un-focused assignment.

I mean I'm sure some people will want to help, but the instructions seem rather vague.

Fair question, but it's kind of open-ended. It just involves analysing the community and how it works, what it's about, who uses it, how it's moderated. My reply to Barbas below will answer the second part of your question.

You'll probably get more responses if you post the questions in the thread. People will be more comfortable answering if they know what they're getting into.

That's also fair. Here are the questions I've sent to one person who PMed me; they're nothing too intrusive, or so I hope

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

4) What do you think of the moderation?

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

 

[Sung-Hwan]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

I generally hate/like Ben Croshaw, but expressed an interest in the site he operates. Mainly visit to unload some steam off my mind.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

People generally don't seem stupid, but very, very ignorant depending on the topics at hand.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

More hostile over time.

4) What do you think of the moderation?

Wouldn't know, I'm not stupid enough to be apprehended by moderators. I take caution before writing anything.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?

No, and no because its likely they would try to murder me.

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

No.

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

It seems fine as it is. I wish they dropped the illusion of knowing anime and other Japanese media, and just focus on the gaming.

 

[Guffe]

I'll bite, I'll send you a PM answering the questions you put in the post in which you answered to Barbas.
You should EDIT your opening post saying these are the questions you wish people will answer, either in this topic or personally if they don't want to answer it here for everyone to see.
Good luck with your assignment and masters!

 

[xynnia]

I'll bite, I'll send you a PM answering the questions you put in the post in which you answered to Barbas.
You should EDIT your opening post saying these are the questions you wish people will answer, either in this topic or personally if they don't want to answer it here for everyone to see.
Good luck with your assignment and masters!

Derp derp. Yes I should. Thanks for that, and thanks for the help! :3

 

[MysticSlayer]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

I came to the site because of Yahtzee and stuck around mostly because of Jim Sterling. Eventually I started lurking the forums, which went on for about 1-2 years before I actually joined and started posting. I just wanted to start being in on the discussion about games and other entertainment rather than just reading others talk about it.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

Like:
Reasonably active and friendly community
I don't have to deal with a dozen mindless one-word posts on every page.
In general, the rules seem laid back enough that we don't have to worry about accidentally saying something that may get us a warning, but at the same time, they don't just allow users to lash out at each other.

Dislike:
The only consistent is excess cynicism, but I've certainly seen worse in that regard.
After that, it is just minor details like the occasional "is X legal" and "X person I hate [insert exaggerated, sometimes made-up, grievance here]" threads. But outside of the first few weeks of Quinnspiracy/GamerGate, I haven't seen the forums devolve into absolute chaos over stuff like this.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

Despite mentioning cynicism under "dislike", I actually think people have become more positive and accepting of minor annoyances than when I joined. I guess moderation has also become a little more relaxed regarding certain things like low-content posting, in that they actually seem to consider if 1-5 word comments still add to the discussion rather than just outright forbid it.

4) What do you think of the moderation?

Better than most but hardly perfect. I've seen people get warnings and suspensions over some of the silliest things (sometimes I don't even know what they did wrong), and I've also seen users not-so-subtly attack each other but manage to get away with it. There also seems to be some wavering on discriminatory comments.

Still, as far as allowing open discussion within reasonable rules go, the moderators do a mostly good job. I've certainly seen much worse than here.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?

No. I believe there are a few Escapist users in the same city I'm in, but I don't really make a point to meet up with people I know from an online forum.

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

No

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

I might have missed it, but they could have some place where people can learn about how to do stuff on the forums like embed YouTube videos. I can't even count the number of people that have needed to ask how to do that.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

What the heck, I'll bite.

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?
I came here for Zero Punctuation originally, and then jumped into one forum at some point just to post something. Been on and off posting for a while now.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?
Like:
-Moderation is decent
-Wider variety of viewpoints than I initially expected.
-Wide variety of topics, many of which are a lot of fun.
Dislike:
-The non-stop political and social forums can get old after a while, especially when they are essentially about the same subject over and over and over again (see Sarkeesian, Anita).
-Can be sort of depressing at times. This is, let's face it, a 'nerdy' website, and because of that there's a pretty high concentration of social pariahs and involuntary virgins, and it can sometimes be a little depressing to read (especially if people open up posts regarding relationships).
-Already mentioned, but it's not particularly user friendly. There's nothing that tells you how to embed a video, or create one of the "spoiler" options for what you post.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?
I'm honestly not on here enough to really tell.

4) What do you think of the moderation?
Actually pretty good. You get warned for giving ridiculously short answers, and people who post "I made $7,000 in one week by ________!" posts are booted pretty much immediately.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?
Probably not.

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?
No.

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?
As already mentioned, make the forums more user friendly.

 

[Drummodino]

Sure I'll bite. I'll send a PM with my answers though, expect it soon.

 

[cleric of the order]

great i'd love to help
1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?
I originally joined because of ZP. I read some of the articles and issues but never really felt the need to post much. Arround GG I joined in on the discussion and still occasionally, like moths to flame.
I still mainly use it for videos.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?
I dislike the chat code, that i can't reply like in an image board and that i have to be a bit too polite at times, I am a chan user.
I like the badge system makes me feel all warm and fuzz.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?
No more articles, more PC threads

4) What do you think of the moderation?
they seem reasonable, never had a run in

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?
nope, I have no clue.
6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?
No, well unless you count being a fa/tg/uy and occasionally running into other fa/tg/uys
7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?
Not really, everything seems fine, I would like the code to be smoother, tags are a bit annoying but that's a given it's a forum not an image board.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

[ol]
[li]I was introduced to the site when a friend of mine showed me Zero Punctuation in late 2008. I then created an account a few months later for March Mayhem, and have stayed here pretty much ever since.[/li]
[li]Positives:
[ul]
[li]The moderators work their arses off. Seriously.[/li]
[li]Cliques rarely dominate in Off-Topic and Gaming Discussion due to the size of those forums, so it's not difficult to get your voice heard.[/li]
[li]Some of the more specific forums such as User Reviews and RP have brilliant writers in them.[/li]
[/ul]

Negatives:
[ul]
[li]As has already been said, discussion can be hostile.[/li]
[li]People have a habit of not reading past the first page (or even the first post) of a thread, so quite a few threads I would like to post in I end up skipping just because I know my post won't be viewed or responded to.[/li]
[/ul][/li]
[li]It's become less clique-y since people now stick to user groups a lot of the time, but otherwise I wouldn't really say so. A lot of the same types of posters cycle round as old users leave and new users join.[/li]
[li]See my answer to question 2.[/li]
[li]I have actually done that. There's a group here that organise UK meetups throughout the year, and I attended one back in July.[/li]
[li]I follow a few on Twitter and am friends with two Escapists on Facebook, but it's not frequent for me to chat with them.[/li]
[li]Update or replace the guides on the front page. The badge gallery that this [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.202272] guide links to for example has been unused for four years and replaced twice. Two of those guides at the top of OT were created when the users were still mods, both of whom have since left the team and haven't even posted on the forums for years.[/li]
[/ol]

I might have missed it, but they could have some place where people can learn about how to do stuff on the forums like embed YouTube videos. I can't even count the number of people that have needed to ask how to do that.

-Already mentioned, but it's not particularly user friendly. There's nothing that tells you how to embed a video, or create one of the "spoiler" options for what you post.

Here ya go! [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.850242] Although I do agree that it isn't the easiest thing to find; see my answer to part 7.

 

[xynnia]

Thanks so much to everyone who's responded so far Sorry I haven't replied to any of the PMs - I keep getting an error saying I can't send messages via a proxy, even when I'm using my mobile.

Yahtzee sure is a massive draw for this place - I came to The Escapist through Zero Punctuation as well. It shouldn't surprise me considering how famous the show is, but I do wonder what percentage of the forums population were pulled in via ZP xD

 

[happyninja42]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

If I recall correctly, I came to the site originally due to Zero Punctuation, and started posting on the forums because of various topics that I had interest in voicing my opinion on. I didn't register for some time at the forums, and just watched the various video providers, but eventually I wanted to toss in my 2 cents on some subjects.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

Like: They're usually about gaming/nerd stuff, which I can find enjoyable.
Dislike: The toxic elitism and douchebaggery of some people on it. They come to a thread, pre-loaded with being insulted or offended by something said, and use the forum as a way to spew their bile all over a discussion. Or the ones that derail a thread because they mis interpret what the OP says, instead of you know, reading the damn question actually presented. Though I will allow, that this isn't exclusive to the Escapist forums, and is in fact, a feature of any forum anywhere.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?
Yes they have.

4) What do you think of the moderation?
They seem to be fairly consistent with their moderating, and timely in their actions. Can't really say anything beyond that, as I don't really interact with them at all.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?
No and no.

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?
No

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?
Not really, they seem to be doing just fine with what they provide.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?
I came to the website for Zero Punctuation, decided to look into the forums for a reason I can't remember, posted into a thread about Psychonauts and then I guess, I decided to stay...

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?
There are a lot of people from all over the world with a lot of different viewpoints about a lot of different subjects, and I enjoy reading what they have to say.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?
They've gotten larger, there's more talk about more serious subjects. It used to be ups and downs where we'd have a few months of seriousness, followed immediately by an explosion of silly threads (If a stranger and your dog were both drowning in a whirlpool...),
lately it seems we're more serious than silly, I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing though.

4) What do you think of the moderation?
It's good, the moderators are very dedicated and do a good job of keeping the forums orderly. There have been problems in the past with rule clarification, but things seem pretty stable and clear at the moment. If it weren't for the active moderation, I probably wouldn't still be part of this community.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?
No I haven't, but I would and I've done things like exchanged Christmas presents and drawn commissions with/for users. I've also participated in online hangouts (Google, Skype, ext)

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?
Yep

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?
I would like to see more web series featured on the site, it would be great if they were even created by members of the community, * such as this person [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/Marter]*

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Here goes:

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

I came to the site on a weekly basis when Yahtzee moved Zero Punctuation from Youtube to The Escapist. I made my account in 2009 to comment on his videos and gradually got sucked into the forum. These days I use it as a source of gaming news and as a social hangout online. I post less than I used to now but that's mainly due to school.

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

I like the hardline moderation (though I'm one of the few who seems to miss the pre-healthbar system). I guess at this point I could be an old bastard and say "I dislike the new members!" but that'd be facetious. I mainly dislike the new necromancy rule.

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

All places change. At this point the community dynamics are probably massively different as new users aren't joining because of Yahtzee. I don't know what the draw to join the site is now but yeah... Also the sites different in that a lot of friends have left. :/

4) What do you think of the moderation?

I've rarely had a problem with it. I've only ever appealed one warning and that was because it was applied in error. I think the biggest problem with the moderation are people's perception of the moderators, not the people themselves. They're pretty nice people if you get to chat with them.

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline?

3 Escapists met in the flesh so far! In fact, one friendly Aussie is actually in my neck of the woods right now!

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

Nope.

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

A return to the Kuliani days would be nice. I don't know if the office environment is busier these days but it was nice having the community manager mingle with us from time to time and set up hilarious April Fools day things.

Also The Escapist should pay Kross more. The Tech Team need to make more buttons.

 

[EvilRoy]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?

2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?

3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?

4) What do you think of the moderation?

5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?

6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?

7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?

Guess I'll throw in, if only because having had these assignments in the past I know how hard it can be to get any enough respondents. I will bang on at length so hopefully you can find something in here worth using.

1) Same as most, I was first interested in the site by Yahtzee (although I can't remember where I heard about him from), and eventually started commenting on his videos.

2)
Likes:
It's reasonably entertaining - I'm one of those bizarre psychopaths that actually enjoys reading everything about contentious issues. (Despite not actually caring about GG, the American gun debate, or the ME3 ending I find a certain amount of entertainment in reading all news and posts related to them if only to see how people react and change opinions as the argument continues.)

Despite many complaints about the volume of threads (too many of, not enough of) there is at least a reasonable level of variety in topics between and within the separate boards. On top of that there is a number of posters who are fairly knowledgeable about particular areas, and its nice to see someone who actually studies this or that topic weigh in.

Most people are generally polite and nice, although what I write next will make you doubt my sincerity here, and there is a good sense of humor among many regulars.

Dislikes:
Contentious issue burnout, exasperated by certain users. There are people on this forum who, despite claiming that they hate this or that topic, are wholly incapable of shutting up about it. If there is a news post even tangentially related to one of their gripes, it will get a passive-aggressive post, or general snark. These include, as of late, anything about censorship, anything about shady dealings, and a few certain names. The way these guys bang on about hating this or that, but still participate fully in it makes me wonder if these topics are some kind of replacement for a self abusive heroin addiction. No, seriously, the "I hate it but I must" thing is a mainstay among self destructive addicts.

Following from the previous - there is a subset of users that feel snark is a replacement for personality, and somehow get away with abusing other posters. I've felt it only rarely myself - I can out asshole anybody any day of the week so it isn't as much an issue for me - but it really is painful seeing the same jackasses lay into people day by day and receive no punishment for it. With that there are a number of people who seem to delight in sticking their heads into a thread to make a joke at the expense of the topic or the TC, with no purpose beyond derailment in mind, and promptly leave having apparently met a quota for the day.

3) Over time the forums have become less welcome to new users and more ready to defend old users poor behavior, which I feel is a shame. On the other hand, modding has generally improved even if not in the direction I personally would like, and new content creators have spawned new subcultures for me to watch.

4) Should have read all the questions first I guess. As I mentioned, I have some whines but in general the modding has been fair and straightforward.

5) No, and no. To expand, having read so much contentious stuff by so many people its very hard for me to not have a mild to not great opinion of a vast number of users just because I'm constantly seeing them at their worst (since I seek it out).

6) No, some level of anonymity is important to me so I can occasionally show off my own worst without fear of reprisal. Plus, facebook, twitter and tumblr and so forth don't really add anything to the experience anyway. Paraphrasing Bender, you're already talking with me, this is the maximum level of talking with me - adding more text based crap isn't going to enrich our interactions any further.

7) There was a community podcast for a while - by and for forum people - that I thought was an interesting idea. It would have been nice had that been more formally endorsed, but beyond that I don't really think so. We already have pointless badges and text based interaction, the only thing missing from an extremely run of the mill forum experience is reputation/thumbs, but having used forums with those it generally adds nothing.

 

[the_dramatica]

1) How did you come to start posting on the Escapist forums? What do you normally use them for?
I needed another video game community
2) What do you like and dislike about the forums?
Lot of hobbyists here so you get some interesting views, although it's slow
3) Do you think the forums have changed at all since you joined?
maybe slowed down a bit after losing a few journalists, I personally don't mind
4) What do you think of the moderation?
it's generic
5) Have you ever been to an offline meet-up linked with the Escapist, or met fellow users offline? Would you if you got the chance?
No, but I would.
6) Do you use any other platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc.) to connect with the Escapist community?
No chance too
7) Do you think The Escapist should do anything more to give its users a good community experience?
Perhaps expand on the forums.

could get a big niche by hosting small, monthly review tournaments or something, with the community voting for the winner of 50 bucks, or just making the forums competitive. I might be the only person to enjoy that though ^^