The Ask an Escapist Thread

[sageoftruth]

I remember the last time I visited a new forum. Basically, the first place I went was to a thread like this one. Since we have a new influx of visitors from Gamer Trailers, this seemed like a prime time to start a new one. If you're just visiting, ask us anything, about navigating the Escapist, about how people behave, about how not to get banned, whatever. Everyone else, feel free to answer any question that comes up. I'll be away from my computer for the rest of today, so hopefully others can fill in for me until then.

 

[FalloutJack]

Since I'm actually a veteran around here, I'll ask a different question. Sage of Truth, do you know the Truth of Sage?

 

[Barbas]

Who are you?

 

[Fappy]

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

Also, do you find yourself perpetually drawn to forum drama?

Also, also, how cool am I on a scale of "super cool" to "pretty rad".

 

[JaKandDaxter]

A site history question. So what exactly happened with Gamergate, or any other particular event that caused a drop in activity here on Escapist.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

A site history question. So what exactly happened with Gamergate, or any other particular event that caused a drop in activity here on Escapist.

I can say you're going to draw a lot of strong opinions out on that one.

What I can say based on data that another Escapist member gathered (I honestly have forgotten their name) is that the Escapist experiences spikes with each new controversy and then an immediate drop afterwards to levels that are lower than they were before the spike. This has happened numerous times and Gamergate was no exception. In particular, the obsession with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, the Mass Effect 3 debacle and Gamergate seem to be the big three that this site remembers quite well as being the hotspots.

 

[Musou Tensei]

Why no signatures?

Why are neogaffers here?

Why get links not coverted into clickable links automatically, like on GT?

Do people here even play videogames?

 

[DefunctTheory]

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

I have, though rarely, and I couldn't provide an example (Way too many post to dig through, and most of the ones older then 2 years are cringe worthy for a variety of reasons). If I did go back and look, I could probably count how many times I did it on two hands, and how many times they actually changed my mind (Rather then just conceding defeat because I was unwilling or unable to defeat their arguments) on one hand.

Amusingly though, there are a variety of issues I have switched sides on since creating this account.

 

[Fappy]

Why no signatures?

Signatures are cancer for forums.

Why are neogaffers here?

How can you tell that they are here to begin with?

Why get links not coverted into clickable links automatically, like on GT?

This site's bbcode is very 'do it yourself'. Can be good and bad.

Do people here even play videogames?

Personally? Too much.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Why no signatures?

Signature blocks mostly only serve to bloat up posts. On sites where word counts tend towards the lower end, that's no big deal. A quick check through the forums should show you we tend to be a bit more verbose here.

Why are neogaffers here?

I had to google what neogaf was. I'm not sure why you'd know or care if they were here.

Why get links not coverted into clickable links automatically, like on GT?

The forums use manual code only because using both manual and automatic is cumbersome. And manual offers more, if you know what you're doing.

Do people here even play videogames?

Not everyone, surprisingly. There are a few people who are here mainly just to discuss things that are not of a video game nature. And there's more then a few people here who spend most or all of their time in the non-gaming forums.

 

[IceForce]

A site history question. So what exactly happened with Gamergate, or any other particular event that caused a drop in activity here on Escapist.

Gamergate was very polarizing.

Basically, Escapist tried to stay as neutral as possible, which ended up being the worst possible option to take. Because pro-Gamergaters got upset that they weren't getting free-run of this place and that there were too many dissenting voices against them. (And before anyone asks, yes, there were quite a few staunchly pro-Gamergate people who suggested both here and elsewhere on the internet that Escapist mods should "clean house" of anyone who's against Gamergate). The anti-Gamergate people on the other hand were annoyed and upset that Gamergate was even being given a platform on this forum at all. So both 'sides' were pissed off at each other, and the militant members of both sides also got pissed off at Escapist too. (For example: link)
And all this warring and constant hostility also ended up pushing away all the neutrals too, disillusioned at what they were seeing unfold on the forums.

In trying to please everyone, Escapist ended up pleasing no one.

Basically, everyone lost. There were no winners out of that mess, least of all The Escapist.

 

[IceForce]

Why no signatures?

Because forum signatures are as ugly as sin and a complete eyesore.

Why are neogaffers here?

Does this matter? I'm puzzled at why this is even an issue.

 

[the December King]

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

I concede all the time, especially if I can see things from another side. Acknowledging another person's point of view is refreshing and enlightening on different levels. I've also experienced my fair share of frustration as well.

Also, do you find yourself perpetually drawn to forum drama?

I do admit that forum drama can sucker me in, but I like the threads that deal with creative stuff more, even if they are just thought puzzles or 'what if's.

Also, also, how cool am I on a scale of "super cool" to "pretty rad".

I assume 'gnarly' is somewhere north of awesome, at least in the metric system of cool... So I guess that makes you fappy-tastic!

 

[DefunctTheory]

Why no signatures?

Signature blocks mostly only serve to bloat up posts.

I agree, mostly. On Gametrailers, I have a sig containing one short line of text, with right alignment. It's just a series of hyperlinks to accounts I have on other websites. Is that too much? I can see the problem with pictures. Those are huge.

Well, I probably wouldn't see a problem with one line, no pictures. Maybe even a lock out of all bbcode (Plain text or bust).

But it never seems to end there, does it?

 

[Kina]

As someone who just came from Gametrailers, only one question comes to mind as of right now:

Girlfriends birthday is on the 23rd. We'll be in Nagoya, Japan so making reservations at a nice restaurant may be difficult (or anything in that realm). WHAT SHOULD I GET HER?

... Help!

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

Why no signatures?

Noodles the Clown. Bastard took everything.

Why are neogaffers here?

The site tried hiring old-school gaffers at one point, but they insisted on using vacuum-tube technology to run the network. It weren't pretty.

Why get links not coverted into clickable links automatically, like on GT?

We don't speak of covert operations without offerings of ice cream. Ben & Jerry's Cheesecake Brownie in particular.

Do people here even play videogames?

A few people do, but the rest of us are just nose-pickers. It's all down to personal choice.

 

[Super Cyborg]

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

Also, do you find yourself perpetually drawn to forum drama?

Also, also, how cool am I on a scale of "super cool" to "pretty rad".

1. I would have to get into an argument with someone here to concede, so that's a no. However, I have read arguments where a person I disagreed with made a compelling argument that I ended up agreeing with their view in the end.

2. I read a lot of the GID threads and some of the longer stuff just to see the arguments go down. I never respond because I have no investment and lack information to argue the various points

3. I'd say you are pretty super rad with an abundant amount of coolness.

 

[DemomanHusband]

As someone who just came from Gametrailers, only one question comes to mind as of right now:

Girlfriends birthday is on the 23rd. We'll be in Nagoya, Japan so making reservations at a nice restaurant may be difficult (or anything in that realm). WHAT SHOULD I GET HER?

... Help!

Quick, buy a timeshare!

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

Also, do you find yourself perpetually drawn to forum drama?

Also, also, how cool am I on a scale of "super cool" to "pretty rad".

I honestly can't remember if I've conceded to an argument yet. I have admitted mistakes, but it seems everyone I argue with likes to go with 'Well, this whole thing isn't worth my time, so forget I even said anything' as a conversation endpoint.

I'm not so much drawn to forum drama so much as I am drawn to blatantly silly opinions/misguided thought. Of course, what qualifies as either of those things is subjective, but I like to think I'm pretty fair about it.

As for how cool you are... I like your avatar! Just wish it didn't charge me so darn much for weapons.

Now for a question I'll ask anyone interested in answering! What is the absolute worst game you've played on A)Your PC? B)Any Console? C)Any Handheld? D)Any Phone/Tablet?

For me it's A)Mount Your Friends (Don't judge, it was on sale, I swear!) B)The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (I have no excuse.) C) Dragon Fin Soup and C) Fallout Shelter on a phone it wasn't optimized for.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Question to anyone: Have you ever conceded to someone else's argument on this site before? How many times has it happened?

I have, before, on economic issues I wasn't fully read-up on and games I hadn't considered from another perspective. Hasn't happened often, but I don't know if that's more because I've been more firmly convinced by my own arguments, or because after a year-long run in R&P, I lost my taste for arguments.

Also, do you find yourself perpetually drawn to forum drama?

Only by coincidence.

Also, also, how cool am I on a scale of "super cool" to "pretty rad".

Rockin'ly sweet. Possibly tubular.

As someone who just came from Gametrailers, only one question comes to mind as of right now:

Girlfriends birthday is on the 23rd. We'll be in Nagoya, Japan so making reservations at a nice restaurant may be difficult (or anything in that realm). WHAT SHOULD I GET HER?

... Help!

Well, assuming you don't miss White Day (I don't care if she got you chocolate or not)...is being in Nagoya an unusual thing?

I don't think I can answer your question, I'm the world's most indecisively second-guessy gift buyer, but it might help narrow it down.