The Escapist to me. (and its evolution)

[butterkniferampage]

After reading Spartan Banana's goodbye to everyone, it reminded me of how little I really know about these forums. I have been a loyal Escapist member since around page 2 of Zero Punctuation. I've always enjoyed reading the threads that other people wrote and replied to, though i rarely commented on them. I never really got to recognize anyone in particular either, except for MaxtheReaper.
And now that there are all of these quizzical and questionable things on the site, like Game Dogs and premium membership content, things seem like they are taking a turn for the worse. While this website has been the reason for my personal discovery of brilliant people such as Shamus, Yahtzee, and the LRR crew; I think it's losing some of its charm.
I fear for lovers of the Escapist as a community. Thoughts on the website's evolution?

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

That's your problem dude...the site's doing just fine and people are getting a little too paranoid about this premium membership deal and overreacting.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Progress i guess.

 

[Rainboq]

Its only getting better, in fact, THE PARTY HAS ONLY BEGUN!

 

[Timotei]

I DONT FUCKING CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE ESCAPIST.

Can you quit the fucking caps lock please? It doesn't help to make the forums any better.

Srsly. It isn't even Billy Mays Day yet.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Thoughts on the website's evolution?

Thumbs are useful things to evolve.

 

[reaper_2k9]

I think change is good it shows the site is growing and I do not believe it to be a bad thing, but I understand that older members joined when the site was smaller and thats where they felt more comfortable, more tight knit.

There are some things I don't like like Game dogs and what not but I just don't watch it, I watch the videos I like and read or participate in things that I like. Not every one is going to like everything about the site but I dont think thats any reason to leave.

 

[ajb924]

Ahh, more venting for me.

Frankly, I think this is the last straw for my time here. I came here a while ago, though not as long as you two, but the site has changed, and I think I've either outgrown it or out lived it. The giving out exclusive stuff is nice, but not exclusive forums.

At the risk of sounding like a melodramatic *****, I think I may be leaving the site for good, and only popping in once in a while to drop a review or Run review Wars.
I dunno. I mean, its just not the same site I fell in love with. I hate having a huge post count, and that's a big reason that I may be leaving.

I dislike not being able to do something that "isn't pimppeter2" to some people. I was a lot like NoMoreSanity until my ban, and my second ban. But I softened up becuase I didn't want to get into any more trouble. but frankly, I miss being able to argue my ass off (the reason I joined the site), without a group of people that "know me" telling me I'm behaving strangely.

I posted this in the Asylum group, so I'll post it here

Its not only the premium content. Its everything. That was just the last straw. When I joined, I couldn't even count the people that I cared about on the forums. It has to do with my sudden "popularity"

Now, I think there's less then ten people that I genuinely like running into on the forums. Souplex, WanderFreak, Zombie Fish, Neon Bob, orranis, and Swollen Goat. Its not to say I don't like the rest of you guys, but its something I've been feeling for a long time even before this.

I've been with the site since '07. And too much has changed. Whether its for the better or the worse is subjective. I frankly feel nothing for the people on here any more.

You're mostly all dull, personality less copies of eachother. Hub is exactly like Furburt, and their exactly like lord C, and Demented teddy, who is exactly like snooty, and JK and ext.

You're all carbon copies of what the regular escapist member is with only half the personality.

I miss being able to call someone a fucking idiot without ten people breething down my neck telling me that "the real pimppeter2 wouldn't say that".

You guys are all nice, but after all it is a fuckin website, and I'm sick and tired of the community.

I feel like the community has out grown me. Its no longer my home site, or even the place I enjoy coming to that much.

I guess its just a habit. I guess my moment of like yours would be when Max was banned. Not that I was particularly close to the kid, but he signified the end of the users I was part of. The other two being people like you and New Classic and Zombie Fish, but for a long time you guys had all been on a posting hiatus, and I never say any of you. Then Max and Sanity got banned, and all I was left with was people like Hub and Furburt, who are great people, but I just don't care about them.

I'll scroll down to read Zombie Fish's or your post, but I rarely scroll to find what Hub has said on the subject.

I feel "trapped" in with a group of people I cannot identify with.

So those are my random musings on the subject taken from conversations I've had today and lumped into a big post for everyone to enjoy.

Again, don't be offended about this. This is just my honest opinion and some venting. I just really need to get this stuff off my chest.

I dunno, I think its a bad idea. Mainly becuase the people that are most loyal to the site are teens like me with too much time on their hands, and no credit cards. I may pay the fee just to "support the site", because I do love the site. But I just can't shake the feeling that things have changed, and for me personally for the worse.

This essentially.
I honestly agree 100%. But, I'm not gonna leave. The games are too much fun.

EDIT:
I'm also sick of how easy it is to get a probation/suspension/ban. Some people like MULTI KILL did deserve it, but if I remember right Max always had the kind of "Burn in hell" personality. And he had tiffs with the mods, but the ban may have been a bit too far. Now, I can't remember what his banning post was, but I'm going to go check again now.
Also, I'm not trying to start anything with any of the mods or question there work, I just think the site got really strict really fast...

EDIT 2:
Oh, duh, it 404'd. But regardless, the mods have gotten really strict, and I know I haven't been here as long as other's, and my voice may not count for as much as the "cool guys" but whatever.

FINAL EDIT:
Oh, in regards to the community bit, THANK YOU.
That is the thing I HATE on this site. A lot of the people seem so stuck up. So many think they're better than everyone else, I brought this up in the post I got a probation for in the "Let's bastardize an entire culture!" thread. I brought up how it seems like everyone wants to assume they're better than the majority of society just because they're at this site. I'm not saying everyone is like this and I can pick out a TON of people who are the most AWESOME people you could meet! But, there are a lot who think they're above the people in the real world.

 

[butterkniferampage]

[sub]honestly,[/sub]
I DONT FUCKING CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE ESCAPIST.

.

Personally, it's a vehicle for my entertainment. I shall not elaborate.

If you do not care, then do not post. Simple cause and effect here.

 

[ACM_Shadow]

Everything evolves, its a natural process, lets just hope it doesn't change too much, and the escapist still retains the community that keeps it awesome.
(also lets hope that unlike many other sites, the memberships are truly optional and don't hinder what we used to do and watch.)

 

[Hollock]

As far as the premeiums go I don't see the point in the custom title thing, it's just like having a second name, what's the point. I guess that I've seen a slight drop in the fun I've had on this site recently, but not by that much.

 

[Erana]

I find it interesting that so much imput in this thread comes from people who joined last summer...

Really, I find that the 'Scapists been having a lot of ups and down in my time here, but its been on a general up recently. I think the 'scapist's had another little activity boom, and I think this is a make-or-break moment, hinging largely on how the staff handle behavior these days.

Really, though, the 'Scapist's made me pretty happy with it lately; I see a lot of smart and/or interesting people who are able to forego the cynical, bellicose exterior they've had to use when parousing the rest of the internet here.

 

[oppp7]

Ahh, more venting for me.

Frankly, I think this is the last straw for my time here. I came here a while ago, though not as long as you two, but the site has changed, and I think I've either outgrown it or out lived it. The giving out exclusive stuff is nice, but not exclusive forums.

At the risk of sounding like a melodramatic *****, I think I may be leaving the site for good, and only popping in once in a while to drop a review or Run review Wars.
I dunno. I mean, its just not the same site I fell in love with. I hate having a huge post count, and that's a big reason that I may be leaving.

I dislike not being able to do something that "isn't pimppeter2" to some people. I was a lot like NoMoreSanity until my ban, and my second ban. But I softened up becuase I didn't want to get into any more trouble. but frankly, I miss being able to argue my ass off (the reason I joined the site), without a group of people that "know me" telling me I'm behaving strangely.

I posted this in the Asylum group, so I'll post it here

Its not only the premium content. Its everything. That was just the last straw. When I joined, I couldn't even count the people that I cared about on the forums. It has to do with my sudden "popularity"

Now, I think there's less then ten people that I genuinely like running into on the forums. Souplex, WanderFreak, Zombie Fish, Neon Bob, orranis, and Swollen Goat. Its not to say I don't like the rest of you guys, but its something I've been feeling for a long time even before this.

I've been with the site since '07. And too much has changed. Whether its for the better or the worse is subjective. I frankly feel nothing for the people on here any more.

You're mostly all dull, personality less copies of eachother. Hub is exactly like Furburt, and their exactly like lord C, and Demented teddy, who is exactly like snooty, and JK and ext.

You're all carbon copies of what the regular escapist member is with only half the personality.

I miss being able to call someone a fucking idiot without ten people breething down my neck telling me that "the real pimppeter2 wouldn't say that".

You guys are all nice, but after all it is a fuckin website, and I'm sick and tired of the community.

I feel like the community has out grown me. Its no longer my home site, or even the place I enjoy coming to that much.

I guess its just a habit. I guess my moment of like yours would be when Max was banned. Not that I was particularly close to the kid, but he signified the end of the users I was part of. The other two being people like you and New Classic and Zombie Fish, but for a long time you guys had all been on a posting hiatus, and I never say any of you. Then Max and Sanity got banned, and all I was left with was people like Hub and Furburt, who are great people, but I just don't care about them.

I'll scroll down to read Zombie Fish's or your post, but I rarely scroll to find what Hub has said on the subject.

I feel "trapped" in with a group of people I cannot identify with.

So those are my random musings on the subject taken from conversations I've had today and lumped into a big post for everyone to enjoy.

Again, don't be offended about this. This is just my honest opinion and some venting. I just really need to get this stuff off my chest.

I dunno, I think its a bad idea. Mainly becuase the people that are most loyal to the site are teens like me with too much time on their hands, and no credit cards. I may pay the fee just to "support the site", because I do love the site. But I just can't shake the feeling that things have changed, and for me personally for the worse.

So you're saying you're leaving because you can't be an asshole? The whole point of the Escapist was to discuss things in a mature manner. If you want to be an idiot then go ahead and get banned. We'll just continue being elitists and have intelligent discussions.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I agree that a lot of the users have similar personalities. But that's only because you pointed it out. Thank you for that...

I do think the forums have gotten a little... boring lately, but that's why I'm getting into user groups. Just about every thread is "What is your favorite nostril?" or "which character do you think is funniest?" I didn't realize it until recently because I didn't care much about what I was saying because of the Neo badge, but I think it's always been like that. The other trend is that for the past few weeks there hasn't been any real discussion material. Where are the threads about stopping global warming? What we should do about Zimbabwe? All we have now is a bunch of threads either worshipping the Harm Principle or flame wars between atheists(normally led by Khell Sennet, one of the few I've actually seen an identity for) and religious people. YOU CAN ONLY ARGUE THEOLOGY AND BELIEFS TO A DEGREE, PLEASE STOP FLOODING THE FORUMS WITH THE SAME DAMN ARGUMENTS.

I think one of the things that gets to me about this is that now I'll never be considered one of the Escapist Elites. I could get a 50k post count, the 4 best badges, and I'd still be just another small time poster unless I went premium. I was going for badges and other goals when I first came here, but now what's the point?

I'm going to give it a night to decide whether I'll stay or not though. If I do stay it'll only be for some news posts and maybe some badges. But once I get those I'm gone.

 

[Marik2]

Hub is exactly like Furburt, and their exactly like lord C

YES! I am original!

OT: Just as long as people who don't get the "DLC" don't get treated as second class citizens by the staff, mods and various people who bought premium, then I'm fine.

If they take away any of the stuff we have now then I will leave.

Is this where the fear is coming from? The whole idea that the premium people will look down on the free users? The free users aren't losing anything from not buying the DLC, everything will stay the same, its just adding things not taking things. I'm sure the escapist will be the same site no matter what.

 

[Timotei]

You're all carbon copies of what the regular escapist member is with only half the personality.

So do I fit in the former or the latter?

I also have to agree with you my friend. I really do. I guess I'm at a crossroads at this point. I don't know whether to stay and go down with the plane or jump now hoping it doesn't crash.

 

[ajb924]

We'll just continue being elitists

Wait, how is being elitist a good thing?

 

[oppp7]

We'll just continue being elitists

Wait, how is being elitist a good thing?

Top hats? Fine wine? Monocles? How is it a bad thing?
Edit: Fine...
It makes us feel smarter than the rest of the internet. And we are mostly better than them. Because we use good grammar and don't argue.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Hub is exactly like Furburt, and their exactly like lord C

YES! I am original!

OT: Just as long as people who don't get the "DLC" don't get treated as second class citizens by the staff, mods and various people who bought premium, then I'm fine.

If they take away any of the stuff we have now then I will leave.

Is this where the fear is coming from? The whole idea that the premium people will look down on the free users? The free users aren't losing anything from not buying the DLC, everything will stay the same, its just adding things not taking things. I'm sure the escapist will be the same site no matter what.

The whole ideas that the freed users will be looked down on by the premium? Yeah, I think that's very very likely given this website. Already I see so many people displaying their new names and their "I'm a premium user" badge. The badges are a mark of pride as such, and how you think of yourself. I don't display my badges in the order I received them, and I don't think other people do either. Even within a day, people are displaying their badges, this is only the beginning as far as I can see.

And also, there are things not being offered to non-Premium users. It's a fine line, but things like the sneak peeks, the premium members only forum? Yeah, 'cause none of that is going to lead to further elitism.

This site was already one of the most elitst I've come across, and now it's been split further. At least this time the divide is actually monetary, which I suppose is somewhat fitting.