The Escapist to me. (and its evolution)

[Daffy F]

This is certainly an interesting topic. My opinion on the matter is thus: I am not particularly recognised on these forums anyway, but I enjoy the interesting discussions when they come, even when I need to wade through threads along the line of "Modern Warfare 2 sucks because....". I doubt I will leave, nowhere else on the internet seems to be right for me...

 

[Time Travelling Toaster]

Yes, the Escapist has evolved, and I dunno why people are getting so up in arms about it.

You are not being forced to buy into the "Pub Club" so stop bitching about it. And if the older members stopped being so, holier than thou and actually HELPED the new members learn the ropes rather than just shouting at them for mistakes, they would become their own person on here, not a "carbon copy" of someone else, thinking that would make them "accepted" by the community.

So if you leave because the 'scapist changes, good ridance, things change, deal with it. Or if you leave because the 'scapist is expanding, so be it, guess what, the website will go on without you, hell, it'll probably give someone else a chance to shine rather than all the new users sucking up to you because you have a big post count, most of which will be from user groups no doubt.

The only thing I don't particularly like, the strictness, sure the mods have a job to do, but some times, I see people get prob'd or suspended and it's just a "wtf?" moment. Granted, I will not argue with them, mostly because I don't want to show up on their radar too heavily, but I cannot agree with everything I've seen them do.

I've done my bit to support the 'scapist, I'll use it, but overall, I'm still the same user I was...a badge and title gives me nothing over anyone else, a little forum that is a cut down off topic? Yipee(!) That's about it, and I will still use the site, fuck all has changed when you think about it, new people coming in, older ones leaving, the site changing with the times.

Thats my mini rant over, take from it what you will, I do not care, your entitled to your opinion, that's mine.

 

[Shjade]

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

There's a Billy Mays day?

...someone please mention the date on that so I'll know when to be offline. x.x;

 

[Spoonius]

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.

As others have said before me, too many Escapists seem to be incredibly self-absorbed and egotistical. Most of you guys are good people, and in the few months that I've been active here, nobody's shown me anything but goodwill and support. But this post proves that the community as a whole isn't as flawless as I thought it was.

Pimppeter2, you are being way too melodramatic. I'm not going to call you names or anything, but you clearly consider yourself to be above most people who frequent this site, and in my books, that's a no-no. In fact, I can already tell that I don't like you as a person, and to be honest, it doesn't bother me at all that you and a few like-minded members are going to stick your noses up at us and bugger off. Good riddance.

And referring to the majority of us as carbon copies... why should your opinions mean any more than those of a new member? Why do you shun others, just because you consider them to be "unworthy" of your attention? And why does a thread or post hold no value if it's about issues that you consider to be mundane or commonplace? If you want sophisticated discussion, then create an interesting thread for fuck's sake.

You just reek of somebody who's crying out for attention. None of us are anything but nameless, faceless guys somewhere in the world, characterised by only an avatar and username, whom nobody else on the internet really gives two shits about.

Sorry if I'm overeacting, but your post just pissed me right off.

 

[Joe Deadman]

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

There's a Billy Mays day?

...someone please mention the date on that so I'll know when to be offline. x.x;

I would prefer that they mention the date so that I know when to be online.

This all seems kinda silly really. Im gonna wait it out and see if it all blows over. If not... well... thats what lifeboats and parachutes are for.
I'm just hoping that psychology is wrong and there won't be a surge of eletist behaviour among the subscribers.
To tell the truth the whole private forum thing kinda makes me feel paranoid for some reason...

 

[Irridium]

A good point, but the problem I'm seeing now is that moderation policies and the continuous influx of new members conspire to frustrate any attempt to educate or engage new members in meaningful conversation. If they don't bring it in with them, odds are it doesn't show up in their posts at all. The community thread is huge, but can you honestly tell me that MORE community-style posting suggestions or properly-arranged debate topics would IMPROVE the situation? All I see is a lot of wasted effort and mindless flaming happening with that.

Probably the biggest issue for me was when The Escapist's greatest debater was banned over a minor infraction, simply because he "had too many strikes." What, invisible tally marks that don't show up on your moderation history (maybe mods can see them, but ordinary posters can't)? Strike three and you're out? Doesn't that by it's VERY NATURE discourage intense debate? The Escapist moderation policies are very flexible. Extremely flexible. They are not set in stone at all. How do you know where the line is? Is it fair that the room for error gets smaller and less forgiving the more time you spend posting? How does that encourage meaningful debate?

We'd see a lot more genuinely unique and interesting people debating more controversial yet intelligent topics if the smart posters hadn't long ago figured out how low of a profile you have to keep around here to not get banned over any little thing. As for the new kids with debate skills, it's just a matter of time.

It's easy to point to the community, but a community can only do what it can do with what it's given to work with. If moderators are not only not trying to resolve conflict with older, veteran debaters, but are actively gunning for them (from what I've heard I've come to believe that may have been the case in a couple instances), how is it possible to keep a proper debate going with intelligent and unique posters?

Long story short, I no longer have any intention of putting in effort when I feel like the slightest slip-up will mark me with a permanent "Escapist scar" I will carry until the day I finally collapse, world-weary and tired of fighting the oppressive weight of my predestined, permabanned fate. In other websites I feel like I can just be me and my polite self will be enough to prevent a banning. Here, who knows where the lines are? Even the guidelines are fallacious, since you can be moderated or banned for doing things which aren't on the guidelines specifically. It even says as much. And you can NOT be moderated for breaking rules, too.

Then there's the whole ego problem. And if regular posters have an ego issue in general (they might), it follows some others might have such problems as well. The son follows the way of the father.

From what I've seen. People have gotten banned/suspended for outright insulting people. Calling them "fucking stupid/an idiot/ect. Thats why they get banned. Usually its the newer members that do this, but the older ones occasionally do it as well.

Debate isn't discouraged, but personal flaming is. And thats what the mods watch out for, and thats what they try to stop before it starts. There's a fine line between debate and flaming.

The newer members get off a little easier because their new, and don't know how things work around here. They would learn, but with more and more older members leaving, they won't learn and will keep doing what their doing.

I have seen what you said happen though. Where the older ones try to educate the newer ones and it fails. But if they keep at it, eventually they will either come around or leave.

And there is an air of elitism around older members. Most seem to be turning their noses up at new members, and when a new member tries to start a debate, or makes a mistake, they get verbally ripped apart for it.

The problem is just as big with the older members as it is with the newer members. And until people are ready to drop this whole "moderators hate us", "the site is dieing", "we're better than everyone else" crap, we can work on making things less elitist, more friendly, and overall a batter place.

This site is amazing, and far better than most other gaming sites. People just seem to let that go to their heads, and cause them to think they're better than everyone else. But thats far from the truth. Thinking your better than everyone else makes you just as bad or even worse than them. And that sounded very contradicting didn't it?

 

[JEBWrench]

There's a Billy Mays day?

...someone please mention the date on that so I'll know when to be offline. x.x;

I would prefer that they mention the date so that I know when to be online.

This all seems kinda silly really. Im gonna wait it out and see if it all blows over. If not... well... thats what lifeboats and parachutes are for.
I'm just hoping that psychology is wrong and there won't be a surge of eletist behaviour among the subscribers.
To tell the truth the whole private forum thing kinda makes me feel paranoid for some reason...

Psychology is wrong sometimes, but sociology is rarely ever wrong!

As for elitism surging, in any community, real or virtual, elitism will occur, regardless of whether or not there are measures in place that may encourage or discourage it.

 

[Camembert]

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.

Yes, and the only thing that differentiates you in any way from these carbon copies you so detest are an overblown sense of your own popularity and talent, an inability to spell, and a kind of sad desperation to be as well-known and liked as the people you mention.

Seriously, don't dally about leaving. Just do it.

 

[Sketchy]

I don't care, as long as there's interesting crap to read/post on, I'll still be around. And I COULD be an old elitist, but I really try not to be.

Basically, I haven't noticed any sort of REAL change or degredation in the community or content, and anyone that is saying that there is should REALLY get over themselves.

 

[Joe Deadman]

There's a Billy Mays day?

...someone please mention the date on that so I'll know when to be offline. x.x;

I would prefer that they mention the date so that I know when to be online.

This all seems kinda silly really. Im gonna wait it out and see if it all blows over. If not... well... thats what lifeboats and parachutes are for.
I'm just hoping that psychology is wrong and there won't be a surge of eletist behaviour among the subscribers.
To tell the truth the whole private forum thing kinda makes me feel paranoid for some reason...

Psychology is wrong sometimes, but sociology is rarely ever wrong!

As for elitism surging, in any community, real or virtual, elitism will occur, regardless of whether or not there are measures in place that may encourage or discourage it.

How could I forget sociology? I had a double lesson for that today and everything! (perhaps im trying to forget heh).
Sociology may be right more but psychology has paranormal stuff which is a bit more interesting so I guess thats why I thought of it first.
Plus psychology has Jane Elliott which I guess is somewhat relevant to the whole elitism stuff and kinda sprung to mind.

And yeah I guess your right about the elitism, it does seem to turn up just about everywhere regardless.

 

[JEBWrench]

How could I forget sociology? I had a double lesson for that today and everything! (perhaps im trying to forget heh).
Sociology may be right more but psychology has paranormal stuff which is a bit more interesting so I guess thats why I thought of it first.
Plus psychology has Jane Elliott which I guess is somewhat relevant to the whole elitism stuff and kinda sprung to mind.

And yeah I guess your right about the elitism, it does seem to turn up just about everywhere regardless.

I reckon it's human nature to want to elevate yourself above others. Who really, and honestly enjoys being underneath the people next door?

Elitism even occurs accidentally; "They're good people, but *situation X* annoys me."

There's nothing wrong with it either, I think. It's healthy behavior, and beneficial to the species as a whole - striving to be better is crucial to development, and what better way that comparison and competition?

 

[SeanTheSheep]

OT: Since I've joined the escapist, it's become larger, it's gotten more members, and the community has become a lot more... Communal.
But there are ways in which I have become more private and secluded.
Right now, I think that yesterday was the best day the escapist had, and now it's going to be just as good, but there will be people who think they're better than others just because they payed money, and those people will be scum to me.
Everyone else will be fine, and just the same though.

I don't think the premium membership will be a big deal *flashes shiny badge*

Aaaaaand there you have it.
I'm not putting any problem in there, but you're bringing up premium membership like I'm opposed to it, just because I don't have it.
While I'm not all guns blazing "let's do this", I'm not saying it's particularaly bad.
In fact, what I'm saying, is it won't affect me at all, unless people choose to let it affect them.

It seems to be affecting you, and by cause and effect, it's diminishing my opinion of you.
From the few memories I have of you, you're a pretty OK guy, a long-ish standing member who always has something insightful to say on the subject, but I'm not seeing you, I'm seeing a guy who's a bit of a jackass.

 

[ironmace2.0]

Things come and they go things may be different now but it might be better or it might be worse the Evolution as you put it is happening because and dont hate me for this the website is getting better known and more people are coming and they are hated by some of the "higher" users who think they are better but hey I dont hate them im just trying not to get caught up in all this but ill stay here until I have to pay to be here.

hmmmmm got a little off-topic but oh well and this thread is a bit depressing.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I will actually add my opinion on this later as I can't right now as I am off to school but I'd like to say that it takes more than a high post count in my books to be in the Escapist Elite group. I do giggle everytime I see people who have joined atleast a year if not more after me yet have 10x my post now that is funny. Do I not post enough or did some people have a bit of verbal diahorea? A bit of a joke but how do these people post so much?

They either play a lot of forum games or post in user groups(namely the Asylum). And some of them post a lot.

Well I can understand posting a lot as you are an example of that but it just boggles my mind when there are some I think Hublib is an example of this with 20x my post count last I checked.

 

[SeanTheSheep]

I will actually add my opinion on this later as I can't right now as I am off to school but I'd like to say that it takes more than a high post count in my books to be in the Escapist Elite group. I do giggle everytime I see people who have joined atleast a year if not more after me yet have 10x my post now that is funny. Do I not post enough or did some people have a bit of verbal diahorea? A bit of a joke but how do these people post so much?

They either play a lot of forum games or post in user groups(namely the Asylum). And some of them post a lot.

Well I can understand posting a lot as you are an example of that but it just boggles my mind when there are some I think Hublib is an example of this with 20x my post count last I checked.

No, he doesn't have 34K posts.
That's ridiculous.
The highest post count someone on this site has is 31817 at the time of writing this.

But yeah, people go on Forum Games a lot.
I spend a lot of my time there, for the people, not necessarly the games.
I also have a couple of RPs going, which are adding to my post count.
I spend some time in userr groups but not a whole lot.

So essentially, yes, verbal diahorrea and lots of silliness, with some "srs bznz" attitude.

 

[DoW Lowen]

OT: Since I've joined the escapist, it's become larger, it's gotten more members, and the community has become a lot more... Communal.
But there are ways in which I have become more private and secluded.
Right now, I think that yesterday was the best day the escapist had, and now it's going to be just as good, but there will be people who think they're better than others just because they payed money, and those people will be scum to me.
Everyone else will be fine, and just the same though.

I don't think the premium membership will be a big deal *flashes shiny badge*

Aaaaaand there you have it.
I'm not putting any problem in there, but you're bringing up premium membership like I'm opposed to it, just because I don't have it.
While I'm not all guns blazing "let's do this", I'm not saying it's particularaly bad.
In fact, what I'm saying, is it won't affect me at all, unless people choose to let it affect them.

It seems to be affecting you, and by cause and effect, it's diminishing my opinion of you.
From the few memories I have of you, you're a pretty OK guy, a long-ish standing member who always has something insightful to say on the subject, but I'm not seeing you, I'm seeing a guy who's a bit of a jackass.

Hahaha relax I was only teasing.

I read that you don't have a problem, but I know for every fourth or fifth person will have an issue with it ESPECIALLY if I have the badge on my profile. I was merely remarking on the sentimentality of the people here. A part of me wants to take it off just to avoid any hostility but the other part of me is saying to tell the other people to just get over it. That and I was always a bit of a badge/achievements whore anyway.

I don't think it has any effect on the forum at all, the member's only section is indistinguishable from the rest of the web site.

 

[Nemu]

This is less directed to the OP, but more to many of the subsequent posts:

My god, it's a forum, get over it.

If you attach so much of your life to the fandoms by members of a fsking internet forum, you DESERVE to be looked down upon. Seriously.

Go outside, meet people, get over this "humans aren't worth my time" or the various other "woe is me" bullsh*t that no one really cares about and grow up. You're not impressing anyone. You are, in fact, only perpetuating this so-called "elitest" attitude that you say perpetuates the topics/posts here or attracting more like-minded people who do nothing but drag your views further down with their cynicism, angst and depression.

Chances are, if you people who threaten to leave actually DO, 95% of those of us who stay won't remember you after a month unless a thread is necro'ed.


That being said: if the topics are boring, be original and come up with new ones. Or just come back another day.


I fully expect to be flamed for this, or even ignored, but hah, I don't care. Imagine that.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

OT: Since I've joined the escapist, it's become larger, it's gotten more members, and the community has become a lot more... Communal.
But there are ways in which I have become more private and secluded.
Right now, I think that yesterday was the best day the escapist had, and now it's going to be just as good, but there will be people who think they're better than others just because they payed money, and those people will be scum to me.
Everyone else will be fine, and just the same though.

I don't think the premium membership will be a big deal *flashes shiny badge*

Aaaaaand there you have it.
I'm not putting any problem in there, but you're bringing up premium membership like I'm opposed to it, just because I don't have it.
While I'm not all guns blazing "let's do this", I'm not saying it's particularaly bad.
In fact, what I'm saying, is it won't affect me at all, unless people choose to let it affect them.

It seems to be affecting you, and by cause and effect, it's diminishing my opinion of you.
From the few memories I have of you, you're a pretty OK guy, a long-ish standing member who always has something insightful to say on the subject, but I'm not seeing you, I'm seeing a guy who's a bit of a jackass.

Hahaha relax I was only teasing.

I read that you don't have a problem, but I know for every fourth or fifth person will have an issue with it ESPECIALLY if I have the badge on my profile. I was merely remarking on the sentimentality of the people here. A part of me wants to take it off just to avoid any hostility but the other part of me is saying to tell the other people to just get over it. That and I was always a bit of a badge/achievements whore anyway.

I don't think it has any effect on the forum at all, the member's only section is indistinguishable from the rest of the web site.

I meant roughly as I used be around 1,100 which he does have about that. I should have recheck my post count as I keep thinking I am on the lower end of 1,000s. That was my mistake.

Edit: mis quote sorry.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I will actually add my opinion on this later as I can't right now as I am off to school but I'd like to say that it takes more than a high post count in my books to be in the Escapist Elite group. I do giggle everytime I see people who have joined atleast a year if not more after me yet have 10x my post now that is funny. Do I not post enough or did some people have a bit of verbal diahorea? A bit of a joke but how do these people post so much?

They either play a lot of forum games or post in user groups(namely the Asylum). And some of them post a lot.

Well I can understand posting a lot as you are an example of that but it just boggles my mind when there are some I think Hublib is an example of this with 20x my post count last I checked.

No, he doesn't have 34K posts.
That's ridiculous.
The highest post count someone on this site has is 31817 at the time of writing this.

But yeah, people go on Forum Games a lot.
I spend a lot of my time there, for the people, not necessarly the games.
I also have a couple of RPs going, which are adding to my post count.
I spend some time in userr groups but not a whole lot.

So essentially, yes, verbal diahorrea and lots of silliness, with some "srs bznz" attitude.

I meant roughly as I used be around 1,100 which he does have about that. I should have recheck my post count as I keep thinking I am on the lower end of 1,000s. That was my mistake.