The Stagnation of the Escapist forums.

[Chaos-Spider]

:[Threads do derail, and a lot of them disintegrate into random comments but that is because there are a lot of threads that defy discussion beyond the stating of opinions]*

Opiate chicken's first post almost sounds like one of these because it covers a lot of points leaving little for those who agree to add to it and requiring those who disagree to have a very well planned argument. But i'm not actually good at debating, so I don't know what makes a debatable thread topic.

But yeah, these kind of 'the past was better' complants always seem to pop up in any part of society. But I haven't actually noticed a decrease in quality since the start of 2008 (I've been lurking that long). search bar nazism has increased however, and that does get old after a while.

*SikOseph said this first in case the quoting box thing didn't work

Edit: There's already three pages for this topic. does this mean I have to read the other two pages to find out if I've been ninja'd or something?

 

[BonsaiK]

Dear Escapees,
it seems that the ?golden age? has already passed, as was mentioned in a thread I read a few months ago.

Whenever someone comes onto a forum and posts a "golden age" thread, it usually says more about that particular person's perceptions than anything in the forum itself.

The way to change the culture of a place is to lead by example, not to post multi-paragraph complaints.

 

[Caimekaze]

Very long post.

You don't really need to post a lot to follow interactions, or discussions. I rarely post, but for a while would happily spend more than three hours a day just reading the interactions between people.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do that lately as school has picked up.

It can actually be more interesting to observe a thread from the outside rather than being part of it, as you can see more than just the discussion you're part of, but everyone's individual discussions.


Oh, and to the opening poster...

We generally go by the term Escapists.

 

[Quoth]

I am more intelligent than a alot of people, with an IQ of 130 I'm well above average I don't pretend to be cool and offer my opinion as I see it.

"There is no need to boast of your accomplishments and what you can do. A great man is known, he needs no introduction." -CherLisa Biles.

This is the kind of person the OP was claiming the Escapist is filled with. And he is right.

I'm not going to chastise you about your post or the way you go about your ways on this site - I used to be just like you. Hindsight is truly a marvellous thing.

The OP has today done something which should have been done a long time ago - many members that are elitist and consider themselves amateur psychologists have just been jousted by a 'n00bling' with a mere 90 posts or so.

Nice work, Opiate Chicken.

I wouldn't mention it if it wasn't pertinent to the point. I mentioned to illustrate that you can be smart and not be an elitist jerk about it.

Although as you're right point out, it was a self defeating thing to have done.

I don't believe that low I.Q. or intelligence prevent anyone from posting valuable contributions but they do tend to increase the volume of mindless tripe in any forum.

You've chosen to paraphrase one line from a post and ignore the bulk where I actually endorsed the general quality of the content of the respondants on this forum.

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

I love the escapist[footnote]Though I wish MaxTheReaper were still here[/footnote] but my biggest thing with it is the 'Use The SearchBar' comments. I understand when it is a thread that was done about 5 minutes ago, but when people just use it at every possible moment it gets tiresome. I would even go so far as to say that the 'repeat searchbar-ism' is worse than the repeat threads.


However I think the biggest reason there isn't such deep discussion on here is because there are a ... select few who tend to be overly sensitive on debatable issues ... which makes me wonder ... has anyone done a euthanasia/eugenics/abortion thread ercently, because I woudln't mind findingg out escapists' views on the topics there I go blabbering again.

Max left on his own accord.


He will be missed of course.


Is Neonbob still here? I haven't seen him in a while.

 

[Sonicron]

Well, not "offset." It's more like the dumb posters are the massive Orc army, and we're the tiny brigade of Space Marines, if you'll forgive the incredibly nerdy analogy.

Goomba, I have to ask... can I ninja that? *big nerdy grin*

I try. I don't always succeed and as I stated before, I've been guilty of almost turning into one of those green hulks on occasion. Generally though, I end up getting a slap in the back of the head and go back to firing off the seemingly infinite ammo belt of my heavy bolter at the hordes of slime spewing, vacant expression wearing, fungal life forms that incessantly attack our small yet defensible position. Now isn't that a mental image?

WaaAAAAA*cough* er I mean, For the Emperor!

Some days you're the Librarian, other days you're an Imperial Guardsman facing a pack of ferocious forum Warp Beasts. Can I draw a comparison between a recent forum member's ban and the Horus Heresy? Why yes I can! I think I'm actually growing a pocket protector on my shirt as I type this. And my glasses are getting thicker. Where did these braces come from?

You two just made my day. I'm crying tears of laughter as I'm typing this.

For the record, I very much agree. And no matter how many trash posts I see in otherwise valuable threads, stumbling over a few rare pieces of gold completely makes up for the time spent sifting through the waste.
After lurking for quite a while I eventually registered on these forums because I was becoming more and more intrigued by the style, wit, eloquence and obvious intelligence of some of the regulars, and that's what still keeps me on the Escapist. The back-and-forth in a thread between certain members is what's the most fun for me on the forums, and when I wake up in the morning (or noon, after staying on the Escapist for way too long once again) I'm actually looking forward to seeing if anyone took the time to respond to one or more of my posts and thus potentially starting a discussion on a more personal level (as opposed to just gobbing my contribution into an already huge thread).

Now make room in your line for another battle-brother, it looks like you could use some heavy flamer support.

So, to give my opinion to the OP, no, I don't think the forums are dying. Yes, there's always going to be a varying amount of folks around here who'll try selling their opinion through wit alone, as well as the teeming masses with maybe two functional brain cells between them (deny it if you like, but they do exist), but the Escapist forums are (in my opinion) very much alive, and I hope it stays this way for a long time to come.
By the way, I think you've made an excellent thread, and as long as threads like these are around I'm not convinced the forums are capable of dying.

 

[ThePirateMan]

-Snip-
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.160205

You may have allready noticed, but if you havn't: Click the link again and you'll see that he has been permanently baned.

Edit: Oh.. some admin person allready replied.. well..

OP: There have been some "trolls", repeat threads and offensive people around, but I still manage to find a few good discussions and fun-to-read and possibly fun-to-participate in threads.

So.. I'm fine, tho I havn't been here for very long.

 

[P1p3s]

did i miss the point if i quit reading 1/2 way through?

Yes. Yes you did. And I'm pretty sure you just proved OpiateChicken's point.

Aside from the kilt being more associated with Scotland (although supposedly originated in Ireland) I love your pic and your name - onto your short and succinct point (much appreciated also) Your right.

I'm hoping Mr. Blond made this point ironically and I'm not going to flame him because I have dipped in with what I believe to be witty comments to otherwise solid discussions before running away gleefully giggling to my sad (and ocasionally sugar high) self.

The point being - beside being one of the advocates for actual discussion, sharing ideas, difficult topics (and adult responses) and having already been quoted as saying we could actually all get to know each other through this medium I think there is always time for a well placed parody and jibe, if done and taken good naturedly.

This reminds me very much of my RL community. Whilst discussing something deep or long i.e. the viability of the notion for the increase of information in DNA and thus validating or invalidating the theory of evolution (how does more information get added anyway) someone noted that a sperm has the equivilent of 37.5MB of DNA information in it. Thus a normal ejaculation = transfer of 1587.5TB, which I found witty and informative.

I realise no one has actually said that one liners are a no no (only mindless flaming and pointless jibber jabber) I just wanted to make it clear I support the ridiculous & the sublime.

 

[Inverse Skies]

Is Neonbob still here? I haven't seen him in a while.

Yup. I continue to have good discussions with the man over PM. He's like all of us, busy over the holiday period.

 

[Jedamethis]

If you want discussion, I advise that you look into the User Groups.

 

[Oh That Dude]

This thread has perfect examples of what's good and bad about the Escapist in my opinion, people replying intelligently, people flaming others who misunderstood a point, and people having a laugh in a non-spammy manner. I haven't been here all that long, I have seen quite a few repeat threads, some elitism etc, but nothing actually significant enough for me to conclude that this forum is in decline. I reckon I'll enjoy posting here for a while to come.

 

[The Holy Chaotic]

As a newbie here, I'd like to say that I agree. And I promise to read more posts and make more responses next time. Really.

 

[Invariel]

A serious question, directed at SikOseph, if he will tolerate my meager _5_ (edit will include this number) postcount.

What exactly does "being quoted" have to do with your ability to participate meaningfully in these fora? Someone can easily direct a comment at you requesting further information without abusing that tiny button, and they can indicate that they have read your content more by asking a meaningful question than by clicking a button and adding additional text.

OpiateChicken, I'm glad you took the time to write your original post, and subsequent replies. Furthermore, I am glad that you didn't rise to the bait of, 'Well, it's been seven minutes and five posts; why hasn't the OP replied yet? Hypocritical, isn't it?' [Comment paraphrased to illuminate inanity and add humour.] It's nice to see, in the sidebar of recent topics, actually thoughtful threads. In my sidebar of several minutes ago, I have the ability to instantly read the thread, "What do you have on your toast?", as well as add my thoughts to "Poll: Blue eyes? It means you're a genius".

Everyone else who has participated in the actual discussion, you've been a nice light read. Please, keep it up.

 

[P1p3s]

random aside:
I'm really grateful to the OP for this thread not least because it has opened some interesting and stable discussion but has already spawned another thread of interest and potential longevity.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.162339

I think that's a great facit of a community like this that 1 persons idea sparks something in someone else and SikOseph (the OP in the new thread) has been inspired!

Not least because he hasn't decided to take a tangent in this thread but start an entirely new discussion.

Anyway, I'm sure most of you have seen this new post but I just wanted to share that and congratulate you all.

(too early to break out the revolution champagne???)

 

[Galad]

No problem for me, as a relatively new member, there's still plenty of features on this site to keep one's attention occupied aside from forums, heck, I still get most of my forum reads from the "latest posts" section of the site. Maybe that opinion will change eventually, but until then I'm alright. And yes, I did read all the comments on this topic, but if I don't have a particular opinion on any of them, I don't feel the urge to post something, anything..In fact, sometimes I've had an opinion about a post, and not posted it, because it doesn't matter all that much.