Your opinion of the escapist community

[Not G. Ivingname]

<..>

Can I plead the fifth?

You wish to avoid being held to answer to a capital offense?

No, I just don't want to say my opinions about the people surrounding me on all sides

Just kidding, I love you guys!

(Most of you anyway)

 

[Samurai Goomba]

I generally enjoy the content of the Escapist. It's somewhere to go online to pass the time or avoid college work.

I'm not a fan.

My biggest problem with this community is many community members think these forums are so very special and different from the rest of the Internet, and that by extension THEY are special and different (and better) than the rest of the forum posters out there. This attitude extends beyond just the posters, too.

I like some of the content and Zero Punctuation, but many of the fine people here should seriously get over themselves. To quote Fight Club:

"You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake."

Many of the posters here whine and gripe about how much more other forums suck (and boast about how great TEM is), but you know what? I get a lot less rudeness, elitism and general crap (from both moderators and forum users) at Gamefaqs than I do here. Sure, YouTube is worse, but YouTube is worse than everyone.

This kind of thing is irritating though.
I don't mean to single you out because there are more people on this thread and all over the forum of the same opinion but if you're not a fan of the content, the moderators or the users then why are you here?
Sure there is a sense of smugness about the place but that exists everywhere on the internet and in the real world too. Who doesn't think their own little clique is the best?

You aren't a 'beautiful or unique snowflake' either. I honestly don't see the point in posting just to complain about how much you dislike the site.
If it's so awful then why not spend your time somewhere else?

I do. I spend very little time on this site. I used to post much more than I do now, and those are my reasons. The aforementioned gamefaqs, for example, is where I now have a lot of my gaming-related discussions. I posted my opinion because it was asked for. If the creator of this thread only wanted everyone to post nice things, then he or she would be endemic of the problem I'm talking about anyway (in addition, he/she should have mentioned that in the OP). A good discussion (which is what The Escapist used to be known for) involves people on both sides presenting their cases. That's all I did. You don't have to agree with me.

I am well aware I'm not special. Notice how I never said I was. I've just been around long enough to remember when The Escapist was a little better about encouraging proper discussion and respecting unpopular opinions. I don't really "hate" anyone here (I think some people are looking at my slightly negative viewpoint and extrapolating some kind of seething rage, which is a pretty fallacious interpretation of my intent), but it's definitely not better than the other forums I've been to, by any means.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I do. I spend very little time on this site. I used to post much more than I do now, and those are my reasons. The aforementioned gamefaqs, for example, is where I now have a lot of my gaming-related discussions. I posted my opinion because it was asked for. If the creator of this thread only wanted everyone to post nice things, then he or she would be endemic of the problem I'm talking about anyway (in addition, he/she should have mentioned that in the OP). A good discussion (which is what The Escapist used to be known for) involves people on both sides presenting their cases. That's all I did. You don't have to agree with me.

I am well aware I'm not special. Notice how I never said I was. I've just been around long enough to remember when The Escapist was a little better about encouraging proper discussion and respecting unpopular opinions. I don't really "hate" anyone here (I think some people are looking at my slightly negative viewpoint and extrapolating some kind of seething rage, which is a pretty fallacious interpretation of my intent), but it's definitely not better than the other forums I've been to, by any means.

My point was that it is one of the things I don't like about this site. Me disagreeing with you is discussion, no?
I've used this site since late 2008 and made a profile in mid-2009 and there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in the content of the forums. Members from 2007 and 2008 had their problems with the users who joined in 2009 and so on. I don't think there was some sort of Escapist 'brain drain' at any point and discussion still exists, or can anyway.

I'm not under the impression that this site is a haven of the internet I just don't see the point in moaning about problems. It seems as though it would be more productive to engage in discussion rather than complaining of the lack of it.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

My point was that it is one of the things I don't like about this site. Me disagreeing with you is discussion, no?
I've used this site since late 2008 and made a profile in mid-2009 and there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in the content of the forums. Members from 2007 and 2008 had their problems with the users who joined in 2009 and so on. I don't think there was some sort of Escapist 'brain drain' at any point and discussion still exists, or can anyway.

I'm not under the impression that this site is a haven of the internet I just don't see the point in moaning about problems. It seems as though it would be more productive to engage in discussion rather than complaining of the lack of it.

Certainly a valid point, and I'd agree with you wholeheartedly except that I feel like there have been changes in moderation policies (or more modification to the rules) which now stifle intelligent discussions in ways they did not used to. I've seen people banned, not for having a racist, sexist, intolerant or profane opinion, but for simply disagreeing with a stance or position the website has stated its support of.

Such enforcement policies, along with a permanent record (which apparently never goes away) for veteran users, have encouraged me to seek discussion opportunities elsewhere.

This may be my opinion, but I believe many of the best debaters on the site have been banned, and based on what I've observed, not many people have filled the gaps. Again, this could have to do with changes in moderation policies designed to make everyone get along (which may have had the unfortunate side effect of discouraging disagreements.) The irony is this discussion we're having is a good example of the kinds of debates I wish were still going on. The majority of posts, sadly, seem to walk a tightrope between contributing nothing and not contributing enough to make the other posters think or react emotionally.

 

[Cohradoesr]

Hypocrits who shun conformists and elitists, then proceed to be them themselves.
lrn2opinion

When people post "Gay bar" within 6 posts of a "Sexiest song" thread, or react with the Emperor's judgement on a thread about a space-marine/elf porngame mashup, all I can say is:

I am home.

Contrary to popular belief, we're not a gay porn site.
[sub]Which sucks[/sub]

I'm here, so it has to be good!

i like the sense of humor but some times there is a mob mantalaty that rubs me the wrong way but that's what you get from a buncha' youngins'

Mob mentality? It's the damn internet!

It's this kind of cooly cooly new mentality!
Noodle? o.o
I MEAN LIKE MTV!!!!
Empty? O.O

Ok, now I'm fucking confused.

Watch FLCL

Sorry, I'm not an anime watcher.

Awwww... watch it anyway. Be confuz.

Fondling her yum yums!?!? FONDLING HER CUPCAKES!?!?!

I'll bet she does it like a WEASEL.

I'm sorry. Just found out about this anime like... a month ago. Changed my life.



...is this the kind of post that could get me banned?

But that is... By the way, watch Azumanga Daioh if you like FLCL... that is, if you haven't already

I think I've heard of it, but I'll check it out, thanks!