Attitudes on the Boards

[Liquidator Queeg]

I have noticed this disturbing trend as well. Actually, it's been kinda hard not to. I don't really know why it is. Collective gas maybe? Have lots of people been laid off their jobs the last few months? No more Six of Nine to watch to easy the tensiony?

No wait, I forgot, we can watch T'kin the Pol.

Maybe I should give the good old Queegster a shout. He'll show these pissy cummingupers how to be a real arse -- one with style.

Steve

[AslanC]

I seem to recall saying these exact same things a year or so ago...

I haven't noticed an increase, just a continuation of the same.

Still a nicer place than TrekBBS.

[T'lara]

Originally posted by IceGiant
I've noticed lately (in the last couple of months) that people on the boards have become increasingly agrresive (IMO) and take offence these days at almost anything said by fellow members. I remember a time when you could have good discussions about varied topics without people becoming upset. These are my observations and i'm just wanting to see others opinions.

Opinions folks?

I think some Posters are Trolling looking to start arguements and starting Threads that attack other Poster's right to post their opinion. Period. We all know whom these Posters are and to be honest they are small and not that bad as like TrekBBS. Still I think some of those Threads should be Closed.

I think it is dumb that someone starts a Thread about what other Poster's opinions are on a subject like Star Trek, then someone posts something that does not match the original Poster's ideals or some other Posters' ideals then they slam into this Poster for posting something different acting all high and mighty like they have to be right and that Poster has to be wrong. They just viciously attack.
Here is the thing. If asking other Poster's opinion they might not match your own. Agree or Not one should not be slammed for stating what they think on an Opinion Poll thread. I have seen this go waaaaaaaaay to out of hand. Some of them angered me and I fell for it hook line and sinker, when I tried not to fall for it, so I vowed never to post in those kind of threads here instead just work on the gaming reasons why I post here.
But I have seen others in other threads getting treated poorly for not agreeing with public opinion or some Bully Posters's Opinion.

I think the Moderators should step up a notch and try to quill some of these situations before they get out of hand.

I do not think allowing Threads that attack people's opinions should be allowed on this Board.

But I have to say I love this Board over all. Besides some bad experiences in the Star Trek Chat area I have found a plufera of information. I enjoy reading and particapating in the other sections of this board and have made friends and posted many things I hope is helpful for all. Many Q's have been answered and ideas exchanged this over all is a very great board other than some minor things here and there.
Overall I like this board as many of us do.

[Robbert Raets]

Troll will be trolls. Or maybe we should call them 'Pakleds' on trek-rpg.net.....

[Ineti]

Originally posted by Robbert Raets
Troll will be trolls. Or maybe we should call them 'Pakleds' on trek-rpg.net.....

Heh. "We are strong. We look for things that make us troll."

[C5]

You know, I've been browsing the forum's archives a bit... it seems every six months or so in the past few years some thread appear with posters wondering why people are so harsh on the boards (hey, I even asked the question myself a few times).

I guess either there are some fluctuations in the mood of the boards, or posters are just constant in their agressivity and it's just the sensitivity of some posters which varies.

One thing I'm sure off, it would be much worse if the political threads were still around.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Originally posted by AslanC

I haven't noticed an increase, just a continuation of the same.

Still a nicer place than TrekBBS.

The lower circle of hell would be a nicer place than the TrekBBS....

As for this place, well some people just have lousy manners, and can't play nice in someone else's backyard.

[D.S.McBride]

My .02 credits: This is no longer a site with a homogenous taste – we’ve had the Icon/Coda debate simmering, with varying degrees of intensity, over the last couple of years, whereas it used to be “Four Role Playing Games, One System” that guaranteed a virtually uniform approach to the game (home-brew and the discussions surrounding it added the touch of flavor to said homogenous taste). World events, I think, would have sparked harsh feelings in any event – the nastiest political discussions I can remember pre-Sept. 11 was the Bush-Gore issue, which now has all the impact of the Less Filling/Tastes Great debate – and now we’ve got a situation where we’ve got sensitive nerves showing both in the personal area – gaming systems – and in global political perspectives. As C5 mentioned, I too think this is largely cyclical; once the Icon transfer is complete I wouldn’t be surprised to see a strong degree of civility in both this and the ST: Relic site discussion boards.

[Liz Not Beth]

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

[Publius]

I have noticed aggression and/or avoidance for those perspectives not shared by the majority (even if it is simply a vocal majority and not a true numerical one). If someone voices an opinion contrary to the present paradigm (take for example the "Trek Diatribe" thread), they are inundated with negative responses, some (if not many in certain cases) of which are harsh. This may or may not then lead to a counter if there are enough brave souls out there or an equally intense vocal group (which has generally happened in the various detractor threads, but not in anything to do with CODA mechanics), but if one never materializes, or the response is more mild most discussion just ends completely.

Anomalous opinion => intense reaction
if vigorous counter occurs there is an escalation (political threads, detractor threads)
if vigorous counter does not happen, discussion is avoided (silence)

Now you might say to this: "Ah, the majority has simply spoken and they were right all along" but this has a real 'Emperors New Clothes' vibe to me. You could just as easily argue that the intense reaction simply stifles and chills any further discussion because people do not want to become targets for the vitriol of the "majority" (vocal or numerical). Of course that is simply my opinion, which is no more or less valid than that of anyone else.

Check out the thread "Shudders of anticip... SAY IT!", one person says they want to see the Matrix 2, two positive comments follow, then a mixed, then 3 negative, the comments quickly dry up after that (someone mentions what a reviewer says, my diatribe about reviewers of Sci Fi which they seemed to agree with, but nothing more on the movie itself). Now, the Matrix 2 is not Trek, but it is Sci Fi and this is the General Chat area where a lot of movies are discussed. Note that there have been no more comments on the board about the Matrix 2 since. I saw it, enjoyed it, but have to admit I am a little gunshy about posting to that effect and opening myself up to this negativity so I guess I am as much at blame as anyone.

p.s. Liz, I have to say I agree with you about Flare. That placed used to be so much more negative still not exactly warm and fuzzy just yet however.

[Greg Smith]

Originally posted by Publius


Check out the thread "Shudders of anticip... SAY IT!", one person says they want to see the Matrix 2, two positive comments follow, then a mixed, then 3 negative, the comments quickly dry up after that (someone mentions what a reviewer says, my diatribe about reviewers of Sci Fi which they seemed to agree with, but nothing more on the movie itself).

The Matrix thread isn't a good example of the aggression on the boards. Two people said they liked, three said they didn't. No real agression or arguement even, just stating likes and dislikes.

Note that there have been no more comments on the board about the Matrix 2 since. I saw it, enjoyed it, but have to admit I am a little gunshy about posting to that effect and opening myself up to this negativity so I guess I am as much at blame as anyone.

I very rarely posted on political threads for precisely this reason. But in the Matrix thread no-one said 'Matrix was rubbish. You're an idiot if you liked it". But if I offended you with my negative Matrix comment, I apologise.


The aggression and dissent that I find most irritating is in 'Enterprise' threads. While they usually begin rationally enough, they always end in with one or more posters chiming in with vitriolic comments about the show. While there are many out there who dislike the show, we don't need to be constantly reminded of this.

[Phantom]

Originally posted by Greg Smith

The aggression and dissent that I find most irritating is in 'Enterprise' threads. While they usually begin rationally enough, they always end in with one or more posters chiming in with vitriolic comments about the show. While there are many out there who dislike the show, we don't need to be constantly reminded of this.

The same can be said for the naysayers, we don't need to be constantly reminded on how "good" the show is either. This is a forum, after all, you have to take the good opinions with the bad. This last point is what a lot of people around here have a problem with.

[Brian K]

Well, I have noticed this attitude as well. I think these threads started it...

Opinions on that song from ENTERPRISE

and this one....

Enterprise theme

and finally this one...

Will the ENTERPRISE theme song switch?

But, that is just me.

Of course, I have been accused of being filled with Rage, but Aslan and Don have been helping me with that.

Brian K
- almost making a point

[Publius]

Originally posted by Greg Smith
The Matrix thread isn't a good example of the aggression on the boards. Two people said they liked, three said they didn't. No real agression or arguement even, just stating likes and dislikes.

Actually, I have to agree and disagree here although the problem is probably how I phrased it, so I should first clarify what I meant (mea culpa). Perhaps using the word "aggression" was too strong on my part, maybe we can go with "negativity" be it condescension (on the extreme end) or simple dislike. Any 'aggression' on that thread was very mild, that point I certainly agree with. But I disgree that it is a poor example of this phenomenon. It wasn't whether the intesity was significant, but the order in which these things happened. The order of the positive and negative comments were not mixed; the two positive comments were followed by the three negative comments, at which point the discussion seemed to end for all intents and purposes. My point is that once the comments started going negative ("I dont expect much", "I like my movies with plot"), the thread dried up. Like it or not, this is a major-budget Sci Fi film getting significant mainstream attention, where have all the comments on it gone on a Science Fiction-based board?

[Greg Smith]

Originally posted by Publius
My point is that once the comments started going negative ("I dont expect much", "I like my movies with plot"), the thread dried up. Like it or not, this is a major-budget Sci Fi film getting significant mainstream attention, where have all the comments on it gone on a Science Fiction-based board?

The thread is still going, albeit slowly. A disscusion should be able to survive a few negative comments, but agressive and abusive comments are a good way to drive folk away. I'm sure dicussion will take off when the film comes out.