Great point. Everything is either the greatest of all time or trash. I puke in my mouth every time I read "naughty gods"I also think the level of hyperbole surrounding many topics on here only serves to diminish any potential positive and well-mannered debating that can be had within the thread. It's fine that everyone won't agree about all facets of a game, but so often that discussion is born out of the strange desire to completely rip a game to shreds like saying, "this game is trash", "this has the worst writing ever", "this is the worst character ever", etc. That's not to suggest that people can't appropriately assert those thoughts for reasons that they believe are valid to them, but I've learned that simply acknowledging that something isn't for me, while understanding why it may appeal to others, is enough to get the point across when disagreeing. The Call of Duty games are my prime example: I haven't had much fun with the series myself, but I would struggle to call any of the games 'trash'. At worst, they're competently made shooters with exceptional production values, decent-length campaigns, and big multiplayer components that millions of people play with every installment.
Great point. Everything is either the greatest of all time or trash. I puke in my mouth every time I read "naughty gods"
Agree totally OP. Some threads pushed people out for any dissagrement but with a poll showed opposite results. Certain groups push people out and try to be the loudest. Polls showed me the majority does not agree.
The gotcha threads pushed me away from this place. My opinion, this place is worse than the old one. Only a certain type of poster is welcome here. They push this as the mainstream.
Topic comes up agree or ban. Agree or dog pile.
Sekiro hard mode thread turning into people hating others with Dissabilities was the end of taking this place seriously.
First thread had pole that backfired on the fake outrage. Then when it died new thread same thing no pole worded differently pops up.
Same posters shout and push point as fact but with no poll to show true forum concensis. It's a joke.
Is there a way to stop this though? I feel like acknowledging the issue isn't enough. The situation is going to keep getting worse. Maybe we should brainstorm and propose forum-wide policies to the administration?
My genuine advice is to find a browser extension that limits your time here to an hour a day, or will block the site during certain times of day. It sounds corny, but it's gone a long way to keep me able to enjoy my time here. And honestly, you don't miss anything. No discussion here is unmissable.
After the last couple of days, I finally started doing it. Never ignored anyone on any forum in over two decades of posting on the Internet, but I finally had to. The negativity and non-stop hatred from some people was just getting to me. So far have 25 on ignore and, while it's not something to be proud of, it has made my browsing experience here quite a bit better.
This place is fantastic for game discussion but as a general rule I will never post about anything even remotely political here because frankly it's not worth the bother. I will say one shitty thing I've noticed is people in threads saying things like "...says the troll with only 80 posts. Nice alt account, troll."
Like really? I've been here for months and I barely have like 60 posts because I try to think and write carefully and contribute to the convo, but there are plenty of people who would completely dismiss me because of it. It's the worst kind of gatekeeping.
More of a viewer than a writer here, but I agree with you.
Every time I want to make a post with a little more arguments in ERA I just stop and delete it.
So I just tend to say simpler things, don't want to be misunderstand and have a mob behind me.
I remember when the "old place" went to shit and this community was formed. I was pretty excited about that. I thought that ERA would take the good, ditch the bad, and make a better place overall for everyone to come and discuss games. I bought into the philosophy that ERA was built as a community that welcomes everyone with open arms and keeps the nasty, hateful people out. In reality this place turned into something that isn't much better than the old place was. To be honest, I still have yet to find an online community that does accomplish that and I'm starting to think there never will be due to how people act online. Sucks.
I like ERA, don't get me wrong, but a lot of the time I read through these threads and shake my head and wish people would be better. Just posting this alone made me nervous about being attacked, and that's a shame.
This place is fantastic for game discussion but as a general rule I will never post about anything even remotely political here because frankly it's not worth the bother. I will say one shitty thing I've noticed is people in threads saying things like "...says the troll with only 80 posts. Nice alt account, troll."
Like really? I've been here for months and I barely have like 60 posts because I try to think and write carefully and contribute to the convo, but there are plenty of people who would completely dismiss me because of it. It's the worst kind of gatekeeping.
This is against our posting guidelines and something we do moderate, if you see posts like this, kindly report them.It's really horrible. Just like the "junior member" hate people used to engage in on GAF a long time ago. As if you need to have made a certain number of shitposts to get your count up before you can be considered not a troll.
This place is fantastic for game discussion but as a general rule I will never post about anything even remotely political here because frankly it's not worth the bother. I will say one shitty thing I've noticed is people in threads saying things like "...says the troll with only 80 posts. Nice alt account, troll."
Like really? I've been here for months and I barely have like 60 posts because I try to think and write carefully and contribute to the convo, but there are plenty of people who would completely dismiss me because of it. It's the worst kind of gatekeeping.
For a forum that promotes inclusiveness it really feels like making a post is sticking your neck out.
Huh, do you really expect 10 people to reply "how dare you" to that post? :DI like ERA, don't get me wrong, but a lot of the time I read through these threads and shake my head and wish people would be better. Just posting this alone made me nervous about being attacked, and that's a shame.
Unless you only have right wing political views there's no need to stay back from political discussions though. I engage frequently in political threads, despite not even being a native English speaker - so far I've not been into trouble and can't see anything contrary happening either. Plus everyone on the site started with a low post count at some point. Like what kind of controversial stuff made people say that you're a troll? I'm genuinely curious.This place is fantastic for game discussion but as a general rule I will never post about anything even remotely political here because frankly it's not worth the bother. I will say one shitty thing I've noticed is people in threads saying things like "...says the troll with only 80 posts. Nice alt account, troll."
Like really? I've been here for months and I barely have like 60 posts because I try to think and write carefully and contribute to the convo, but there are plenty of people who would completely dismiss me because of it. It's the worst kind of gatekeeping.
No one has ever called me a troll here, and I've never said anything controversial unless it's about how garbage I thought MGSV was. I was just relaying something I'd noticed. I'm also not right wing in the slightest, but the fact that that's what you're implying from me saying "I don't post about politics on this video game forum" is kind of exactly what this thread is about. I didn't say "keep politics out of video games," I don't think politics should be banned from discussion, but engaging in political debate doesn't personally interest me here in this particular venue, and that was enough for you to imply I "only have right wing political views" and that I must be salty because I've stirred up shit here when that couldn't be further from the truth.Unless you only have right wing political views there's no need to stay back from political discussions though. I engage frequently in political threads, despite not even being a native English speaker - so far I've not been into trouble and can't see anything contrary happening either. Plus everyone on the site started with a low post count at some point. Like what kind of controversial stuff made people say that you're a troll? I'm genuinely curious.
You can't add mods to ignore, and that's an issue.
There should've been an age point of entry to this forum when it first started. I've said it before you must disclose your age and it should be posted under your avatar. I have just over a hundred posts on here in what, almost two years because what's the point in discussion if no one responds to a discussion post if the last 100 posts are dog piling on one user saying the same thing.Is there a way to stop this though? I feel like acknowledging the issue isn't enough. The situation is going to keep getting worse. Maybe we should brainstorm and propose forum-wide policies to the administration?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unless you only have right wing political views there's no need to stay back from political discussions though. I engage frequently in political threads, despite not even being a native English speaker - so far I've not been into trouble and can't see anything contrary happening either. Plus everyone on the site started with a low post count at some point. Like what kind of controversial stuff made people say that you're a troll? I'm genuinely curious.
The problem with Era specifically is that in an attempt to prove how woke they are, people often argue against points you never even brought up. They want an argument, not a discussion.
I'm sorry, I didn't want to step on your toes. I was genuinely curious and didn't imply anything. To me your post sounded like you got ridiculed for a low post count and I thought you couldn't express your political views, so I just misunderstood your post then.No one has ever called me a troll here, and I've never said anything controversial unless it's about how garbage I thought MGSV was. I was just relaying something I'd noticed. I'm also not right wing in the slightest, but the fact that that's what you're implying from me saying "I don't post about politics on this video game forum" is kind of exactly what this thread is about. I didn't say "keep politics out of video games," I don't think politics should be banned from discussion, but engaging in political debate doesn't personally interest me here in this particular venue, and that was enough for you to imply I "only have right wing political views" and that I must be salty because I've stirred up shit here when that couldn't be further from the truth.
Sorry but I disagree with you on this point.Except that, for a lot of people, the definition of "right wing political views" has been ever expanding over the last few years to encompass more and more people with traditionally not-right wing views.
It's okay, I'm sorry I rushed to defend myself. Our little exchange is another reason I don't like to discuss heavy things on random online forums, without nuance and context I took your genuinely curious question too personally and responded a little too aggressively.I'm sorry, I didn't want to step on your toes. I was genuinely curious and didn't imply anything. To me your post sounded like you got ridiculed for a low post count and I thought you couldn't express your political views, so I just misunderstood your post then.