I too have noticed the increase in insults on the open channel. I have never squelched anyone, or the open channel. I try not to let it get to me, but the fact of the matter is that all of the whining, insults, and bad language does take something away from the game.
I can only imagine what a newbie thinks the first time he sees this...
When I'm online I don't say anything on the open channel (or try very hard not to) that I believe will hurt the game for anyone else. If I type something on 1, it's either:
A. tech support answer or question.
B. <S> after a good fight.
C. Discussing the WWII history that often comes up in the buffer.
I was unfortunate enough to be online last night when this Gas fellow had his little tirade. I'm sure most of us that were online just tried to ignore him, but the fact is that this kind of behavior will destroy the community if nothing is done. I think that the learning curve is pretty steep for this game, which does tend to get some of the newer players irritated when they just can't instantly get kill after kill. IMO there are few games with a steeper learning curve than this one. This is a double-edged sword. On one side you will have some people who just can't figure it out fast enough and will blow up on the open channel. This causes veteran players to get angry and usually an open channel dispute is the result. The other edge is that this game has the greatest potential for improvement. It is always the most challenging games that become classics. In AH there is so much to do that anyone can have fun if they put in the time to get good at it.
The best way to make the game better IMO is with good documentation and a strong community. All the negative posts that have popped up recently would make a newbie think twice about putting the time in to get maximum enjoyment out of the game.
IMO a permanent squelch list is at best a "sweep it under the rug" solution. It's kind of like the old saying: "If a tree falls in the woods without anybody around, does it make a sound?" My answer is yes.
I am not opposed to a permanent squelch list at all, but IMO something must be done to address the root causes of the problem rather than just pretending nothing is happening. Sure, a PSL will increase the enjoyment of the game for a few people. The problem is that those without a PSL created yet will still have to see what is said. (This will be mainly newbies.)
I've been thinking hard about what could be done to improve AH and here are a few of the ideas I've came up with:
A. Help documentation included with the game download. Included should be a very basic FAQ detailing how to do things like keymapping, using the vehicles, taking off, basic key commands etc. This will reduce the number of people complaining on the open channel, and therefore reduce the number of arguments online.
B. Player written guides on how to fly a particular plane available online. We tried this before and it seemed to work well. Good posts about things like strategy should also be punted from time to time. My thinking here is that if players see write ups by other players just like them and then see that player online, it will increase the community spirit. It will also help lower the initial learning curve somewhat for the newer players interested in things like E fighting etc.
C. Good forums like the O' Club and History forums. I think that all of us who play AH are, for the most part, share common interests. IMO if I met just about anyone here in person I would find them interested in the same things that I am. Having forums to discuss WWII history and other common interests helps bond the community. Later on if you end up fighting that person online you will be more likely to enjoy that fight rather than getting angry.
I think AH is in a period of heavy growth. In time the community will improve if we take steps now to ensure that it does. AH certainly has the potential to become the best online flight sim, but HTC alone can't do everything. A PSL is at best a temporary solution to the problem that does nothing to combat the real underlying issues. That said I still think it's a good idea that should be included in the game.
I guess I've rambled on long enough.
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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS
