Deactivate...

[Shane]

Dear HTC,

For the good of the community please consider deactivating channel 200 as it would definitely limit some of the strife we see in game and on the BBS.

Sincerely,

Way

AI drones like you got their wish way back, when ch 1 became the faux <S> channel and 200 was made optional.

I bet you want everyone to live and act the way *you* think is proper, no?   Pass.

<edit> If you're concerned about what your 4 year old may see (or hear)... it's all on *you.*  Besides, you still find comparable drama over 2 channels we *can't* de-tune...  ch 2 and  range vox.  Vox is simple enough to get around via headphones or disabling it totally.

[stodd]

200 is like Comedy Central in a way.

[Banshee7]

sad thing is...i get in more trouble on country channel than i do on 200 

[Chalenge]

Yes 200 is nothing compared to making an unpopular move with a carrier. 

[Masherbrum]

Dear HTC,

For the good of the community please consider deactivating channel 200 as it would definitely limit some of the strife we see in game and on the BBS.

Sincerely,

Way

Don't tune to it.   It is a choice, not an obligation.   

[killnu]

channel 200 is a choice you get to make...tune or not to tune...unlike squad size of 32...with that, you have no choice (even if there are work arounds to get more than 32 to people chatting at the same time on a closed channel).

[Delirium]

We need some kind of cross-country communication, I'm not a big fan of such a channel being voluntary but it is better than nothing at all.

Can you imagine a AH Convention without cross-country communcation?

"Hey! Good to meet you, I have heard of you, did you fly for the Knights?"   

"No, I flew for the bish."

A good community is reliant on good communication, in addition to other key components.

[Stang]

Waystin, as others have said you have to tune ch200, it isn't madatory.  If you don't like it simply tune off of it.  200 is great IMO, you can talk with friends or foes across countries, talk some smack (which does have it's place in game) and call other people out for lame behavior.  It's there for a reason, I say use it.  If you can't handle it, don't.  Or stop flying like a squealing tard so you don't get ridiculed on it.

[waystin2]

Thank all of you Gentleman for your responses.  Let me reiterate a few things: I know 200 is not mandatory, I do not tune 200, the purpose of the thread was limiting or stopping what I think is the negative aspect of channel 200 and it's related impact on the AH community.  So far only one person has acknowledged that maybe the smack talk may not be good for the community's health (reference Ghosth's post).  So anybody else willing to talk about the less attractive side of 200 or will I receive more replies that let me know it is not mandatory and I can detune 200?  I sincerely value all of the input, and look forward to hearing from anyone on this subject and related wish.

Have a great day,

Way

[Vudak]

So you want to hear about the less-attractive side to channel 200, eh?  Well what do you want to hear about?  The smack talk? the frustration bubbling over?  The blow-ups and meltdowns?

Let me tell you something, Waystin…  I don’t know how good you are at this game.  Me?  Well, I’m not “great,” but I’ve reached a level where I’m not “bad” either.  In fact, I’ve reached the level where I have to start going out of my way to make this game fun for me.

I have to give up my six regularly to get anyone to commit to a fight;

I have to give up my six to at least two people if I have any intentions on getting on one of their sixes and having them stick around during the fight;

I have to fly far away from my friends so they won’t inadvertently try to even the odds and thus scare the bad guys away;

I have to fly lower than everyone;

I have to fly slower than everyone;

I have to fly my planes to the other guy’s strengths and to my weaknesses, or again, he’ll be running away;

Basically, I have to be everyone else’s ***** in every sortie I make, if I want to have any chance of somehow tricking someone in the main arena to put in an effort to get on my six and shoot me down.

9/10 times this works out very poorly for me.  I keep paying this subscription for two reasons: The 1/10, and the friends I’ve made over the years.  200 helps me keep in touch with those friends.

Now does 200 also bruise some egos, hurt some feelings, and just go way over the line from time to time?  Absolutely.  But from my perspective, I’m more concerned with the reasons why these bad things exist than the fact that they do.

If you go through this game trying to extend courtesies to other players by trying not to gang, trying to give them a clean first merge, accepting all comers and not running away from everything…  Basically by trying to make sure they have a fighting chance at a fair, fun, fun fight…  Well, if you try to do those things, you soon realize that these same courtesies will almost never be extended to you, and it starts to get old fast.

As for myself, I usually manage to hit Alt+F4 and log without too much 200 banter.  Not everyone  does that…  Then again, I’ve only been feeling this way a few years whereas others might have 6-8 or more…  Maybe eventually the “dark side” will get me too.  Still, I have to say I’m much more sympathetic to most of the guys talking the smack than those receiving it.  If that’s the price to pay for having them (the few who fight) remain in this game, so be it.

[Patches1]

I'm just curious here....

How many Folks use the "cross Country" feature of channel 6, the "Help" Channel?

[The Fugitive]

Thank all of you Gentleman for your responses.  Let me reiterate a few things: I know 200 is not mandatory, I do not tune 200, the purpose of the thread was limiting or stopping what I think is the negative aspect of channel 200 and it's related impact on the AH community.  So far only one person has acknowledged that maybe the smack talk may not be good for the community's health (reference Ghosth's post).  So anybody else willing to talk about the less attractive side of 200 or will I receive more replies that let me know it is not mandatory and I can detune 200?  I sincerely value all of the input, and look forward to hearing from anyone on this subject and related wish.

Have a great day,

Way

I don't see what your trying to get to here. Yes there is garbage on 200 but its never going to go away, both the garbage or the cross country channel. There are bad drivers on the road, did you write congressmen? In all things you have to take the good with the bad. HTC gives you the option to NOT tune so you don't even have to take the "bad". Too many people still use it as a way to talk with their friends and talk over fights with the enemy. Maybe some day when the crap that bubbles up now and then is the norm and people no longer use it to just chat then maybe you should post the wish then.

[Saurdaukar]

...but most references to 200 on the boards most definitely show a detrimental effect on behavior in the MA's. 

Chicken/egg.  Could just as easily say:

...but most references to behavior in the MA's on the boards most definitely show a detrimental effect on 200.

[waystin2]

I don't see what your trying to get to here.

Hello Fugitive,

Like yourself and many others I am very concerned about the health of the game and it's associated community.  The last few months have seen many posts about gameplay and player behavior going downhill.  It is my feeling that not all of the "downhill" things are lack of ACM training, or flying in a horde, NOE's, etc.  Some of the problems are found in the way folks interact within the game and on the boards.  I thought I had identified something that was a source of unhealthy player behavior in both veteran and new pilots alike.  Obviously by the posts so far, I must be wrong.  It was a sincere effort to put forth an idea that may have shut down some of the less desirable interactions within Aces High, hopefully improving the atmosphere within the game and community.  I sincerely appreciate all who have responded.


Have a great day,

Way

[Saurdaukar]

Hello Fugitive,

Like yourself and many others I am very concerned about the health of the game and it's associated community.  The last few months have seen many posts about gameplay and player behavior going downhill.  It is my feeling that not all of the "downhill" things are lack of ACM training, or flying in a horde, NOE's, etc.  Some of the problems are found in the way folks interact within the game and on the boards.  I thought I had identified something that was a source of unhealthy player behavior in both veteran and new pilots alike.  Obviously by the posts so far, I must be wrong.  It was a sincere effort to put forth an idea that may have shut down some of the less desirable interactions within Aces High, hopefully improving the atmosphere within the game and community.  I sincerely appreciate all who have responded.


Have a great day,

Way

Most of us here are on the same page; the issue, I think, is that most everyone is desirous of achieving an improvement in overall game play without enacting artificial blockades upon the player-base.

Removing a feature from the category of "player choice," like tuning 200, and placing it in the category of "game dictated" might solve one problem - but it definitely will cause another.

Either way, take the criticism of your idea with a grain of salt.  At least your trying to brainstorm.