Author Topic: Signing off the Board (Read 449 times)

Kieran · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2002, 08:48:35 PM »

I respectfully disagree.

You say "a better community" is the answer, but you don't say how to create a better community.

You acknowledge abusive behavior is bad for business, but don't associate banning the individual as a form of censorship.

You don't think things are that bad. I think they have degraded considerably in my time here.

This board is hostile. It will run customers away if it continues this way. You are already using some of the catchphrase words of a board in decline- "fanboy" chief among them. If the perception is that if you challenge HTC you will get a virtual mugging, many will not want to stay here. This means that control must be exerted on both sides, complainers and fanboys, as both are equally at fault. And don't think for a second what happens here doesn't help form what happens in the arenas, so allowing abusive behavior here can help lead to an abusive arena.

So... do you watch it all slowly slide into the toilet or do you take some kind of action? If not banning and censorship, then what?

As far as Cit goes, he's pretty much begging for it. He seems to go through cycles where he builds up and has an outburst, then is cool for a while. Pyro merely banned him from the boards, not the game. Cit refused to take the timeout like a man, so maybe it will be the game, too.

streakeagle · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2002, 09:33:57 AM »

Has any game successfully stopped a "decline" once it has begun? Taking punitive actions might slow it. Or they might accelerate it. I agree the mood here can be pretty negative lately, but I think that it is merely a cycle and not a steady trend of decay. Raising a big ruckus about it is only more negative can could help make it a trend. I am quite sure that there were plenty of "attacks" and poorly worded "whines" in the past. Why all the emphasis on the ones happening now?

If the current "policing" is about getting people to respect each other, especially the people working so hard on the game, why didn't it start a long time ago with the nonstop whining about LW planes or the Hog 1C? I personally don't ever let anything posted on a public internet message board really upset me... just letters on a screen.

However, some posts do make me laugh, and some even make me happy. Like the announcement of the P-40B

I can't control how other people post or respond. Nor do I really believe I should.

Yes, banning is censorship. What I was saying is that weeding out a few individuals is a normal acceptable thing that can solve a small problem. Introducing a policy that impacts a significant number of the members would be unacceptable. Public libraries don't generally make pornography and profane material available to children, but if every book that had a curse word or nude photo was removed, the library would be half empty losing many books that are worthwhile. WB3 and WW2 online have leaned to the one extreme while AH was always open. Given a choice between a "positive" board ruled by an iron fist and a "negative" board that is open, I prefer the latter. Of course it is best to have a board that is "positive" by its very nature, but by definition you can't make people be that way. You can however have a community that attracts positive individuals and ignores or rejects negative individuals without using banning. But once again, that is not something you force.

You either have a good community or you don't. No amount of banning will change that. I think this is still a great community regardless of any negative posts. I don't accept the idea that bad apples make the whole bunch rotten. If other people view the community negatively based on a few bad posts, maybe the community is better off without them?

It is HTCs business. They can and will do whatever they want with it. But as long as I am free to give my opinion here, then I will. When I am not free to give my opinion here, then I will find someplace else. As long as I enjoy the game, I will play it. When I don't, I will find another game. The two subjects, the message board and the game, are somewhat separate topics. However, one of the best aspects of this game is being able to speak directly to the developers knowing they are listening. I would like to retain my right to whine about any topic any way that suits me

If my whine is invalid or stated in such a way as to be insulting, can't others just ignore it? Trolls only cause problems when others respond to them. Otherwise, their posts fall to the bottom of the pile unread.

Understand that I realize anything I say is all speculation for me. I have only been online for a few years and I don't think even real psychologists have studied the dynamics of internet culture enough to know what is "right" and what is "wrong" and how to correctly regulate the behavior of people in this medium.

Razzor · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:12:46 AM »

Now see what you've done Dago?!! Aren't you glad you're leaving?

Revvin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:19:40 AM »

This is not about shutting someone up because they disagree with you.

What Cit did would be the same as you walking into a bar and jumping up onto a table shouting and gesturing at the landlord. Cit was asked to leave but instead of taking it on the chin or apologising to HTC (in which case this whole thing would have been forgotten) instead he takes to running back into the bar and winding up the landlord again. Would you frequent a bar that had this happen on a daily basis? if you were the landlord would your fuse not be near burnt out if this happened daily?

Pyro has posted numerous times about the number of offensive posts and flaming going on. He's not laid down any rules about posting but just asked that people consider what they are posting before hitting that 'reply' button. The flaming and offensive posts continued so he has taken steps to try and sort it out its that simple. Throwing words like 'censorship' around is just plain silly.

hawk220 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:54:20 AM »

actually kieran...the adage goes: 'you can't eat your cake and have it too'

common confusion

Udie · « **Reply #20 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:56:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Revvin
This is not about shutting someone up because they disagree with you.

What Cit did would be the same as you walking into a bar and jumping up onto a table shouting and gesturing at the landlord. Cit was asked to leave but instead of taking it on the chin or apologising to HTC (in which case this whole thing would have been forgotten) instead he takes to running back into the bar and winding up the landlord again. Would you frequent a bar that had this happen on a daily basis? if you were the landlord would your fuse not be near burnt out if this happened daily?

Pyro has posted numerous times about the number of offensive posts and flaming going on. He's not laid down any rules about posting but just asked that people consider what they are posting before hitting that 'reply' button. The flaming and offensive posts continued so he has taken steps to try and sort it out its that simple. Throwing words like 'censorship' around is just plain silly.

Not only that Revvin, but it's HTC's board they have the right to censor anything they like

Rude · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2002, 01:37:38 PM »

I love all of you guys....even the whiney ones:)

Dos Equis · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2002, 03:39:00 PM »

I met Dago and his son once at OshKosh. 5 years ago, I think.

Nice guy, I guess his leaving is a bad sign. I'm just poking my head in after almost 2 years away. Looks pretty vicious around here these days.

Not a good sign...

lazs2 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2002, 08:25:10 AM »

well put streak eagle but... In the end, it is their board and they have the right to do as they wish.

My standards for what is offensive are different than some of you others. so are theirs I would imagine.

I think the board and it's denizens works pretty good right now so far as weeding out the dishonest and stupid. I wish it did better at weeding out the insipid and the cheerleaders but.... everyone has different priorities.
lazs

Ripsnort · « **Reply #24 on:** June 18, 2002, 08:29:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
I wish it did better at weeding out the insipid ..
lazs

Then where would you post Eeyore?

lazs2 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 18, 2002, 02:28:44 PM »

well ripsnore... I get called a few things but "insipid or even "cheerleader" aren't usually amongst them... U on the other hand... heck, the only way yu could be more insipid is to put a smiley face at the end of your posts. Heck... if possesion of knee pads was a crime you would be a married to some bubba in Folsom by now explaining to the other cons how you find hairy backs to be sexy.
lazs

Ripsnort · « **Reply #26 on:** June 18, 2002, 02:45:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lazs2
well ripsnore... I get called a few things but "insipid or even "cheerleader" aren't usually amongst them... U on the other hand... heck, the only way yu could be more insipid is to put a smiley face at the end of your posts. Heck... if possesion of knee pads was a crime you would be a married to some bubba in Folsom by now explaining to the other cons how you find hairy backs to be sexy.
lazs

LOL!

poopster · « **Reply #27 on:** June 18, 2002, 07:19:59 PM »

LOL

Lazs you are indeed one of a kind. So much for THAT beer.....

AKIron · « **Reply #28 on:** June 19, 2002, 11:47:10 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by streakeagle
Has any game successfully stopped a "decline" once it has begun?

There are many ways to define "decline". I think 1.10 will eliminate some of the reasons for much of the squeakin' going on now. Of course there will be new things to complain about.

In the military, at least the Air Force, it has long been said that "a squeakin' GI was a happy GI."

Most meaningful way to measure decline is in the subscribed player base. Are the numbers dropping? Not that I can tell.

zipity · « **Reply #29 on:** June 19, 2002, 05:10:47 PM »

Not true, as a victim of this ecomomy I can tell for certain that life itself has become irrelevant and downright dissappointing. Filled with flames AND actions of stupidity.

Which is why I come here. Where else can you go to read about people getting pissed about an HO or killshooter or fluff this and quake that. Too bad these weren't the most serious problems people had to face these days.