The decline of game forums IMHO

mini-rant

Published on April 3, 2005 By Ravenblack In Life Journals

The one thing I can't stand about game forums these days is the number of stupid people on it. With games gaining popularity all over, one is beginning to see the same kind of stupidity you see in yahoo chat and news forums.

- You can't ask a question without someone flaming you or belittling you.

- someone always tells a lame joke, or some joke no one understands except for an exclusive few. In fact several of them will do so all in a row of replies in attempts to jump on the bandwagon of humor, only to break its wheel. I suppose it's a bonding thing or something - bonding amongst idiotic gameheads. Here's a clue: a joke gets less and less funny when you repeat or rephrase it.

- fanboys and anti-fanboys - the former thinks they should always get what they want and the latter always thinking they are being "objective". "I hate the game that everyone loves." - to which the retort is simple: Don't like it? Don't play it. No game maker has ever put a gun to anyone's head and made people buy their games.

- What the fuck's a "serious gamer" and who gives a damn if you are one? Getting up to so many levels in a game will not get you a real job in the real world.

Yeah, I left a rather rude comment on a seemingly promising game forum which had an epidemic of stupidity this morning and decided never to go back there again. In fact, I don't think I'll ever try another game forum ever again. It was foolish of me to think I could ever tolerate foruming with stupid people I just want to smack through the computer screen.

Related:
Zoomba's article: Link

Comments

Danny Bassette

on Apr 04, 2005

In my experience, gaming forums are best as a spectator using the search feature (if available). Is a shame really, if more people felt they could share without being 'attacked' the forums would likely hold more information and be more useful to all. Probably goes back to people just not getting along in general

Ravenblack

on Apr 04, 2005

That and all that one-up-manship....

BlueDev

on Apr 05, 2005

There was one game forum I used to frequent quite regularly (to the point I was in the top 5 posters). It seemed to be a mature, civil gaming forum. Then they decided to set up a "Heated topics" section, and things just started to go downhill. Now it is really no different than any other gaming forum. Some intelligent people, some decent discussion, and a lot of wasted words. Shame, as I don't even visit the site anymore.

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