It's hard to avoid arguing

[Wayside]

In solidarity, I'll let free that I have an ignore list fifty two entries long.

Impressive.

I just don't buy the old line that, as Mustrum_Ridcully put it, "everyone has something to say that has merits." In fact, I think a lot of people have absolutely nothing interesting or worthwhile to say. The ignore list is just a handy tool for muting these people so they don't drown out the ones who are worth listening to. At least, that's why I'm so quick to use it.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Same here! Just one person, right now. I've had half a dozen of more (last year), and three (very recently), but one is just fine now.

Of course, the ultimate in irony would be. . . no, never mind.

Yes, lol.

 

[Cadfan]

Impressive.

I just don't buy the old line that, as Mustrum_Ridcully put it, "everyone has something to say that has merits." In fact, I think a lot of people have absolutely nothing interesting or worthwhile to say. The ignore list is just a handy tool for muting these people so they don't drown out the ones who are worth listening to. At least, that's why I'm so quick to use it.

To be honest, a lot of my ignore list is probably composed of people who came to the forum, spewed textual vomit everywhere, and then gave up or created new screen names after the mods jumped them in an alley. At least half, maybe more, are probably inactive accounts.

 

[roguerouge]

I find it odd that people actually take notes on who annoys them. I've gotten in some heated arguments with people on this site, but it didn't occur to me to memorize their names and see if they irked me again. That's some holding of a grudge!

 

[Rel]

To be honest, a lot of my ignore list is probably composed of people who came to the forum, spewed textual vomit everywhere, and then gave up or created new screen names after the mods jumped them in an alley. At least half, maybe more, are probably inactive accounts.

Man, it has been too long since I got to participate in a good alley-jumping...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I find it odd that people actually take notes on who annoys them. I've gotten in some heated arguments with people on this site, but it didn't occur to me to memorize their names and see if they irked me again. That's some holding of a grudge!

You're just taking it not serious enough.

I began noticing names - both positive and negative - once I started posting and discussing more. When you are in a thread that has gone to the, say, 10th page, and have posted at least once per page (which is a feat in and on itself, or dare I say, it's a mistake), you'll notice people with the same screen name. It started with the avatars, since they repeated themselves, but some people change them or multiple posters use the same (Raven Crowking, Samual Leming, I am looking at you! ), so I also picked up the names.

Long threads are not just a great way to learn posters names and link them to their preferences/goals/cool ideas, it's also a great way to run into pointless discussions that repeat that retreat old arguments...

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

What bothers me most is that there are some posters who have great, great ideas, but who get bogged down in an almost Pavlovian fashion when certain topics come up. I suppose that's where the break comes between discussion and argument for me; some people just can't stop themselves from treading over the same territory again and again.

Like Rel, I try to stick to the positive things. I've never been one to begrudge anyone playing any game or version of a game they like, so most of the arguments fly past me - I avoid them because they hold absolutely no interest for me - they're just too repetitive.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

What bothers me most is that there are some posters who have great, great ideas, but who get bogged down in an almost Pavlovian fashion when certain topics come up. I suppose that's where the break comes between discussion and argument for me; some people just can't stop themselves from treading over the same territory again and again.

In that vein, i hate it when i learn to know a poster as a contributor of useful material, of great ideas and awesome discourse... and then something happens (forex, a new edition et al.) and suddenly its only the hot-button topics where he/she posts regularly. Often angrily. And always, always the same little concepts, over and over again.

I know that the creativity is now perhaps happening on some other forum, but this kind of change can be rather unsettling.

 

[Remathilis]

To be honest, a lot of my ignore list is probably composed of people who came to the forum, spewed textual vomit everywhere, and then gave up or created new screen names after the mods jumped them in an alley. At least half, maybe more, are probably inactive accounts.

I actually have one on my ignore. Not three posts after I banned him (30 minutes, I'd guess) he was banned for being both a sock-puppet and a jerk.

Though this thread is convincing me of the merit of ignoring more people.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

What bothers me most is that there are some posters who have great, great ideas, but who get bogged down in an almost Pavlovian fashion when certain topics come up. I suppose that's where the break comes between discussion and argument for me; some people just can't stop themselves from treading over the same territory again and again.

Like Rel, I try to stick to the positive things. I've never been one to begrudge anyone playing any game or version of a game they like, so most of the arguments fly past me - I avoid them because they hold absolutely no interest for me - they're just too repetitive.

On CM, someone linked to a thread on the WotC boards that was a "great" example of such:

A poster asked a question and people immediately started with edition warring instead of giving him any constructive advice. I suppose there is a place in such threads to say: "I don't think that will work", but... But there is no need to say at any point: "No, D&D 4 is not D&D! You can't use it for Star Wars!" Maybe the first part is right, but... d6 Star Wars isn't D&D, and it was used for Star Wars, very succesfully so!

But even without edition wars this can happen, especially in house rule threads. I agree that many people seem to experience trouble I don't, and therefor I don't see the need for the changes they want to make. But I don't think it's nice to the OP to constantly tell him he's doing it wrong and shouldn't bother with house ruling, just playing the game "right". At least try to mix in something constructive (like what flaws are in his rules, or how you'd do it) and talk about repercussions of his changes.