[forked thread] What constitutes an edition war?

[billd91]

It seems to me the only possible purpose of the thread is to show the poster's preferred edition in a positive light while implying that the worst of the complaints levied against the non preferred edition are actually true. Only the poster doesn't have to explain anything or back up any arguments because it's only a picture and it's only "my opinion, man!"

Well, guess what? Opinions can be (and often are) wrong and posting this stuff as an image might give you plausible deniability but don't have a hissy fit in a forked thread when people call you out on your shenanigans.

You see, this is, in my opinion, the sort of attitude and response that really generates edition wars. It's not that someone says 1e is better than 4e (it is), that beer is better than coffee (it is), or that lemurs are cooler than monkeys (they are). It's that someone thinks that someone else's subjective opinion on the matter can be wrong and then feels the need to call shenanigans on it that kicks the thread down the edition war spiral.

 

[catastrophic]

What constitutes an edition war?

A thread is defined as an edition war when 4e fans put up too much of a fight.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I am thinking about calling my fantasy heartbreaker "Edition War" instead of RCFG. Then lots of people will talk about it, and lots of people will see it, even when it isn't there!

 

[Maggan]

I do not know; did this debate happen with Traveller or Call of Cthuluu?

I seem to recall that Traveller to MegaTraveller created a chasm of divide over which much invective was hurled, from both sides.

Call of Cthulhu hasn't really changed at all, so there's not much to go to war over. But I did see something along the lines regarding Call of Cthulhu BRP and Call of Cthulhu d20. Some fans of CoC BRP were not amused.

As for edition wars, I have learned to try to be very clear when I discuss editions that I speak only for myself, and no one else. To me it seems that when someone loads their arguments with a touch of "I speak for all", people get upset very quickly and edition warring is but a small turn of the page away.

/M

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Firstly, insofar as THIS forum is concerned, an edition war is what and when the moderators say it is. In the other thread a mod has already posted a clear and reasonable definition.

Generally an expression of opinion or exercise of comparison/contrast of editions becomes an edition war when opinion is treated as fact or inarguable position, either by the person expressing it or by someone reading/responding to it. When someone gives an inaccurate statement about an edition, or even makes an inflammatory expression of opinion, someone else chooses to cease discussing the topic and instead begins to make personal attacks. That's where it becomes edition war rather than edition discussion.

The silly part is that this means there is no reason for edition warring to happen. Every insulting thing said or implied about a given edition can AND SHOULD BE read and treated as mere opinion. In particular, in a thread where opinions are ASKED FOR, even opinions you might consider ignorant or insulting go with the territory and you have no business taking offense and denigrating an individual for their opinion (which was invited), or for making errors of fact.

 

[Redbadge]

A thread is defined as an edition war when 4e fans put up too much of a fight.

In every edition war thread that I've fought in under the 4e banner, it always seemed that I had a rocket launcher while everyone else was fighting with sponges. And I was sad to see them go down, because I really love every edition and aspect of D&D, and I love playing, reading, and talking about it.

That enough fight for you, my comrade? Are we at war now?
(Note: I'm trying to be light-hearted and playful, and respect everyone and the games they play. Just keep playing.)

 

[Aberzanzorax]

I sometimes wonder what if ENworld just had an "edition war" tag, so people could get on with their edition warring if they liked, or could see the tag at the outset and ignore the thread.

(No, I don't actually think this is a good idea.)

 

[Redbadge]

I sometimes wonder what if ENworld just had an "edition war" tag, so people could get on with their edition warring if they liked, or could see the tag at the outset and ignore the thread.

(No, I don't actually think this is a good idea.)

Why not? It could have its own separate forum and wouldn't have to be limited to D&D. It could be an ENworld sponsored game called Edition Wars. It would be like paint ball. And we could have an annual competition where the last one still posting in the thread wins (or loses, in this case).

Rereading this post, it now seems kind of silly, must... not... hit... submit...

 

[Raven Crowking]

An edition war is what happens when someone else (probably willfully) misinterprets your perfectly innocent post about how much cooler your game is than theirs as some kind of "attack" on their game.

Oddly enough, although many people engage in edition wars, few of them are actually "edition warriors" -- it is always someone else who is responsible!

 

[Crazy Jerome]

It's more a "know it when I see it" for me, but I don't really mind the "hot" edition war, so much--at least as long it is honest about what it is, and can keep a bit of tongue in cheek.

No, what irritates me about it is the thing that isn't called out (because it really can't be), and that is the passive/aggressive snark, in the "cold" edition war, that spills over repeatedly into topics where it barely has a plausible deniable reason to even be on topic.

If the hot version seems to flare up more than is reasonable, look to the cold version for maintaining tension and derailing useful conversation whenever it can. It is not that "haters gotta hate." Rather it is, some people just gotta try to score a shot and get off with no consequences.

And while I can't positively identify the boundaries of an edition war, I can positively identify a subset of edition warriors: Anyone that frequently comments on a particular edition of a game, but never has anything positive to say about, beyond the occasional backhand compliment, is practicing edition war. An honest critic would have either said his piece some time ago and not feel the need to revisit all the time, or would have at least a few positive aspects that keep them engaged in the conversation. In many edition wars, whoever else finds themselves sucked in, you can often identify such a relentlessly negative individual in the early sniping.