Is The Forum Getting More Antagonistic?

[Leatherhead]

I also think the internet is getting more an more antagonistic with people being horrible to each other everywhere you look.

As someone who works face to face customer service: The antagonistic behavior is not limited to just the internet, I can assure you. People have been steadily getting more angry over the past three years, for obvious reasons.

 

[J.Quondam]

As someone who works face to face customer service: The antagonistic behavior is not limited to just the internet, I can assure you. People have been steadily getting more angry over the past three years, for obvious reasons.

I can sympathize. I quit my job in elections tech because of the nastiness.

 

[Fifth Element]

As someone who works face to face customer service: The antagonistic behavior is not limited to just the internet, I can assure you. People have been steadily getting more angry over the past three years, for obvious reasons.

Up until a while ago, I hadn't been to this site or any other RPG forum for about 8 years. What I noticed when returning, that this site, and another big one, had become notably LESS toxic than they were 8 years ago. Meanwhile another site, which 8 years ago was substantially more toxic but still generally tolerable, has become an absolute cesspool of open hatred. There really has been change in recent years, and being away from a subcultural for a good while and then returning to it made that extremely clear.

 

[Fifth Element]

Ive noticed too that people pile on when someone posts an unpopular opinion.

No idea if we're thinking of the same instances, but I've noticed a few times recently posters who post an opinion along with reasons for that opinion, and the reasons are demonstrably false or at best misleading, and when others point out that they're using false premises in support of their opinions, they retreat to "it's just my opinion, I should be allowed to have an opinion" sort of thing. It would help if people could remember that on a public discussion forum, if you post your opinion, it's likely to be discussed. Publicly.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Is it the threads started about those games or styles in the general ttrpg forum that get heated, or the threads about D&D that those games are brought up in that get heated?

Both. Probably every thread in the last 3 years at least about either broad topic.

And, we cannot neglect specific contributions to antagonism by particular persons, whose behavior may be less about overall culture, and more about just them being themselves.

Hey now, I think we all knew I was pointing one finger at myself there, no need to call it out!

Goofing aside, yes absolutely, although I’d be willing to bet some large percentage of what you see as “person being themselves” is rather or also that person reflective overall cultural leanings that they agree with, like publicly yelling at people who are behaving a certain way or espousing a certain set of beliefs. The mindset that this is a social good is very much a broad cultural shift, as much as an individual personality trait.

But overall, the point I think we agree on is that there are many factors that contribute.

 

[R_J_K75]

No idea if we're thinking of the same instances, but I've noticed a few times recently posters who post an opinion along with reasons for that opinion, and the reasons are demonstrably false or at best misleading, and when others point out that they're using false premises in support of their opinions, they retreat to "it's just my opinion, I should be allowed to have an opinion" sort of thing. It would help if people could remember that on a public discussion forum, if you post your opinion, it's likely to be discussed. Publicly.

We could be talking about the same instances, but I don't think it's worth rehashing here. Speaking strictly for myself, I can't remember where I read lots of things let alone find them to post links. Alot of times one can pick up pieces of information from different places from which you then form an opinion. I have no problem with someone questioning, correcting or discussing my opinions, but it usually comes down to someone saying another person's opinion is wrong, calling them a liar, and the tone in which it is done that I have a problem with.

 

[Zardnaar]

Rushing tides on one truisms imho combined with various stuff going on in the world the last 40 odd years and a collective failure to deal with those programs. Same as the 1930's drives extremism.

Even + threads are a form of that basically means you can't disagree with me IMHO.

And a lot is used on reasonably trivial things and the application of the rukrs has been inconsistent.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I have a crazy theory that if ENWorld removed the "Like" button there would be an upswing in positive posting. This is just my own thinking, but when someone agrees with a post, they have two options: reply with an agreement, or press "Like." When someone disagrees with a post, they only have one option (other than ignoring the post): posting a disagreement. This leads to more disagreement posts populating threads, and fewer agreement posts being posted.

That's just my theory!

 

[Reynard]

I don't think it is, either. Antagonism was higher before the edition change notice came out.

Morrus may have at least part of it - people, in general, are more antagonistic on the internet these days, for a variety of reasons.

Yeah. I know I encourage myself to take breaks myself if I catch myself looking to argue more than discuss. I can't say with certainty whether it is a change in me, the boards, or online culture in general, but if I had to guess I would say it is a little bit of all of those. I am almost 50 now and I know I can "old man yells at clouds" on certain subjects. But I also think the post-WotC forum shutdown influx changed the tenor of the boards overall. And, of course, we are in a weird place when it comes to online discourse in general.

All that said, I still prefer to talk you y'all here about things than anywhere else. I have been coming to this site since it appeared ahead of 3E and figure it will be the last D&D forum I ever visit.

 

[Campbell]

I have a crazy theory that if ENWorld removed the "Like" button there would be an upswing in positive posting. This is just my own thinking, but when someone agrees with a post, they have two options: reply with an agreement, or press "Like." When someone disagrees with a post, they only have one option (other than ignoring the post): posting a disagreement. This leads to more disagreement posts populating threads, and fewer agreement posts being posted.

That's just my theory!

Agreed. Far too often who liked which post becomes a central part of the discussion and helps incite an existing tendency towards tribalism.