Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?
- Thread starter Snarf Zagyg
- Start date
Maxperson
Morkus from Orkus
I've only blocked a single person. The bolded is my general reaction as well, but there have been a few that I've been disappointed about as I truly like them. Autumnal is one of those.
CleverNickName
Limit Break Dancing (He/They)
I think many of the people who blocked me over the years did so to escape the plethora of "5E Survivor" threads I was responsible for. I haven't done one of those in years, but alas... they'll never know.
The Soloist
Hero
If I had let D&D comparative critiques detract me from trying other RPGs, I would have never played Call of Chtuluh, Traveller, Dragonquest, etc, etc. For me, it started two months after I discovered D&D, in 1980. I ignore my knee jerk reaction and listen to what the other person was trying to tell me. I discovered great games.
It’s the Pineapple Express! You don’t always get the response you want to hear, but you get the response you need!
It’s the Pineapple Express! You don’t always get the response you want to hear, but you get the response you need!
Maxperson
Morkus from Orkus
A test! Start doing them again and see if there is an uptick in folks blocking you
If you focus on making comparative critiques of new games, you don't really want to talk about the new games.
Bedrockgames
I post in the voice of Christopher Walken
In my experience people are very open to trying new games, if it isn't presented in a way that feels like an attack on what they are already playing. It is very easy to criticize D&D. But the fact is most people play D&D (or some version of D&D even it is Pathfinder). Comparative criticism can be helpful (for example if someone is giving me an overview of what different games do well, and don't do well, in order to genuinely help me find a system for what I want to do, that is useful). But a lot of comparative critique threads, are also advocacy threads for a given system, and it just isn't a great way to sell someone on something. Also these criticisms sometimes get taken to a personal level (it isn't simply that the person in question finds D&D inadequate but it sometimes veers into territory where people who play D&D are going to feel personally attacked or like they are being called less intelligent). I would love for more people to play non-D&D games. None of the games I make are D&D. But in my experience it is a lot easier to get people to try your game, if they don't feel like they are being put on the defensive about a system they are currently happy with. My attitude is, lots of people like D&D and there is nothing wrong with that.
And don't get me wrong. I came of age in the 90s, when it was the norm to play different systems all the time. There were typically at least 5 systems my groups were actively engaged with and we were always looking for new ones. I am particularly nostalgic for that approach to playing games.
In the words of one moderator emeritus: "Tell me about how awesome your game is, WITHOUT comparing it to any other game."
One can see the idea - if you tear down your competitors, you will look better by comparison. But you kind of have to act like a jerk who tears down other creations in order to do it, often leading to an overall negative response.
Bedrockgames
I post in the voice of Christopher Walken
Yeah, I think it is human nature. If someone really wants me to see Planet of the Vampires and tries to sell me on it because they know I like Alien by talking about how much better they think the writing is, or how awful the writing in Alien was*, even if I would otherwise go see it, it prompts an instinct to not listen
Theoretical example, not actual commentary on either movie
I know I played a bunch of games during the 90s.
I haven't seen any evidence suggesting to me that was the norm, though.
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