Can we stop cross-posting from RPG.net threads?

[Crothian]

I do not want to see ENWorld become even a little bit more like RPG.net. As he said, there's a reason a lot of us practically live here, but don't post there very often.

Is it the topics that make RPG.net the way it is or is the responses that people give?

This thread seems to think that the topics are going to make EN World morph into RPG.Net but I don't see that. Both boards have had similar topics for years and they still remain very different. That's becasue of the posters and the mods here and there and their different philosophies to boards.

 

[wingsandsword]

I do not want to see ENWorld become even a little bit more like RPG.net. As he said, there's a reason a lot of us practically live here, but don't post there very often.

I'll agree with this, I like the atmosphere at ENWorld, I like the general civility of conversations and the overall tone of things. I don't like the general tone of things at RPG.net, so I post here and stay here (aside from an occasional pop over to wizards.com).

Now, I really don't see this being a huge upswing, but I do think it's worth noting. The occasional cross reference isn't bad, but we should be mindful of how often it happens and how it affects the tone and attitude of our boards. ENWorld has one atttiude and atmosphere, RPG.net has a distinctly different one, and keeping those distinct, for the preferences of the denizens of both places is a good thing.

 

[jdrakeh]

I actually think that there are a lot of topics regularly discussed at RPGnet that, perhaps, some people here would benefit from and/or can add to constructively (e.g, discussions of basic genre tenets, theoretical models of play, the definition of subjective hobby jargon, etc). I'm all in favor of discussing fairly important topics like this wherever the people are in a position to learn from and/or contribute to them constructively (including EN World, The Forge, Dragonsfoot, etc).

What I'm not in favor of, however, are some of the 'Screw those folks at Alternate Site X for thinking differently than us!' threads that crop up from time to time... kind of like this one did. Productive discussion is good, regardless of where it comes from - what wastes space are threads like this one where somebody gets their panties in a bunch over what goes on at another message board and decides to vent about it here. What does that do, but tie up board resources with a petty personal complaint?

I'd rather see more RPG-related topics spill over from elsewhere on the internet, than more self-serving, close-minded, calls for action against Forum X, Y, or Z spill over from elsewhere on the internet. I mean, really - at least RPG-related discussion that spills over from other forums has the potential to be productive, but attacks leveled at other online communities? Not so much.

 

[sniffles]

I'd agree with this request, not only because I like the atmosphere better here, but because I'm usually viewing this site from work and RPG.net is blocked by our filter. So it's annoying to be referred to a thread or article I can't see.

 

[jdrakeh]

This thread seems to think that the topics are going to make EN World morph into RPG.Net but I don't see that.

Yeah, I don't see that, either.

Both boards have had similar topics for years and they still remain very different. That's becasue of the posters and the mods here and there and their different philosophies to boards.

The other major differences are that RPGnet is a general information forum, as opposed to largely being focussed on one system and variations thereof. Likewise, in adddition to covering a broader range of topics, RPGnet also has a lot more unique hits per day than EN World, which means more visitors. And more visitors means a larger community. And a larger community means more diverse opinions.

Sometimes that stuff is a strength of RPGnet, and other times it's a weakness. For example, if I want to have a civil discussion about d20, I'm not going to post at RPGnet... but if I want to discuss Dogs in the Vinyard or Kult, I'm going to get a lot more informed responses over at RPGnet than I will at EN World (I know, because I've had said discussions in both places).

And then, yeah, on top of all that other stuff you have the differences in moderation and the like. RPGnet has more specifically defined rules, but the enforcement is wishy washy and uneven. EN World has pretty loose rules, but the enforcement is a lot more even. OF course, as always, this is merely opinion. YMMV.

 

[DMH]

I find this rather funny and disturbing. I spend alot more time there than here and I never see any comments about this place yet once every two weeks or so I see some snipping here. Heck Diaglo spends tons more time rallying against d20 than most people there and yet isn't mobbed to death over his views here.

As for flame wars, there are plenty here, just lower key because the worst there are Tangency topics- ones that deserve passionate replies. Though I do have to wonder why the mods are so slow in banning people here. Some people have tried to make life difficult for the owner of the site and yet are are called rude and allowed to remain. Trying to placate everyone just makes things worse in tone over time.

And here is some obvious advice, Mr. Randall- if you don't like what you are reading then stop reading the thread.

 

[werk]

Neither rpg.net or wizards boards make it through my work's proxy, so when people link to those boards there is no chance of me reading them...and therefore, I agree! Stop the cross-post madness!

 

[Mouseferatu]

Oh, I'm fine with that. You think the link was Joshua's problem?

I don't know if the link was Joshua's problem, but I know it's my problem.

I have no objection at all to cross-pollination of topics. I'd just rather not have people literally directed from one site to the other, in either direction.

Frankly, that goes for more than just RPG.net. Links to news articles and the like are cool, but if it's just a topic of discussion, I'd rather see it repeated and self-contained, than require bouncing back and forth to multiple boards.

 

[Eternalknight]

Being directed to another thread is a pain.

However, as Crothian said, there is a big difference between here and RPG.net in terms of attitude. I don't mind seeing similar topics posted, but the moderators of both boards have different standards to go by. As long as that remains the same, EN World will not become RPG.net.

 

[Desdichado]

Posting links is the problem?

I honestly can't understand what the problem is that people have with doing either--starting the same thread topic in both places, or linking from one place to another. Not that I do it often, but I certainly have no intention of stopping either practice.