Do Personal Opinions Of Authors, Etc Dissuade You From Purchases?

[Vigilance]

There are a couple of companies that will never, ever get my money.

On the other hand, I've never really been tempted. Neither of those companies has made a book I really felt I *had* to have.

Chuck

 

[Terwox]

It absolutely affects me. After reading some developer rants, I haven't bought from them anymore. Similarly in music, if I find out a musician I liked is a jerk, I can't enjoy their music as much any longer, and I stop listening to them.

 

[Starman]

I too was surprised just how many people have voted that way. I expected it to be a factor for some, but this appears to imply most people are paying a lot more consideration to authors than I am. ;-) Specifically, almost 50% of us have apparently not bought something because of our personal opinions: which is way more than I expected.

We are also the hardcore element. I would expect that on average gamers who frequent messageboards and such know more about the authors of RPG books and their views on things than those who do not.

 

[Jdvn1]

If I've heard an author is a jerk, I'll be less likely to buy his work.

 

[GQuail]

We are also the hardcore element. I would expect that on average gamers who frequent messageboards and such know more about the authors of RPG books and their views on things than those who do not.

This is always going to be the case with an ENWorld poll, alas: we're a lot fussier and more informed (or at least think we are ) about RPG related things.

 

[big dummy]

As an occasional D20 freelancer, I have to say this kind of attitude really gives you pause when considering posting in public forums. Somebody is bound to disagree with you on something, so the message is if you have any contraversial ideas, you better keep it to yourself or get a well disguised pseudonym.

I once started a thread here on ENworld with my old account. The thread was critical about certain very minor aspects of 3.0 D&D at the time, and so naturally got a lot of people hopping mad. I ended up having several people say flat out that they wanted to boycott my products and those of any publisher who hired me because I was adressing what I though was a problem with D&D (a problem which Monte Cook wrote about in exactly the same way mind you).

I think the net result is that writers often keep to themselves unless they are so well established that they have their own significant support base already. I think thats kind of depressing.

Personally, for what it's worth, I'll buy any product if I think it's good, no matter what the writers private opinions. I even bought a book written by a guy who trashed one of my own books in an ambush review. I beleive in free speech and free thinking.



BD

 

[big dummy]

If I've heard an author is a jerk, I'll be less likely to buy his work.

Another thing to consider is that how someone appears on a message board may have very little to do with what they are like in real life.

BD

 

[Mouseferatu]

Another thing to consider is that how someone appears on a message board may have very little to do with what they are like in real life.

BD

As well as the fact that "hearing an author is a jerk" in no way correlates to that author actually being a jerk.

Everyone has people who don't like them. Listening only to their opinion is hardly going to convey an accurate portrayal of the individual in question.

 

[jcfiala]

Kind of?

There's one publisher I'm really not interested in buying from, but on the other hand, what they publish doesn't really appeal to me. So, does it not appeal to me because I've already decided not to buy, or is it separate? I can't say.

Now, if Hitler came forward in time and started buying PDFs to support the fifth reich, I probably would keep away. But mostly the people in the RPG industry only go so far as self-involved, I think.

 

[GQuail]

I think the net result is that writers often keep to themselves unless they are so well established that they have their own significant support base already. I think thats kind of depressing.

Look at it this way: when you're on the message board, you're talking to your customers. Even when you're having your lunch, or it's the weekend and you're at your parents, or you're on holiday in France, any time you appear on this message board as a games designer, you still are talking to the people who buy things from you.

I know that RPGs are a small hobby, and everyone who designs started out as a player and all that: and yes, plenty of people will disagree with you for stupid reasons, and you can't stop that. But you do have to conduct yourself like you would do any time you spoke to customers: civilly, with respect and patience where possible.

Another thing to consider is that how someone appears on a message board may have very little to do with what they are like in real life.

Well, that's very possible: for one thing, lots of jokes don't work written down that do spoken, so a message board post in jest may not come across as such. But since the only way I have of gauging people on ENWorld is through their posts, I don't feel that it's unfair to expect them to write with that in mind. (I know I've stopped or edited posts that, when I read them, risked coming across the wrong way once because they didn't sound so cool outside my head.)