Edition wars ban extension?

[Scurvy_Platypus]

I've got to say, I've really enjoyed the ban on the edition wars. I feel like I can actually read threads in safety and enjoy poking around. Especially in the General section.

It's a bit of a forlorn hope, but I figured I'd formally ask anyways: Could the edition wars ban be extended?

I've got no objection to folks discussing how one system or another handles something, but I really have zero interest in threads like that "4E is the new Coke" thread. I mean, it doesn't serve any purpose other than to try and rile folks up. Some people like the new edition, some don't. Big deal.

I don't really know how ENWorld stacks up against places like the WotC or the Pathfinder forums. I don't frequent those places in the first place, because of the reputation they've got.

Right now ENWorld has a pretty good reputation (especially for being a d20 forum), and it'd be nice to keep it that way.

I for one don't happen to think mods are an evil thing. I've seen the places without 'em, and by and large they're not pretty.

 

[Piratecat]

I wouldn't be surprised if we extend it; edition wars solve nothing and mostly succeed in greatly pissing me off.

We'll chat about it.

 

[Fifth Element]

I think it's a great idea to extend it. While there has still been the odd thread pop up, and some edition-warsy comments creep into some otherwise-okay threads, I think on the whole most of the ENWorld populace has been respectful of the ban.

 

[Nifft]

It'd be nice if there were some clear-cut exemptions, like allowing a guy to ask what the differences are between the editions.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Fifth Element]

It'd be nice if there were some clear-cut exemptions, like allowing a guy to ask what the differences are between the editions.

As long as that doesn't devolve into "3E sucks because..." and "2E rules because..." that wouldn't be an edition war anyway. Factual comparisons are never a problem. "3E is an RPG, but 4E is not", on the other hand, is a problem.

I guess I'm saying I trust in mod fiat enough to not worry about needing clear-cut exemptions, because your example could turn into an edition war, even if it wasn't intended that way.

 

[blargney the second]

An extension of forever sounds fantastic to me. I really hate edition wars. Zero tolerance seems like a good starting place.

 

[Nifft]

As long as that doesn't devolve into "3E sucks because..." and "2E rules because..." that wouldn't be an edition war anyway. Factual comparisons are never a problem. "3E is an RPG, but 4E is not", on the other hand, is a problem.

I guess I'm saying I trust in mod fiat enough to not worry about needing clear-cut exemptions, because your example could turn into an edition war, even if it wasn't intended that way.

I'm against stopping useful discussions because one could turn bad. Instead, ban the people who turn it bad directly.

I'm personally very interested in dissecting the play implications of the design differences between 3e and 4e. I think most of us here are grown up enough to handle such conversations, and it'd be sad to allow the fraction who can't handle mature discussion dictate what the rest of us are allowed to discuss.

If one month isn't enough to let the "New Coke" nerd-rage cool down, make it two, but please do plan to eventually allow comparison.

Cheers, -- N

 

[jaerdaph]

i'm against stopping useful discussions because one could turn bad. Instead, ban the people who turn it bad directly.

qft.

 

[Umbran]

At the moment, the ban is slightly problematic - I see a growing trend for people to call "edition wars!" on any and all threads that criticize some aspect of an edition. I don't find that at all acceptable.

On the other hand, many people are still being goobers, and lashing out by crapping on threads that don't deserve it.

If we continue the ban, we will restrict the free flow of ideas. If we remove the ban, we are going to have to be a lot more stringent with discipline - and we will have folks complain that we disciplined them when they didn't deserve it.

Until the populace of EN World gets its collective head together, there is no good solution.

 

[Scurvy_Platypus]

I'm personally very interested in dissecting the play implications of the design differences between 3e and 4e.

Yeah, I've certainly got no problems with someone doing that. I mean, that's part of the whole joy of posting to the forums in the first place, right?

At the moment, the ban is slightly problematic - I see a growing trend for people to call "edition wars!" on any and all threads that criticize some aspect of an edition. I don't find that at all acceptable.

On the other hand, many people are still being goobers, and lashing out by crapping on threads that don't deserve it.

If we continue the ban, we will restrict the free flow of ideas. If we remove the ban, we are going to have to be a lot more stringent with discipline - and we will have folks complain that we disciplined them when they didn't deserve it.

Until the populace of EN World gets its collective head together, there is no good solution.

I understand. I do think that Nifft has a point in providing some examples of what "is" and "is not" considered to be edition war fodder, with the additional stipulation that the examples are merely examples and not intended to be a full and complete accounting of all of the possibilities.

While I don't happen to fear any kind of stricter mod oversight, I'm also cognizant of the stifling of "free speech" in the form of "Here's a bunch of draconian measures we're taking for your protection. The only people that need to be afraid are those that plan on breaking the rules, and if you've got concerns about it that means you're likely a problem person."

I also find people calling "edition war!1!!1" just because someone happens to prefer a different approach to stuff to be ridiculous. And contrasting the approach taken by one system or another doesn't strike me as being much different.

There really isn't a good solution, and I do think that riding hard on the "edition war ban" would be a bad thing. I don't know if it's possible (practical) to do a "half ban", so that folks like Nifft could feel free to discuss system stuff/contrasts without having "edition war!1!!11!" screamed at them, but it'd be nice if such a thing were possible ...

*sigh*

At the end of the day, decisions have to be made and no matter what happens there's going to be some folks disappointed by it. I just figured I'd toss in my vote for the enforced sanity we've had recently.

I don't think a "permanent" ban would be a good thing (or even possible) for the boards. My hopes for the extension were along the lines of another month, or doing a "half ban" like I mentioned in this post. *shrug* Then again, perhaps the community is just going to have to suck it up and deal with some harsher modding in the short term until folks understand that the lifting of the ban doesn't mean they're free to run riot.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Oh, and by the by... I'm really enjoying the new ENWorld forums. Much smoother, and all kinds of little nice thingies.