ENWorld = whiners arguing ?

[Rel]

I think there are certainly plenty of threads that crop up that open with the poster complaining about something. As Xath says, it is far more in the nature of people to complain about something they hate rather than gush about what they like. Depending on the thread in question I skip them, offer my opinion or read through without offering comment. Mostly I skip them.

But there is a tremendous wealth of knowledge, wisdom, humor and genuine caring at ENWorld that far outweighs the perennial "Clerics are Broken!" or "Rangers got the Shaft!" threads. One reason that I think ENWorld is overpopulated by GM's is that it is more helpful to GM's than players. GM's are in a position to implement many of the good ideas presented and discussed here while players are put mostly in the role of commenting on the "way things are".

 

[Jdvn1]

But there is a tremendous wealth of knowledge, wisdom, humor and genuine caring at ENWorld that far outweighs the perennial "Clerics are Broken!" or "Rangers got the Shaft!" threads.

I agree. A new poster, though, might only last through his first impression, which might be one of those threads.

I think you sometimes have to know where to go on EN World because every thread/forum isn't for everyone.

 

[Xath]

One reason that I think ENWorld is overpopulated by GM's is that it is more helpful to GM's than players.

Hijack: But Rel has proven that it is also populated with the colloquial Playa's

Back on Topic: I'm more of a Player than a GM, but I still find ENWorld immensly helpful. I enjoy the sense of the close knit community that we have here, and I think that's useful to any gamer, regardless of experience or preferred role.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Do you think there's any truth in that statement? How do you think non-regulars, or new visitors see this place?

As an incredibly fast-moving place where the regulars dominate the conversation. (I don't mean dominate in a bad way, I just mean that they are the ones who talk.) It's like going into a bar when you move into town. Do you pipe up the first day in and introduce yourself? Or do you check out the scene first. Like many, do you maybe come by to sit quietly with a few friends and listen to the band?

That said, I agree that a year to six months ago, there were a some vocal posters (mainly publishers, as observed upthread far more humorously than I can put it) causing some issues. I did not feel like posting a lot because of the extreme positions taken by a small handful. The moderator staff has done the right thing and gotten that roar down.

The Story Hour forum, by contrast, is the last place I expect a flame war. General is one of the most likely, but even that's a low probability.

 

[Steel_Wind]

There are some people who enjoy participating in online forums - and then there are those that simply do not.

Compared to any other online forums discussions concerning gaming, ENWorld is the least "whiney" and the posters here probably have the highest median age among internet gaming forums (certainly the next biggest, RPG.net, tends to cater to somewhat younger demographic).

I am a litle bemused by it all too. Several others in my gaming circle have the ENWorld front page as their home page - but they *only* use it for news as a passive homepage. They simply do not go into the forums at all and the only time they browse is when I post a specific link to a thread on our private mailing list.

Reason for this? None that I can see. But I've stopped trying to convert them. You either "get it" or you don't. No point in struggling. It's not like ENWorld isn't busy enough already

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

There are two things out of hand that I think could turn off a new visitor from sticking around.

First is the 3-5 "My (Somebody In My Group) Sucks, Hold Me" threads that hang out on the first page. Not that people don't genuinely have problems, but there's quite a bit of whining going on.

Second is pretty much the entirety of the Rules forum. While occassionally a useful place to stop by, it's generally ... whizzing contests between wanna-be pundits, to be honest. Simple rules questions turn into proclamations issued from on high by volatile personalities and 8+ page arguments about the most minute trivialities. If MY first encounter with ENWorld had been on the Rules forum, I'd probably have never come back, based just on the vitriol.

--fje

 

[Ashrum the Black]

I'd have to agree with the magority. Enworld is, by far, a bastian of civility and restraint compared to many of the minitures game forums I frequent. If the publishers think we are hard on them, they should check out some Games Workshop "fan" sites. Ouch!

As for the story hours, I've read a several and found them to be very positive experiences. Of course I'm sure a few in the mix may have some issues, but I haven't found them yet in my personal experience.

Most of the credit has to go to our wonderful moderator's that have no problem jumping in and quieting things down when they get out of hand.

With all of that being said, I have noticed that we have a penchant for discussing an item to death, resurrecting it, and doing it again. To some, this civil back and forth may seem like whining. Especially as folks line up and really start to hold their ground on an issue. To me that would just be the differences in playing or gaming style coming out. But to some this is whining, as one group refuses to admit they're "wrong" and just see "reseaon".

Which view is correct? Both of them. Each in the eye of the beholder. (and not the floaty death kind either!)

-Ashrum

 

[hexgrid]

Not necessarily whining, but enworld does seem to have a large amount of what I see as completely pointless arguments.

For example- the recent one about wether D&D has too much magic: Some think that D&D has to much magic for their tastes, and tone it down in the games they run. Others are happy with the magic level in the RAW, and run their games that way.

There's really nothing to argue about here (how can you argue against someone's personal preference?) but we do. For pages and pages.

 

[reveal]

When I first started posting a few years ago, I was torn. On one hand, people were willing to answer questions from "n00bs" but there was still a faction of people who would put you down or say something mean-spirited. I didn't really start posting frequently until last year when I kind of created a niche for myself.

For every person that is out there welcoming people, there are those that want to push them away. It just takes a little patience and the willingness to gloss over those you don't agree with to really immerse yourself in the EN World community.

 

[diaglo]

The Story Hour forum, by contrast, is the last place I expect a flame war. General is one of the most likely, but even that's a low probability.

yeah, i don't see it much on the Story Hour forum. and that is where i hang out quite a bit while i'm here.


read the story hour in my sig.