The "I Didn't Comment in Another Thread" Thread

[MarkB]

Nah, the organization is sadly defunct -- we couldn't agree on a date and time for the next meeting!

But it was in the agenda - and I know you all had one.

 

[overgeeked]

Counterpoint. Sometimes putting someone on ignore is self-care. There’s a grey area in most forum rules where trolls thrive. Nasty behavior that isn’t technically breaking any rules so the mods don’t do anything.

 

[billd91]

The trouble is that for some people, blocking is the solution.

You see, if I convince myself that The Problem is people who disagree with me, then The Solution is to silence them...and the Block/Ignore feature can accomplish that. People might still disagree, but I won't see them and so The Problem will be solved to my satisfaction. I'll have my own tiny echo-chamber where everyone likes what I have to say and cheers me on, and I won't have to consider the thoughts and feelings of anyone else. All of those voices of dissent become this nebulous cloud of "Other People" that can be easily dismissed.

I think ignore is a decent solution less to people who disagree with me as much as people who annoy the bejeezus out of me. It may be because they're pointlessly contrarian and snarky, it may be because they're obnoxious and hold truly odious opinions, it may be because they constantly flog the same dead horse. My ire contains multitudes.

 

[CleverNickName]

Counterpoint. Sometimes putting someone on ignore is self-care. There’s a grey area in most forum rules where trolls thrive. Nasty behavior that isn’t technically breaking any rules so the mods don’t do anything.

Oh absolutely. I didn't mean to imply that someone shouldn't use the Block feature. It is one of the more important safety tools on the Internet, IMO.

I just suspect there are those who want others to block them, and they consider it a win when they do. There's not much to be done about it, and it's probably a good thing besides: I'd rather they have their own isolated echo chambers to poop in, instead of running loose and pooping all over the place.

I think ignore is a decent solution less to people who disagree with me as much as people who annoy the bejeezus out of me. It may be because they're pointlessly contrarian and snarky, it may be because they're obnoxious and hold truly odious opinions, it may be because they constantly flog the same dead horse. My ire contains multitudes.

This too. It takes a lot to push me to that point, but I've definitely been there. Someone who keeps spamming the same rhetoric over and over again is annoying, but I can usually just ignore them or Unwatch the thread.

But every now and then, I get one of Those Folks. The ones who keep @ing me after I've left a thread, or resort to sending me private messages, etc., because they just can't let it go.

"Let me remember that the impact of criticism is often not the intent of the critic, but when the intent is evil, that's what the Block button is for."
-Ze Frank, "An Invocation for Beginnings"

 

[RealAlHazred]

I remember that, everything I learned differently from how I was raised, I learned because I paid attention to someone who disagreed with me. And that extremists arise because they live in a bubble without any dissenting opinions.

That's why I Ignore everybody who posts that they use the Ignore function! It's the only way!

 

[niklinna]

How many people have to block you before you consider the possibility that you could be part of the problem?

I could recommend someone for you to ask, but they were banned because so many people were blocking them.

 

[soviet]

I've blocked everyone.

This is an empty thread.

 

[CleverNickName]

I solicited some feedback from my players about the last campaign we ran, and...hoo boy, they really let me have it.

You've heard about the DM who secretly wants to write a novel? Well, this is what that shoe looks like on the other foot.

Spoiler

DM: So before we roll up characters for the next campaign, I wanted to go over some house rules. Now I collected your feedback from the last campaign, and I've made some changes.

PLAYERS: It's about time.

DM: First thing on the list, instead of restricting your character choices to the options in the books, you'll be allowed to choose any character race or class you want.

PLAYERS: Even untested stuff that we find on the internet?

DM: Yep, anything goes. The biggest piece of feedback I got from you guys was how the DM needs to stay out of your way and let you play whatever character you want to play, the way you want to play it, so I fixed that.

PLAYERS: Sweet Pelor, you actually listened to us! Tell us more!

DM: I'm also opening up the game to all of the optional rules in the DMG. Feats and Multiclassing are obviously going to be allowed, but also the rules for firearms, potion miscibility, one-hour long rests, flanking, and everything else. You can use whichever option you want, no restrictions.

PLAYERS: How will that work, though? I want the shorter rests, but Bob wants the original 8-hour long rest and--

DM: I'm sure you guys will figure it out. Remember, my goal is to stay out of your way.

PLAYERS: Um...

DM: Anyway, encumbrance! We're no longer tracking the weight of anything. A lot of you felt it was unfairly punishing the players who intentionally decided to tank their own Strength stat, or that it was just an unnecessary amount of detail. So your characters can carry as much stuff as you decide, without any penalty. You want to carry around six barrels of mead in your pocket, go for it, I'm sure you have your reasons.

PLAYERS: Okay, that's cool. I little unrealistic, but...

DM: The same goes for ammunition. Your character will always have all the arrows, crossbow bolts, spell components, and darts that they need. Per your request, we won't be keeping track of those annoying little resources.

PLAYERS: Nice! This is going to be...wait, did you say 'spell components'? Even diamonds?

DM: Moving on to experience points. We are getting rid of them altogether, because everyone felt they were needlessly complicated. Also, a lot of you felt like the pace was too slow, and the rest of you felt it was too quick, so I came up with a novel solution. We are shifting to Milestone leveling, except--and this is important--you set those milestones. You decide when your character levels up.

PLAYERS: We can just decide when we level-up?

DM: Yep. I don't want to restrict your creativity. This is a story about your characters, after all, and the DM should step back and let them shine!

PLAYERS: I think you're taking this a little too far...

DM: Every one of you complained how gold was useless, and insisted that your characters be allowed to purchase magic items in every town. That was a no-brainer, so I'm allowing that. I've also gone just one step further, and I'm going to let you guys stock the dungeons with whatever stuff you want for your characters. You will tell me what you find when you go adventuring, and what rewards you earn when you complete quests for NPCs. That way, you'll only find gold if you want to find gold!

PLAYERS: Now just a minute. I know I asked for wish lists, but this...

DM: And lastly, when you go adventuring, you also get to tell me which monsters you encountered, and how many. I didn't want you guys to feel like you were trapped behind your character options, by choosing the wrong weapons or languages or the wrong Favored Enemies. So you guys get to decide what you encounter, and when, and how often.

PLAYERS: . . .

DM: And we won't roll dice, either. Anytime you roll for anything, you have a choice: you can keep the roll, or just pick a number that best suits your...

PLAYERS: So we're supposed to tell you where our characters go, what they do when they get there, what they find, and how the whole adventure turns out?!

DM: Well...yeah. That's what you wanted, based on the feedback you guys gave me.

PLAYERS: That's called "writing a book," Kevin!

DM: And I look forward to reading what you come up with.

 

[payn]

I solicited some feedback from my players about the last campaign we ran, and...hoo boy, they really let me have it.

You've heard about the DM who secretly wants to write a novel? Well, this is what that shoe looks like on the other foot.

Spoiler

DM: So before we roll up characters for the next campaign, I wanted to go over some house rules. Now I collected your feedback from the last campaign, and I've made some changes.

PLAYERS: It's about time.

DM: First thing on the list, instead of restricting your character choices to the options in the books, you'll be allowed to choose any character race or class you want.

PLAYERS: Even untested stuff that we find on the internet?

DM: Yep, anything goes. The biggest piece of feedback I got from you guys was how the DM needs to stay out of your way and let you play whatever character you want to play, the way you want to play it, so I fixed that.

PLAYERS: Sweet Pelor, you actually listened to us! Tell us more!

DM: I'm also opening up the game to all of the optional rules in the DMG. Feats and Multiclassing are obviously going to be allowed, but also the rules for firearms, potion miscibility, one-hour long rests, flanking, and everything else. You can use whichever option you want, no restrictions.

PLAYERS: How will that work, though? I want the shorter rests, but Bob wants the original 8-hour long rest and--

DM: I'm sure you guys will figure it out. Remember, my goal is to stay out of your way.

PLAYERS: Um...

DM: Anyway, encumbrance! We're no longer tracking the weight of anything. A lot of you felt it was too punishing for those who tanked their Strength stat, or that it was just an unnecessary amount of detail. So your characters can carry as much stuff as you decide, without any penalty. You want to carry around six barrels of mead in your pocket, go for it, I'm sure you have your reasons.

PLAYERS: Okay, that's cool. I little unrealistic, but...

DM: The same goes for ammunition. Your character will always have all the arrows, crossbow bolts, spell components, and darts that they need. Per your request, we won't be keeping track of those annoying little resources.

PLAYERS: Nice! This is going to be...wait, did you say 'spell components'? Even diamonds?

DM: Moving on to experience points. We are getting rid of them altogether, because everyone felt they were needlessly complicated. Also, a lot of you felt like the pace was too slow, and the rest of you felt it was too quick, so I came up with a novel solution. We are shifting to Milestone leveling, except--and this is important--you set those milestones. You decide when your character levels up.

PLAYERS: We can just decide when we level-up?

DM: Yep. I don't want to restrict your creativity. This is a story about your characters, after all, and the DM should step back and let them shine!

PLAYERS: I think you're taking this a little too far...

DM: Every one of you complained how gold was useless, and insisted that your characters be allowed to purchase magic items in every town. That was a no-brainer, so I'm allowing that. I've also gone just one step further, and I'm going to let you guys stock the dungeons with whatever stuff you want for your characters. You will tell me what you find when you go adventuring, and what rewards you earn when you complete quests for NPCs. That way, you'll only find gold if you want to find gold!

PLAYERS: Now just a minute. I know I asked for wish lists, but this...

DM: And lastly, when you go adventuring, you also get to tell me which monsters you encountered, and how many. I didn't want you guys to feel like you were trapped behind your character options, by choosing the wrong weapons or languages or the wrong Favored Enemies. So you guys get to decide what you encounter, and when, and how often.

PLAYERS: . . .

DM: And we won't roll dice, either. Anytime you roll for anything, you have a choice: you can keep the roll, or just pick a number that best suits your...

PLAYERS: So we're supposed to tell you where our characters go, what they do when they get there, what they find, and how the whole adventure turns out?!

DM: Well...yeah. That's what you wanted, based on the feedback you guys gave me.

PLAYERS: That's called "writing a book," Kevin!

DM: And I look forward to reading what you come up with.

Tongue and cheek perhaps, but a lot of folks around here seem to want exactly this.

 

[CleverNickName]

Tongue and cheek perhaps, but a lot of folks around here seem to want exactly this.

I know right? Same shoe, different foot.