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Message: <blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 5811394" data-attributes="member: 3400">Fans of all sorts of things are freely critical of the products they buy. The vast majority of producers don't join them in doing so. Why? Not because they're afraid of validating their customers' complaints, but because they run the risk of alienating customers who actually like what they've been selling. Did Ford say the Tempo wasn't fun to drive when it was time to replace the model? No. Why piss off the people who liked to drive their Ford Tempo? Instead they hawk the advantages and improvements of the new model line. That may imply it's better than the Tempo, but not that the Tempo was somehow deficient.When you say that some gaming event or style of play is unfun, you're  telling the players who find it fun that they are either wrong or you don't believe them. Either way, it tells them you are not serving them any more because it's no longer within your definition of fun. Why on earth would they buy your follow-up product?As far as belittling goes, how about those of us who were very critical of 4e? A lot of 4e fans got very defensive (still do) when we say, honestly, that 4e feels like a video game. Or it doesn't feel like D&D. Some say they feel like they, and their tastes, are being belittled. If WotC saying something was unfun wasn't belittling of those of who do find it fun, then us saying 4e isn't D&D isn't belittling of 4e fans. Let's see how that flies around here.But even if it isn't belittling, there are two standards at work here. One applies the fan who isn't involved in marketing the game and one applies to the company making the game. The fan has a lot more effective freedom to say what he wants because he's not alienating his own customers - he has none in this context. WotC wasn't (and isn't) in the position of the fan. Foolish talk loses customers.</blockquote>

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