Why do we put each other in boxes?

[Mercurius]

Tribalism is definitely key, what Umbran describes as "Us vs. Them," which is exacerbated by the nature of the internet and how easy it is to de-humanize people in their "text incarnation."

One problem that arises is, as the OP said, people end up not actually hearing what is being said. As I've said before, this is often (even usually) how edition wars get started: not with actual dissing of a specific edition (although that does happen), but accusations of dissing, or over-exaggeration of that dissing and an escalation that far out-weighs the original event. It is the same impulse as the witch hunt with elements of mob mentality and strawman argumentation, albeit usually much less extreme - "That person exhibits a different opinion than mine which I can only relegate to a view that I already know and disagree with; let's get 'em! Who's with me?"

Its important to remember that while we can and do categorize people in our minds, that's all it is: in our minds. Any persona that we interact with, whether in cyber or meat-space, is just the tip of the iceberg of the total being - this is especially true on the internet where we generally only interact with text.

 

[SkidAce]

Pretty much. Humans are strongly wired to divide the world into Them and Us. And if you don't agree on a given point, you are one of Them, obviously!

From there, it is again cognitively easier to deal with Them when we attribute all kinds of things wrong with Them. We are invested in our own points, and we are gratified when it looks like disagreement is due to a fundamental flaw in Them, rather than in our point not being nearly so universally true as we'd like to believe.

I despair somewhat at the idea of how many bans we'll probably have to hand out when 5e finally gets published, and the edition warring runs up again...

I certainly hope we can (as a race) eventually rise above such. Wiring isn't everything. (but it is significant).

 

[SkidAce]

Tribalism is definitely key, what Umbran describes as "Us vs. Them," which is exacerbated by the nature of the internet and how easy it is to de-humanize people in their "text incarnation."

One problem that arises is, as the OP said, people end up not actually hearing what is being said. As I've said before, this is often (even usually) how edition wars get started: not with actual dissing of a specific edition (although that does happen), but accusations of dissing, or over-exaggeration of that dissing and an escalation that far out-weighs the original event. It is the same impulse as the witch hunt with elements of mob mentality and strawman argumentation, albeit usually much less extreme - "That person exhibits a different opinion than mine which I can only relegate to a view that I already know and disagree with; let's get 'em! Who's with me?"

Its important to remember that while we can and do categorize people in our minds, that's all it is: in our minds. Any persona that we interact with, whether in cyber or meat-space, is just the tip of the iceberg of the total being - this is especially true on the internet where we generally only interact with text.

Well put, especially the last paragraph.

 

[Morrus]

I see it like this. Assuming an audience pool of reasonable size:

Posting enthusiastically on the internet how much you love something rarely turns into a fight.

Posting enthusiastically on the internet how much you hate something almost always turns into a fight.

It doesn't matter if it's an RPG, or a car model, or a smartphone, if you post about how crap something is, somebody who likes that thing will feel defensive. It's basic human nature; we can't help it.

The way to avoid it is to stay in small places where the volume doesn't create such a wide range of opinions. The downside, of course, is that the volume doesn't create such a wide range of opinions.

 

[Jester David]

While "tribalism" is a big factor I think it's more than that. We're geeks, and have trained ourselves to distance ourselves from the populace. Our interests are often different from the mainstream. This is a large part of our identity. We are outsiders.
It's a bit like the hipster mindset in that regard.

In likeminded groups, we can't be the outsider which are self-image depends on. So we divide, pull ourselves away from others creating subcultures.

 

[Remathilis]

While "tribalism" is a big factor I think it's more than that. We're geeks, and have trained ourselves to distance ourselves from the populace. Our interests are often different from the mainstream. This is a large part of our identity. We are outsiders.
It's a bit like the hipster mindset in that regard.

In likeminded groups, we can't be the outsider which are self-image depends on. So we divide, pull ourselves away from others creating subcultures.

I think this might be a big element of it as well.

There is also an odd element of "original" vs. "modern". This is nearly true of any fandom that has been around a while; you will always find those who claim the old stuff was better, while others will see the new stuff as an improvement over the outdated original.

You see it in New Trek vs. Original, Prequel SW vs. OT SW, Classic Who vs. NuWho, and OSR vs. d20.

 

[was]

Why do we put each other in boxes?

Cuz there aren't enuf barrel makers anymore

 

[Morrus]

While "tribalism" is a big factor I think it's more than that. We're geeks, and have trained ourselves to distance ourselves from the populace. Our interests are often different from the mainstream. This is a large part of our identity. We are outsiders.

Tell that to football fans. Or music fans.

We're not special. Everybody does it.

 

[Jester David]

Tell that to football fans. Or music fans.

We're not special. Everybody does it.

But football fans tend to reach a finite point of division. Once you get down to team things get solid. Arsenal fans don't tend to fight Arsenal fans.

But 4th Edition fans with divide themselves into pre and post Essentials. Gamers, and geeks in general, like to segregate those extra few steps.

 

[Morrus]

But football fans tend to reach a finite point of division. Once you get down to team things get solid. Arsenal fans don't tend to fight Arsenal fans.

But 4th Edition fans with divide themselves into pre and post Essentials. Gamers, and geeks in general, like to segregate those extra few steps.

Football fans stab each other. They make us look placid.