Why the need for confession?

[Rechan]

Really?

Yes. He wanted input. He wanted alternate suggestions to something he was confused aout, because he wasn't sure.

The person announcing their opinion isn't asking for any input.

I personally feel that it's not good for several reasons, thus I do not like the behavior. Thus I'm not going to give the 'benefit of the doubt' on bad behavior I see as, at best, something that belongs on someone's blog rather than a forum. Giving the benefit of the doubt = excusing it, thus accepting it.

 

[Starfox]

Venting and confessions are an age-proven way to unburden and lighten your soul. And you want to do it to people who understand your issues - for a gamer, that is EN World and the like.

It does work and does promote harmony - just look at religion.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Yes. He wanted input. He wanted alternate suggestions to something he was confused aout, because he wasn't sure.

The person announcing their opinion isn't asking for any input.

You seem awfully sure about those statements for someone with no direct access to the thought processes of those individuals.

Especially with a triggering poster who said (explicitly) that he is "not sure" he still likes the game:

But I am wondering if anyone's experience resonates with my own? I've heard a lot of folks not like 4ed from the start, but not many that started liking it but gradually "fell off the bandwagon." Did you start out liking 4th edition and gradually become disenchanted? Or what about the converse--did you start out not liking it and then enjoyed it?​

RC

 

[Bullgrit]

Bad Gods™ | Forumville: On Riddance

Bullgrit

 

[Oni]

What is it gamers who've left a system hope to gain as they post about how X, Y, and Z no longer meet their needs if it ever did?

Looking for sympathy?

Putting on the public face of "I tried it." for future conversations?

Adding another tally to the internet edition non-flame wars?

Mind you I've got nothing against them, it just seems... odd. It's rare that I see a post talking about how a person is now playing Mutants and Masterminds after a long time away (and not bashing the old system/game/genre) or how they just remembered how great d20 Modern is (once again, without the tale of sorrow and wasted time). Usually it's a post about how game A doesn't do it for them and they're going back to a tried and true game.

Is it just easier to put down the notations of negative emotion?

I think there are two things at work here.

IMHO the reason for such posts, these notifications to the community, is an attempt at seeking validation. That's human nature, nothing wrong with that.

As for the negativity, consider that most people don't change things if they're happy with what they have. If there is no change, there is no need for validation.

 

[talien]

The opposite of love isn't hatred or anger, it's apathy.

People often rant about how they are leaving games because they are jilted lovers.

Agreed!

In any forum, there is status. People feel ownership here. They feel like they have a presence, a reputation to uphold, a virtual form of currency that they need to maintain.

Switching a game that they heavily identify with (and being hardcore gamers who post about gaming in their free time, that's us) is a significant switch. So it's only natural that people post about it.

What's different from this hobby than so many others is that the rules you choose to play can actually alienate you from other players. This isn't fair, and it shouldn't be this way, but it can certainly happen. The problem is that often, choosing to not play a particular rules system means losing social status by voluntarily withdrawing from a group.

This pushes people. If you're out of a game, that player is out -- seriously, both feet, out of a game. They may be leaving a peer group as a result. Some players might feel passionate enough to share their rants about exiting systems with their peer group, but it's likely they don't get the chance. Forums give them that chance.

This is the price we pay for our hobby being almost entirely focused on the social nature of people getting together day after day, week after week, to play the same game. It takes commitment, and one does not walk away from that commitment lightly.

Incidentally, I really don't think it's as apocalyptic as all that, but for many gamers it SEEMS that way when they leave the peer group they know. There are always other groups out there and other games...

 

[Grimstaff]

Maybe I'm as cynical as Joe, but I always see "I'm quitting edition X" threads as thinly-veiled edition warring.

Maybe if it wasn't always about quitting either 4E or 3E I'd have a different opinion. I've not noticed a whole lot of "Fed Up with MERP", "Jumping off the Harnmaster Bandwagon", or "Sick to Death of Microlite20" threads, but perhaps I'm being unfair.

Come to think of it though, the use of terms such as "Bandwagon" or "Kool Aid" probably carries implications that would make fans of system X take offence.

Such threads (I quit/Edition War/Kool-Aid) don't necessarily bother me, though.

 

[pawsplay]

Maybe I'm as cynical as Joe, but I always see "I'm quitting edition X" threads as thinly-veiled edition warring.

That really doesn't make a lot of sense unless you classify the person leaving the game as an "edition traitor." Since the thread is essentially about one person's personal decision, unless you feel they are lying about playing the game and then leaving it, then no one else is really entitled to prejudge their decision. The edition warriors are those would give the topic some reach outside that person's decision and people who think similarly to that person. Those who see edition war may be seeing their own prejudices.

What is the alternative viewpoint? No one should talk about when they give up a game and why? Is that what is being advocated?

 

[Grimstaff]

That really doesn't make a lot of sense unless you classify the person leaving the game as an "edition traitor." Since the thread is essentially about one person's personal decision, unless you feel they are lying about playing the game and then leaving it, then no one else is really entitled to prejudge their decision. The edition warriors are those would give the topic some reach outside that person's decision and people who think similarly to that person. Those who see edition war may be seeing their own prejudices.

What is the alternative viewpoint? No one should talk about when they give up a game and why? Is that what is being advocated?

Again, edition war threads don't bother me.

How would you define edition warring if it is not giving a laundry list of why you dislike "edition x" and how you refuse to play it? Drawing a pleasant white line down the back of a cat doesn't make it a skunk.

 

[pawsplay]

Again, edition war threads don't bother me.

How would you define edition warring if it is not giving a laundry list of why you dislike "edition x" and how you refuse to play it? Drawing a pleasant white line down the back of a cat doesn't make it a skunk.

Attacking other people's choices.