As a result of comments I've seen recently in articles, I am appalled at the general behavior of members, what with the constant arguments and name calling and etc. I've already made my sweep through this article, and as I've stated here, I will be combing through other recent articles for comments that detract from the social community aspect we strive for on GameGrep.

Now, we've been relatively hands-off as the moderation staff here at GameGrep, only stepping in on the extreme cases. I'm only speaking for myself right now, but I currently do not like how the community is handling itself as of late.

Trashing on people's preferences and opinions? Baiting people to respond to something? A total disrespect for each other?

Are you guys *bleep*ing serious? You guys consider yourself "hardcore" gamers?

Give me a *bleep*ing break.

I've been labeled as a Nintendo fanboy, and I won't hide the fact that I prefer Wii/DS to the other systems because these have the games that I prefer, and contrary to popular belief, there are a large amount of quality games for those systems. However, I'm not just a Nintendo fan: I'm a gaming fan.

Which, I'm assuming, we all are.

As such, have a little respect for other members. Don't be calling someone's favorite game or a game that they really liked a piece of trash just because you don't like it. Quit with the ad hominem attacks and the insults. Tone down or get rid of all of the rage and hate.

The 360, PS3, Wii, DS, and PSP have games anybody can enjoy, and there is no lack of them.
No one console is lesser than the other. The quality games everyone is looking for exist on those consoles. Locking yourself into a single mindset or idealogy doesn't make you any better: it only makes you worse.

Gaming is not about graphics, power, complex gameplay, controls, failure rates, achievements, or trophies.

Gaming is about having everybody having fun, from the new players to the experienced veterans, from those who like motion controls to those who like using a gamepad.

If you don't like a certain console, it is not the worst thing in the world. It is not inferior. It is not a piece of trash. One is not more of a gaming console than the other. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses that balance each other out. You do not have gaming as it is today without all of these consoles.

Just because you like or can do certain things with video games does not make you any more of a gamer. "Casual" gamers are not on a lower tier than "Hardcore" gamers. Your grandparents, parents, and other children are not on a lower tier than yourself when it comes to games.

Remember, we are all gamers. Whether you go PS3, 360, Wii, PSWii, Wii60, or PSWii60, play a whole lot, or play a little from time to time, don't lose sight of the fact that you all have something in common: you play games.

Now, I will admit, myself and the other members of the moderation staff and the Neostaff are as guilty as the rest of you. However, as the ones up top, we will be the role models. Again, I'm only speaking for myself here, but I hope the others will agree with the sentiment.

So, put down your console warrior armor and attitude. That shit isn't appreciated here.

Gaming right now is so diverse that there is place for everything. Let's try to be one of the more progressive communities out there and actually promote unity amongst everyone, and not divide people up based on the preferences.

Have some respect.

Hear, hear.

I said a similar thing almost a year ago and it seems the site's general attitude has remained more or less the same...

quote Miss Razz

Lately I've noticed that alot of commentors are, to put it blunty, being assholes. I don't know if it has anything to do with the removal of the thumbs-down feature, or if some members have always been like this, but sometimes I get a very unfriendly vibe when reading the comments section certain articles. In particular, articles that are writen by owners of other sites. (It's enough to put me off wanting to comment on certain articles!)

For example, RKRigney's articles often recieve an absolute backlashing from commentors, whether it's because people don't find them funny or don't like the idea that he is promoting his site via Gamegrep, and it often seems to be the same people "attacking" hi articles over and over and over. Even if he was just contributing articles for points (which it's pretty clear he's not) it's very unfair that a group of members band together to bash everything about his article right down to his reasons for posting it.

It certainly doesn't leave a good impression for any new members who join the site the site. Heck, I myself have been wanting to post up some original articles I wrote myself, but am left wondering if I'll recieve a nice bunch of comments or some downright bitchy ones depending on who reads it that day.
Some articles I don't even bother commenting in because of the general negative atmosphere that some of them have in the comments section.
And surely if I'm geting this feeling, then there'd be other people who feel the same way (people who aren't posting up their articles or comments, or who may even leave the site alltogether).

Gamegrep's community is a strange one. Some days the comment sections will be filled with friendly and interesting posts, while other days it's like walking straight into hell. Name calling, fanboyism, arguments (that sometimes span over multiple articles), people ganging up on one another, etc. They're all very common things to see on GG, and it honestly doesn't surprise me that many people get an unfriendly vibe when visiting the site.
The moderators are trying their best to make the site a friendly place to visit. We do deal with the comments/members who cross the line, but that doesn't seem to have prevented the general atmosphere of the site from being a negative one at times.

Anyway that's my rant out of the way.

Perhaps there should be some sort of announcements section somwehere on Gamegrep to post things like this? Only a handful of GG regulars even visit this forum, let alone know it exists.

I also think that expanding Gamegrep in future will help a little. More members = less "cliques" (in theory), though that's an entirely different matter alltogether. Here's hoping that, as Gamegrep becomes a larger site, we'll see less people banding together to attack certain members/sites.



This message was edited by Miss Razz on Aug 30 2009.

A few warnings have been sent out and a few bans have been issued as well.

Bump because this needs to get on GameGrep's front page again.

BTW, articles are only flamebait if you treat it as flamebait. Learn how to talk about topics with civility, people. Seriously, it's not hard as some of you think it is.