I've... hit the post reply button, stared at the blank screen, and backed out from posting in this thread several times. What to say? How to say it? Is it something that I feel needs to be said?
Ultimately, though, I guess I can only say this: I am certainly getting tired of seeing a possibly interesting thread bogged down by sniping and personal agendas. I used to go through lots of threads in my downtime at work, click on them and read through. If they caught my interest, I might say something, otherwise it was just an interesting read.
These days, I find myself making heavy use of the "Mark All as Read" button. Threads that I would've followed before, I get about a page in before someone says something passive aggressive or takes an offended stance and it all descends into squabbling. A couple times I've fallen victim to it myself, hence why I've pulled back - I can't find myself being able to add anything that wouldn't be possibly just adding to the flame-pile.
I was actually really worried this thread would (ironically?) fall into the same pile. A couple posts threatened to do so. But this is honestly an issue that resonates with me, so I settled down and read through it.
And, really, there's not much more I can add that hasn't already been said. Just emphasize that I would really enjoy it if people had personal issues with another poster, to take them to PMs. And cut down on the personal lament posts that interrupt or even derail discussion into said personal agendas. I don't mind the occasional derail (especially if it's for comedic value or to just to help lighten the mood), but a lot of said derails seem to involve turning immediately onto Sensitive Topic Boulevard or "this topic doesn't matter because of my personal problem."
How much is honest anger at another person? How much is honest frustration at RP/the RP community as a whole? How much of it is just trolling? I don't know. But, if there are grievances - can't they either be aired privately or, if it's a widespread matter, try to solve it civilly in its own thread instead of being injected wherever it can gain a foothold?
A good example is in this very thread - the "I can't find RP/Popular Cliques" sub-argument that has no place here. I'm not saying it's not an important topic that shouldn't be discussed or addressed - but it shouldn't be in here. I get that people are trying in the Making Connection threads and whatnot to try to get into RP and having difficulty - but that is not the point of this thread. Can't such things be brought up and discussed (again, civilly) in its own thread instead of tacked onto a completely different discussion?
... Still, I'm rambling, so I'll just stop here before I lose any more track of where I was going with this.
Ultimately, though, I guess I can only say this: I am certainly getting tired of seeing a possibly interesting thread bogged down by sniping and personal agendas. I used to go through lots of threads in my downtime at work, click on them and read through. If they caught my interest, I might say something, otherwise it was just an interesting read.
These days, I find myself making heavy use of the "Mark All as Read" button. Threads that I would've followed before, I get about a page in before someone says something passive aggressive or takes an offended stance and it all descends into squabbling. A couple times I've fallen victim to it myself, hence why I've pulled back - I can't find myself being able to add anything that wouldn't be possibly just adding to the flame-pile.
I was actually really worried this thread would (ironically?) fall into the same pile. A couple posts threatened to do so. But this is honestly an issue that resonates with me, so I settled down and read through it.
And, really, there's not much more I can add that hasn't already been said. Just emphasize that I would really enjoy it if people had personal issues with another poster, to take them to PMs. And cut down on the personal lament posts that interrupt or even derail discussion into said personal agendas. I don't mind the occasional derail (especially if it's for comedic value or to just to help lighten the mood), but a lot of said derails seem to involve turning immediately onto Sensitive Topic Boulevard or "this topic doesn't matter because of my personal problem."
How much is honest anger at another person? How much is honest frustration at RP/the RP community as a whole? How much of it is just trolling? I don't know. But, if there are grievances - can't they either be aired privately or, if it's a widespread matter, try to solve it civilly in its own thread instead of being injected wherever it can gain a foothold?
A good example is in this very thread - the "I can't find RP/Popular Cliques" sub-argument that has no place here. I'm not saying it's not an important topic that shouldn't be discussed or addressed - but it shouldn't be in here. I get that people are trying in the Making Connection threads and whatnot to try to get into RP and having difficulty - but that is not the point of this thread. Can't such things be brought up and discussed (again, civilly) in its own thread instead of tacked onto a completely different discussion?
... Still, I'm rambling, so I'll just stop here before I lose any more track of where I was going with this.
~