54 replies to this topic

[Tsen Shang]

There will definitely be people who bumble around in threads insulting each other and vomiting completely incoherent jumbles of words. Here's how to not be one of those people:

Starting a new thread:

1) Make sure you search the forums to make sure another thread has not already been created on the same subject. I've been guilty of this too, we all make mistakes. For the sake of cleanliness and not covering the same territory twice, take a minute to search.

2) Think about what you're going to say before you say it. Make a draft. Look at it. Read it. Spell check it. Make sure you're saying what you're trying to say and that it makes sense to you.

3) Be polite and try to be civil. If you're mad when you're making a new thread, it's really not a good idea. Breathe a little bit and think it over first, and if you still want to post it and think it's a good idea, do it to it.

4) For the love of the English language, USE SPELL CHECK.

Responding in a thread:

1) Read the thread first. Maybe someone has already said what you're going to say. It may take a few minutes to read a thread but it's worth it not to embarrass yourself or re-post what someone else has already said.

2) Don't post just to post. Post if you actually have something to say. "I like peanuts!" is hardly relevant to "What's your favorite mech ai voice." Post counts are unimportant. What you say is.

3) Give other posters the benefit of the doubt; words on a printed page don't carry the inflection of the human voice. If you aren't sure if someone is being sarcastic or serious, ask! It's always better to be cautiously optimistic than assume everyone is maliciously assaulting your opinion.

a) We are also part of an international community (Think about how amazing it is that a game can bring countries together); some of our brothers and sisters may not have a perfect grasp on the English language. This means they might know more languages than you do! Be respectful and once again, give them the benefit of the doubt.

4) Be open to the ideas of others. The greatest advances of the human race have been achieved with collaboration. Take the time to understand what someone else is saying before you immediately dismiss their argument.

5) When you find a post that you don't agree with, don't attack its poster, attack the idea instead. In the same vein, don't take personal offense when someone respectfully disagrees with an opinion. Forums are staging grounds for the free exchange of ideas, and when it comes to opinions (and not facts), everyone should be entitled to their own. Don't get worked up, it's the internet. Stay calm and happy!

6) Construct a counter argument with facts, not feelings. Role play is fine, but lore has no place in logical arguments about real world things. Be a real person or no one will ever take what you say seriously.

7) Make sure you have real information to back up what you're saying. Look something up! If you think bananas are the most harmful fruit, you need evidence. You can't just mention that everyone in your family who ate a banana died. Everyone dies, it probably wasn't the banana.

8) Read your own post. Make sure you're saying what you mean. It's always a good idea to read your own posts. Always, no exceptions. READ YOUR OWN POST BEFORE YOU POST IT.

9) Never post in all caps, all italics, all underline, or all bold. It's unnecessary and looks like a little kid yelling for attention. If your thoughts are valid, you don't need any of these; These are for emphasis, not regular use. You don't eat salt with a fork, so don't post in all bold.

9) People will occasionally say things just to get you or other people mad. These are called trolls. Ignore them. Nothing good comes from responding to a troll.

Edit: Forgot to address post spamming.
Edit 2: Benefit of the doubt and open mindedness.
Edit 3: International Edition.

Edited by Tsen Shang, 07 November 2011 - 10:14 AM.

[Alistair Steiner]

Tsen Shang, on 06 November 2011 - 12:58 PM, said:

6) Never post in all caps, all italics, all underline, or all bold. It's unnecessary and looks like a little kid yelling for attention. If your thoughts are valid, you don't need any of these; These are for emphasis, not regular use. You don't eat salt with a fork, so don't post in all bold.

6) People will occasionally say things just to get you or other people mad. These are called trolls. Ignore them. Nothing good comes from responding to a troll.

I see what you did there. And quite honestly, everyone who goes on any forum anywhere (or anywhere that they can post publicly) should have to read this. Well done, and deserves a sticky.

[Rudolph]

Alistair Steiner, on 06 November 2011 - 01:05 PM, said:

I see what you did there. And quite honestly, everyone who goes on any forum anywhere (or anywhere that they can post publicly) should have to read this. Well done, and deserves a sticky.

I wholeheartedly agree and echo this man's words. This helpful thread deserves a sticky.

[WhiteRabbit]

Tsen Shang, on 06 November 2011 - 12:58 PM, said:

3) Be polite and try to be civil. If you're mad when you're making a new thread, it's really not a good idea. Breathe a little bit and think it over first, and if you still want to post it and think it's a good idea, do it to it.

Well said, though I think this should a general rule. Nothing says "I'm a little ****" like insulting someone on the internet just because you have another opinion

[Alizabeth Aijou]

But you're not real humans, just figments of my imagination.

[Astaroth]

Internet = proper noun. Spell checkers don't usually catch that one.

[Stormwolf]

Tsen Shang, on 06 November 2011 - 12:58 PM, said:

7) Never post in all caps, all italics, all underline, or all bold. It's unnecessary and looks like a little kid yelling for attention. If your thoughts are valid, you don't need any of these; These are for emphasis, not regular use. You don't eat salt with a fork, so don't post in all bold.

7) People will occasionally say things just to get you or other people mad. These are called trolls. Ignore them. Nothing good comes from responding to a troll.

Edit: Forgot to address post spamming. Corrected.

You got 7 twice

[Hardcover]

*sigh* If only it was really feasible to enforce this. Sadly, this is the internet, where the men are men, the women are men, the children are FBI agents, and John Gabriel's Greater Internet [REDACTED]-wad Theory is in full force.

[Jaroth Corbett]

Hardcover, on 06 November 2011 - 02:03 PM, said:

*sigh* If only it was really feasible to enforce this. Sadly, this is the internet, where the men are men, the women are men, the children are FBI agents, and John Gabriel's Greater Internet [REDACTED]-wad Theory is in full force.

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! There are some people that say, do or post things that make you laugh like you are going insane. I tip my hat to you sir! So true, so true.

[Draconis March]

When arguing, always use ad hominem attacks, because they are obviously the most intelligent, and always win an argument.

[empath]

...and always use grand, sweeping generalizations - they're always true.




Great OP that deserves a sticky, and reminds me of that ol' Steam forums "Posting and You"

Oh, and Hardcover? I'd Like that, but I'd already used up my daily quota - gotta remember to come back for that tomorrow.

[Samson]

Heartily agree with this. Honestly thought, for the most part, these forums have done well in respect to a minimal amount of trolling and flaming. It's probably one of the most civil game forums I've taken part on. Unless people are being deliberately snarky (and c'mon, it's the Internet) there even using proper sentence structure, sometimes even proper paragraphs.

[Tsen Shang]

Aegis Kleais™, on 06 November 2011 - 03:29 PM, said:

How about an addendum.

"Allow for your post to be MISINTERPRETED. Humans are used to hearing inflection in audible voice and not printed text, so the chance for miscommunication always exists. Attempt to ask for clarification before you assume something."

and

"Do NOT take personal offense when someone respectfully disagrees with an opinion. Forums are staging grounds for the free exchange of ideas, and when it comes to opinions (and not facts), everyone should be entitled to their own."

Added in one form or another, inspired open mindedness.

[theginganinja]

I was in debate for a while, and the training has stuck with me... If I pull ad hominem or any other **** like that, I guarantee it's purely on accident. Heck, I pretty much enjoy when someone disagrees with me, as long as they're not just a troll or something - it's always nice to get into an intelligent, coherent debate with someone.

[DFDelta]

Very nice post, but unfortunally 95% of the people that should read it simply won't.

Because that are the same people that do not care for something as stickies and and the search function.

[Tsen Shang]

DFDelta, on 06 November 2011 - 05:24 PM, said:

Very nice post, but unfortunally 95% of the people that should read it simply won't.

Because that are the same people that do not care for something as stickies and and the search function.

All too true. Maybe we'll experience a Christmas miracle.

[Kyll Long]

Couple of other points for this.
If you have to call someone an fool or or other name you've already lost the argument. Most people stop reading your point after that. They'll keep reading but generally just to find instances they can use to call you a fool. The person that disagrees with you probably isn't an fool. No matter how stupid the idea they present seems to you. Call the idea stupid and then point out why. Not the person.

General rule of thumb :You ain't 10 ft tall, don't act it. If you wouldn't say it in the tone you're using to a person on the street or a friends face, don't say it that way on the boards. You might regret it if ya ever go to a Con and see someone in person.


I know this is a stupid post

Edited by Kyll Long, 07 November 2011 - 03:33 AM.

[Dozer]

The more likely version of this tutorial:

Starting a new thread:

1) Search functions take too much time. You have forum access. Just post what you want and ignore the haters.

2) Making drafts, re-reading and spell checking isn't necessary. It's not like your at school or doing an exam now is it? Say what you want and hit post.

3) There's enough political correctness in the world, why add to it? Say what you feel and be damned those who disagree. You'll feel better for not being censored by the etiquette police.

4) Why use spell check? You know what you mean, if others don't thats their problem!

Responding in a thread:

1) If it's too long just TL; DR. Some people just like to be wordy and use long paragraphs to reinforce their self-perceived brilliance. Keep it short, sharp and pointed. As for others saying what you already said; pff. You're just saying it again to make sure everyone gets the point.

2) You can post just to post. Sometimes you get a change in title that's really cute. You always have something to say when you post... even if other's don' think you do. They just don't have the brains to understand it. Pity them.

3) Lots of people on the net are out to maliciously assualt others to fuel their own needs. Do it to them before they get a chance to do it to you. Serves them right! As for inflection, pah, that's just the squids getting all high and mighty and telling you how you should do things again. Ignore them.

4) Be open to others criticising your ideas because they're insecure in their own position and are deflecting attention by tearing you down. The greatest advances of the human races have come from those who ignore the naysayers, listened only to themselves and shout the loudest. Might is right, even on forums! And remember, it's not your job to understand others, it's to make others understand that your opinion is the only one that counts

5) If you find a post you don't agree with you have a green light to attack with prejudice. Feel free to attack the content and/or the poster. Either way, if done with force, they will know next time not to waste your time. Forums are battlegrounds where the weak have no place. Constantly remind them of that fact. It's for their own good.

6) Construct an argument in any fashion you wish, as long as it makes sure that the other person knows they have picked the wrong person to criticise. Use logic if you can; if not use abuse. Hell, use both if you can manage it. Makes it more entertaining, even if it's just to you and your close friends.

7) Anything you say is verifiable simply because you said so. Who needs to provide tertiary level empirical evidence on a game forum? Good lord; some people take things way too seriously.

8) No need to read your own post, you just wrote it. Others just need to read it because they're the ignorant ones.

9) ALWAYS POST IN CAPS! IT ALWAYS GETS PEOPLES ATTENTION AND THATS THE WHOLE POINT! AND USE BOLD IF YOU HAVE TO... THE LOUDER THE POST THE MORE LIKELY A REACTION!

9) If someone says something to get you mad tell them so. YELL AT THEM. CURSE THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. Then see how they respond. Could be good for a laugh.

Edited by Dozer, 07 November 2011 - 04:12 AM.

[Mchawkeye]

Astaroth, on 06 November 2011 - 01:40 PM, said:

Internet = proper noun. Spell checkers don't usually catch that one.

Hmmm...Not really, not any more. Well depending on what you read. Some do, some don't...But since Wired stopped capitalising it (and lets face it, they are all Nerds over there) it signified to me the death of the internet as a proper noun....

Edited by Mchawkeye, 07 November 2011 - 04:53 AM.

[Astaroth]

Wired magazine is hardly an adjudicator of what is and isn't proper grammar. There is only one Internet, which is why it's a proper noun.