This is a good post and I support it's intent.
Primarily, I'm hoping that the removal of IGP from the picture and PGI taking responsibility for all facets of the game, will result in better everything.
That being said, I will still feel free to critique PGIs decisions when I feel they have erred. As far as holding my tongue and not making 'spurious" comments, I think that you will find that when those issues escalate it's when the Relentlessly Positive Cheerleaders and the Black Knights get together.
Both sides are entrenched in their opinions (I'm partially "trenched") and it turns into a circle jerk of arguments. So, it's hard to blame one side without pointing a finger at the other, if you get my point.
While some detractors continue to "reside in the past" and complain about things that will not ever change at this point, it does no good for a Cheerleader comes in and "rah rahs" their differing opinion. I don't see how you can muzzle one without muzzling the other.
As I was told earlier, these forums aren't about free speech, but when it begins to appear that one side (naturally) has the support of the system, it's not good either.
Being a gamer who wants to know more about the game, I naturally gravitate towards the forums to get more information. I can see that currently as a new player coming to these forums I would be, at the least, concerned with the attitude demonstrated.
As someone else pointed out, forums take on their own personality and are an outgrowth of the game. The forums as they currently sit reflect the contentious nature of the game right now.
With, hopefully, the improvement in the control of the game now being in one set of hands, maybe they will start a CONSISTENT and STEADY series of improvements in the game and interaction with the Devs that will lead to a better forum environment.
That isn't going to happen overnight, and I can be disciplined for this, but unless BOTH sides work on it, and the Moderators show patience rather than carrying a big stick all the time, it won't happen. In other words, the fault lays as much with the Cheerleaders as the Black Knights.
I just don't want to see legitimate criticism of issues get buried/removed.
For the TL:DR group, something like this;
Edited by TLBFestus, 08 September 2014 - 07:51 PM.