Opinions of other QT3'ers -- persistent or no?

[BaconTastesGood]

We all have our snitty little flame fests here, but I for one have such shitty memory that it's hard for me to remember who someone is or whether I like/respect/etc. them unless they're very singularly unique here.

[BaconTastesGood]

Just to be clear, obviously some posters will stick in our minds, I'm talking mostly about all the other people on here that post a lot, don't manage to stick in our brains for whatever reason, and which we don't form an opinion of IRL.

Or, put another way -- do you let someone's posts in P&R affect your attitude towards them when talking about games or movies?

[dannimal]

I just avoid P&R entirely.

[RepoMan]

Ditto, mostly.

[RightWrong]

I kill the people who disagree with me and take their identity online, thus resolving any conflict.

[olaf]

I just avoid P&R entirely.
Yeah that works best for me. Is there a way to exclude P&R topics (or any forum) from appearing when you click the New Posts link along the top?

[shift6]

I generally remember what people post, but I try very hard not to bring it up in future threads ilke some kind of personal grudge. I may bring up general things (like the occasional jab at those who believe Bill Clinton did no wrong) but I don't say names or call out certain people.

We had kind of an informal, unspoken rule at the San Diego QT3Con that no one brought up P&R stuff. We talked about Vampire threads and gaming and music and fire's ass, but very very little P&R. I think it worked out well and the one person with whom I had some tension, it is now all gone.

[Squirrel Killer]

Or, put another way -- do you let someone's posts in P&R affect your attitude towards them when talking about games or movies?
For the most part, I try to let posters' comments stand on their own, but there are a few posters that have earned an automatic +1 in my mind and, thankfully, fewer that have earned an automatic -1. You need to have a large body of consistently insightful/funny posts for my +1, but while you have to be a pretty big asshole to get it, you can get my -1 in one thread.

[Robert Sharp]

Interesting topic. I rarely let anyone in the forums bother me long term. They might anger me in a specific thread, but I don't carry that into other threads in most cases. In fact, I usually regret the anger later and try to make the situation better, if possible. There are, however, a few posters that can consistently get on my nerves to the point where I try not to even respond to them.

I don't have a +/- 1 system like SK though...at least not a conscious one.

Edit: On further reflection, there are certain posters who opinions weigh more with me on certain topics. For example, Brian's love of space sims means I'll listen to his views on that topic. Kitsune knows about Japanese RPGs. BTG has similar taste in music to my own (though we differ on things too) so I tend to respect his musical opinions. Etc. If I didn't mention someone that doesn't mean they don't have a similar role.

[Unicorn McGriddle]

P&R stays in P&R, although I do sometimes form an opinion of someone in P&R that subtly carries over to how I see them on the other forums, especially if that opinion is "you are dumb." There are a few people I wouldn't have been able to resist making fun of if they'd been there. As it was, I made fun of some people, but not for P&R stuff. And some people made fun of me, but you learn to expect that when you're named after an imaginary gay animal.

Also, some posters post almost exclusively in P&R, and in those cases, from what exactly are you divorcing their participation in P&R? No capsule bio of Jason McCullough scrolling briefly from top to bottom on my Terminator-style eyeball HUD to the accompaniment of some goofy electronic noise that sounded really high-tech in the eighties would be complete without some reference to his presence on that subsection of the forums.

[Raife]

There are other Q23'ers?

[Steve Canyon]

I was serious when I suggested they offer a shit list instead of a buddy list. I can't keep track of everyone. As a general rule, I try to behave like I would if I were speaking to people in person.

[RSofaer]

I could never remember someone's opinions and attach them to an abstract handle. It is too impersonal for me. Also, I don't think I could venture into the hellish cave of P&R without mostly being joking, the thread in there that actually has a chance of changing an opinion is rare indeed. Because of that, I think it would be unfair to read someone else's posts and assume they were serious, in most of the threads in there.

[Squirrel Killer]

I don't have a +/- 1 system like SK though...at least not a conscious one.
To be fair, my +/- 1 system isn't conscious either, I just carried the terminology over from Slashdot (not that I use their system). It's more of a "did you make a big impression on me" thing, "Yeah, I usually like to read his stuff, even if I don't always agree..." or "That's the fucker that always mis-quotes everyone..."

[Jakub]

Honestly, I don't think I hold anything against anyone for too long. Partlett and McCullough I figure I'm going to butt heads with in P&R, along with the other hippies. But it's not like I take it personally. Half the time I know I'm full of shit there and I figure they are too.

[AndrewM]

As a general rule, I try to behave like I would if I were speaking to people in person.

I read that as "if I were speaking to people in prison", and I was like, damn, that's harsh.

[Raife]

I read that as "if I were speaking to people in prison", and I was like, damn, that's harsh.

Bust a deal, face the wheel.

[DennyA]

Having been around since white-text-on-blue days, I've seen plenty of flame wars, and had little incidents. They've all been water under the bridge... One guy stepped over the line, but offered a sincere apology, and we put it in the past.

Really, it turns out that to get on my permanent shit list, you have to react to a running joke by sending a juvenile, disgusting PM and never realize what an assholish thing it was to do and apologize.

[quatoria]

I was serious when I suggested they offer a shit list instead of a buddy list. I can't keep track of everyone. As a general rule, I try to behave like I would if I were speaking to people in person.

You introduce yourself as a series of pseudonyms in person?

[Tyjenks]

My rules have been refined to:

1. Avoid P&R as if it was going to give me Herpes.

2. Listen to the people I have seen put forth reasoned, informed posts in the past, whether I agree or not.

3. Give less creedence to posts until a #2-like pattern has emerged.

4. Avoid P&R.

5. McCullough is a loon.

[Nick Walter]

Hmm, I seem to be more judgemental than the general consensus. I tend to remember people who stand out as amazingly uncivil or loony and discount their opinion in pretty much all topics. Heck, a few people are on my block list as I decided QT3 was a better place (for me) without them.

[LesJarvis]

Not counting people who only make content-free posts, I don't really dislike anyone on this board, even people I've argued with or who make posts I think are silly or stupid, because they were arguing with me too and sometimes I make silly or stupid posts. It's an internet message board, so I try not to be too judgemental or take anythign too seriously. There's a certain amount that gets lost in the translation, especially on emotionally charged topics.

There are definitely a few people that I'm sure I wouldn't get along with IRL, though.

[RickH]

My rules have been refined to:

1. Avoid P&R as if it was going to give me Herpes.

2. Listen to the people I have seen put forth reasoned, informed posts in the past, whether I agree or not.

3. Give less creedence to posts until a #2-like pattern has emerged.

4. Avoid P&R.

5. McCullough is a loon.

1-4 are solid. I might agree on #5, too, if I wasn't so busy following #1 & #4.

[Jason McMaster]

Man, I wonder if I'm on some ignore lists. Here's hoping!

[BaconTastesGood]

I'm generally thread specific. A small minority of posters are funny or insightful enough that I look forward to anything they say, but by and large I go thread by thread. A guy that was a complete fucking asshole in one thread about something I'll be perfectly civil to in another thread on an unrelated topic.

If they have consistent asshole tendencies I'll eventually spot the pattern, and even then I won't hold it against them until they, say, continue with the pattern.

A few posters are infamous for a specific thing so they'll stick in my head, but by and large all you faceless posters are basically faceless and nameless. I just don't have the brain capacity to index hundreds of posters.

I don't read P&R, but I've stuck my head underwater there and looked around enough to know that I don't want to stay for any duration.

[Ephraim]

This topic touches on something I've oftened wondered about.

How do you make a noticeable (and dare I suggest it, positive?) impact on a forum with as much history and as colourful a cast of characters as this one?

I mean, you can try to be noticed for outrageous statements, or get a rep (deserved or not) for rampant fanboyism. That'll get your name out there (e.g. K0NY, Dave Long). Or you can be an asshole, diving right into P&R with neo-Nazi and/or Communist opinions. Or you can spoil a popular sci-fi movie without warning in the Movie forums. All kinds of things will get your name immediately on the radar. But is that a good thing?

The vast majority of people just plug away, building their post counts, starting their topics and posting replies as they see fit. And if their signal to noise ratio is good, I like to think that they eventually stand out and people remember them well, and look for their posts. That's the approach I've been following. Almost every time I press "Submit" here, I stop beforehand and think, "Does this post actually advance the discussion or provide information? Or is it a post for the sake of posting?". Sometimes I hit submit even if it's a "post for the sake of posting" because I am part of the community, but most of the time I try to contribute something, whether it's some key information or a well-considered opinion, every time I post.

And that's why my post count has grown slowly, but I hold out hope that it makes my posts worth reading instead of skimming or skipping. And I posit that the vast majority of people here follow a similar posting pattern, which is why I visit here regularly. The level of discussion is just so much better than anything I've found elsewhere.

[Hanzii]

This thread is useless without names (and namecalling).

[metta]

Almost every time I press "Submit" here, I stop beforehand and think, "Does this post actually advance the discussion or provide information? Or is it a post for the sake of posting?".

I do exactly the same thing, and to extend that habit, if someone makes a post that I think leaves no room for divergent opinions, I don't even bother replying. There was an example of this in the 'Sexual Politics' thread recently, someone came in with a very ugly rant, "cunt this, and cunt that", and, in my opinion, there's nothing to be gained from replying to that kind of bile. He's clearly not looking for a dialogue, but only to expell his own anger and frustrations (perhaps not even on a conscious level) and trying to engage reasonably with him would have been pointless.

I refuse to be a sponge for that kind of aggression, or to be drawn into a shouting match.

[Tyjenks]

This thread is useless without names (and namecalling).

6. Hanzii is a bastard.

[Nick Walter]

How do you make a noticeable (and dare I suggest it, positive?) impact on a forum with as much history and as colourful a cast of characters as this one?

I used to worry about that sort of thing in relation to message boards, but then I stopped. Do your own thing, be polite to people unless given reason otherwise, don't take anything too seriously, and talk about topics you have a passion for. The rest will take care of itself.

[K0NY]

That fuckin K0NY guy! Ever since someone called him a VM, I pretty much ignore everything he has to say because I'm better than him and know exactly what he's like IRL and can't stand those kind of people.

[balut]

KONY, the problem with your posts is that you typically come off as very shrill. It almost seems too easy to push your buttons, or you let every post get to you, and it becomes distracting. Which is why I figured it would work in The Thing game to distract players from getting close to the real Things.

[SlyFrog]

I used to worry about that sort of thing in relation to message boards, but then I stopped. Do your own thing, be polite to people unless given reason otherwise, don't take anything too seriously, and talk about topics you have a passion for. The rest will take care of itself.

Agreed 100%. You shouldn't worry about building a rep. Don't try to be the next guy to make a "splash" through overly witty banter, race baiting, etc. I prefer that these things be communities, where you never know who is going to provide that useful bit of insight, as opposed to some clique of 10 egos each trying to be the most clever poster of all time.

[Hawkeye Fierce]

For me, basically what happens in P&R, stays in P&R.

[Kyle Wilson]

I remember Bill D. because he's a force of nature and fire because she's a cute girl. But I have to admit that all the Andrews and Sofaers kind of run together, just as I'm sure they have trouble telling me from Kyle and Kyle Ackerman and KyleOrl. (Have any of those guys ever posted? They're registered users, anyway.)

If you don't know people in real life, it's hard to build strong relationships with them through a couple of visits a day to an on-line forum frequented by a couple hundred regular posters.

[K0NY]

KONY, the problem with your posts is that you typically come off as very shrill. It almost seems too easy to push your buttons, or you let every post get to you, and it becomes distracting. Which is why I figured it would work in The Thing game to distract players from getting close to the real Things.

It's an interesting commentary, and frankly something I can do nothing about. Being in my mid-thirties, I doubt I can change my writing style now.

IRL, I'm told my voice is very deep and soothing. I'm exceptionally laid back and generally a fun guy. The problem as I see it, is that preconceived notions in people's minds of who I must be, are difficult to compete with in text form. When someone said I must be a Sony shill, I pointed to my MySpace page because it has information about who I am. Instead of using this information to dispel inaccurate assumptions, people seem to have jumped to other assumptions as a result.

More on-topic, yes the impressions people make with what they write stay with me. I try not to jump to conclusions about what that person must be like, but it's hard. Getting to know whether I should take a post as sincerity or Internet goofiness is tough without some sort of cue. Most times, the people who know each other are in on the joke and those who don't have the same frame of reference are left out. I don't think there's really a good way around stuff like that though.

[SpoofyChop]

I have a crappy memory too although there are two people that I have on ignore because I just never ever want to hear what they have to say.

There's about three more people that I can't stand mostly because of P&R asshatery but everybody else is fine by me. I'm pretty sure the feeling is not generally mutual but whatever. As long as we can all talk about WoW in peace it's all good.

[balut]

Well, the thing with the KONY - Sony thing is that, for good or ill (mostly ill), it gives the average reader a frame of reference for your handle. Not really fair, for sure, but it really takes quite a volume of posts, IMO, before you can really get a feel for a poster's personality on the boards.

[Ephraim]

I used to worry about that sort of thing in relation to message boards, but then I stopped. Do your own thing, be polite to people unless given reason otherwise, don't take anything too seriously, and talk about topics you have a passion for. The rest will take care of itself.

I certainly don't worry about it at this point, either.

But I keep a close on on new posters and I tend to see this trend of wanting to stand out. That's not how I arrived, I pretty much followed the advice you gave above.

Time and quality content, those are the two not-secret ingredients to building a positive reputation here. If you try to short-circuit that process, you can succeed, but you're just as likely to fail, and alienate plenty of people in the process.

[Tyjenks]

7. balut sucks

8. Spoofy has head lice

[balut]

7. balut sucks

8. Spoofy has head lice

:_(




Insert extra necessary post characters here.

[Tyjenks]

:_(




Insert extra necessary post characters here.

I keed! I keed! Just trying to give this post the required drama all such threads need.

I love you all. If anyone sucks, it's me. :P

[balut]

I keed! I keed! Just trying to give this post the required drama all such threads need.

I love you all. If anyone sucks, it's me. :P

Aw, you big goof. C'mere, hug it out.

[Matthew Gallant]

IRL, I'm told my voice is very deep and soothing. I'm exceptionally laid back and generally a fun guy.
If that's the best you can talk yourself up, then I doubt it. You pitch the PS3 better than yourself.

[Matt Perkins]

If that's the best you can talk yourself up, then I doubt it. You pitch the PS3 better than yourself.
That's plain mean. And a little bit funny.

[Raife]

I have little plastic army men with nametags on them that I move around on one of those underlit war threatre maps to reflect posting activities here.

[Nellie]

I just have a blow up doll with Bill's face on the front of it that I can cuddle up to every night. I can't stand the rest of you, well Nutsak's ok now and again.

[stusser]

None of you exist except as shadows of My self. My only purpose in creating you is to reflect Me, in all of My many facets, subliminal desires, hidden identities, and wastral dreams. There is no consciousness but Mine, the universe does not exist without My eyes to observe it, and when My eyes finally grow dim you will disappear, like ghosts in fogged mirrors.

[Charlatan]

I have little plastic army men with nametags on them that I move around on one of those underlit war threatre maps to reflect posting activities here.

Is it all freeform, or do you have props like little toy monitors with holes drilled in them or podiums?

[Nellie]

Seer or Vamp? I think we should stake him just to be on the safe side.

[Glenn]

I think it worked out well and the one person with whom I had some tension, it is now all gone.
Gone? You fucking keyed my car.

[Equis]

QT3'ers are like the revolving cast of a long, overunning bad sitcom.

[MikeSofaer]

I have to admit that all the Andrews and Sofaers kind of run together.We what? Aaron joined this month and has 18 posts. Raphael just starting really posting a month or so before that.

I think you're just mad because I ate you first!

[Patrick]

None of you exist except as shadows of My self. My only purpose in creating you is to reflect Me, in all of My many facets, subliminal desires, hidden identities, and wastral dreams. There is no consciousness but Mine, the universe does not exist without My eyes to observe it, and when My eyes finally grow dim you will disappear, like ghosts in fogged mirrors.


Ok. Then this is yourself telling you to stop Sexually Molesting the Neighbors Dog.

[stusser]

This shadow of I thinks that the he/I is/am funny, but the core I (ake Me, Myself, and I, the incoroporated amalmagated noncorporalized essence of My identity) knows that he/I is/am really not so funny at all.

Nutter.

[Patrick]

This shadow of I thinks that the he/I is/am funny, but the core I (ake Me, Myself, and I, the incoroporated amalmagated noncorporalized essence of My identity) knows that he/I is/am really not so funny at all.

Nutter.


And who's fault is that? Because if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at?

[BaconTastesGood]

And who's fault is that? Because if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at?

People on #jennicam?

[Squirrel Killer]

QT3'ers are like the revolving cast of a long, overunning bad sitcom.
So when did we jump the shark?

[XPav]

When I was posting on P&R, I'd remember names, but that was mainly in the context of P&R. Most everyone else has a bit of a vague feeling in my head, save for the few that stand out, mainly for being ridiculed.

Except for SpoofyChop, of course. I hate that guy.

[Jason McMaster]

me too

[K0NY]

If that's the best you can talk yourself up, then I doubt it. You pitch the PS3 better than yourself.
There's the catch 22, Matthew. It's impossible to live up to your incredibly high expectations of me, without become the thing you hate most.

[Kyle Wilson]

I think you're just mad because I ate you first!

Well, it's good to be remembered for something. :)

[Shadarr]

I pretty much only remember people I've seen elsewhere on the internet. Like chet, MattG, Tom, Lum, Charles, MattP, and that guy who who was ripped on Something Awful for writing one of the most pretentious game reviews of the year, but whose name escapes me at the moment. Keiron?

I also keep a mental list of trolls so I know who not to respond to.

[SpoofyChop]

Except for SpoofyChop, of course. I hate that guy.

<gaffigan>Yeah, that guy's a jerk!</gaffigan>

[jeffd]

I think I do form an opinion of people here (and against my better judgement I participate in P&R sometimes). That being said, I've met a fair number of folks in person and gamed with a bunch of others over XBL so my opinions are usually moderated by that more direct contact.

[balut]

me too

Of course, you'd say that, McMaster. Jerkface.

[Jason McCullough]

My rules have been refined to:
5. McCullough is a loon.

You're just jealous about losing your number one spot, SIR!

This is a funny topic, and ironically pretty close to the project I'm working on at work now - how do you seperate out topical reputation from general "community standing?"

I don't treat it particularly different than real life, myself - someone can be a total loon about the games they prefer/opinions they have and it doesn't matter if they're entertaining to talk to or hang out with.

[Tyjenks]

You're just jealous about losing your number one spot, SIR!

OK, that enters into it, I will admit. I still say you are a loon. :P

[Steve Canyon]

Does anyone else confuse Tyjenks and SpoofyChop? I can't keep those two seperate for some reason.

[DeepT]

I form opinions of people over a long period of time. I think the opinions tend to be global opposed to a single subject, but since they take so long to form, I think that is ok.

I also periodically give people I have written off "another chance" although I generally ignore or at best skim their posts which makes it likely for me to ignore a good post by someone I have written off. However, if they are consistently someone I should be paying attention to, Ill eventually read something good they wrote and being to re-evaluate my thoughts on them.

I try and avoid personal attacks on people and I think I am much better at that now then I used to be since no actual good ever comes from that kind of behavior.

When I choose to reply to a post, it is generally only if I think I have something to further the discussion. I sometimes slip up and post a reply that has no value, but I think this is pretty rare. Occasionally I do type a reply and pause before I hit the submit button and then just cancel the whole reply altogether.

[Robert Sharp]

I try and avoid personal attacks on people and I think I am much better at that now then I used to be since no actual good ever comes from that kind of behavior.


Actually, I noticed that in your animals and souls topic. Some of the things said to you in that thread would have inspired you to flame someone a couple of years ago. So I agree that you have mellowed...in a good way.

[Steve Canyon]

1) I form opinions of people over a long period of time.

2) I also periodically give people I have written off "another chance" although I generally ignore or at best skim their posts which makes it likely for me to ignore a good post by someone I have written off.

3) I try and avoid personal attacks on people ... since no actual good ever comes from that kind of behavior.

I agree with all of this and try to do the same.

However, I disagree with this part:

When I choose to reply to a post, it is generally only if I think I have something to further the discussion. I sometimes slip up and post a reply that has no value, but I think this is pretty rare. Occasionally I do type a reply and pause before I hit the submit button and then just cancel the whole reply altogether.

I love to goof around, tell personal anecdotes (penis thread), or take an unpopular stand in an idiotic discussion, just to see how people act (overdue porn tapes). Some of the most enjoyable threads I've participated in here fall into one of the above catagories. It beats gnashing your teeth over in P&R which I rarely do anymore, because it makes me feel lousy.

[Gordon Cameron]

I can carry grudges for years even over message board arguments. I'm an astoundingly petty individual, to be honest.

[Old Man Gravy]

I like madkevin cause he gets smoked up and makes me laugh

edit: I guess it's really stonedkevin that I like. madkevin's pretty boring.

[Tyjenks]

Does anyone else confuse Tyjenks and SpoofyChop? I can't keep those two seperate for some reason.

I do when Spoofy says something clever. The other times, not so much.

[shift6]

Gone? You fucking keyed my car.
That's why the tension is now all gone. ;)

[Sean Hargraves]

I miss Koontz. :(

[madkevin]

I like madkevin cause he gets smoked up and makes me laugh

edit: I guess it's really stonedkevin that I like. madkevin's pretty boring.

God, that's so much truer than you know.

[quatoria]

I do when Spoofy says something clever. The other times, not so much.

You're saying you permenantly dislike Spoofy, then?