Why are new people put off by the board?

[Quirkafleeg]

>quite possibly become a very infrequent poster again

Good, go away you troll... clear enough?

[auxlen]

In reply to the original post:

I found this forum baffling when I first discovered it. It took me a while to learn to navigate it, and I consider my self interweb savvy. That said the very nature of the forum coding/setup could be why I can see it in work so I?m in no rush to cry for a change.

I find the topics here wide ranging and interesting and that is why I stay here as they always offer something to read.

As for participating, I have tried but my input is largely ignored (not a gripe) either as I have offered little of interest, posted too late (this post being a prime example), or have joined one of those 'heated' posts where 3 or 4 posters slag off a writer or themselves or something and its just best not to get too involved.

Generally though I think this is an open minded board and can be quite fun but recently I have noticed a lot of writer vs. poster arguments which is a bit off-putting.

I do shudder to think what a new reader who had just bought his/her first prog at say 15 (like I did) and thought ...hey I wonder what the forum?s like?

[House of Usher]

I wasn't remotely au fait with the Interweb, but I never found this message board a struggle to use. In fact, it took me a while to get used to the 2000adreview style of message board; I found this one easier to manage.

I've read everything you've posted on the threads I read, auxlen. For my own part, I respond when I've got something to add, but not when I haven't.

As for writer vs. poster arguments, I can understand the reasons why some of the writers can get pissed off:

1. The reader pronounces incorrectly on what the writers intentions were behind a particular act of writing, when a more likely interpretation of the story is staring them in the face, the writer has previously stated something to the contrary, or the writer is actually on hand to be asked what something in the story meant, if only the reader had taken the trouble to ask.
2. The reader impugns the writer's ability as a writer. Criticism is one thing; but to state or imply that a successful writer is crap is not only rude, it flies in the face of the evidence.
3. The reader draws incorrect inferences about the writer from his writing alone.

I'm not suggesting for a minute that comic book writers are god-like beings in whose presence we mere mortals are not fit to be; but it's good of them to humour our minute examination of their work and be willing to discuss it.

[Buttonman]

I think the answer to the post question can easily be found by simply reading the thread. And I don't mean by digesting the wisdom of the posts. It's the borad in microcosim!

[Leigh S]

Aieeee! Not.... The BORAD!!??!http://www.shillpages.com/dw/story/d6/st--6y14.jpg">

[Buttonman]

See! Exactly! fell into my trap of jumping on the illiterate!

It's Borad & Janet all over again!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/timewarp003.jpg">

[IndigoPrime]

:: As for writer vs. poster arguments, I can understand the
:: reasons why some of the writers can get pissed off:

I would imagine the fact that "feedback" arrives on this board about three seconds after the mag's plopped through someone's letterbox is part of the problem. So many of the opinions are entirely knee-jerk, rather than considered.

[WoD]

I've been posting here a long time, and we often have silly seasons where people go for the throats of others.  Usually it wears off and it's an even keel (is that spelt right?) for a while.  

Also seen a few people chased off the boards (unfairly at times maybe).  It usually goes along the lines of someone comes, posts a bit, all is OK, new person upsets someone who's been here a while by making a stupid comment, it turns personal, lots of long winded posts later one of them leaves...usually the new person as by then they are often being attacked by more than one person...

It usually pisses me off...and it's hot too, so that doesn't help!!!

Was going to make a point, but now can't be arsed.  Just try and be nice to new posters...this place needs new blood every now and then.

[scutfink]

posted by Ush:

Criticism is one thing; but to state or imply that a successful writer is crap is not only rude, it flies in the face of the evidence.

Aaaaaah, but...

It's all a matter of opinion isn't it?

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that this was a kind of public forum in which case there is a lesson that (IIRC) a Drug Addict, a Porn Star and a Mall Security Guard with Anger Management issues once taught me:

 now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some.

Contradictory opinions are what makes a place like this thrive...

If you feel a particular writer, regardless of their level of sucess, is crap then, you should feel free to express that opinion. Preferably with examples taken from their work of how and where you think this crapness manifests itself...

If said writer takes umbrage at your claims, they should feel free to refute them...

So long as both parties are prepared to take a step back,and consider their opinions before posting, perhaps running them through a spell checker, then things should stay above the level of a tedious 'I know you are, but what am I?' flamewar...

Otherwise this place runs the risk of turning into the kind of Cliquey circle-jerk that puts people off posting here...


Or something...
 

[Buttonman]

"now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some"

Whatcha talkin' about scutfink?http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/Coleman.jpg">

[Rob Spalding]

1. The reader pronounces incorrectly on what the writers intentions were behind a particular act of writing, when a more likely interpretation of the story is staring them in the face, the writer has previously stated something to the contrary, or the writer is actually on hand to be asked what something in the story meant, if only the reader had taken the trouble to ask.

I believe the last occurrance of this produced the response of
PAAAAAAAAAATSY!

[scutfink]

...At the end of the day, any opinion posted by any individual, on this or any other Internet message board, is just that, an individual opinion...

And as such it doesn't ammount to a hill of beans in this big crazy world of ours...

Or something....

[Cordite]

Quirkaflea -
You've been justifiably criticised, given a chance to respond and -- heh! -- *that's* the best you can come up with?  You've been found wanting, but I suspect that's the verdict on you in most walks of life.
I'm sure you'll carry on being an occasional petty bully -- makes up for all your other inadequacies, right?  Right?

Killfile.


Logan, I read your reply.  You misunderstood at least a couple of things I wrote, but at least you tried.  Anyway, as promised: killfile.

That's it for me as far as this matter is concerned.  I apologise to the rest of the board for the unpleasantness.

[Art]

Fuck off Cordite, you're a twat.

[Buttonman]

"Fuck off Cordite, you're a twat."

'Why are new people put off' to 'fuck off' in 30 moves! We should really petition the United Nations to sort out the World's problems!

Today I shall mostly be saying 'Killfile'.