I don't like what you are discussing and here are 100 reasons why...

[Mr Brown]

I don't think that this is anything new in all honesty. I seem to recall there being threads or groups of this sort for years, if not as long as the internet has existed to allow such a thing. Before then, grognardy types in club houses complaining over a shandy or lager tops...

Now there is a big difference between purposely trolling or throwing around comments which aren't constructive but to suggest that no one ever criticises an aspect of a game they don't like or point out errors or potential improvements seems counter productive. Many companies have been lambasted in the past for not listening to their customer base, whether in praise or more commonly in gripe. If people didn't provide their opinions on what they saw as incorrect or wrong, how could one ever hope to improve. Or are we to have every set of new clothes like that of the proverbial Emperor.

I take everything online with a hefty pinch of salt nowadays. Its a shame that there are some who see all criticism as an attack but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll comment where I think I can add to the discussion/conversation. To be honest, I probably prefer a good debate rather than endless comments of (+1).

In short, whilst I may not agree with Blood on everything, I agree that we should be fine to criticise where warranted but leave the personal jibes out of it. Lets not go the way of certain groups and round on all criticism as 'trolling'.

[Hammers]

I don't think that this is anything new in all honesty. I seem to recall there being threads or groups of this sort for years, if not as long as the internet has existed to allow such a thing. Before then, grognardy types in club houses complaining over a shandy or lager tops...

Now there is a big difference between purposely trolling or throwing around comments which aren't constructive but to suggest that no one ever criticises an aspect of a game they don't like or point out errors or potential improvements seems counter productive. Many companies have been lambasted in the past for not listening to their customer base, whether in praise or more commonly in gripe. If people didn't provide their opinions on what they saw as incorrect or wrong, how could one ever hope to improve. Or are we to have every set of new clothes like that of the proverbial Emperor.

I take everything online with a hefty pinch of salt nowadays. Its a shame that there are some who see all criticism as an attack but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll comment where I think I can add to the discussion/conversation. To be honest, I probably prefer a good debate rather than endless comments of (+1).

In short, whilst I may not agree with Blood on everything, I agree that we should be fine to criticise where warranted but leave the personal jibes out of it. Lets not go the way of certain groups and round on all criticism as 'trolling'.

Just *what* are you talking about?

[Mr Brown]

My first comment was in direct response to the question posed by LeadAsbestos regarding the sudden interest in joint discussions to be negative. I don't think it's anything new.

My second point was that being negative, or more relevant here - not positive, shouldn't be seen as a bad thing overall providing that it is constructive or within the parameters of the discussion at hand. There are numerous threads in here and elsewhere complaining that certain companies don't listen enough to their customers. Recent examples have highlighted that some people think we should only give praise when they do.

Connected to this, I tried to make a point that offering constructive criticism or making a point in exasperation is not necessarily intended to cause a fuss or provoke attack (ie intended to troll). I would rather read a balanced debate than lists of positive (+1) comments.

Not sure if this answers your question but hopefully this provides more context?

[robh]

I think the problem arises because of the existence of anonymous user ID social media platforms. These days people have the ability to pass comment on anything they see and for certain sad individuals that gives them some kind of thrill.

Regrettably whilst they have been provided with an ability to comment, nothing has been done to provide them with the intellect.

You just have to ignore it, or dump the platforms and don't put yourself in the position of seeing it in the first place because you are not going to stop it.
You can be sure that the more bitching and ill informed commentary that goes on, the better Facebook et al like it. Arguments and "opinions" that are borderline harassment and provocation, promote like for like responses that raise page hit numbers, increase advertising revenues and inflate the perceived importance of the platforms.

[Marine0846]

Some interesting posts here.
It has taken me decades to say, "I am only playing with toy soldiers."
Win, lose or draw, if I had fun then I had a good day.

[Elbows]

I'm often more critical than I should be on plenty o' forums, but it comes down to "if you ask for my opinion...I shall tell you".  I try to avoid just leaping into a thread to say "whoa, this sucks!" unless it's a genuine warning (Prodos Games, Palladium Books etc.) where a new or unaware person is involved.

Also, I know many companies follow forums etc., so polite criticism, i.e. "This mechanic doesn't work as it's intended, it results in..." is simple feedback that these companies may stumble onto - where possible I'll even go to the source to say so.

Trolling is an entirely different issue/method...and it is very rampant.  However, by contrast so are the hordes of people who take any valid criticism or opinion and simply call it "hating".  Probably one of the biggest banes to human communication to come along in decades.  I disagree with you...your argument is now classified as "hating".

[FramFramson]

IMO, it feels like nearly everyone is looking for a fight these days, including a "Bad guy" as opponent. I would have said that was just online as recently as in the last couple years, but it seems all that's spilling out IRL too more recently.

Too many people who should be friends, or at least capable of getting along, picking apart the smallest differences as if they were on opposite ends of some ideological spectrum.

LAF is just seeing a little spillover. We're just lucky it's not too much here.

I do agree that if you don't like a thread, best to stay clear of that thread, unless it's something that actually violates forum rules. And if you're not sure if it's a violation, or think it should be when it isn't, well, that's what PMs to mods are for.

[armchairgeneral]

Some interesting posts here.
It has taken me decades to say, "I am only playing with toy soldiers."
Win, lose or draw, if I had fun then I had a good day.

“I am only playing with toy soldiers” ought to appear as a pop up every time you press reply to a topic.

[Elbows]

Like one of those "Captcha" things, . 

[moiterei_1984]

Being a moderator in a mostly GW focused forum I can assure you the „discussions“ on LAF are pure heaven in terms of respect and civility.
I‘m actually no fan of the „if you can’t say anything nice better say nothing at all“ kind of thinking, but caught myself a few times not responding to a controversial topic or not giving constructive criticism on something because many people nowadays seem to see even well meant critique or advise as an attack on themselves as person instead as a food for thought.
Like others on here I prefer a good discussion, like most on here where seldom anybody actually trolls a topic just for the sake of telling other people how stupid their opinions are, over those rather dull +1 threads.

Just as an example:
On my blog I tend to never get any negative or even constructive feedback. That has led to me getting rather content with my painting. It was only recently when I got back to the forums more often that I actually got the incentive to „up my game“ so to speak. Not because I was getting loads of positive feedback but because people actually gave advice on how I could get better as a painter.
The same should be true for any modeler/ rules writer. As long as you never hear anything but praise (genuine or not) about the way you’re doing things, you‘ll probably never see a reason to change.

[Drachenklinge]

it is far more easy to know, what not to like. To realize what you do like - and actually stand up for it - is far more different if not more difficult. At least to some people.
Additionally there are usually more people who do not like this or that, than people who do. So while complaining, one is part of a larger group, than in praising.
And we all want to be part of the winners.

The trend is, that a different opinion is seen more and more as an attack to one's personal integrity, rather than an exchange of interests, especially in the net, when everything seems to be engraved in stone, sort of "What? No smiley? A-hole!"-mentality.

Last but not least ... discussions in here are not about the best way to the future, or freeedom for everyone, the best political system, etc. It is just about games. So actualy there is not really way of "argueing" why a game is good or not ... we just like it - or not. Like ice cream or golf.

No arguments, just liking. And simple aceptance has always been a tricky trait for humans. 

(one little smiley ... just to be save ^^)