A generic response to ALL flaming.

[Revanael]

The next time, for example, that anyone feels like criticising the staff for any change that is made... Read this first.

http://slashdot.org/features/99/03/31/0137221.shtml

Don't think I've found it put any better as yet.

[mortaine]

Okay, but:

Criticizing changes is not equal to:

a) Criticizing staff (when I criticize volunteer staff anywhere, it is always because they've expressed some attitude that deserves criticism)

b) Flaming.

I wish people would stop equating criticism with flamewars. Criticism is a natural effect of critical thinking. If you do not question your surroundings, then you do not come up with new ways of doing things, new ideas, and new information. Criticism is often a pathway to new ideas-- if everyone said "yay, great, wonderful!" to every change and the people who wanted to say "I don't like it" were told they were flaming every time they spoke up, then nothing would go in new directions, just further along the same direction.

[kinvoya]

Well said, Mortiane.

I think players start complaining about the staff when we receive little to no response after days or weeks or months of pointing out problems which seriously affect our chars or when the response is rude and does not address the issue(s) but in effect says, "Too bad. If you don't like it then quit" without even explaining why some aspect of game mechanics is the way it is.

I can't think of any forum flamers, although I can think of a few who vent their frustration pretty frequently...and I think the forums are an excellent place to do that.

In a way programmers are like artists and artists have to learn to deal with the critical perspective.

[Gyrus]

Hello people,

It is a nice article, one of the best about the topic, that i read i may say. But it has some weak points also, anyway we can all discuss on it. Pros and cons but we should not miss thw whole concept.

It is important to be respectfull to each other,

Do not give so much offence to a message (from both sides, programmers and participitants),

Be respectfull again if the other side starts to show offence,

Never forget that this is a voluntary community and nobody has the full time to work on the projects,

Think for a seocnd before criticising something,

If the other side behaves rude or selfish or childish or quick tempered (this can be both sides) again be respectfull,

And please take nick names not as a virtual thing, there are people back of them, so they can be hurt or broken be polite and respectull,

And please put yourself others place and take a minute or so, and than say a word (empathy),

As a resut be respectfull.


(Do not post every word you have without thinking just to increase your post number, if you want so go to word ping-pong)(I did it also )

[formerly known as hf]

I like the post


But am with mortaine - criticism does not = flaming

Although, maybe we should have a [spleen venting] tag?