Be Excellent To Each Other

Way back in 2008 this place was founded, after a schism at World of Stuart.

I've read it most days and contributed if the game in question or topic in question was of interest to me.

I lost interest in PC games around 2005, playing mostly MMORPG like Eve, Anarchy Online and Entropia Universe, and so didn't keep up with single player games and as a direct result wasn't buying new consoles and the like.

In the past few years I've noticed less and less posting in general and those I used to agree with like Maroney's much less frequent.

I'm very rugged to robust debate, but I wonder if this place has served its purpose and is no longer worth visiting?

In every forum I've ever visited in the past 18 years, opposing viewpoints are expected and welcomed & those that break the rules, have their posts moderated.

I dont mind debating with Cavey, he's ok he just doesnt like me when I refute his arguments, he is welcome to do the same to me. Guess what, some of the people I've debated with the most have become good pals of mine.

Is this place now an unmoderated forum, in which Comical Games can just run riot being insulting and abusive and all the 'nice' posters have left?

If so, this place is on the way out. Viewpoints welcome.

On 27 August 2015, I received my answer. It's not Excellent any more.

God, all opinions are welcomed. If someone disagrees with your opinion, even vociferously, even offensively, do you care? Goodness grief I can't think of anything more dull than a group of people that didn't ever disagree. Okay, some folks are more salty than others in their opinions, but still - there's rarely anything on here that the average person would find offensive.

Disclaimer: I am so fucking drunk right now. Still, find one single typo, bitches. I'm good at this shit.

Is it introspection time again already?

These sort of posts seem to have been cropping up since this forum started. I have noticed no significant changes in the nature of postings since the start.

I blame Nintendo.

If you expect a text based political debate with strangers to stay civil, you haven't done enough Internet, yet.

At a push I'd say you could have added a comma after Goodness grief. But equally I suspect it's fine without.
Drunk Craster: absolutely flawless.

I don't think I've ever found anyone's opinion offensive, or at least I don't recall if I ever have. A lot of the time I can't imagine ever feeling the some or having that same opinion. I do think people enjoy the role of being overtly sweary, nasty in their words and sometimes personal to others, even though I think a good number of people didn't like that same attitude from people on past forums.

And all forums have trolls. I think we have a few travelling trolls, and a few people who can go through periods of trolling for their own amusement, but that's the same as everywhere, right? I guess you can either ignore it, hide it or engage, or let it drive you away or bother you. Hopefully neither of the last two.

Overall though, no. people have been asking similar for years on this forum, and though people drift away I think that those that remain grow together and occasionally introduce others.

And Craster, you type better when drunk than I do when sober.

Loath to join this thread, let alone participate so here's a hit-and-run.

Come to the Cottage and the BBQ. We are real people. We love each other. We want to love you too. Also, Kovacs sometimes wears a dress.

I'm relatively new around here compared to you guys, but:

I imagine that all the shouty types would be super timid if you met them in person.

I agree though, this place doesn't seem to have changed much over the years.

Some of us aged.

I've been called many things, but super timid ain't one of them.

I don't know really. My take on this is like I said the other day in a rare philosophical moment; I wish people could see past someone's views (which are invariably not nasty or offensive, just mainstream stuff that millions of others also feel, right or wrong, left or right), and just see the person. In my own case I have multiple people ignoring me, which makes me sad, but it's my fault for not going to any meets.

I'm confident that when people actually see I'm a jolly, increasingly rotund buffoon with drink in hand, biggest softarse in the world, they might cut me more slack.

We might, IF YOU CAME TO THE BBQ OR COTTAGE!

Indeed.

I'm really going to have to show up to one. It's been too long.

Yep, that's the best thing. Everyone's totally welcome.

I'd fish a beer from the paddling pool for you.

I saw this post last night and assumed Cobracure was tilting because I called him a childish idiot in the politics thread after which he continued to grandstand for my attention with increasingly shrill accusations. Considering I post in precisely two threads, that one and one about a card game, I think it's unlikely I'm going to destroy the forum by occasionally saying the word 'fucking' or by calling someone a nitwit. If anyone thinks I have that kind of power I really should be off using it for dastardly money-making schemes.

I'm a delight in person, obviously, or maybe I'm completely insufferable. I've met people from the internet before and they didn't immediately stab me in the eye.

Me too...

We need to go tot he zoo again

If they want him, they can come and collect him!

Shucks man, awesome.

I'd be more than happy with such an arrangement, as I'm a simple soul. You have a cold beer in hand, so what could possibly go wrong?

It could be one I made.

I quite like the place, if I didn't I wouldn't come here.

Man, I love you guys.

Members day! We can get you in half price! Cavey lives close!

My worry is, if I visited the zoo, I might be interned

They stamp your hand with "HUMAN" as you go in

As somone who has known Elephant Banjo Gnome in real life for around 13 years I can assure you, he isnt one of them.

I think that's a compliment. You never really know

That is true. I will take requests this year.

Nothing wrong with this place, good mix of topics and good mix of views and opinions, but it never gets out of hand.

MORE PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO THE COTTAGE THIS YEAR!

We're really all absolute fucking delights in person.

If a weekend away with internet geeks is perhaps too much, then come to London and Me, Cras, Grim and others will take you out and buy you drinks.

When's the BBQ? I may be able to come to that this year... I'll have to see.

Boom. Excellent.

Also: barbecued pies.

We also camp in the Northern Wastes.

DON'T WEAR A FUCKING DRESS

Fuck you. And all the other cunts.

If I can make it (unlikely) I will wear my leather kilt.

..........................................

You might be busy.

Ah, that'll be why you started this thread demanding evidence that this place was still worth visiting.

Calling you childish couldn't have been more bang on. This whole thread is basically 'Mommy! Daddy! EBG was meeeean to me, tell him off!'.

If you have such thin skin that you can't cope with being called a 'nitwit' (which I believe is what prompted this little tantrum) on a thread of political debate then really you'd best avoid it. It wouldn't be so bad if this forum wasn't utterly tame when it comes to vitriol in discussing contentious topics. Have you visited the rest of the internet? Even a drunken Craster, who I've argued with on more than one occasion, knows how this works.

I think I was trying to post something here. Goodness knows what happened... It was early in the morning and maybe my brain was not yet at the requisite warmth... Anyway, you should definitely come to the... something: cottage, barbecue, whatsever else. It's really lovely, and promise there is nobody offensive (if you discount the sight of kovacs in a mini skirt).

I'm not childish at all. I find calling people names childish.

I've already said I'm not thin skinned, you obviously dont read my posts, go back and do so.

Please carry on calling me names if you think it impresses your fellow forum users. It doesn't impress me at all. Doesn't win any argument either. Anyone can call people names. 9 year olds do it in the playground. Adults find out what happens if they do it outside of the playground.

Already challenged you to a politcal debate. Which you declined. You any relation to the Cameron's?

So do you want to keep on with this? I'm happy to take you on however you want it. Please, continue.

(Glad to increasingly see there is someone that is a troll, a coward and a bully rolled into one - and everyone knows how to deal with a bully but he is the exception, not the rule here )

On reflection, it's so important this point is made, I decided to make a separate post.

Comical Games seems to think I have a "shrill" voice. (Good luck with that one) asking for mummy and daddy (no longer around) and unbelievably calling me yet more names - pass shovel.jpg. [Troll behaviour trying to provoke a response]. Anyway. I digress.

I've been on this forum 7 years, a light poster, my main activities elsewhere admittedly.

I was around to see him banned on his previous one, now I understand completely why it was done. If that was the first forum he was banned from then my name is Rumplestiltskin. If you cant debate without calling people names, most places give you 1 week, 1 month, 1 year bans. I dont need to tell you this, you've certainly had your share.

I'm not new to the internet, even rudimentary research would give you that. PacDude was 10x better than you, and I ripped him to shreds 10 years ago.

But of course, you are more intelligent than him. Right?

Nobody, other than you two, cares.

You are quite right, and if i was setting fire to your front lawn, only you and I would care. It's only personal, until its right in your face and you have to deal with it. Well I have moderator experience and he'd be given extended holidays for multiple reasons that most forums abide by.

It's not personal until someone really wants to go for you. Dont make it you. He wants to make it him and me, and I'm fine with that. He wont win, no one else ever has. Name calling is to provoke an emotional response.

Yes I'm good with Psychology as well as Economics and Politcs. It's all fun now. Well, it soon will be.

I didn't start this, but I will finish it.

I can't believe you started the annual "Beex is rubbish" thread while I was away.