What the hell happened to the VG official forums?

[Slide]

I swear the retardeness of the wow forums has somehopw multiplied on the VG forums andspread.

Its just damn painful to even look at them now, imo the sooner they get deleted the better.

Just be careful tho, the early signs of WoW killed my cat, ruined my life and got me addicted to methadone are spreading here...

[Dillgaar]

Just be careful tho, the early signs of WoW killed my cat, ruined my life and got me addicted to methadone are spreading here...

So Brad and WoW do have some things in common...

[Fozzik]

Slide? Are you the Slide over at FoH who's breaking NDA?

I recognized your name...but wasn't sure if it was the same Slide.

[Skarlath]

Yes, it was our Slide. :(

[Slide]

Yes, it was our Slide. :(

yes it was me

[Ieranii]

The more the "good" posters abandon the OVF the more the fanatical posters will dominate the boards.

If the dominate voice on the OVF is the fanatical posters that leaves me with one big question.

What kind of first impression will that give to people investigating the game and the website for the first time?


...

[Rayne]

The more the "good" posters abandon the OVF the more the fanatical posters will dominate the boards.

If the dominate voice on the OVF is the fanatical posters that leaves me with one big question.

What kind of first impression will that give to people investigating the game and the website for the first time?


...

Thinking back to when I first joined, and comparing it to what I see these days, only one other forum comes to mind. I'll leave that to your imagination ;)

[Eye Gouge]

The more the "good" posters abandon the OVF the more the fanatical posters will dominate the boards.

If the dominate voice on the OVF is the fanatical posters that leaves me with one big question.

What kind of first impression will that give to people investigating the game and the website for the first time?


...


That is why anyone that I come in contact with whether its in RL or in another game, I tell them to come here. I don't even bother to tell them about the official website cause SV has more info here than the official site does.

Well played SV....well played

[rabb1t]

[Triumph] The OVF has become something for me to poop on.

Natural devolution of all forums though. As the product gets more hype, you get more 'temporary' visitors who know nothing, ask all the noob questions, and it becomes more and more just a spawn center for noobs and peeps who realize that they can hide in the anonymity of such a crowd.

[Skarlath]

That is why anyone that I come in contact with whether its in RL or in another game, I tell them to come here. I don't even bother to tell them about the official website cause SV has more info here than the official site does.

Well played SV....well played

Well that's more to do with us drugging you and implanting a microchip in your brain to control your thoughts... but that's a story for another time.

[Atoyota]

Well that's more to do with us drugging you and implanting a microchip in your brain to control your thoughts... but that's a story for another time.

Heh! Abigale is back now... Silky's just got PWND!

LOL

[Agonee]

Hey all, I have to agree with the sentiment on the OVF going to crap. I just registered here today for 2 reasons. 1 being that I really can't stand some of the attitudes on that forum (treating your own community like crap...) and 2 I was refered here by a post made about sites that have nearly full forums set up for VG.

I know some of you from the OVFs and to those that I don't know, it's nice to meet you.

*hopes to find this community more inclusive vs exclusive.*

[JAdams]

I find it is. I've been around for a few months; it's a very pleasant place to stay :D

Oh, and welcome!

[Gargen]

I swear the retardeness of the wow forums has somehopw multiplied on the VG forums andspread.

Its just damn painful to even look at them now, imo the sooner they get deleted the better.

Just be careful tho, the early signs of WoW killed my cat, ruined my life and got me addicted to methadone are spreading here...

It's a product of having more members. With more people posting, and more importantly more people reading posts, you have that many more chances for somebody to completely disagree, or take it the wrong way, or judt go completely off the deep end. Also, a couple years ago, just about all of the people on the OVF all had something significant in common... they had enough interest in Brad and/or The Vision to have found the forums themselves (ie a likeminded group). As VG hits the mainstream, all kinds of people are bound to be drawn in. There's probably some psychology term out there to describe this.

[rabb1t]

There's probably some psychology term out there to describe this.

Ya mean Sociology. Psychology is the individual, or reaction of the individual within/to society. Sociology is interaction with others. :rolleyes:

If I were to apply a term anywhere I'd say 'subculture'. But I'm fairly certain that just labeling something a subculture does not imply group cohesion.

Maybe you are looking for the social psychology phrase 'storming and norming' - that's when groups are arguing/deciding on what norms will exist. (Though I don't know if you can really say that norms exist in a place where peeps don't interact enough to determine what the norms are.) :p

... yeah. I think any terms you'd want to use for that would be from social psychology: small group interaction. I could bust out my old notes if you really want some terms. :p

[Gargen]

Ya mean Sociology. Psychology is the individual, or reaction of the individual within/to society. Sociology is interaction with others. :rolleyes:

If I were to apply a term anywhere I'd say 'subculture'. But I'm fairly certain that just labeling something a subculture does not imply group cohesion.

Maybe you are looking for the social psychology phrase 'storming and norming' - that's when groups are arguing/deciding on what norms will exist. (Though I don't know if you can really say that norms exist in a place where peeps don't interact enough to determine what the norms are.) :p

... yeah. I think any terms you'd want to use for that would be from social psychology: small group interaction. I could bust out my old notes if you really want some terms. :p

As I think about it, maybe there isn't a term for it. Before the existance of the internet, I don't think there has ever been a means for 50,000+ people to communicate so directly with all of the other 50,000+ people all at the same time, especially under such anonymous conditions, so it's a relatively new thing. That's really what the core of the issue is. With so many people reading everything you type, somebody is gonna be tweaked by it. It goes beyond storming/norming because there's no way for norms to be set between that many people, especially when the group is constantly changing it's membership... or maybe it is storming/norming, it's just that it's impossible to get past storming under the circumstances.

Can anybody name any message board with 50,000+ members that didn't have drama issues?

[Optic]

Can anybody name any message board with 50,000+ members that didn't have drama issues?

Not sure. But I know one thing - GLIP is a hero. The guy will seriously need nominating for sainthood come Launch, given the rapidly increasing rate of decay on the Official forums (you can't fail to notice how it's rapidly been getting worse in the last six months - especially since February).

OVF - are seriously starting to do my head in. Kind of wished it'd all been perfect and launching in July (at least that way, the pain would have ended).

[Spirit]

The OVF could disappear tomorrow and it would be A Good Thing. And if that was to happen, I'd cheer. I'm serious.

Having said that though, Cindy and Glip seem to be on an idiot purge. Some of the vanboy's are mysteriously silent, and the rest of them seem to have got the message. I honestly believe the vanboy's are the ones doing the most damage, and not the trolls. If the vanboy's just learned to shut up for a minute, the trolls wouldn't get fed so well. No vanboys = less trolls.

[Atoyota]

The OVF could disappear tomorrow and it would be A Good Thing. And if that was to happen, I'd cheer. I'm serious.

Having said that though, Cindy and Glip seem to be on an idiot purge. Some of the vanboy's are mysteriously silent, and the rest of them seem to have got the message. I honestly believe the vanboy's are the ones doing the most damage, and not the trolls. If the vanboy's just learned to shut up for a minute, the trolls wouldn't get fed so well. No vanboys = less trolls.
I'm still there!

LOL what have I done right?.... (lately)

[Optic]

Time to start building a post-count here instead - I guess.

#2

[Miggy]

If the Vanboi's cooled it a lot of the spitefulness would dissipate as new members would be able to ask simple questions like "What exactly is the vision" (as someone here asked) without the place collapsing in flames.

Sad but true.

[Rayne]

Time to start building a post-count here instead - I guess.

#2

Sucks being the black sheep, don't it? LOL

But such is life. At least its more peaceful here :p

[Rayne]

If the Vanboi's cooled it a lot of the spitefulness would dissipate as new members would be able to ask simple questions like "What exactly is the vision" (as someone here asked) without the place collapsing in flames.

Sad but true.

I agree. But how many times does the same person need direction to the FAQ? And the ones who immediately after claiming they read the FAQ ask "why do I have to go get my stuff when I die?" or, "will there be pvp at launch?". I think the FAQ pretty clearly details what Sigil's goals are. As does the FAQ here, which i've pointed a number of newer posters to, because its more up to date, and includes answers to most of the questions they're asking every other thread.

Anyhoo, enough ranting. I'm here for a "fresh" perspective in the company of "civil and informed" folk :D

[Optic]

I'd settle for Civil. Informed - we can work on (where it's needed). :D

[Atoyota]

If the Vanboi's cooled it a lot of the spitefulness would dissipate as new members would be able to ask simple questions like "What exactly is the vision" (as someone here asked) without the place collapsing in flames.

Sad but true.

honest opinion?

Did I do badly? as here I would have posted the same at the OVF were I to see it.

[HolyAvengerOne]

I kinda wonder if, post-launch, the smaller communities, like SV, will get swarmed by utter fanboys and other crazy peeps or if they'll dissipate into nothingness once the VG forums go down.

/ponder

[Rayne]

I kinda wonder if, post-launch, the smaller communities, like SV, will get swarmed by utter fanboys and other crazy peeps or if they'll dissipate into nothingness once the VG forums go down.

/ponder

I doubt it. With Vanguard being added to SOE's All Access list, they'll likely host a forum there like they do with all the other games. In fact, i'd be willing to bet SOE insisted on it.

[HolyAvengerOne]

I doubt it. With Vanguard being added to SOE's All Access list, they'll likely host a forum there like they do with all the other games. In fact, i'd be willing to bet SOE insisted on it.
Not sure about that. I highly doubt that SOE finds any benefit in running their own game's forum, aside from the feedback they get from the players posting in there and the community-building effect.

Also, all of their games had pre-launch forum communities hosted by them and they never prepared affiliate websites to take over these functions once the game was launched, as Sigil did for VG up 'til now.

That being said, maintaining game forums (along with the bandwidth, moderation and data collection that it supposes) cost some real money. All these functions, or most of them at least, can be handled by affiliate websites with the model Sigil developped.

So, this community model being cheaper for SOE, why would they spend any kind of money on official forums ?

[Danth]

"I kinda wonder if, post-launch, the smaller communities, like SV, will get swarmed by...crazy peeps"



It's too late. We've already started the invasion.


Danth

[HolyAvengerOne]

"I kinda wonder if, post-launch, the smaller communities, like SV, will get swarmed by...crazy peeps"



It's too late. We've already started the invasion.


Danth

Nah, not really, you're still just a by-product of my imagination, dude.

[Danth]

"Nah, not really, you're still just a by-product of my imagination, dude."


So, everything that ever goes wrong in my life is your fault!

I want a refund.


Danth

[HolyAvengerOne]

I'd be more than please to hand you a refund, provided you send me a payment first :D

[Rayne]

So, this community model being cheaper for SOE, why would they spend any kind of money on official forums ?

First, they're providing clientside tech support. Second, billing. Third, its really not that costly. So you can pretty safely bet your last buck they'll want forums to deal with all that. Players will want server forums and the like. Theres at least a dozen reasons why it makes sense.

[HolyAvengerOne]

First, they're providing clientside tech support. Second, billing. Third, its really not that costly. So you can pretty safely bet your last buck they'll want forums to deal with all that. Players will want server forums and the like. Theres at least a dozen reasons why it makes sense.

... and there's just as many reasons why it doesn't. You can bet your last Cheerio on that.

[Rayne]

... and there's just as many reasons why it doesn't. You can bet your last Cheerio on that.

C'mon man. Were talking about SOE here. SOE co-produces SWG, but LucasArts owns it. It has a resident forum on SOE's station site. 1+1=2 isn't that hard to figure out.

[HolyAvengerOne]

C'mon man. Were talking about SOE here. SOE co-produces SWG, but LucasArts owns it. It has a resident forum on SOE's station site. 1+1=2 isn't that hard to figure out.

Yep, exactly what you said. SOE co-PRODUCES StarWars:Galaxies, while it just co-PUBLISHES Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

That's all the difference in the world, when it comes to the administration of the CS / Fanbase / PR and ensuing developement of the game and its subsidiaries -- which the forums are part of.

That's far from being a 1+1=2 equation.

[Rayne]

Yep, exactly what you said. SOE co-PRODUCES StarWars:Galaxies, while it just co-PUBLISHES Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

That's all the difference in the world, when it comes to the administration of the CS / Fanbase / PR and ensuing developement of the game and its subsidiaries -- which the forums are part of.

That's far from being a 1+1=2 equation.

LOL... ok man. Believe what you will.

[Havelock]

If they don't kill those forums, I may have to take matters into my own hands ... :twisted:

[Rayne]

If they don't kill those forums, I may have to take matters into my own hands ... :twisted:

Don't do it man. They'll suspend you along with all the other seniors, and all the retards will have free reign to post a hundred "WoW is the greatest thing since sliced bread", "Vanguard should be taking lessons from WoW", "OMGZORS!!!.... SOEz are teh vi11inz!!" threads

Oh wait...nm, its already happening LOL :p

[Rayne]

When all else fails, perform CPR on the dead horse (http://www.vanguardsoh.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14707), and start kicking again! LOL

[HolyAvengerOne]

LOL... ok man. Believe what you will.

Heh, ok, if that's your last argument...only time will tell who's right or not, I guess. I just don't see the point of SOE making such forums. There's no point at all.

[Havelock]

When all else fails, perform CPR on the dead horse (http://www.vanguardsoh.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14707), and start kicking again! LOL

If the horse comes back, I'm going to have to get all Ash on it (http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2427). Good, bad - I'm the one with the gun. :twisted:

[Rayne]

Heh, ok, if that's your last argument...only time will tell who's right or not, I guess. I just don't see the point of SOE making such forums. There's no point at all.

If I were arguing, trust me, you'd know it. Anyhoo, you're right. Time WILL tell. :p


If the horse comes back, I'm going to have to get all Ash on it. Good, bad - I'm the one with the gun.

I read that a while back. It was a great read man. Its just too bad it doesn't do much for the OVF. Point them to it all you want, most will pass it off as too long of a read. At this point, they should just shut that board down. Keeping it up is doing more harm than good. Especially considering how its handling the backlash from the past few weeks. Even from many of its eldest members.

[HolyAvengerOne]

If I were arguing, trust me, you'd know it.

Are you gonna argue that you were not arguing ?

[Havelock]

I made the mistake of reading the Gameplay boards. Someone please help me wash my eyes out with cyanide.

[Faelor]

I made the mistake of reading the Gameplay boards. Someone please help me wash my eyes out with cyanide.

I check those boards to correct people about Rangers and typically race/class restriction information. Other than that is scares me. Not as much as Off-Topic though :p

[HolyAvengerOne]

Yeah, general, off-topic forums -- especially those for long-awaited games that have yet to release or open beta -- can be quite scary, on the brink of brain-damaging.

[DCpunk]

If the horse comes back, I'm going to have to get all Ash on it (http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2427). Good, bad - I'm the one with the gun. :twisted:

Are you Louis Farrakhan in disguise? :D

[Fozzik]

I think DCpunk happened to the offical forums.

[DCpunk]

I think DCpunk happened to the offical forums.

In all reality, those forums were bound for the depths of hell long before I got there. There just weren't enough people to tell the elitist so-and-so's where to stick it. :D

[Havelock]

In all reality, those forums were bound for the depths of hell long before I got there. There just weren't enough people to tell the elitist so-and-so's where to stick it. :D

Heck, DC served to purify the OT forum through fire. :p Did he ever even post much in the gameplay boards?

[Sorengard]

In all reality, those forums were bound for the depths of hell long before I got there. There just weren't enough people to tell the elitist so-and-so's where to stick it. :D

So your not denying your involvement in their fall then?

[DCpunk]

Heck, DC served to purify the OT forum through fire. :p Did he ever even post much in the gameplay boards?

I tried to, but the elitist, purist fockwits were too much to even consider taking on. Never before has more sheer stupidity been posted on a single gaming forum. WoWs community is at least kind enough to know that it's stupid. The die-hard bumpkins on the OVF Gameplay forums think that they actually have something smart to say, and that's dangerous.

And as far as the off-topic is concerned: there are posters there far, far worse than myself. Of course they don't get Glipped because they either hold the same political stance as the Glipster or they're little OVF forum Divas.

[DCpunk]

So your not denying your involvement in their fall there?

No, I'm saying the fall occurred before I got there. I tried to be decent, but after being kicked around for a while, I figured "When in Rome...". Apparently this only applies to people who have their nose firmly planted in Glips rectum though.

[Miztress]

No, I'm saying the fall occurred before I got there. I tried to be decent, but after being kicked around for a while, I figured "When in Rome...". Apparently this only applies to people who have their nose firmly planted in Glips rectum though.

Hmmm
Dunno about that one. There are some people that have been banned that had some pretty dark chocolate brown noses if ya know what I mean :) I think it (the bannings) had more to do with how things are worded and if tact was used or not.

~Naksh

[DCpunk]

Hmmm
Dunno about that one. There are some people that have been banned that had some pretty dark chocolate brown noses if ya know what I mean :) I think it (the bannings) had more to do with how things are worded and if tact was used or not.

~Naksh

I can name about 5 people off the top of my head that flame at will without tact and never get Vanguard Vacations. So, I'll flat out call B.S. on that.

[Gargen]

And as far as the off-topic is concerned: there are posters there far, far worse than myself. Of course they don't get Glipped because they either hold the same political stance as the Glipster or they're little OVF forum Divas.

As somebody that probably has fairly similar politicals views as Glip (and usually pretty differing from DCpunk fwiw :p), I've wondered at least a few times if it saved me from at least getting a nastygram. I don't think my posts have much venom in them (except for maybe 1 or 2), but judging by the responses I get sometimes they often come across that way.

EDIT: and just curious DC... who are they? If you don't want to post it here could I at least get a PM?

[DCpunk]

As somebody that probably has fairly similar politicals views as Glip (and usually pretty differing from DCpunk fwiw :p), I've wondered at least a few times if it saved me from at least getting a nastygram. I don't think my posts have much venom in them (except for maybe 1 or 2), but judging by the responses I get sometimes they often come across that way.

EDIT: and just curious DC... who are they? If you don't want to post it here could I at least get a PM?

Honestly, I think it's pretty poor form to "talk behind peoples backs", as it were. Posting things about specific people in a negative manner here instead of the OVF forums where the alleged offenses occurred would fall under that umbrella, I think. And doing it in a PM would be even more distasteful.

In all reality, this is just how I personally see things. I know that one perspective can be warped, but I've bounced what I've seen off of a few other people (and people who would tell me straight up if I were dead wrong), and they seem to agree with me.

[Rayne]

I can name about 5 people off the top of my head that flame at will without tact and never get Vanguard Vacations. So, I'll flat out call B.S. on that.

I couldn't agree more. :cool:

[Sorengard]

Could you pass all this off to just passion for the game? Does it seem aleast from the forums stand point that their is a split in the way people want VSoH to go?

[Gargen]

Could you pass all this off to just passion for the game? Does it seem aleast from the forums stand point that their is a split in the way people want VSoH to go?

This is more or less the issue, and it's not just limited to the way people want VSoH to go. More people in general = more opinons on everything = more people disagreeing about everything = more people taking things the wrong way = more flame fests = bitter old timers = worse flame fests.

More people in general also means you get more of those posters that seem to be particularly skilled and turning things sour. The Vanguard threads at FoH are a perfect example of how 5-10 people can totally drown out everyone else.

[Kamira]

I can name about 5 people off the top of my head that flame at will without tact and never get Vanguard Vacations. So, I'll flat out call B.S. on that.

I hate to say it, but DC is right. That's happened.

A good moderator thinks about how he/she would feel if a post in question was directed at them, not someone else.

"Treat others how you would like to be treated" and all that motherly stuff... but it still holds true. Moms are always right. :p

[Ankriston]

I hate to say it, but DC is right. That's happened.

A good moderator thinks about how he/she would feel if a post in question was directed at them, not someone else.

"Treat others how you would like to be treated" and all that motherly stuff... but it still holds true. Moms are always right. :p
you got it kamira, its the golden rule , er .. not the one about whoever has the gold rules, the other one :P

[Atoyota]

I'm not sure if I'm on DC's list. I know I've probably come close at times through nasty insinuation, but I've never "attacked" or bullied anyone in the forums.

As I have here, (and there (OVF)) I've stood firmly on positions I feel are correct. Never rude about it though, harsh yes, rude no.

As for Glip and any others that mod the OVF?

Think about the job for a minute. Reading all sorts of crap you don't really want to read or have no interest in? Then having to make an opinionated judgement call on what's not appropriate? Researching a flame thread to see how it all started?

It's got to be a really sucky Job, sure word filters and user reports help, but still.... (I feel the mods do a good job)

As for the forums
(Gameplay), very little if anything input there will be useful to the game any more. They may research threads and ideas after they close the forum, but gameplay itself is pretty much a done deal by now (or should be).

(Crafting) not sure about this one as I have'nt followed it at all, but I'd expect the same.

(Diplomacy)There still may be worthwhile contributions to be made here, and I think I've done quite a bit in this forum to help. They've (Aruspex) have even begun posting there, and at VGTact as well. I've got the feeling Diplomacy is now a better system and well on it's way.

(Off Topic) First you gotta ask... what is off topic? It may mean different things to people, but really to me it's just a place to shoot the @@@T! and well... pretty much anything goes, so long as it's ok for public consumption (including children). This can get very grey at times, and it's very debatable. This is probably the toughest forum to mod, and Glips does it very nicely. I feel they are very liberal there. Sure threads get derailed, or some purposely build fires with hot topics. You can usually tell if a threads worth reading by who is posting in it. Even if it's not, "turn the dial" and read something else.

In short, the OVF is what you make it, and if you choose to post elsewhere, that's fine. Nothing matters there as it's going down anyways. If you think you've been flamed, or the thread is obscene, report it. It's just a forum. :p

[DCpunk]

1) If they job sucks, then don't do it. If you can't do it CONSISTENTLY and fairly, then you shouldn't be doing it. Period.

2) Glip is liberal on those forums with people who support his way of thinking only - that includes politically and game-wise. So, you can rest assured that if you have an opinion that differs with Glips and there's a sh*t storm that occurs around it, you're the one getting Glipped and he'll let the other party off without even so much as an edit.

[Loampounder]

So, you can rest assured that if you have an opinion that differs with Glips and there's a sh*t storm that occurs around it, you're the one getting Glipped and he'll let the other party off without even so much as an edit.
Not sure if this is a direct effect. Generally, people who are more conservative game-wise (in the Sigil way - Vision, death penalty, travel is meaningful, etc.) don't seem to get abusive or personally insulting. Glip really only involves himself when people start insulting others, and then usually only when foul language is involved.

[Atoyota]

1) If they job sucks, then don't do it. If you can't do it CONSISTENTLY and fairly, then you shouldn't be doing it. Period. someone has to!

2) Glip is liberal on those forums with people who support his way of thinking only - that includes politically and game-wise. So, you can rest assured that if you have an opinion that differs with Glips and there's a sh*t storm that occurs around it, you're the one getting Glipped and he'll let the other party off without even so much as an edit.

It's subjective, and that's why it sucks.

What did Lincoln say? you can please some, some of the time... but not all, all of the time?

It's a similar situation, damned if you do and damned if you don't. So bottom line is... it's just a forum. If you don't like their subjectivity, then go where you do.

Personally, and maybe it's only because I hav'nt been "Glipped", I think he's done fine and I have not seen anything as blatant as you describe. (not even close)

So maybe you think I'm a brown noser... I really don't care. I just call em like I see em. :p

[Gargen]

If you can't do it CONSISTENTLY and fairly, then you shouldn't be doing it. Period.

"CONSISTENTLY" is a myth. People have such wide opinions on everything that even if the absolute perfect mod that was able to shed all of his humanity to be 100% unbiased came along, nobody would know it and people would still complain that he's biased.

IMO Glip does about as good of a job as any other mod. Given this quoteI tried to be decent, but after being kicked around for a while, I figured "When in Rome...".I'm thinking you come off a ton more harshly than you think. I remember you being a flamer from the day you first started posting. In fact I'd say you've gotten less so than when you first started posting.

[DCpunk]

"CONSISTENTLY" is a myth. People have such wide opinions on everything that even if the absolute perfect mod that was able to shed all of his humanity to be 100% unbiased came along, nobody would know it and people would still complain that he's biased.

IMO Glip does about as good of a job as any other mod. Given this quoteI'm thinking you come off a ton more harshly than you think. I remember you being a flamer from the day you first started posting. In fact I'd say you've gotten less so than when you first started posting.

1) (and this goes for Atoyota as well) B.S. You can consistently fair and impartial. If you can't, then you shouldn't be in a job that requires you to be.

2) I don't recall once when I started a flame war. I can recall several times where people started flaming myself and others openly and blatantly, and nothing was done. As soon as someone with a opinion that differs from Glips (and he and I differ quite a bit) steps up to defend themselves, then they get the hammer.
He's a poor moderator, plain and simple. Best moderator I've ever seen was a guy named Todd over at the punkplanet.com forums (RIP). Totally unbiased. Anyone that stepped out of line got take care of, regardless of which side of the fence they were coming from. So, it CAN be done, it just isn't often seen because most people are turds.

[Vandraad]

I've recently returned to the OVF boards after a 5 months hiatus and saw how even in that span of time, nothing changed. There are still idiots posting the same thread topics people brought up in 2003. So, to keep myself entertained, I'm seeing just how often I can point out that JoeSchmuck's retarded thread was brought up at least 2 years ago. I found 4 of them today in the span of a hour.

[greymain]

I stopped posting on the OVF for a while. I must admit I was getting tired of all these new members telling me that Vanguard was not the game for me. Nowdays I try to do a bit of education and contribute to any threads that contain some intelligent comment but I doubt if I will reach my 3,000 post before the game is released some time in the next decade.

As to moderation, I dont complain, I would have removed about 40% of the OVF members by making the ownership of at least one brain cell a requirement to join.

[Lulian]

I really have to agree with you on that.

[hawnz]

ever since king was tragically eaten by a flock of angry penguins, i just haven't been able to post on the forums. it's just not the same without him.

[Kherrek508]

yes it was me

I forget, were you an anti-vision or pro-vision NDA breaker. :p

[Side-Show]

meh they were really bad before, but all these posts about the pre-order boxes have made me take the ovf off my favorites list. just not worth reading the same things over and over anyway. its too hard to have any kind of productive discussions over there.

[Slide]

I kinda wonder if, post-launch, the smaller communities, like SV, will get swarmed by utter fanboys and other crazy peeps or if they'll dissipate into nothingness once the VG forums go down.

/ponder

interesting thought.