Why are the forums toxic?

Rohamad_Ali

Ch4mpTW wrote: »

Rain_Greyraven wrote: »

I'm going to break with tradition and actually and give an honest assessment, and hopefully not get warned.

I think a lot of it has to do with moderation and community management. While the forums are 'invitation only" Five bucks will get you a new key and a new invite and forum warriors especially the more toxic ones who think that trolling the forums is more fun than the game will gladly shell that out.

Also it's apparent that moderation is extremely biased and plays favorites; I have seen helpful players that were just passionate about the game get fast track banned for minor offenses, while others who seem to be part of a certain "in crowd" made community ambassador despite having the same or worse posting habits.

Personally I think in game is much more toxic than the forums, but that is another post for another time.

@Rohamad_Ali @Vaoh Doesn’t this post explain an awful lot about things? Lol. Sorry for tagging you, but this just resonated so perfectly that I had to tag you 2.

I don't get in very many forum wars . I speak my opinion and mostly move on after . I find people just as passionate about the game as me but different opinions to still be fellow players with their own ideals . There is always going to be people seen as the in crowd as their information jives with ZoS Devs better then others but I've seen ZoS make changes that do not benefit them some times for other player type . I don't think moderators really take sides they just answer complaints on violations . They have their own interpretation of the rules each and if someone is getting moderated a lot it can feel like they are ganging up on them when in truth someone is just writing a lot of complaints they are responding to . Limiting someone's voice is always going to feel personal when in truth it may not be and the real answer is learning to communicate better with others but that takes self reflection and understanding .

SirAndy

Tasear wrote: »

Why are the forums toxic?

This should answer all your questions:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/405043/is-it-against-the-tos-to-shut-down-a-trade-guild-and-take-all-the-gold-of-the-guild-bank/p1

Rouven

I don't think these forums are very toxic, maybe I've just experienced worse or my mental techniques of blurring out and definitely not dwelling on the ... not so fun posters ... have improved.

As a general answer to the originally stated question about why helpful posters are often subject to ridicule ... well, one more or less famous quote from before the internet became mainstream might explain this:

Let no good deed go unpunished.

Have fun and enjoy!

DMuehlhausen

Tasear wrote: »

Seems like something we often say in passing but is it true? Obviously not always but I don't recall people saying forums to be positive place.

So let raise some issues that not just effect myself but others.

People posting mutiple threads

There's clear harssment to anyone who does in general section. This done to people discuss old or new topics. Sure moderation is there but I often see things ingored like. So let ask the question that goes along with? Why is a secret taboo to post mutiple threads?

Why do people belittle people for having to many stars?

It's often people get quoted with bettiling comments or forum farming by simply stating something. This seems progressive worst as people get more stars. Why do helpful people get punished?


Why is not okay to defend yourself?

If you have well intentions it best not to respond to baiters or this voliation of forum rules? Yet I often see people belttiled, jeered or harssed even more if say nothing?

There's other issues but making long posts seems be taboo issues too, so state a few others in quick succession, L2P, reroll to different class, necroing, dead horses.

Note: Answer is yes, I am annoyed but I am appart of a bigger issue.

Because the forums are where the minority of people that hate something about the game come to vent their frustrations. Although some of the sub forums aren't. General will normally be like this for any community. Once you get into the more specific forums though the experience gets better as people posting/reading those posts already know what to expect on what they are going to read.

Kanar

I instead wonder why some users think all discourse must be civil and overly sensitive.

Raraaku

Human nature?

That and the anonymity offered by the internet greatly nullifies any kind of risk associated with saying/doing something insulting/offensive/etc. in which if they were to say/do such things towards others in real life they would quickly be admonished (at the least) and thus have society reinforce behavior that they deem acceptable and unacceptable... Or you know, something along those lines.

FLuFFyxMuFFiN

Aesthier wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

Why are the forums toxic?

Because Forums are open to the community and the community is comprised of toxic people unable (or refuse) to think critically. (For the most part)

But keep in mind the forums do not make up the majority of the community. Most ESO players don't even post on here

phileunderx2

I have been involved in many different forums since I first wandered online back in 2000 and I have to say this forum is the least toxic I have ever been on.

DMuehlhausen

phileunderx2 wrote: »

I have been involved in many different forums since I first wandered online back in 2000 and I have to say this forum is the least toxic I have ever been on.

I'd agree to a point. A lot of the early forums weren't toxic either. That mostly though because the only people on the forums were most likely like minded gaming/tech nerds just looking to get answers to things.

Now though....

MasterSpatula

There's always been a strong contingent of higly-competitive people in gaming, the kind of people who really get a kick out of their own superiority and belittling others.

Add to that the fact that being proud of the worst elements of human nature is having a moment in general right now, and you have a recipe for one nasty toxin.

Priyasekarssk

phileunderx2 wrote: »

I have been involved in many different forums since I first wandered online back in 2000 and I have to say this forum is the least toxic I have ever been on.

I can say the opposite way based on my experience in other online game forums, even with hardcore PVP.

phairdon

The forums here are not overly toxic, in my opinion. Difference of opinions are always going to generate heated discussions, from time to time.
Zone chat on the other hand......

jedtb16_ESO

toxicity in human relations is entirely subjective. one persons toxic is an others full and frank debate.

for real toxic you need to go back to the days of bbs.... the use of a capital letter would get you flamed out beyond pluto.

it is also disappointing (but i guess, inevitable) to see constructive criticism described as 'harassment'

well.... there you go.

Tasear

MasterSpatula wrote: »

There's always been a strong contingent of higly-competitive people in gaming, the kind of people who really get a kick out of their own superiority and belittling others.

Add to that the fact that being proud of the worst elements of human nature is having a moment in general right now, and you have a recipe for one nasty toxin.

I want to agree on that point.

People do need be careful on what's fun and what's down right bullying.

I still remember community ambassador who supported went along with person who post my bame on a twlight head body. That post was up for hours. My silly question was what if pets could talk, but what did become a thing to showcase me in humaliting spot. People were happy and nobody and do mean nobody said this isn't okay. I had to go back and sight dozens rules this person voilated.

Why did this happen because I was well know for talking every healing in exist. People found me annoying along posting my build. That's thing you can or should do those kind of things even you are annoyed. It's different now though you guys tag me them.

So in regards to people having issues with people posting mutiple threads. It bad that went along ganging up that player. We should of went about asking rule changes. It definitely should be issue if people post three or four posts at same time. It's nice get traffic here. Maybe some of these get moved other sections and have people moving around just not general section.
So what I wanted to say let be a reminder let people talk if issue of farming points or something report it. If issue of personal annoyance then it let go. In regards to moderation, they are human and do need something to be checked. I do have issues in copy paste text that words it in a way were I think I have done something wrong. It's same thing wrong with customer service. They aren't talking to people correctly. In the same token we shouldn't attack developers every second we have a chance. If we let them speak maybe we can understand why something is happening.

Overall it was about time we remind we are still humans on other side of keyboard. We should not go along with who exhibit such degrading behaviors, because we could be like these other forums or eventually shut down. So be it as