In one way we can say that this forum have those who complain, and those who complain about those who complain. A more positive way of looking at it is to say that the forum has many people who sincerely try to do their best to express criticism in a manner that will get noticed by others, especially the devs. Being salty is one way of doing this, because it's reasonable to assume that ESO prefer that their customers are happy, and not disappointed or angry.

Some don't like this salt. Others find it justified. But both these views can be considered valuable in an online forum. In general, things will never improve without criticism. But many people are not willing to waste time and energy on presenting criticism in an online forum unless they have become so frustrated or tired of something that they feel the only option is to write a post about it, and then it's natural that this frustration shines through in the message. But without this frustration we and the devs may not have noticed that there is something in the game which is worth criticising.

However, to prevent the forum from becoming too salty it's also good that many react and speak up when they feel that a post is too negative. All in all, in the long run, the forum will probably be more balanced, and things will have a better chance of improving, if there is room for both those who prefer salty comments and those who are opposed to it.

In an ideal world it would be best if all human beings only presented dispassionate "constructive criticism". But it will also be a very boring world. Anger, frustrations and disappoinments are part of the human condition. We are apes, the apex predators on our planet, (not counting those who are vegetarians). So any realist will quickly recognize and tolerate that also our generally friendly forum will have its share of negativity, including those who are negative toward this negativity. But civilization and moderation are also necessary of course, (just read Steven Pinker's "The Better Angels of Our Nature").

Being a cautious optimist, Kant once said that human beings have social and anti-social tendencies, and it's a combination of both which gradually leads to improvements in our societies, even if we may not be aware of it at the time.

The ESO game and forum is like the bar in a Star Wars movie. It's full of diversity. Some are happy and cheerful, others are gloomy and grumpy. Different people react differently to the game because they have different standards, expectations and backgrounds.

First of all, the majority of ESO players today probably bought the game with the same attitude as when they buy Halo or Titanfall, so they will never participate in our discussion forum, in the same way that the large majority of individuals who buy Monopoly will never join a Monopoly forum. In other words, those who complain about the complainers in the ESO forum are themselves a "vocal minority", compared to the average ESO gamer. Both the salty critics and the counter-critics belong to the group of "concerned gamers" in the online world.

Secondly, an ESO enthusiast on a PS4 with a slow Internet connection will have different standards than a person with a $3000 gaming rig using broadband. The latter may criticise things that the former has never noticed.

Different people expect different things. If you have 600 cp it takes a lot more to get the same dopamine kick as a newbie player gets when entering the game the first times. So in a way it's natural that a very experienced player will "complain" more than the happy newbie who is basically so high on dopamine already that he or she doesn't care about occasional flaws in the game.

Thirdly, the game is played by teenagers, academics, housewifes, criminals, rich and poor, empaths and psycopaths, authoritarians and libertines, the patient and the impatient. A teenager with ADD will react in a different way than a single mother with a PhD. Input and feedback from both are still valuable however, but then there must also be room for the rebel teenager to express things in his or her way, including all the smack and salt.

Consequently, if one disagrees with statements in a post, it's probably best to first try to see things from the viewpoint of the OP. And if a thread becomes too coloured by negativity, try to focus on the main content of the arguments, and not the negative (or positive) way these arguments are presented. Focus on the content, not the wrapping. If an argument actually is valid, it basically doesn't matter how it was presented, in a negative or positive way.

Perhaps it's best to look at the ESO forum (and all human interactions) with the same distance and engaged curiosity as a marine biologist diving down to a reef in order to study all the creatures there, both the sharks and the peaceful and colourful living beings in that environment. Learn from the stings. Personally I have often learned most from criticism which hurts my ego and convictions.

Finally, if you consider yourself to be among the civilised and enlightened, perhaps it's worth remembering that, on one level at least, one can say that true humility and empathy includes non-reactivity when meeting angry, arrogant or irrational people. A lot easier said than done.

Now, let the constructive criticism and negative smack begin.