tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post6178884246203678350..comments2024-03-28T01:53:34.870-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: And Now a Whine (and a Rant)James Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-2371149835272392642009-02-20T17:06:00.000-05:002009-02-20T17:06:00.000-05:00I disagree with Done... a blog is not like the tow...I disagree with Done... a blog is not like the town square, which is a genuine public space. A blog isn't exactly your living room, where people can only enter by invitation, either. It's more like your lawn on a day where you're sitting on the porch, having a chat with some neighbors. People can walk up and join the conversation without express invitation, but you have both the authority and ability to kick them off for any reason or none at all. If you <I>want</I> people to drop by and chat with you and your friends, it's helpful to have a discreet sign about the house rules, but it's not required.Joshua Macyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838733328132877699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79293144385819590802009-02-20T14:23:00.000-05:002009-02-20T14:23:00.000-05:00Ironbeard hit the nail on the head. It's your con...Ironbeard hit the nail on the head. It's your confidence and clarity that is causing some people to get upset. It threatens their sense of who they are. "Wait a minute, Mr. Maliszewski, you're making me realize that 4e does indeed suck. NOOOOOOO!"<BR/><BR/>I appreciate you demanding a high level of discourse and civility here.OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-67421311793958027802009-02-20T10:11:00.000-05:002009-02-20T10:11:00.000-05:00Other takes on titles . . .http://news.bbc.co.uk/2...Other takes on titles . . .<BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6924870.stm<BR/>http://www.africanevents.com/UdumezeConfermentinUSA-2004.htm#oyiza's%20articlesBrian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-84603435626272088782009-02-20T10:01:00.000-05:002009-02-20T10:01:00.000-05:00Actually, I don't feel like a very good sport. In ...Actually, I don't feel like a very good sport. In fact I'm pretty embarrassed that I blithely ignored the point of the level titles post (I didn't misunderstand it, as a few posters speculated, though others might have). It's a little troubling to find that I'm a bit of a boor online; doesn't fit with my self-image, though I can be blunt at times. In this particular case I believe I was unconsciously trying to "get a rise" out of you, which I (in part) did (and now feel badly about). I think it must be your dispassionate style of presentation, which strikes me as a bit bloodless at times. It would never occur to me to make such a antagonistic comment on, say, LotFP blog, as he wears his emotions on his sleeve. In any case, I've come to the conclusion that blogs and other online venues aren't the place for me, and for your small part in helping me realize that I thank you. See, your "overreaction" wasn't a bad thing :).metamorphosissigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163514061779555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-52247775192126829502009-02-20T09:26:00.000-05:002009-02-20T09:26:00.000-05:00The only way to make it a living room (private) se...<I>The only way to make it a living room (private) setting would be to make the 'blog by invitation only (like your home). You're dealing with a collective ("crowd") behavior situation here, not small group interaction.</I><BR/><BR/>You're almost certainly right. I've probably been spoiled by the fact that the vast majority of my readership instinctively understood my preferences and posts accordingly. <BR/><BR/><I>That having been said, I will endeavor to abide by your wishes.</I><BR/><BR/>That's all anyone can do. Thanks for being a good sport about it.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-78859769661284828882009-02-20T08:46:00.000-05:002009-02-20T08:46:00.000-05:00I don't think I'm unreasonable in asking people to...<I>I don't think I'm unreasonable in asking people to treat the blog like my living room and to behave as I typically do.</I><BR/><BR/>Not to be unduly argumentative, but I think this might indeed be a little unreasonable, or at least the expectation that everyone will honor your wishes is. I don't think the analogy to a living room (a private spave) really holds up. Since the 'blog is public, it's more like standing up on a soapbox in the town square (blogspot.com). While even in that setting commenters "should" observe some degree of decorum, there are always going to be people wandering in and out of a public area, and some of them (and obviously I've been guilty of this once or twice) won't be able to resist trying to "shout down" the guy up on the soapbox (or conversely, shout "Amen, brother" in response to every statement).<BR/><BR/>The only way to make it a living room (private) setting would be to make the 'blog by invitation only (like your home). You're dealing with a collective ("crowd") behavior situation here, not small group interaction.<BR/><BR/>That having been said, I will endeavor to abide by your wishes.metamorphosissigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163514061779555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-89547881302072323552009-02-20T08:17:00.000-05:002009-02-20T08:17:00.000-05:00I'm a naturally argumentative type, which I have c...<I>I'm a naturally argumentative type, which I have consciously tried to modulate as I've read more of this blog, so I apologize for any residual friction there.</I><BR/><BR/>I do appreciate the way you've altered your style of commenting to accommodate my preferences. That's really all I ask of people. For a handful of people, though, the principle of "When in Rome" doesn't apply and won't abide such attitudes. I'm not interested in having everyone agree with me on every subject, but I'm also not interested in knock-down, drag-out fights where every entry I post is an invitation to tell me why I'm mistaken. Most people here get that, or soon come to do so, but the tiny minority who don't just got under my skin this week.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-39392816152305291042009-02-20T08:13:00.000-05:002009-02-20T08:13:00.000-05:00You are the only blogger I know who regularly comp...<I>You are the only blogger I know who regularly complains about the people who comment on your blog.</I><BR/><BR/>Regularly? <BR/><BR/><I>It seems as if you expect your readers only to make comments you will approve of, which is an unreasonable expectation,</I><BR/><BR/>I do expect my readers to comment only when they have something to say that adds to the topics raised by my posts. I don't expect them to agree with me, as anyone who participated in my past discussions of the Thief or ascending Armor Class should know. If that's unreasonable, so be it.<BR/><BR/><I>and you are sometimes rude to people who hold different opinions to you, even on minor points</I><BR/><BR/>I do? Other than Badelaire, I can't think of any commenters toward whom I've been intentionally rude and I apologized for having done so.<BR/><BR/><I>I think trying to arrange things so that people's comments are always satisfactory to you is going to be an uphill struggle. It'll probably be less stressful to simply ignore the comments that annoy you.</I><BR/><BR/>I would say that 98% of the comments here are, in both form and substance, exactly what I expect them to be. They are consonant with the tone I've set here and I am very happy that so many people recognize the approach I prefer. If that counts as "trying to arrange things," I can live with that.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-23674225118311156492009-02-20T08:01:00.000-05:002009-02-20T08:01:00.000-05:00Having read the "antis" posts, I don't think they ...<I>Having read the "antis" posts, I don't think they were being insulting or abusive, but they were being rude by the standards of face to face conversation, which is the standard you should apply when commenting on somebody's blog. If you want unconstrained discussion, therpgsite is good.</I><BR/><BR/>I think the problem lies in a difference of expectations. I've probably never articulated how I would like people to comport themselves beyond my own example and not everyone seems to share that perspective. I don't think I'm unreasonable in asking people to treat the blog like my living room and to behave as I typically do.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-2968894031750388232009-02-20T06:24:00.000-05:002009-02-20T06:24:00.000-05:00Well who was it on that other board, let's go beat...Well who was it on that other board, let's go beat 'em up.<BR/><BR/>I'm a naturally argumentative type, which I have consciously tried to modulate as I've read more of this blog, so I apologize for any residual friction there. And there have been plenty of times where my own opinion has been swayed, not just on the usual Grognardia subjects but the Dwimmermount material too. For example I was skeptical of Eld, but with later thought I've been veering towards stealing them.K. Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06623767121412820113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-9805049410473736442009-02-20T06:09:00.000-05:002009-02-20T06:09:00.000-05:00I do think, James, that your problems are partly o...I do think, James, that your problems are partly of your own making (only partly; there are lots of trolls and idiots on the internet, I know). <BR/><BR/>You are the only blogger I know who regularly complains about the people who comment on your blog. It seems as if you expect your readers only to make comments you will approve of, which is an unreasonable expectation, and you are sometimes rude to people who hold different opinions to you, even on minor points. That's why, even though I read this blog more than any other, I rarely comment.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I don't see anyone trolling or being abusive here. I always enjoy reading the comments, and I don't find the argumentative and off-topic comments any less enjoyable. I think trying to arrange things so that people's comments are always satisfactory to you is going to be an uphill struggle. It'll probably be less stressful to simply ignore the comments that annoy you.Akiyamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01002160797943960637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22507017516369927762009-02-20T05:04:00.000-05:002009-02-20T05:04:00.000-05:00James:"My issue wasn't with the fact that...James:<BR/>"My issue wasn't with the fact that someone dared to disagree with me or my preferences, but that they did so in response to a post where the topic was something else entirely. Had the post been "Why level titles should never have been removed from D&D," I wouldn't have been bugged by this."<BR/><BR/>I'm surprised so many people can't seem to grasp the distinction between "Here's why I like level titles" (invitation to debate on merits of level titles) and "Here are my draft level titles - suggestions?" (invitation to suggest different level titles). Having read the "antis" posts, I don't think they were being insulting or abusive, but they were being rude by the standards of face to face conversation, which is the standard you should apply when commenting on somebody's blog. If you want unconstrained discussion, therpgsite is good.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-33037259339048064982009-02-19T23:37:00.000-05:002009-02-19T23:37:00.000-05:00Hear hear! James, I and my other buddies who came...Hear hear! James, I and my other buddies who came of age rolling twelve-sided dice in our parents' basements, listening to Rush, devour your blog and the nostalgia kick that it is, daily. Thanks for doing this, and please do persevere through the frustrations.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172087225716727424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51060630674658907072009-02-19T23:36:00.000-05:002009-02-19T23:36:00.000-05:00I agree. I'm no more representative of the old sch...<I>I agree. I'm no more representative of the old school than anyone else playing these games. I'm just a lot more prolific in my commentary. I have no interest in being seen as anything more than another idiosyncratic gamer who talks too much.</I><BR/><BR/>But the fact remains that you have a voice of the old school, and a popular one at that. In a way, that lends you some type of authority, or at the very least designates you as a target in some way.Hamlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05135081554790749914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6850879168771381242009-02-19T21:44:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:44:00.000-05:00This sounds like a situation where some respondent...<I>This sounds like a situation where some respondents misunderstood the question, and on this occasion the person who asked for help had a moment of weakness and over reacted.</I><BR/><BR/>That's a fair assessment of the situation, I think.<BR/><BR/><I>More worrying is perhaps the idea that you are being targeted as the "mouthpiece" of traditional adventure gaming, a worryinf Catholicisation.</I><BR/><BR/>I agree. I'm no more representative of the old school than anyone else playing these games. I'm just a lot more prolific in my commentary. I have no interest in being seen as anything more than another idiosyncratic gamer who talks too much.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-2133548243017357722009-02-19T21:41:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:41:00.000-05:00Aside from personal attacks, or out-and-out rude c...<I>Aside from personal attacks, or out-and-out rude comments, the discussions following your posts are - to me - often as invigorating as the posts themselves. IMHO, it would be a shame if this open dialogue were diminished.</I><BR/><BR/>As I said, I don't intend to close down the comments or even moderate them in any real way beyond deleting the most offensive ones. It's just been a long week for me and was at the end of my tether. In retrospect, I should probably just have let it all roll off my back, as I usually do, but I'm only human.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-84265810062612237132009-02-19T21:36:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:36:00.000-05:00So, in a very backhanded way, consider invective a...<I>So, in a very backhanded way, consider invective and nastiness as a sign that you're actually doing something that has some substance to it.</I><BR/><BR/>That's certainly one way to spin this positively :)James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-53874219977323738402009-02-19T17:44:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:44:00.000-05:00Keep fighting the power man! I'm not as old school...Keep fighting the power man! I'm not as old school as you (started in 84') and I'm playing 4e, but it's amazing how people can take one thing and try to make something else out of it.Joe G Kushnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02454826299896049587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-90993123321196218472009-02-19T16:49:00.000-05:002009-02-19T16:49:00.000-05:00My 2 cents:I read your blog just about every day, ...My 2 cents:<BR/><BR/>I read your blog just about every day, James. But I seldom read the comments. I mostly just enjoy reading your opinions.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work! Someday you should collect your thoughts into a book. I'd buy it!Xevenintihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609390831891414670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-89312339124866813192009-02-19T16:43:00.000-05:002009-02-19T16:43:00.000-05:00Nice insight, SS.Nice insight, SS.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68935409733600798512009-02-19T16:35:00.000-05:002009-02-19T16:35:00.000-05:00Heh; as it goes, I don't use or like level title, ...Heh; as it goes, I don't use or like level title, but opted not to comment and simply provide some help as requested. The same is more or less true of the weapon type versus armour class table. I don't use them, but I find the idea interesting enough to spend some time trying to understand them and help out.<BR/><BR/>This sounds like a situation where some respondents misunderstood the question, and on this occasion the person who asked for help had a moment of weakness and over reacted.<BR/><BR/>As to criticism outside this small part of the internet, I agree with Fitzerman, toughen up. The world is full of jerks, especially on the internet. More worrying is perhaps the idea that you are being targeted as the "mouthpiece" of traditional adventure gaming, a worryinf Catholicisation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646247954542936623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-88112102241215669162009-02-19T16:28:00.000-05:002009-02-19T16:28:00.000-05:00"The only thing you're missing is the great secret..."<I>The only thing you're missing is the great secret of Grognardia: I do in fact delete posts from time to time, because there are some pretty nasty ones that get posted here.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Ah-ha! So the cat's out of the bag, at last! ;) (Seriously, I wouldn't have expected anything else.)<BR/><BR/>"<I>...when you join that with some similar behavior elsewhere, I hope I can be forgiven for being a little touchier than usual.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Perfectly acceptable, of course. (I can sympathize.)<BR/><BR/>My concern (forgive me if this is selfish) is that the open, vibrant exchange of ideas that seem to spontaneously occur in the comments section of your posts is not squelched. There really is a lot of goodness herein; a fairly civil, good-humored exchange of ideas that is such a breath of fresh air. Even those comments that you find negative, others may find stimulating - not simply contentious, seeking debate, or contrary for the sake of contrariness.<BR/><BR/>Whether you're aware of it or not, Grognardia has become a minor institution for many people (myself included) - you might perceive it as a personal vehicle, but I'm certain many others see it as a public forum to exchange points of view. (I imagine that its true nature sits somewhere in between those two positions.)<BR/><BR/>Aside from personal attacks, or out-and-out rude comments, the discussions following your posts are - to me - often as invigorating as the posts themselves. IMHO, it would be a shame if this open dialogue were diminished.<BR/><BR/>All said with a big: IMHO, YMMV, FWIW - you know: the usual acronymical discalimers. :)Christopher Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17368794259249607299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-28394346488429325202009-02-19T15:50:00.000-05:002009-02-19T15:50:00.000-05:00I think it was more the vehemence of your comment ...<I>I think it was more the vehemence of your comment that ticked me off than the actual content of it. I'm one of those weird guys who cares about how things are said as much as what is said.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm one of those "weird guys" too, as anyone who knows me in a face-to-face setting would tell you. Unfortunately I'm beginning to think I am also one of those (all-too-common) people for whom the Internet is a medium that brings out the worst qualities. Sometimes I just let fly before I realize how it will come across. Once I re-read my comment and your "whine and rant" I regretted posting it, and a little self-examination revealed the reason to me... I had actually wanted to criticize your "Thelidu" post of a couple days earlier, but held back because it was clear that it was just your creation being offered up for perusal and that you weren't looking for critical feedback on it necessarily. So I guess I sublimated, if that's the word. Anyway, I someday hope to be fit for polite online society :).metamorphosissigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163514061779555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-89552924622707297242009-02-19T15:44:00.000-05:002009-02-19T15:44:00.000-05:00Perhaps this won't be very helpful, but what the h...Perhaps this won't be very helpful, but what the heck, I'll give it a shot... <BR/><BR/>I wrote for The Motley Fool for a few years (as well as Investopedia for a short while), and that sort of experience gives you an interesting insight into "the audience". <BR/><BR/>Here I was, giving my best efforts analysis of companies, stocks, and investments, and the reward for my work was usually insults, accusations, and ad hominem attacks. <BR/><BR/>Never mind the fact that I was often right and people would have made money (or lost less money) if they'd listened. Instead, they had their ego and identity wrapped up in their little view of the world ... and behaved rather savagely when that view was challenged (and god forbid you have actual facts and thorough analysis on your side). <BR/><BR/>My point? The Internet "community" is filled with a-holes; people who might be generally tolerable in person, but who take the anonymity of the 'net and use it as a weapon and amplifier for their nastier traits. <BR/><BR/>If you want to do this (and I hope you do, as I really enjoy reading it), you'll have to accept that the level of discourse isn't very civil in many cases. <BR/><BR/>Is it fair? No. Is it right? No. Do you invite these people to come in and abuse you? No. But alas, that's how it often is. <BR/><BR/>If there's any positive side to it, it's that in my experience you don't get a hostile reaction unless you've actually "done something" and shaken up the viewpoints of insecure people. <BR/><BR/>So, in a very backhanded way, consider invective and nastiness as a sign that you're actually doing something that has some substance to it. After all, fluff won't offend ... but fluff isn't worth much and probably wasn't the point of you starting this.Stephen Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872161469696334548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-52069826544873979492009-02-19T15:43:00.000-05:002009-02-19T15:43:00.000-05:00This all seems rather tempest in a teacup-ish. I'm...<I>This all seems rather tempest in a teacup-ish. I'm sure most of us have seen some real flame wars - with truly "nasty posts" - and the comments following up the level titles post are nothing of the sort.<BR/><BR/>But, again, maybe I'm missing something.</I><BR/><BR/>The only thing you're missing is the great secret of Grognardia: I <I>do</I> in fact delete posts from time to time, because there <I>are</I> some pretty nasty ones that get posted here. There aren't a lot of them at all, it's true, but they happen (I deleted a couple this week). Every one wears down my resolve a little bit and, when you join that with some similar behavior elsewhere, I hope I can be forgiven for being a little touchier than usual.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.com