Why are SecondLife forums so rude and unpleasant?

There seems to be this simmering anger that almost taints 80% of the threads in these forums.

I've never seen a community to be so ready to jump at each other in just a toxic and caustic way.

Does SecondLife attract these sorts of people? Does it promote this type of behavior?

Not naming any names, but I'm sure you know who they are. They're always ready to launch into some sarcastic vitriol that demeans anyone who is brave (or, truthfully, dumb enough) to post in these forums.

I can only imagine the amount of potential new users and people playing SL that this annoys to a point they simple look elsewhere for enjoyment.

Cause all this anger is not fun at all.

Thankfully this anger doesn't exist in world to the same extent. I think some just want attention.

Because there are too many Left Wing Radicals looking to pollute the air and water we all need. And its guys like myself who keep the leftys in their place. And they just don't like it. LOL

Otherwise, life would be grand..

Attention yes, and pie.

Lance LeFay summons Cliche: Pot/Kettle

Because they exist on internet. What forums have YOU been on?

Heh, show me any messageboard system on the internet that isn't full of flaming idiots.

I dunno, something about pure text-level communications just brings out the worst in people. Probably because all you're seeing is a bunch of words forming opinions you don't like, and not an actual face or person behind them, so it's much easier to launch an attack.

All I can hope to do to my fellow avatars is to be amusing and friendly, to a reasonable degree. Here, inworld, wherever I am: I am me, and that's all I can be.

I have come across Forums that were far, far worse (*cough* technosnobs *hack*). But the flipside, of course, is that the SL Forums could be far, far better.

I have encountered more residents than the digits on my hands and legs who I have tried to gently direct to the forum to seek help and/or engaging discussion, only to have them throw lines like the following back at me:


"ARE YOU CRAZY? THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF FLAME WARS!"
"Thanks, but no thanks - I'd rather not be attacked for asking a few questions"
"I doubt I'll get anything useful out of there, it's just a shouting match"
"The stress on there isn't worth it"
"meh waste of my time, im better off keeping it to myself"
"Inworld is so different from the message board.."
"do you think I'll have to post a disclaimer after every one of my messages asking to please not hold a grudge??"
etc.


These are personal truths to them, and I have learned more upon listening to their opinions. I myself have not posted much lately because of the amount of RRL = Really Redundant Loops that are cycling around.

Now, it makes me sad to hear this. It's shameful.

Really, why is it so hard to be nice?

Life's too damn short.

What does that make Second Life?

Instead of attacking peeps you don't agree with, I suggest spending time with your loved ones and enjoying every precious moment.

*sighs*

wise words.

it's prolly because forums are about Communication (shouting contests) and Debate (being right no matter what). SL is not.

I believe part of the problem is that many different people have many different views on how Secondlife should exist and what direction it should take. I've seen a lot of fangs come out when others talk about changes to the world or bring up opinions on how the place should be.

You can't please everyone all the time. It'd be nice if people could act without angry emotions and in a civilized manner (myself sometimes included) , but the digital world reflects the real world and people get upset and don't think clearly when they post.

Shut up, Torley, nice people like you aren't legally allowed on internet anyways. What sort of fake ID did you steal to get here?

In all seriousness, many of them probably don't even "know about" (ie. visit) the forums -- I didn't for at least a month, and I was perfectly happy. I started visiting the forums initially to get some script/build hints and tips. Then I got sucked into the dra-medy in the other forums for the entertainment value.

But whenever I post, I try to keep in mind the (oft-ignored) quintessential rule of forum posting* -- preview, preview, preview. Sometimes, by the third re-read, one'll realize that one is not contributing something positive (or anyway making some fallacies (ad hominem, anyone? we've all done it) that render one's post useless -- because some people are not very open even to otherwise-sensible arguments once they've been insulted)... so one can just cancel and save server diskspace.

Yes, there would be far less traffic if people didn't flame or quarrel so much, but is that "bad"?

* I just made up an officious term, but don't you think it's used by some, and should be by others?

LOL Kayin *smiles bigtime*

Quick answer. I live here

Because everyone here is smarter than everyone else here.

because we don't have anything better to do.

people claim that their forum personality is not anything like their inworld character. i'm inclined to believe it. we show our true colours here.

So true. I'm sure we've all said and done things in these forums that we would never say or do in real life.

Yeah, like that time I posted about that weird growth I have on my... oh, wait, nevermind.

Go figure. Another lamentation about the forums from blaze. I think that since you have joined and posted all of these septic tank drain field threads it's actually gotten worse. If you're so upset at the state of things why do you keep on? The amazing thing to me is that it's the general forum junkies that whine so much about this. Mayhap you are focusing too much on this aspect of SL?

OH MY GOD! THE FORUMS ARE HELL ON EARTH! LET ME STIR UP THOSE I HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EVERY DAMNED DAY!

For me, the real SecondLife is the blogosphere, and I've participated in a lot of different communities, and while a certain degree of flaming is always to be expected, it is never so rampant and angry as you find in SL.

It does go through periods of relative calm, of course, but certain angry, unhappy individuals seem almost attracted to this community.

It puzzles me .. I would have thought it'd be the opposite. That the people who were attracted to community would be generally positive, creative type people.

I think the few people who are friendly get ground down eventually and either leave or simply become bitter themselves.

I mean, just look at Nolan's post. He thinks an appropiate response is to leave and simply let the angry constituent take over.

I am wondering, what it would be like if we held a RL Forum get together, and I mean EVERYONE turning up... MAN that would be a riot, prolly quite literally.

We should get a police presence then. I suspect it may get violent.

I can just envisage Kris hitting flakey over the head with the devilled eggs, me and Charlotte under the table, drinking ourselves stupid and Korg and Pandastrong glaring at each other all night

Fuck you for even asking!