Why are members/fans? so rude to each other?

[TerriO]

I think Dayton Ward is one of the most sarcastic authors on here...

Wait, there's somebody in line ahead of me? Damn, and after all that work, too.

I want names, 'yatch.

Keep looking at my ass like that and I'm going to smack ya.



It's difficult sometimes to draw the line between "professional" and "one of the gang" when you've been around here for so many years. I'll agree with that sentiment. I know some of us (I'm not naming names, you know who you are, myself included) can come across as a bit more know-it-all at times. We all have those moments. However, I do agree that it is within the realms of reason to expect someone familiar with Internet bulletin boards to at least have a grasp of what the FAQ means when they see it.

Yet, nobody ever reads the FAQ. We should probably all learn that, too.

There's a lot of ego-preening that does go on around here, I have to say that. And if I'm lying, Dayton will kiss my ass since he's behind me in line. Yeah, sometimes it's nice to come and see validation for you work, I will never deny that. However, if legitimate criticism is leveled in a constructive manner, it should be given the weight it deserves. We may not agree with it, but it's a criticism is as legitimate as any glowing review we could have managed.

 

[bentbastard]

While online text based communication is problematic, especially since global communities do struggle with common nuances to (the English) language, somethings cannot be attributed to being 'lost in translation'.

Some segments of the online community (and I certainly have been a victim of it in here) simply enjoy barrating others, especially those who may not be as star trek-savvy as they.

For example, although I have been a 'member' for some time I once posted in the TOS room. I asked for some recommendations of which episodes to start watching, as I had recently bought the DVDs and wanted to know some of the better and highly recommended episodes. Within minutes I was set upon. It was N A S T Y!

Harrassment is not always a question of perspective, as a member of a minority group (or two) when I am harrassed I know it.

Im thankful that I live in a country (Australia) where people (OK, you can interpret that as USAmericans) cannot hide behind 'freedom of speech'. We have what is called anti-vilification laws and they regulate (in real life I mean) comments that readily occur online and in here specifically.

I have never returned to the TOS room. I dont think "cant handle the heat get out of the kitchen" is really the best option for what the original poster is looking for ... nor I

To paraphrase a great American ...

R E S P E C T ...

Yours in IDIC

 

[JAG]

I'm on board with the sentiments of this thread. I get annoyed that you cannot post a legitimate opinion about Trek Literature without being attacked or insulted or worst, accused of trolling.

The problem is in the way a legitimate opinion is presented. I don't like X because of Y is one thing. I don't like X because I said so and everything should be changed because I want it that way and who cares what anyone else thinks is another.

 

[Dayton Ward]

Keep looking at my ass like that and I'm going to smack ya.

Nicely played.

I'm on board with the sentiments of this thread. I get annoyed that you cannot post a legitimate opinion about Trek Literature without being attacked or insulted or worst, accused of trolling.

There are plenty of examples of folks offering dissenting opinions on this or that. Look at the Titan thread, or the recent VGR and DS9 threads, etc. People sound off all the time. It's not what is said, it's how it's said. Some folks can present reasoned positions; others just want to pick a fight, and there are shades of gray in between. All are treated accordingly, just like any other forum on the board.

I used to have a problem with some of the writers and editors, but now I see them in a new light. After all, while this is a hobby to most of us, it is their livelihood so perhaps we should cut them some slack.

I honestly don't mean this to be inflammatory, but your past "problem with some of the writers and editors" is what's working against you here. People have long memories, so they're liable to keep you at arm's length, at least for a while. Just my 2 quatloos. YMMV.

 

[Dayton3]

I just think in a fictional universe as large and diverse as Star Trek that there is room for people who like different aspects of it.

 

[Steve Roby]

You know I come here because I want to keep up on what is upcoming or current in Star Trek books.

This is probably the best place to do that. We're lucky to have a large number of readers here, but also lucky to have the contributions from writers and editors. Heck, we've seen a few regulars go from one group to the other.

The one thing I really despise and hate about this site is how rude and demeaning members are.

That's really not my experience of this forum at all. Compared to several other forums on this site (and I'm not even talking about TNZ, if that still exists) this is a generally polite and literate bunch. It's the best place I've found for intelligent discussions of Star Trek books.

People give sarcastic remarks when someone asks a question that has been asked before but instead of being kind they are rude in their responses.

Possibly. Sometimes, people read in sarcasm not intended by the person posting. Sometimes, people actually are sarcastic to a small but noisy subset of regulars who keep posting the same thing over and over and over and over, or who insist on missing any point not drilled into their skulls. A new user may see that dynamic in action and not know the backstory and get the wrong impression, but you're not a new user. And sometimes people are rude, and other people point that out.

Yes...perhaps the question HAS been asked before and Marco HAS answered it before but do you honestly and truly think that every member reads, remembers and has the time to search through the THOUSANDS of posts here?

FAQ. Know it. Use it. FAQs have been around longer than graphical web browsers have been around. Even someone who isn't aware of all Internet traditions should learn those three little letters.

 

[OmahaStar]

I just think in a fictional universe as large and diverse as Star Trek that there is room for people who like different aspects of it.

Since when? Did someone finally bat you upside the head and knock some sense in?

 

[David Mack]

^ Down, amigo. Chillax.

 

[Starbreaker]

I've just learned to ignore members. There's just one author here that thinks he's a celebrity know-it-all that I can't stand. I think the only time anybody gets really mad is when people don't read the FAQ...

 

[JAG]

It's not even that so much. I'll be honest, the FAQ can get kind of lost up top with all the other stickied threads.

Most people will say "Hey go look here for that information" and point them to the thread. When people have been told that a number of times, well maybe than, it gets annoying.

 

[TerriO]

Most people will say "Hey go look here for that information" and point them to the thread. When people have been told that a number of times, well maybe than, it gets annoying.

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment (I know, a moment?), then there will be people who will think "If you've been told that a number of times, why doesn't it sink in?"

That one sentiment alone is probably contributing to a lot of the harshness.

Keep looking at my ass like that and I'm going to smack ya.

Nicely played.

Danke. And if you were expecting anything less, you now know why you're behind me in line.

 

[Ktrek]

I appreciate everyone's response and I do agree that "in general" the membership here is pretty decent. My main complaint is the rudeness expressed so often to (what are probably first time posters here) just because they don't know the rules or where the FAQ is. I am not at all objecting to the fun silly banter that goes on as that is quite discernible.

I also know that this board is not here to sell books but if you are a fan of Star Trek books why would you not want to help sell them? If I love a book I tell everyone I know about it and try and get them to buy a copy too. It doesn't encourage sales of books when a member comes in here, asks an innocent question, and then gets slammed with some sarcastic reply, making them look like their stupid or something. It's the "talking down" to people that bothers me.

Even though this post was submitted in a general way; I know there are a lot of great members here too, and ones who contribute insightful comments on a regular basis. And there are members who go out of their way, like Ian, to be helpful and maybe not always appreciated. It's the small minority I was trying to reach with this post to maybe prick their consciences enough to think more about how they treat others.

Let me also say that I very much appreciate the authors involvement on this site. It makes it unique in fandom.

Kevin

 

[OmahaStar]

^ Down, amigo.

Can't help it ... I knew you were here, wearing those little Speedos and suddenly, I do declare, I got the vapors ...

 

[Brian]

I hate it when I ask a question and get some snotty reply like, "Hello, I already answered this, if you were paying attention you'd know" and provided a link to a thread that's six months old. As if I read every thread that's ever posted here.

 

[DigificWriter]

I've noticed the same thing as the OP, but it hasn't stopped me from coming back here because it's been, for the most part, extremely widespread. Some people definitely have more patience than others for certain things, but for every impatient/overly sarcastic/just plain rude person I've encountered here, there are an equal - or greater - number of people who are open-minded enough to let little things slide and be indulgent and accepting of a variety of different avenues of discussion. A good example of this is a discussion thread I started a few months back concerning the viability of rebooting Babylon 5. While there were a number of posters who questioned why in the world I would even want to contemplate rebooting B5, which is widely considered here to be one of the best Sci-Fi series of the past 20 years or so, there were an equal number of posters who were willing to engage in meaningful discussion about the topic.

With specific regard to this forum in particular, I've noticed that, unless something has been answered specifically in the FAQ, most of the people who frequently post here - including the editors and authors - are willing to answer questions and engage in meaningful discussion about a variety of topics, and, even if something has been answered elsewhere, most people will try to respectfully point that fact out.

 

[Dayton Ward]

Danke. And if you were expecting anything less, you now know why you're behind me in line.

I *was* expecting/wanting some kind of reaction -- from you, and one or two others -- just to keep the gag going. I didn't know exactly how you'd respond, but you didn't let me down


(and I really did LOL. )


Edited to add:

I just think in a fictional universe as large and diverse as Star Trek that there is room for people who like different aspects of it.

I don't know if someone else suggested this before, but it occured to me that there is one facet of the "Star Trek universe" that might be up your alley, given your stated interests: Star Fleet Battles. In addition to the games that've been around for decades, they've recently started to branch out into fiction. They're in the process of putting together an anthology of short fiction culled from back issues of their game-related magazine, and I believe they have plans for longer works. Check them out at StarfleetGames.com

(cue Nerroth )

 

[Thrawn]

I appreciate everyone's response and I do agree that "in general" the membership here is pretty decent. My main complaint is the rudeness expressed so often to (what are probably first time posters here) just because they don't know the rules or where the FAQ is. I am not at all objecting to the fun silly banter that goes on as that is quite discernible.

I also know that this board is not here to sell books but if you are a fan of Star Trek books why would you not want to help sell them? If I love a book I tell everyone I know about it and try and get them to buy a copy too. It doesn't encourage sales of books when a member comes in here, asks an innocent question, and then gets slammed with some sarcastic reply, making them look like their stupid or something. It's the "talking down" to people that bothers me.

I can think of at least 4 threads in the past month where someone new to treklit has appeared and asked for recommendations about where to start, and in every instance he was given thoughtful, reasonably lengthy replies.

In the age of the internet, though, often basic research like "are ST books canon" can be accomplished in 30 seconds with a google search or a glance at the FAQ. And I think it's totally legit to be frustrated that new people would rather ask the question, and assume we have nothing better to do than answer it, when 30 seconds of their time could solve it.

Recommendations are a different story, as that requires a LOT of research to figure out for yourself, and as such those threads are treated very respectfully.

 

[Starbreaker]

God Bless Google.

Seriously, the only time I get a little annoyed personally (it's only a message board and I don't think about this board when I'm away from it, by the way) is when someone asks "What's the correct reading order for "series X?"

If there are only three books in this series and they are released in order, I would think it would be just as easy to go to Amazon and look at the release dates then it would be to come here and ask a question.

 

[JD]

I just wanted to just jump in here, and say that I really think that other than a few threads things here are actually pretty friendly. Now I can kind of see what you are saying, and I think part of the problem might be that people do tend to get tired of answering the same questions over, and over, and over again, at least I know that's how I feel. But I think even then, other than a few people most of us tend to be polite and answer the question, the problems tend to pop up when people start to argue with the answers that they are given.

 

[ronny]

God Bless Google.

Seriously, the only time I get a little annoyed personally (it's only a message board and I don't think about this board when I'm away from it, by the way) is when someone asks "What's the correct reading order for "series X?"

If there are only three books in this series and they are released in order, I would think it would be just as easy to go to Amazon and look at the release dates then it would be to come here and ask a question.

For some reason this question just kills me too. 99.99% of the time the answer is the order they were published in and that's damn trivial to figure out.