Murder Island: Smaller Murder Island

#TEAMRORIE we need a a sequel to rorie's puppy stream

I value your opinion - and wouldn't mind hearing why you believe so. I think civilized discourse is healthy and drives community engagement. For me personally, Rorie actively spoils otherwise enjoyable GB content because of the palpable tension his interactions create with other staff on camera and his repeated interruptions - but that's just my opinion. However, I make sure to voice that opinion as feedback to the content creators.

To me, the critical thing is to make sure that feedback is balanced and all sides are heard - if more people love Rorie than hate him, that's great and he should be recognized for that and maybe given more prominence in the content if the intent is to match the community feedback. If me being vocal with negative feedback drives more engagement on the positive side, and perhaps results in more opportunities for Rorie - would that not be a good thing?

"You're being a jerk" is not a counter - it's a knee-jerk reaction because I don't like what you like. I invite you to do something constructive with that.

You do realize that Jeff & Brad have been working with Rorie for more than a decade, right? If there was any tension between them why would they have hired him again? Even on this stream, Brad seems relaxed and fine chatting with Rorie. I think you're projecting your own feelings here.

why are you presuming that the content creators and website proprietors care?

this is a perspective i'll never understand. so you don't like rorie- fair enough, you can't please everyone. but why wouldn't you 'flip the channel' and not consume the content he's in, rather than pretend someone like jeff is constantly conducting a public referendum on the hires he's made?

like @adoggo said- he's worked with him for years. as in- prior to the basement office, right? my sense is jeff is probably pretty happy to have rorie show up in content by this point.

you want to express your dissatisfaction in a ostensibly public space? fine. but realize you're essentially heckling, which nobody really appreciates.

To be fair, in San Francisco that loaf of bread is probably $10. I'd hate to think what that chicken salad he go with it cost!

Can't say I missed PUBG. I just find it so boring. Was kind of hoping after the deluge of it last year it wouldn't show up again for a really, really long time.

You're 100% correct on everything you said. Rorie's been with the site forever and he does a TON of work behind the camera that sometimes goes woefully underappreciated (customer service, logistics, sourcing, etc. etc.) - he's been one of the pillars of GB for a long time and does have good rapport with Jeff and Brad. Jeff and Brad are not "all staff" - there's Ben, Jason, Jan and the whole GB East crew, too, not to mention the staff that left. I'm definitely projecting my own feelings from my observation of his interactions with the staff as a whole - that's the whole point of negative feedback. I simply don't like how he treats others on staff (on camera) based on my own personality and background - he seems like a nice person and does a lot for the site; I just think he comes off as a jerk on camera and I would prefer to view that content without him.

To address in order:

1. There's plenty of evidence to show that they care - GB staff frequently posts comments and have often spoken about reading comments. Community engagement has been at the core of GB for a long time - forums, comment sections, panels, etc. Heck, there's even a noticeable pattern of people complaining about Rorie in the comments and him taking a step back for a while - it's happened more than once. Comments work here.

2. The reason why I don't just want to "flip the channel" is a selfish one. I love most GB content and watch virtually all of it (or listen to). Very often, that enjoyment is lessened by Rorie's antics, and I would like that to not happen, so I post that dissatisfaction here to gauge how everyone else feels and to see if I'm missing something. I have changed my opinions before and realized that I was wrong many times from talking about things with others - that just hasn't happened in this case (yet). It looks like there's quite a bit of support for and against, which all useful feedback. I'm glad that Rorie gets a lot of support here - and this whole discussion highlights just how varied the GB community interests are.

3. Feedback works - it's worked here before and it will in the future. I get that you don't like me not liking Rorie - and that's fine, but this whole discussion has already been appreciated, both positively and negatively; and me responding and posting has dragged some otherwise-silent support for (and against) Rorie out, and I'm happy for that.

@skithemadrussian: Firstly, I'll say that I appreciate your civil approach to the discussion.

That said, though, you yourself admitted that your dislike of Rorie's on-camera presence is based on *your personal opinion*. Therefore, your admitted campaign to "force" Giant Bomb to limit Rorie from appearing on videos seems rather...self-centered, in a "Giant Bomb should cater to my personal whims" sort of way.

And regarding your "GB is responsive to viewer feedback" statement, I'd argue that it would take a pretty shitty company to dictate what an employee can and cannot do simply based on the personal preferences of an organized mob (e g., the Internet).

@skithemadrussian: Rorie is clearly an asset to Giant Bomb...off-camera.

sure- but you're presuming that jeff (and vinny i suppose for out east) takes community feedback re: staff under advisement, when in fact i think that's false. it would be one thing if a staffer was spouting abhorrent vitriol and the community was saying to jeff, "you gotta cut this guy, he's making us all uncomfortable." it's another thing entirely if it's a matter of personal preference and/or taste. and thank god for that, because every time there's a new hire (which rorie is the opposite of), the anti-change brigade rolls up in the comments and immediately expresses discontent for the new faces. no one would survive the first month if jeff and vinny were taking that pushback to heart.

you said, "I get that you don't like me not liking Rorie." that's not actually the case. not everyone has to like everyone, that's fine. but acting as though you have a 'voice' in this actually does rankle me a bit, because not only is it needlessly confrontational (you can express critique over private channels) but as a consumer, you don't really have ownership over any of this. if you don't like what a creator is selling, don't buy it. but it's a tad egotistical to presume your personal feedback can dictate the creative direction of a channel...ESPECIALLY with matters concerning who they put in front of the screen.

i know this is an oversimplification, but every time i see a comment on a video that says they don't like the on-screen talent, i think of a crowded theater where in the middle of a show someone yells, "hey this guy sucks, right?" and how productive is that, really?

I don't understand why all the Rorie complainer complainers don't just keep their opinions to themselves and not read comments complaining about Rorie. It just seems really self-centred to try to make other people conform the content they produce to what they personally want because they don't like it.

@wildaggro You're conflating constructive criticism with people talking about presumed anxiety issues or whatever else about some dude just doing his job and talking to his co-workers/friends. It's tacky and baseless. That's why I made the comment. Also, any game that involves a dwindling player count is a game of attrition.

That being said, I don't expect to change your mind, hombre. I am sorry my comment ruffled your feathers.

brad loots so slowly holy jesus

Also Commerce, Georgia (ALL THE OUTLET MALLS).

1:17:02

@brad has buck-teeth.

That's a pretty good strawman there! I'm not sure how you went from "an agenda" (actual words used) to "a campaign to force Giant Bomb" or "catering to personal whims" - that's quite a leap and you give me too much credit! I especially like when you use quotes to make it seem like actual quotes. The way you describe it, I would certainly agree with you that such a thing would be shitty, but that's the whole point of a strawman.

I care enough to post a few comments here and there, but I don't really care enough to actually put in an effort for a "campaign" of any kind. It's just not that important - though this exchange did provide me with a good anti-troll practice, which I actually appreciate.

You've got another good strawman in your last paragraph, too. Grade B+ troll job! For real, though, the whole point is - GB does listen to feedback, and it's important to provide feedback (hopefully in a civilized manner, without resorting to 8th grade debate class tactics). For a personality-driven site, that feedback will naturally touch personalities and will inevitably insense some who identify closely with those personalities (in your case, dedication to Rorie's brand).

@mellotronrules: Whoa, man. Do you honestly think that community involvement and feedback has no impact on the creative direction of GB content? That's a very pessimistic view - here are a few examples:

1. GB Chat is community feedback in real time that sometimes engages with the GB staff in a meaningful way.

2. GB Infinite voting is community feedback that matters - do you really think CBSi and GB wouldn't do data analytics on watching and voting patterns? That's incredibly valuable data that will surely play a part (not the WHOLE part, of course! - but a part, nonetheless).

On a personal level, I've had several of my questions debated on the Bombcast/Beastcast in a positive way and with good humor - that's direct involvement impacting GB content. Fan suggestions in comments make their way into episodic series in GB all the time (including a few of mine) - 13 Deadly Sims, Kerbal, X-Com, and more and more.

GB Extra Life streams with the community are amazing and a positive force for good.

Your voice matters - I don't know why you would want others to feel "powerless" to change things. It's a dangerous line of thinking that can get people into trouble real quick (see - America's voting in "he who shall not be named"). I would always encourage to be civil, but make your voice heard - because it does matter and it does get heard at some level. Take a step back and see if you sound like a bully - you may be surprised at what you see.

@skithemadrussian: to be clear- i'm not saying that giant bomb doesn't engage with community, and that community opinions hold no sway over the site's general direction.

what i am saying is- as a community member- i think one crosses a line when one's criticism shifts from "i don't like a feature on this site" or "this is an ill-advised series" to "this person should not be in this content" or "this person is clearly a poor fit for the site- they should not be in future content."

as a gb community member, i do feel as though the staff do value my opinion- but within reason. i am not a shareholder or an investor, nor is this a democracy. this is about their editorial voice, it's their show to run- however they see fit. expressing one's distaste for a staff member clearly isn't against-the-rules, but i suppose i'm realizing i have no idea what the end goal of such criticism is.

do you honestly expect jeff to take staffing advice from a comments section? do you want to make the person in the crosshairs feel bad, thereby discouraging future involvement? or do you think giant bomb should put it to a vote as to who appears in a given video? and if the answer to all of those is 'no,' then why do you feel the need to target a specific staff member in a negative way?

i dunno man- to me, the very soul of this goofy place is intrinsically bound to the strength of and commitment to their editorial voice. the very last thing i'd want to see is them surrendering that prerogative to a comments section.

@mellotronrules: You are a good duder

+1 on less Rorie, please. I'm sure he's a nice person, but some people aren't built for commentating on video streams.

Also, I cracked up for no reason at Rorie's, "Uhhh I'm being told you have to own... erm... P-B-G to use the keys."

+100 for more Rorie. Need more puppy streams.

You literally invest $50USD per year in Giant Bomb.

@roy42: paying for a subscription is not an investment.

@skithemadrussian: Saying,

I have frequently commented on wishing for less Rorie content - because I am actively trying for it to happen instead of being passive.

and then arguing "that's my agenda, but it's outrageous to assume that it's a campaign" seems like an example of "'six' to one, 'half-dozen' to another."

Everyone is going to have their nitpicks with shows they watch or media they consume. I’d be 100% for more Rorie instead of Ben, as Ben’s humor seems forced to me, but I know that would never happen.

15:15
The Honk Terminator was this gritty, fucking amazing, rock hard piece of sci-fi.

I think it's awesome that people actually voice their "real" opinions in comment sections on Giant Bomb. I've always loved Rorie, and I'm not going to lie and say that there haven't been times where I've watched a GB video in particular mood (good or bad) and just "vented" in the comment box. I don't think there is anything wrong with typing your opinion no matter the circumstance. I also think it's awesome that people in the community "come to bat" for Rorie when they feel as though someone is being rude or impulsive or whatever.

But more importantly, if someone wrote something that you disagree with - express your opinion - but I'd urge people to not feel the need to defend what GB or it's staff intends/stands for or whatever. Because I think if the staff or moderators found it actually relevant or needing to be addressed in any way - they'd speak for themselves.

Sooooo speak for yourselves...? Or something...I don't know I love you Rorie and watching people play PUBG aint my thing, but watching you, Brad, and Ben hang out for a bit was fun.

Every time I start watching a video and realise Matt Rorie is in it, I remember that I've still not watched all the archives of his WoW raid stuff. As someone who never got into WoW those were really fun and interesting.

Also Ben's mic seems to be blown out this whole video?

My favourite part of this sketch is how well it has aged.

Last year (or maybe it was the year before, I forget) Danny Boyle did a stage version of Frankenstein, with Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock) and Johnny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes in Elementary) swapping the roles of Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster every night.

Please murder the hottest of mics.

Rorie can be a bit talkative but I for one think he is great!

Is this the place where i need to state that i'm in favor of more Rorie to prevent him from getting less screentime? Is there a weekly poll that i need to attend to further my agenda of getting Rorie to show up in more and more content?

@skithemadrussian: far out you sound insufferable, way to derail the entire comments with your self importance. Rorie is fine and you sound like a nutcase.

I also dont like any content with Rorie. He takes the conversation into a stranglehold and doesnt let up. My 2 cents

The super-passionate Rorie defenders are super weird. I find Rorie lacking in social skills which makes for really annoying video content when he interrupts people and starts talking about a boring topic that has little to do with anything. On Unprofessional Fridays it's really obvious he doesn't know how to pick up on social cues from the others when he starts going down a rabbit-hole. It's also especially annoying when he speaks authoritatively about something and gets it wrong. He seems like a nice guy but he doesn't mesh well the rest of the crew while streaming; it's like he's on a different planet.