Do people actually read Patrick's stories?

EDIT: PLEASE READ THE ORIGINAL POST BEFORE COMMENTING. THANK YOU!

Though the title might sound negative towards Patrick, it's everything but. I really enjoy the stuff Patrick writes. Personally, I think he's probably one of the few true writers of our little industry. He could probably work for the New York Times, but I'm glad he sticks around here at Giant Bomb.

But seriously guys. Do you just read the headline he writes, then post a comment? This is far from all of you, but a lot of users just seem to have no idea what they are actually commenting on. That's not the way to show you appriciate his work.

The story that really pushed me over the edge in regards to making this thread, was the story about the Kickstarter-project (Alpha Colony) that fell 28 bucks short. In the story, it is clearly stated why it didn't help that the they donated money to their own project. Like, it's super freaking clear. I think the Kickstarter policy mentioned there is pretty shocking, and I expected a good discussion on the matter.

Instead, I scroll down, and three of the five first comments literally say the same thing. "Why didn't they donate the money themselves?" And after that, there's just a boatload of that kind of comments on every page.

Seriously guys. Patrick writes this stuff for us. If you're not gonna read it, fine. But don't go posting on the forums if you don't, because that just a huge freaking insult to Patrick, and to the rest of us that want a good conversation on the topic. And commenting like that on a article that has so cleraly stated the answer to your question, just makes you look like the biggest jerk in history. This really pissed me off, and I never get pissed off.

Do better.

[MOD EDIT: Users who insult members of staff will be subject to moderation. Remember our golden rule, folks: Don't be a jerk.]

I read most of them and don't comment on the ones I don't read.

Unfortunately, I don't think this post is going to reach the people it was intended for. Personally, I do read Patrick's articles and I find the lot of them insightful. I do very much often try to avoid getting involved with the comments, however; they inevitably end up a mess. The people responsible for that either won't read this thread, will dismiss it immediately, or just get all defensive, potentially starting an even bigger mess.

It's really unfortunate and disconcerting that there are people out there who can't read an article and have the gall to make baseless comments about it or the matter the article covers. It happens all the time though -- even outside of this site -- and I don't really think there is nothing that can be done about that, sadly.

Of course I do. I'll never understand the Patrick hate.

Yeah I read the articles that Patrick writes, the ones I find the most interesting are ones like the Alpha Colony Kickstarter and the more in-depth ones he put out. It is kind of frustrating, sometimes, to read comments that clearly shows that the user did not read the story.

I read most of his stories, worth reading is hit or miss for me. But all his interviews he does like with the walking dead are quite good. Waitin for the 5th one to go up

I'm not a fan Patrick but I do read them. I don't think I've ever commented on any of them tho.

There's writing on Giant Bomb ? O.o....news to me, I just watch the quick looks and listen to the podcast.

I prefer Alex's stories and write ups more.

@rick_deckard said:

But seriously guys. Do you just read the headline he writes, then post a comment?

Welcome to the inter... no, I can't do it. The phrase is too cliché to use.

I notice this in the comment sections everywhere on the internet, from niche blogs to YouTube. I think it has to do with people being lazy, and/or wanted to submit a comment while the thought is fresh in their minds. I've been guilty of the latter a few times. Either way, this phenomenon has been around a while.

@EquitasInvictus: You might be right. It's just so damn irritating. It always punches a hole in the discussion. If this just makes one person less comment randomly like that, then I've done my job.

Depends on if the story itself sounds interesting. I usually don't even click on them otherwise.

Didnt understand the Patrick hate, now that the fad is back for some reason, I understand it even less.

I don't read the worth reading stuff because it's not always worth reading and there's too many things he lists. That might be a stupid way of looking at it but yeah that's it.

That's actually exactly what I thought when I read that article. Did anyone in the comments section actually read it? People are kinda crazy.

@BestUsernameEver: This has nothing to do with Patrick hate. Seriously, did you even read the OP? Doesn't seem like it, because it's all about what you just did.

Of course.

I do but I havent been able to read the Walking Dead ones....  I dont want it to spoil the game

I read most of them, yes. And that Kickstarter example you mentioned where 2 of the first 5 comments were something along the lines of "Why didn't the dev just pitch in the money?" and had the same reaction you did.

I barely read anything unless it is for work. I have the attention span of a child. That said, saying 'do better' is a fucking shitty thing to say.

Make better threads.

I used to, but I don't anymore. The 'writing like talking' fad that he has followed has caused the quality of his writing to plummet. Also, quoting himself like he did in the #1reasonwhy article was really unprofessional as well as arrogant.

I think the best writer on this site is probably Alex, his reviews are a joy to read, especially the ones about bad games. Ryan would probably be a close second, followed by Jeff and Brad (not necessarily in that order).

This will definitely not reach the people it seems aimed at, since there seems to be a fairly steady divide between the forums community and the everyone-else community, particularly those who comment on stuff. As far as I've seen or heard, a lot of the, let's say, baser members of this site spend time there, essentially acting as dicks to people.

And thus, I don't read the comments section, but I do read Patrick's articles. They're probably one of the most welcome editions to the site, it needed a better print section. Good to see him and Alex holding down the fort on that angle.

I rarely read any stories on this site, mostly because fuck jaded motherfuckers. That said, I said the same thing about Patrick a month ago in this thread. Instead of saying New York Times I suggested LA Times, Esquire or Playboy. But yes, I agree that Patrick is wasting his talents here. He must be getting payed some damn good money by CBS to settle for such a dump. :)

It's frustrating, but every website on the planet has people like that. Folks that just completely miss the point.

Take 90% of the replies in this thread. They have nothing to do with your main point of discussion.

I use to read them, but lost interest somehow.

To be fair, just like how not everyone has to have an opinion about everything, one doesn't need to respond to every single opinion presented. If you feel a post is nonsense and insubstantial to a discussion, simply ignore it and respond to the ones you find worthwhile.

Feeding the trolls only makes the problem worse.

Oh, and also, I do read Patrick's articles when I see them.

@dungbootle: I know! Do some people not understand the irony of their comments? Some guys are basically commenting without reading my OP, in a thread where I am asking people not to comment on something they haven'r read. #sad

@Zomgfruitbunnies said:

To be fair, just like how not everyone has to have an opinion about everything, one doesn't need to respond to every single opinion presented. If you feel a post is nonsense and insubstantial to a discussion, simply ignore it and respond to the ones you find worthwhile.

Feeding the trolls only makes the problem worse.

THIS. Jesus Christ. The same shit went down in the sexism thread. Ignore the people you don't like and the fuckers will go away. Shine a fucking light on them and watch them come. This entire thread is flawed because it will only invite those that the OP apparently doesn't like.

@rick_deckard said:

@dungbootle: I know! Do some people not understand the irony of their comments? Some guys are basically commenting without reading my OP, in a thread where I am asking people not to comment on something they haven'r read. #sad

You have to specify dude. Who is missing the point? "Them" could refer to anyone about anything. And if I see another fucking hashtag...

@Zomgfruitbunnies: It's just that when a large enough portion of the userbase comment on something they haven't read, it has a tendency to completly derail any hopes of a good discussion.

@dungbootle: I know! Do some people not understand the irony of their comments? Some guys are basically commenting without reading my OP, in a thread where I am asking people not to comment on something they haven'r read. #sad

@rick_deckard: I find it ironic that you have people doing the very thing you lament in your post right here in the thread. Delicious, and somewhat sad irony.

anyone willing to entertain my ass, is well worth at least a nod. For the HATEREZZ, fuck off and go read a book or something. *cheers

@rick_deckard: I definitely read most of his stories, and then I glance at the comments to gauge whether everyone or only a few people are complaining about it. Depending on how things seem to be going, I will comment and try to engage on an interesting topic.

@rick_deckard said:

@dungbootle: I know! Do some people not understand the irony of their comments? Some guys are basically commenting without reading my OP, in a thread where I am asking people not to comment on something they haven'r read. #sad

Some might just be trolling

I just look at the pictures.

@rick_deckard: Internet discussions are kinda like serving on a jury. People who have had jury duty probably know what I mean.

The first ten or twenty comments on just about anything here are particularly inane. I blame the stupid first post quest.

@rick_deckard said:

@BestUsernameEver: This has nothing to do with Patrick hate. Seriously, did you even read the OP? Doesn't seem like it, because it's all about what you just did.

That response means you didn't get it.

@Sinusoidal: That quest should be changed to getting the second post. That'll teach 'em.

Sadly, this is the way the Internet works. Everyone skims things as quickly as they can so they can be the first one to comment on it, even if that comment isn't justified or doesn't make sense.

I read each Walking Dead article after I finished each one, was a great read to hear where the writers were coming from, similar to a commentary track over a movie.

My personal favorite is the write-up he did about his dad and horror games. Struck me very strongly. I love his writing and style, although he does make a lot of speling errors.

I prefer Alex's stories and write ups more.

I don't like his writing style or the way he words a lot of things.

Yes. Some people just want to make themselves heard with the least amount of effort. It's a problem in most areas of society and trying to not get annoyed by it will spare you a lot of mental health.

When talking to people, how many times have I thought "I just fucking said exactly that. Did you not listen or do you just like the sound of your own voice?"... too many times.

And I agree that Patrick writes some really good stuff well worth the effort to read thoroughly. It's interesting to hear about, and from, the people behind the industry. I'm starting to care more about that than the cold hard facts about the numbers, release dates, games trailer analysis, corporate mergers and DLC announcements.

In my mind, Patrick is one of the few journalists working the games journalism circuit. That's probably categorically untrue in reality, but you don't often see feature columns on gaming websites. You see reviews and regurgitated press releases. Penny Arcade and Rock, Paper, Shotgun fit more in line with what's now becoming a traditionalist gaming editorial blog, and those sorts of sites with opinionated slants fit into the opposite end of the spectrum from the IGNs and the Gamespots of the world.

Patrick's work is a nice, restrained middle-ground between those two polarities. Sure, he takes up his causes too, but a great deal of his work is preoccupied more with introspecting on the industry, providing a critical--critical in the observational sense, not critical in the destructive or detracting way--look at a culture I'd otherwise know very, very little about.

@Vinny_Says said:

@rick_deckard said:

He could probably work for the New York Times,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....OH you're serious?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA HA

I don't think that's necessarily too absurd, as Patrick used to work with Stephen Totilo, and he provides videogame-related articles to the New York Times. So, if Patrick pursued it, I imagine he would actually have a decent shot at getting an article or two in the Times.

I'm not a huge fan of Patrick's writing style, but he does put some effort into writing thoughful stories, so I'm inclined to read most of them unless the subject matter is something I have zero interest in.

Yeah I like em' and never comment on articles.

I didn't read your post but I am outraged at your implications!