Why Do I Read Comment Sections?
By yukoasho 23 Comments
Comment sections on articles, much like message forums, are supposed to provide an environment where people can talk about the topics presented, and how they relate to the broader issues of the day.
However, as we have once again been proven in the wake of Sony's impressive E3 showing, such is not the case. Rather than reasoned dialogue, we have ranting and raving by a variety of fools and illiterate, knuckle-dragging rejects that have effectively clogged the pipes and made reasoned dialogue impossible.
The problem, is, as it always seems to be, a set of three core groups.
Fanboys: These are people who seem completely blind to anything beneficial that the "other" side is offering. From Xbox fanboys defending the Xbone's Draconian DRM to Sony fans relentlessly mocking Nintendo's impressive lineup, these guys have been annoying beyond measure. They just can't leave the people who are excited about something the hell alone.
Distortionists: This seems to be especially intense now with Sony putting out a product with no online checks of any sort. In the wake of Sony's clarification that third parties can still do online passes like they've been doing for the past five or so years, the Xbox Defense Force in particular has decided to try to muddy the issue, flooding the internet with baseless claims that Sony is lying, or that the PS4 is the same as the Xbox 1, or some other such nonsense. Were this just fanboys, that'd be one thing, but there are two other sub-groups in the distortionist faction: Shills paid by Microsoft to try and generate a false impression that people are receiving their initiatives positively, and illiterate morons who won't/can't read a full article or watch a full video without jumping to conclusions at any moment. The former can be seen right through pretty easily, but the latter is infuriating: nothing makes me want to facepalm like having to clarify to someone who didn't read a damned article what the reality of the situation is, all the while praying they read my reply fully.
Trolls: In the wake of Sony's complete and utter domination yesterday, Sony fans have become somewhat... Boastful. The cute GIFs and the like are amusing, I'll admit, but it's hard to discuss anything when the entirety of derogatory statements directed at MS fans, with no substance or thought beyond "suck it, Xbots!" Honestly, I'm sad that MS is shooting themselves in the foot like this. The more viable competition in the market, the better, and having MS basically bow out of the mainstream gaming console market does no one good. We should be relieved, we should be happy that Sony didn't follow them off the cliff, but we shouldn't come off as arrogant tools either.
Unfortunately, this is how it's always been, especially when forums are mostly unmoderated. Are we really so set in our ways that it's impossible to have a decent, open discussion as a community? Are we really no different than the Fox News/MSNBC crowd? It seems so, and it fills me with so much sadness.
23 Comments