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If one of my players took it on himself to f#@@ up the gaming schedule just for fun, I would first ask him not to do that again. Then I would tell the group that the only valid information about gaming time comes from ME, and specifically NOT from that guy, no matter what he says. Third, one final warning. Then I would kick him no matter who else left for it. Headaches of that caliber are not ok. Plus, there is always things to be said for not being anywhere near guys who get their fun from that kind of shit. I mean... that is precisely the type of guy who would drink your milk without asking.
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You also accused a guy talking about cheating of being a troll. Boy who cried wolf, DrDeth. A lot of people make accounts just to get advice here, so you can't automatically assume anybody with a new account is a troll.
RD has given no indication this is a hypothetical situation, and his distress seems pretty genuine. I don't get why the subforum is suddenly so against these advice threads--I think they give an interesting perspective, and they can prepare GMs for dealing with the issues discussed later on.
RD, on a tangent. Have you considered trying to run a PbP? As GM you can be very selective of your players and by searching their posts you can gauge their dependability and personality. Plus, because of your extensive posting history, prospective players know what they are getting into ahead of time.
I don't have the opportunity to play IRL, but have met and played with many tremendous gamers on the boards here.
You also accused a guy talking about cheating of being a troll. Boy who cried wolf, DrDeth. A lot of people make accounts just to get advice here, so you can't automatically assume anybody with a new account is a troll.
RD has given no indication this is a hypothetical situation, and his distress seems pretty genuine.
I did not. If you're thinking about the same one i am, I did note that it was a new poster, who never came back, with a very hot topic question. You could infer that if you wish. But the point that a OP posts then doesn’t come back to answer further questions or requests for details is a very valid one. Why go on for pages when the OP isn’t even reading what we write? Even if he isn't a "troll" he's a seagull.
RD has said specifically that he will not say if one of his threads is a hypothetical.
Not all OPs have time to linger on a thread all day. It only becomes suspicious if they're absent for a full day or two--you make these accusations way too quickly. Oh, and cheating has never been a "hot topic". Not sure what forum you visit where it is. I think there was one argument once where people argued about giving the cheater a negative level, but that was only once, and it was an extension of an unrelated argument.
And I'm aware of RD's statement, but this thread does not sound like a hypothetical. His attitude indicates genuine distress.
And to go on a tangent here, so what if it is hypothetical? The point of these threads is to introduce a concept for discussion. When did discussion become a bad thing? I'm thinking it was probably around the same time some posters started posting hypotheticals solely to advance their personal crusades. Pity, that.
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Assuming that this may not be a hypothetical, you need to assume these lies are seeded with truth. At least some of this behavior is attention-seeking.
Some possibilities:
1) What if everything up until the 'j/k' was real?
2) What if those people really do have those APs bought and ready to play?
3) What if they really are grouping up to discuss how much they don't like playing with your brother?
Etc, etc, etc
Not all OPs have time to linger on a thread all day. It only becomes suspicious if they're absent for a full day or two--you make these accusations way too quickly. Oh, and cheating has never been a "hot topic". Not sure what forum you visit where it is. I think there was one argument once where people argued about giving the cheater a negative level, but that was only once, and it was an extension of an unrelated argument.
And I'm aware of RD's statement, but this thread does not sound like a hypothetical. His attitude indicates genuine distress.
And to go on a tangent here, so what if it is hypothetical? The point of these threads is to introduce a concept for discussion. When did discussion become a bad thing? I'm thinking it was probably around the same time some posters started posting hypotheticals solely to advance their personal crusades. Pity, that.
I made no ‘accusations’. I merely point out that it is a new poster whose first thread is on a hot topic. Folks can then make whatever decision or conclusion they want to. And indeed, in several threads when I pointed this out, the Op never came back. Cheating is certainly a ‘hot topic’, even if not a common topic.
I am glad you think this is not a hypothetical. I disagree. Has RD come back and stated this was not one of his famous hypotheticals? If some of us take one of RD’s IRL threads and consider it a hypothetical, or take a hypothetical and consider that a IRL problem, due to the fact RD refuses point blank to label or tell us which is which, whose fault is that?
Discussion is a great thing, which is why RD’s famous hypotheticals are fun to participate in. BUT some people were getting very excited and “het up” here . If we consider it as a hypothetical we can be more laid back, and the discussion can be more thoughtful and less emotional. Thoughtful is Good.
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I wonder if part of the reason people come to seek advice on the hot topics and then don't seem to participate much is embarrassment and pride:
"Crap, I *had to ask for advice* on some random board because I wasn't cool/smart/manly enough to handle this myself immediately. This sucks."
Meh, just going off topic here for a moment out of pure randomness. I now return you to your regularly schedule debate on "players pulling crap on (you)".
As I said, it is not a complicated issue. It happens, you deal with it. I REALLY can't see what is to be stoked up by in this on a messageboard thread. If it is trolling, well, it is pretty fail.
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I made no ‘accusations’. I merely point out that it is a new poster whose first thread is on a hot topic.
Is there a need to call out the new poster in this manner?
Folks can then make whatever decision or conclusion they want to. And indeed, in several threads when I pointed this out, the Op never came back.
Perhaps they felt unwelcome by your implied accusation and decided to avoid people acting like jerks.
Seriously, how about you just stop that kind of behavior, and assume good faith in the poster?
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Seriously, how about you just stop that kind of behavior, and assume good faith in the poster?
+1
I will frequently avoid this message board because of the microculture that it seems to breed. Think about that when you post, as Brian is suggesting.
In fact you might consider only discussing the topics of the thread, rather than the people who participate in it.
Try and picture what that might look like to fresh eyes.
And having said all that, I am going to take my own advice and stop.
I made no ‘accusations’. I merely point out that it is a new poster whose first thread is on a hot topic.Is there a need to call out the new poster in this manner?
Folks can then make whatever decision or conclusion they want to. And indeed, in several threads when I pointed this out, the Op never came back.Perhaps they felt unwelcome by your implied accusation and decided to avoid people acting like jerks.
Seriously, how about you just stop that kind of behavior, and assume good faith in the poster?
I don’t know where you get the idea I was ‘calling someone out” or accusing them. I have posted this sort of thing twice:
“To repeat what has been said many times already. You can NOT solve a OOC problem IC. It just makes things worse.But note, this is the Op's first and only post here ever. Perhaps he's just having us on.” This in a thread where the OP never came back and my post was after many other posters.
And “Don't any of you find it odd that the OPs first and only post here concerns killing goblin babies and paladins? I mean, this is the classic meaningless debate that has gone on since the first D&D message board, and before that at 3 am in the morning.” Again, after many other posts.
Trolling has become a problem here. In fact I have a PM from a staffer acknowledging that.
Seriously, how about you just stop that kind of behavior, and assume good faith in the poster?+1
I will frequently avoid this message board because of the microculture that it seems to breed. Think about that when you post, as Brian is suggesting.
In fact you might consider only discussing the topics of the thread, rather than the people who participate in it.
Try and picture what that might look like to fresh eyes.
And having said all that, I am going to take my own advice and stop.
You have an excellent sense of humor and the absurd. To spend a entire post "discussing" a fellow poster (and nothing on the topic) , then say “In fact you might consider only discussing the topics of the thread, rather than the people who participate in it. “ is a brilliant piece of satiric irony. I am impressed. Few could carry this off without merely sounding hypocritical. Kudos!
