Over at my gaming blog I was commenting on what gaming sites to vist and which to avoid. It just dawned on me exactly WHAT the secret is to finding a good one. NICHE the more niche it is (as long as it has nothing to do with fighting games) the more laid back and down to Earth People are. Like...well HERE, there are less assholes here ,in fact the only asshole here I THINK is me and I've mellowed out abit...for the most part (or maybe I'm passonately opinionated than assholish), there is one other complaint I have but I'll keep it to my self. Digitpress seems to be mostly good people. Neo-geo.com has it's assholes but when I needed some AES parts they were right there to help out. Just an observation
I experienced that small communities tend to be reigned by one dominant admin who likes to present himself as the king of his little kingdom. There are always nice exceptions like special interest forums that I use to consult (cave-stg, super-play, ...), but I've also seen a lot of small and big forums where people are talking arrogant shit that's out of this world. I won't start going into detail on this, but I don't concur that this is due to "nicheness" either.
I don't think this is really true. Been part of various niche/underground scenes throughout games and music etc and it seems to be the smaller the 'scene', the bigger the personalities are which means you get both big arseholes and big legends. In the bigger 'scenes' you get people who don't really care about the subject matter as much (probably because the subject matter is easily accessible) to the point at which they're just consumers. For example in the (proper) UK hardcore punk scene which I used to be involved in a few years ago there were some legends who worked their asses off to put gigs on, run labels, tour etc and people who were just naturally funny as and nice people. Then you had stuck up, elitist people which kind of collapsed the scene in the end a couple of years back.
ave: I think the small forums can be great too, if the administrator and his moderator(s) are not behaving like demigods or anything like. But instead are first and foremost a member of the forum, and lets the moderating skills only become a factor if trouble is brewing. Cause as I see it, then being a moderator is basically the same as a normal member, except he has a few more options to have. And he is neither a demigod, or immune to people, if they are not fond of him. So I think it really depends on the individual. Not whether the forum is small or big.
I should mention in my experence that gamers as a whole...tend to be assholes. I think my occasional outbursts here yin this sites yang
Niche communities tend to be fanboy ridden. Unless you meant "Small" communities. Either fanboy ridden, or whenever someone different comes in, there will be shitstorm. Its happened here, after all. Not trying to start anything, just stating a fact. Has anyone here ever had the "pleasure" of going to the "No Mutants Allowed" forum? I went there for 5 minutes and hated it instantly. Arrogant fanboys, everywhere! And thats an understatement. Then again, bigger forums tend to be less moderated and are filled with rampant trolling and all that stuff...as well as topics going off topic ridiculously fast.
well, if we (the gamers) tend to be arseholes, then I can guess you tend to be the turd who tries to stir up a crapstorm then ? The forum, I am a moderator is neither a fan boy ridden forum, or a niche forum. It is just a small forum. And I am normally the best deterrent against the real arses of the forums. So it all boils down to the individual.
I have to agree. smaller communities are so much better. I can't even have an intelligent conversation on places like Gametrailers anymore. It's filled with pre-pubecent morons. On all big sites it's getting to the point where I don't even bother to reply at all. Because half the time the posts are "X game fucking sucks Z game is better" "no brah shit grap1cs Cod4 l33ts " blah etc etc. Now that U2 is comming out people are all of a sudden hating on MGS4 too. :=/ It almost makes me want to not play U2 since everyone is being a dick about it. Even though I know it's going to be good.
I think Vosse means Uncharted 2. This is the only forum I post on regularly. I'll sometimes post on Digital Press, but that's like once in a blue moon.
