Topic: Goodbye/Vacation Thread

@Herculean yup, I like it too… though the more the merrier imho.

I have no idea the specifics of what’s gone on but that article essentially I gave my views, others disagreed, a couple of back and forths were removed and I didn’t think about it afterwards. I don’t however think it’s controversial to say that elements of the userbase are actively pushing to make the site as unwelcoming to certain groups as possible, it’s always been there but since Trump won again, it’s invigorated that crowd to feel justified and that they’re ’taking back games’. It’s not as if there’s even many voices left on the other side, most don’t engage with articles or have moved on, so what you’re left with is a choice between waking up to an inbox with 15 messages or just biding your time to wait for mods to remove the worst of the bigotry and hold your tongue because any challenge will result in worse being posted.

I don't think it was necessarily anyone with extreme views that were put out by the events though (those types just happen to feast off the comment section chaos and use it as an excuse)

What it boiled down to, in essence, is what felt like the fun police had come in to tell people off, and that drew out the worst along with it. Those that probably wouldn't have posted there because the discussion and article were very much unrelated to what was mentioned. And the aforementioned chaos ensued, but it also drew the ire of the regular users who were now kind of being painted as part of a group of people that they are not part of (the extreme f*** nuggets) just because they didn't agree with the exact way these topics were raised out of nowhere and had something genuine to say about that. I'm sure some heated arguments were had where people went too far too, and then a response had to be made to those to tell them they went too far, but that isn't really the issue, beyond the fact those arguments wouldn't have happened.

I can't speak for everyone, but that is what it felt like as an observer.

It was like talking about your favourite cup of tea, and that then suddenly turning into an argument about imperialism and empire and a bunch of suporters for that being dragged in to a discussion, and that making the people who just like to drink tea feel like they are now wrong for doing so because they are now being included as part of the problem. When really... they just like tea.

I don't think that anyone, that wasn't being a total c***, anyway (those types will always find a way regardless of the topic because they like to spread their hate) was in the wrong from either perspective on the surface of things, I just don't think people appreciate any social justice or any politics of any kind being in the regular throwaway chats. And I don't think anyone who was annoyed and raised that point was instantly worthy of being deemed in the wrong.

At the end of the day, if the article is about some c*** ceo being a c***, or some company firing staff to squeeze a little more profit, or about execs bullying and victimising staff, sexually or psychologically, then go absolutely nuts! People should talk about these things, about morality and justice, and punishment for those involved (hey, former Ubisoft execs, you got off lightly). But in an article about some awkward guy giving his honest opinion from his awkward artists' perspective to a publication that asked a weird question for, I assume, a dumb reason, then maybe everyone could just lay out, and maybe let people have a little fun with it... without being made to feel bad before we all die in agony when we totally destroy the world in some way or other 👍👍

[I hope everyone that reads this reads it as it is intended. An overly passionate, darkly humoured post about PushSquare's 'Bum-Gate' the Internet, the world, and how we treat each other. It contains no hatred towards anyone... unless they absolutely deserve it (The guilty former Ubi Execs, the extreme "everything-ist" hate clubs, etc)

And yes, I know I will grate on people, and I mostly post for my own weird brand of entertainment, but every so often I have to post something a bit more real for the heck of it.]

In summary: Sometimes maybe we need to take a step back and think do we need to stand and fight at this very moment or can we just let people have a laugh if they aren't being inherently awful and purposefully hateful.

And if people are being awful and hateful on here, please, do carry on slapping them down, as I fully support it when it is warranted, and will join in with the slapping from time to time if I notice it.

I also don't want this to feel like it is weighted at any one poster, it is more the general way a comments section can go, but usually either someone says something awful and hateful, or someone says something self righteous or presumptuous in nature about someone, and then others respond to that rather than the article itself or the more positive comments. And in 'Bum-Gates' case there were a few comments that became the touchpaper for the chaos during a ridiculous heatwave when tensions are always high.

And again, I don't disagree with standing up for a cause, and having strong convictions, but this is just my honest thoughts and summary of what happened on that fateful day, and maybe how it can be avoided in future so we can all get along on the gaming website that the staff try hard to keep user friendly for everyone, even if we aren't all going to be best buds. Maybe it is unreasonable, but I feel I've been both true to myself and as pragmatic in my approach as possible and I don't particularly care if people think I'm a tw..it for doing so as this was pretty theraputic as I listen to Moby and zone out for the night (apologies if it is a mess to read)

✌️😛✌️

@Ravix I agree wholeheartedly with what you write here, including your take on the original situation, which was pretty much how I viewed it as well. I'm constantly torn between the mindset of speaking up whenever and wherever you see injustice or just plain horrible behaviour and the "there's a time and place for everything", so I find I choose my battles carefully based on level of egregiousness and context.

I find myself trying to avoid expressing, or at least dampen, my political views when posting thoughts on here and other similar places. It's not that I'm afraid or ashamed of them (I'm a proud woke bleeding-heart liberal leftie snowflake), but they are rarely relevant to the discussion and will only bring out the crazies and derail everything into a sh**show. I can find other places to vent my frustration over the world and the useless humans inhabiting it (oh, yeah, I'm a misanthrope, too ).

Also, I like most of the people I interact with on here and their political views are of no interest to me and unless they start spreading hate rhetoric I will continue to interact with everyone with friendliness and a dollop of my terribly bad sense of humour as the situation warrants

@Ravix Good comment, and without wanting to get drawn into the whole discussion again, I will say that I saw Jimmer's response to my comment on the ideas thread before it removed and I didn't see much wrong with it. The problem with deleting comments is that it makes it look like we were having a barney, but it was a very sensible discussion about what might cause people to post what they post. If the conversation breached the rules then fair enough, but if anyone's wondering what they said, it was certainly nothing out of order.

It was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy; by voicing concerns about articles potentially driving people away from the site, I kick started a discussion which resulted in exactly that. Sometimes I wonder whether it's better to just say nothing.

@themcnoisy I'm good, no novels being written here (although I did start one before lockdown, maybe I should pick it up again). I've changed jobs and relationships a couple of times, it's been a turbulent couple of years lol, but things are settling down again now

@FuriousMachine Oh hey thanks, yeah I kept my account but I'm not reading the comments anymore just casually browsing the article headlines from time to time. I saw both sides of that article and saw many upvotes but I don't think it's worth it. I can see why it might appear sexist but I can see the empowerment angle too, although that was easier said than done. I didn't want to delete my account over it and have always see deleting accounts as deleting the people (like yourself) and not the account itself, it's cutting ties through no fault of the people you did interact with. I do think some growing up and life experience needs to happen for some folks but realistically speaking I don't know the person on the other end or why they have those views, or if they are even in a position that allows them to learn from experience. I hope you and everyone are keeping well and enjoying the summer/gaming.

@GirlVersusGame 🙌

@Gremio108 I don't know if it's better to say nothing. It might put other things in motion again too.

@themcnoisy Good to hear you’re all good and staying out of trouble McN.

And glad to see you haven’t bailed completely either @GirlVersusGame

@Thrillho I think we should definitely upgrade the forums and the way the comments work.

Obviously the community is the life blood of all the Hookshot sites so it'd be good to give them all some TLC soon.

(Sorry, I'm replying to an old comment here. Perhaps proves your point about how difficult it can be to follow discussions in the forums sometimes.)

Ciao~

@HallowMoonshadow What, are you leaving, too?! Hope it's just a short vacation and that you'll come back soon, if that is the case.

@RogueCooper cheers 🍻 a bit of introspection is good for the soul too. I mostly avoid the comment sections anyway because of the battleground they have become and the wave of people that joined to post very closed minded views in nearly every thread they could find, and it isn't worth the hassle to even read in the first place. Sometimes I just cant help myself, but mostly I just want to come in, read some of the more interesting or funny comments, maybe attempt a bad joke or make an observation for my own entertainment and leave.

@Gremio108 I think it is healthy to talk about the things raised because there is a problem with the comments section on articles a lot of the time, and we all know the real problem posters are the ones that soley use the site to spew their rhetoric and hate, and they don't really include actual regulars who want to have a laugh, talk about games, talk about other interests and sometimes have more meaningful discussions too.

@FuriousMachine I believe you have summed it up, and summed me up better than I could myself, simply by talking about yourself there. Don't forget the self-deprecating humour in our genetic makeup too. We'd truly be nothing without that. Perhaps you are infact my brother from another motherland. And, yes, us liberal wokie snowflakes must stick together lest we melt. But I agree, it isn't something we have to talk about, it is just so, and I don't think we we'd be very liberal if we couldn't also get on with people we don't necessarily agree with everything about, that's part of the liberal deal 😅

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Sorry for my tardy reply, but it looks like others have filled you in better than I could have. I think the gist of the events have been well summarized. In the end, I’ll miss Jimmer but also respect each person’s choices and needs. Perhaps he’ll be back in an alternate account one day.

@Ravix. Just getting around to Push Square catch-up and was going to also give a thumbs up 👍🏼 approval of your sentiment there (the long summary comment from a couple days ago).
I’m another (like some other users here) who tries to balance where and when I choose my hills to die on and it’s a tricky tightrope. When in doubt I try to just swallow my opinion and let things ride. But sometimes I blurt out something I regret. 😂

@HallowMoonshadow I’m always confused with the expression “Ciao” as it can be both a hello greeting and a farewell. 😄
Given the context of the thread I assume it’s a recognition of departure, so here’s hoping you are doing okay and the time away will be happy and peaceful. Hope to see you back soon with a Baldur’s Gate 3 platinum! 😁

@Th3solution Many of us have returned under new accounts, hahaha! 🌞

@get2sammyb ha, no worries.

On the forums in particular, I think part of the issue is that you get notifications if you reply to someone but I don’t think you do if you quote.

Other forums I use(d), the latter is the more common way of replying so you can keep up with what is being replied to. The other downside to quoting on here is that it shows the entire original post which is aesthetically rather cumbersome.

We had a brief discussion about the forums earlier. We agree they're a bit dusty and perhaps not fit for purpose anymore.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread or in the ideas/feedback one, most of the community engagement is happening in comments on the homepage.

I think ideally we'd like to really revamp how the forums work and how they integrate with the rest of the site. But it's not an easy solution so will take a bit of time to figure out.

@Scribedby Thank you! 🙏

@Scribedby Fully agree!

@get2sammyb Would it be a worthwhile idea for yourself or the team to poll some suggestions or ideas that you come up with regarding revamping the forums? I'm sure it would help get you more community feedback and give you a good idea as to what the community would be happy (or unhappy) with going forward.