jawa asks... how are you feeling about GR?

My thought's about Grcade where sumarised by a certain 4 non-blonde people/

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling... a little peculiar


And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

I stopped posting in GGC when the same serial offenders trolled and baited their way around the various threads with no cares in the world. They're still at it to this day (to a lesser degree) and I think were responsible for a fair few people leaving/stopping posting in there.

I mainly just post a few times a week in a couple of threads in OT now.

To be brutally honest, this place depresses me. I'm not enjoying the time I waste here anymore, but I can't seem to stop visiting. It's like I'm chasing a high of the specific social interaction I used to get out of here, but it never arrives. And that just leaves me feeling down, and upset over the time lost.

The way I feel, if this place shut down tomorrow, I'd be relieved, rather than upset.

Well that post was sobering.

Definitely posting a lot less lately. Not many bother to make new topics, Ive tried to do so in the past in GGC but got tired of trying to drag conversations up.

Hit a wall.

I don't see how anyone can read the Raft Race Thread and claim this place is depressing.

No, I do understand. One thing I'd say is that if you feel this way please come forward with any specific reasons why. Like if The Watching Artist's trolling of Jawafour is the reason you're not so into reading any more, let us know and maybe we can do something about it before it gets so bad that you have to drift away completely. With the exception of one or two hotspot threads, the Mods get remarkably few formal complaints, really, and even fewer general suggestions for improvement.

Coreopsis wrote:1. The Gaming folder is a complete, jumbled mess... but hey ho. I'll just carry on ignoring it...

It perhaps is unusual to have a single folder for gaming on a gaming site... but, personally, I quite like it. I can see that it may be an idea to have more folders for a busy site but - certainly over the past year or so - the pace of discussion is such that I don't personally feel that they're needed. I wonder if your view would be helped, Coreopsis, if the "format" (i.e. Xbox, PC, PS4 etc) filters were available? i saw these filters mentioned in another thread and I can see the attraction of them.

Coreopsis wrote:2. The [DISCUSSION] tag implemented here is one of the biggest facepalms I've ever come across in all my years of foruming....

It is certainly a different approach and I was a little sceptical myself but I think it's a reasonable method of bringing more considered and structured discussion to some difficult (in terms of wildly varying viewpoints) subjects. In an *ideal* world we perhaps wouldn't need that method as forum rules would cover it, but personally I don't find the approach should put someone off from interaction; but I understand that, in your case, it seems to be.

Coreopsis wrote:...coming from someone who's never really become a major contributor at Grcade and has always rather looked at things from the outside...

Your point touches upon something that I feel quite strongly about, Coreopsis - the idea that there are possibly various "divides" amongst GRcadians. I am a firm believer that we all have it within us to contribute to GR and that we shouldn't be put off; sure, I can see that various people will "get on" - or have more interaction - with certain people, but that just reflects real life in how some people just share certain behaviours and approaches; I, personally, don't feel that there are regular instances that would cause anyone to feel excluded. Certainly there are a few infrequent things hat crop up and could put people off - particularly the usual "format" wars and the odd ill-thought comment - but my take is that this in reasonably uncommon.

Zellery wrote:I stopped posting in GGC when the same serial offenders trolled and baited their way around the various threads with no cares in the world. They're still at it to this day (to a lesser degree) and I think were responsible for a fair few people leaving/stopping posting in there...

Zellery, you've highlighted something that I was thinking about, too. Now, before I get into this, I am not taking a dig at the mods and I don't want anyone to think that I would. Being a mod is an impossible job and I can see why some mods may get so frustrated with some behaviours on the forum. I think the mods have taken a lighter touch over the past year - and that is backed up by the "ban" records - and, personally, I think there are two sides to this. Firstly, it's a good thing as situations are being managed without having to resort to a ban - and it perhaps indicates an improved general level of interaction by GRcadians. On the other side, I would suggest that there have been a few instances where folk have got away with pushing boundries a little too far (again, only in my view). However, in the later cases I believe that I should have highlighted these cases to a mod for review - I can't expect mods to have eyes in all threads and on all posts for all of the time. Being a mod is a totally thankless task and, as with any type of "rule system", someone is always going to get the hump with the verdict.

Curls wrote:My thought's about Grcade where sumarised by a certain 4 non-blonde people...What's going on?

It's nice to get a good song unexpectedly introduced into a thread .

jiggles wrote:To be brutally honest, this place depresses me. I'm not enjoying the time I waste here anymore, but I can't seem to stop visiting... The way I feel, if this place shut down tomorrow, I'd be relieved, rather than upset.

That's a shame, jiggles. Although you and I don't often seem to post in the same threads, I could detect that you seemed to be increasingly frustrated in your posts. What is it that depresses you about GR? Is there something you could do to change that view?

Floex wrote:Definitely posting a lot less lately. Not many bother to make new topics, Ive tried to do so in the past in GGC but got tired of trying to drag conversations up...

I agree that it can sometimes be hard to catch the interest when starting a new thread, Floex. I think it's natural for people to take the "I'll read this" rather than "I'll contribute to this" approach"; and that can be a wee bit frustrating when you've gone to the effort of making something (a thread, a post, a picture, a joke or whatever!). All I'd say is to try and not let it deter you - sometimes the posts will start to stream through and that can help make it feel worthwhile.

- - - - - - - - - -

Finally for this post, just another thought - don't forget about the impact that you (yes, YOU, dear GRcadian!) can have on the place. It doesn't always feel like it, but if you create a thread, reply to a post or interact with someone in GR - you're helping to set the tone of the place. And that can be good or bad depending on your actions. I wonder if you have a bit more power here than you realise?

EDITED: spellings, typos.

Karl wrote:One thing I'd say is that if you feel this way please come forward with any specific reasons why.

jawafour wrote:What is it that depresses you about GR? Is there something you could do to change that view?

I wish I had a laundry list of stuff that made this place fun for me in the past, but I don't.

I guess I don't relate to the group as well as I once did? It seems like the length of time between new posts in topics I'm interested in just gets longer and longer. I get that activity has been falling across the board, but for all the people that are still posting, it often times feels like to me like there's nobody here at all.

Im liking the new environment of the football league thread.

Apart from moggy.

jiggles wrote:I wish I had a laundry list of stuff that made this place fun for me in the past, but I don't.

I guess I don't relate to the group as well as I once did? It seems like the length of time between new posts in topics I'm interested in just gets longer and longer. I get that activity has been falling across the board, but for all the people that are still posting, it often times feels like to me like there's nobody here at all.

I hope you won't mind me suggesting this, jiggles, but I wonder if you may be looking at GR a little bit "glass half empty"? Sure, I agree that things don't move as fast as in the past, but I look at your phrase "It seems like the length of time between new posts in topics I'm interested in just gets longer and longer" and I wonder if this presents an opportunity to create threads on the things that do appeal to you? Certainly, you may only get a few responses - but another time you could set off a stream of interaction.

Active membership is down on before but it does vary; during the recent "DRIV3ERGATE" chat we had around 350 people on the forum! To be honest, once or twice during the past few months I have felt a little bit like you do - but I found that taking a short (a few days) break and then coming back to create stuff and join in seemed to work for me.

- - - - - - - - - -

Another thought - and this isn't related to jiggles! - is to not take posts too personally. I have gotten frustrated with some stuff at times but, after thinking about it, I realised that posts are often (note: not always!) made with a minimal amount of thought-time being spent on them. By nature, internet forums and social channels are a hive of reactionary, instant thoughts - sometimes it can be better to ignore one or two replies and laugh them off.

For me, the main problem we have is there's not enough new blood coming in, but I think that's a problem evident on a lot of old forums these days due to the rise of social media. Facebook groups and Twitter have been taking over for a while and the younger generations now flock to those rather than places like this. However, I think it's pretty damn impressive that we're still here after almost eight years since our split from GamesRadar - I remember some thought we wouldn't even last one year! This place still feels like my internet home, and provided most of you stick around I can't see that changing

Glowy69 wrote:Im liking the new environment of the football league thread.

Apart from moggy.

I just quoted Jurassic Park at you.

Is Jurassic Park not good enough for you?

Glowy.

Moggy wrote:

Glowy69 wrote:Im liking the new environment of the football league thread.

Apart from moggy.

I just quoted Jurassic Park at you.

Is Jurassic Park not good enough for you?

Glowy.

I didn't see it, I don't live on here like you mate

jiggles wrote:I guess I don't relate to the group as well as I once did?...

I can sympathise in that it has been hard seeing some of the posters I like drift away (or outright deliberately leave). I wish Aneurin would come back. For what it's worth I think you're well-liked on here even though perhaps the conversations are becoming less to your taste.

46579 posts wrote:

34526 posts wrote:

46579 posts wrote:Im liking the new environment of the football league thread.

Apart from moggy.

I just quoted Jurassic Park at you.

Is Jurassic Park not good enough for you?

Glowy.

I didn't see it, I don't live on here like you mate

I still like this place, yes it's a bit quieter these days but it's still the first site I visit during my daily internet fix and can't see that changing any time soon.

I don't mean to insult anyone who posts on SONM but compared to GRCade that place is in a bit of a sorry state, nearly everyone there is abrasive, rude and generally unpleasant towards each other, threads are always derailed by petty squabbling and endless obscure memes which are utterly meaningless to new members (myself included) and any attempt to post a sensible thread is usually met with utter disdain. I've witnessed one of the most pleasant/friendly members on there (ChaosControl) being basically driven off the forum by the toxic atmosphere there, in fact I suspect that the whole thing is the reason why we haven't seen her on this place other than a few posts in the Noobs unite thread.

I like SONM but their politics chat is appalling, I know people say ours is bad but there are much much worse Politics Threads out there.

Karl wrote:I like SONM but their politics chat is appalling, I know people say ours is bad but there are much much worse Politics Threads out there.

Can you imagine what would happen if RichardUK posted on GRCade?

Edit: it seems he already has, complete with obligatory union flag/Lego theme.

You can't get rid of the DISCUSSION rules that are the only thing preventing some people from getting banned, and keep the current ban-free status quo. Obvious point is obvious.

I think this place is great. I'd say perfect were it not for the occasional "why GR is crap now" threads. Jawa here's a winky face for you because I know this wasn't your intention with this particular thread.

If you feel down about GR that's OK, we're a small community that was born from a bigger one and as such many of the most prolific (or most badly institutionalised) contributors can vividly recall a far busier era. So this relatively quiet period by comparison can seem like things are on the "decline" as popularity and quality seem inextricably linked on the internet (even though that obviously isn't the case). It doesn't help that our most common demographic is likely to be cutting down on leisure time to do the middle-aged family thing. But it also doesn't help, in my opinion, that we have the occasional eulogy thread.

I am in no way suggesting that people should not feel welcome to present their honest opinion. But likewise, this is mine.

It's interesting that some folk may perceive this thread to be a "moan" thread. It *could* be... but it could just as well be a "hoorah!" thread, and I think some of that has come through in the comments so far.

The forum will never be ideal for everyone for all of the time; my goal is to try and get the idea going about what we can do on a personal level to mould it to our own tastes. We have limited capability but we can make small changes that make GR better.

As a couple of examples, I love how Cheeky Devlin has developed the ARcade Attacks vids, how Pedz has evolved Retro Mondays, how Super Dragon 64 has maintained the enthusiasm for Mario Kart Mondays, how Errkal has boosted the GR social channels, how Dan and Karl led Cannibal House, how Moggy maintains a presence in almost every thread ( )... and that's just the things that I've had a chance to see. I know that some guys do the Friday Night PC stuff, others do a Sunday Night DriveClub and more.

It's great that we're willing to share our concerns on the more challenging areas of GR but, yes, lets not forget all of the good stuff that is here.