I common response that I've been seeing to "complaint" threads is that fans should be "grateful" that Bethesda is making another Elder Scrolls game. I'm really not understanding the concept behind being grateful for a paid service. Here is a basic definition of gratitude, from Wikipedia (lol):

Clearly, Skyrim isn't going to somehow help us in any way. Sure, it will provide enjoyment, but that can't really be qualified as "help". It doesn't matter how you interpret it. If anything, Skyrim is probably going to hinder us from furthering ourselves in life, considering many of us will be spending all of our free time playing Skyrim.

As for the second part, it is true that making Skyrim has been a costly process, but Bethesda isn't giving us the game out of the kindness of their heart. We are all paying around $60 dollars for what is essentially a paid service. There is no reason to be "grateful" for Bethesda making a game. When you're handing a plumber 500 dollars for fixing your sink, are you "grateful" that the guy did the job? Not really. It's his job to fix your sink, and you're paying him good money. Do you go to the manager of a grocery store after buying food and thank him for supplying you with food? No, they are offering a product to you, and you are choosing whether or not you want to pay money for it.

Basically, trying to use the term "gratitude" as a response to a valid complaint is just dumb. For real. It's just somewhat annoying seeing the same response posted in every "complaint" thread, because it is flawed logic. Gratitude should not be an emotion that applies to the sale and purchase of goods.

Some people are rabid Bethesda fans. *shrug*

They could of released a game half as good and have it sell just as well thus meeting clause B.

Beth does tend to go the extra mile with alot of its content unnecessarily.

Grateful is a perfectly valid feeling people can have towards Bethesda. That's not to say it's a valid response to the argument you gave as an example.

On the other hand, a little common courtesy toward the people providing a paid service is just good manners.

If someone does a decent job, you say 'thanks'. Even when you're paying them to do that job.

Yes, but the game has yet to be released. We can infer all we want, but none of us know exactly how good the game is going to be.

You shouldnt be grateful in any standard definition of the term...more like, not be a jerk judging somebody elses's work when you have had zero time actually seeing what he is working on, and the details of it.

So, its a dont be a jerk rule.

I dont see it as a "paid service", just like entering a museum and paying for it is not a "service". Its artistic entrepeneurship. However, I dont think that just because you are going to pay for it you should have the right to "demand" stuff from the devs. They have a vision and want to accomplish something...let them. Whatever you dont like, give them feedback, and they'll go back to the drawing board if they think you have a valid point that fits their vision. Its all in the process; one game is just the continuous process of making even better games. Its a cycle thing.

Given that it hasn't been released, I doubt it or Bethesda deserve the bad-mouthing they often get, either .

I agree that gratitude is going a bit far, but it's an understandable reaction from people who instinctively feel that the (sometimes extreme) rudeness and discourtesy they see on the forums is unwarranted and unfair.

You keep posting inaccurate "proofs" that Skyrim is going to be awful, so therefore your just as bad as them in my opinion.

I wasn't aware that I ever tried to prove that Skyrim was going to be awful... mind showing me some of these posts?

Edit: I'd also like to point out that this isn't a thread about my personal opinion on Skyrim. It's about the inaccurate use of a word.

The city size thread.

You mean... this post?

:lmao:
The only thing I can remember "complaining" about was the AI.

No not that one, the one with the German interview brought up.

I think it's not voluntary gratitude that's the problem but when you see someone demanding "you should be grateful!", which takes on a rather different meaning. Well, that's my interpretation, anyway...

Can't say I remember the thread based on your vague description. Again, this thread isn't about my opinions on Skyrim.

Actually, that probably words the point I was trying to make better than my original post. Gratitude is being used as a sort of catch-all reply to any complaint.

Fans usually come in two common varieties; those who love a series as a whole, and those who love a specific game in the series. The former will praise and defend everything a new game does simply because it has that name attached, and the latter will criticize and doomsay everything because it's not that other game. Attempting to use logic or word definitions with either group is not going to get you anywhere. Like almost every part of any argument, telling people they should be "grateful" is a poorly disguised way to discard the other person's entire argument on the grounds that they disagree, in the absence of any actual points to be made.

I'll agree with this. To use the OPs example, I always say thanks to my plumber when he does a job well, because he did a good job and I'm well aware there are people out there doing not so good a job. Yeah I pay for the service, but if they get the job done, or keep me entertained, then I'm grateful for the service - because I couldn't fix my boiler or make a videogame, so I rely on others to do it for me. :thumbsup:

However, I will say that as it stands, I don't feel gratitude, simply because I haven't played the game yet. It might be awful. But I doubt it - and if it is as good as I think it might be, then I'll be happy to pay for it and will definitely be grateful that there are companies such as this one that produce entertainment which is right up my alley.

[Edit] I'll also be immensly grateful to anyone who would like to buy me the Collectors Edition for my birthday. Just sayin'.