[Richard Dixon]

I was a frequent here around 2003, when I was playing Morrowind. I'd come here and look for cool hints or helpers and everything about this community was great. None of the posters had egos and just about everyone was helpful and cheerful. I joined in 2005 and made sure to keep up the positive attitude and ensure this forum remained free from the whole "internet is full of trolls" stereotype that most forums fulfill.

Then Oblivion came out, and we got hundreds of new members who loved it. Most of us who thought Morrowind was better seemed to feel left behind a bit, but we (for the most part) didn't cause too many problems. There were a lot of Morrowind vs. Oblivion debates, but all in all we were still arguing which was better between two very good games. And for the most part, the nostalgia won. If you played Morrowind first, you liked it over Oblivion. If you played Oblivion first, you liked it over Morrowind.

The lead up to Skyrim was long and filled with intrigue, and this community was still proving to be arguably the best in the gaming industry. After release, however, it seems like it's become even worse than atrocious ones such as Call of Duty or Halo, or even FABLE.

It's non-stop hating, complaining, trolling, bashing of people on the forums and Bethesda, and a complete 180% turn from the way it was before. Very few posters have anything positive to say and even less contribute and help solve issues and problems other people are having.

What caused this? Was it the fact that Bethesda kept trying to attract a broader fanbase, which brought in the 'bad eggs' its fanbase from Morrowind and before never had, or is it just that game fans are spoiled and expect too much now?

[jeremey wisor]

What caused this? Was it the fact that Bethesda kept trying to attract a broader fanbase, which brought in the 'bad eggs'

This is exactly what happened.

[Anne marie]

You also have to bear in mind Skyrim JUST came out, so you still have the 'shock and awe' crowd here. Give it some time and only the fans will have stuck around.

[Your Mum]

Online forums were more of a niche back then also.

[OJY]

Both mostly. It's why normally I stay away from the skyrim forums section.

[Josh Dagreat]

It's like this EVERY release. You should have seen the Fallout 3 forums when it was new.

It dies down after a few months. Then the mods can take a few more breaks, but until then it's primordial chaos.

[xemmybx]

TES and Bethesda have become more popular. Also it's just after release, the haters are out in full force. Give it some time and things will quite down and go back to normal.

[Marta Wolko]

As has been stated, you need to give it time. It was like this after the Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas releases as well. After a while all the morons and trolls leave and the ones that don't either become productive members or get "removed".

After these first few months are over the forum should be left with the people that actually care, the people that are still playing long after release, the people that have multiple replays under their belts.

[Ian White]

My only complaint is that community discussion is much less active than it was back when I was in high school.

[Alyna]

You also have to bear in mind Skyrim JUST came out, so you still have the 'shock and awe' crowd here. Give it some time and only the fans will have stuck around.

Yes.

Soon most of them leave.

(Was it the fact that Bethesda kept trying to attract a broader fanbase?)

They did it for money and money only. I see no problem with it. All devs do the same.

[Batricia Alele]

My only complaint is that community discussion is much less active than it was back when I was in high school.

The CD is mainly the place where the people who are mostly tired of their community come to be embittered even more feel loved and share opinions on various things.

We're also delightfully out of our minds, it's like the Shivering Isles sitting on our rocking chairs playing chess remembering the good ol' days.

[courtnay]

My only complaint is that community discussion is much less active than it was back when I was in high school.

CD goes through it's ups and downs. I imagine we will get a steady influx of newbies as some people tire of the Skyrim forum.

[Kerri Lee]

Ooh, hopefully for some more "What's your favorite game" threads. :drool:

[Alyce Argabright]

Ooh, hopefully for some more "What's your favorite game" threads. :drool:

This...never, EVER get tired of those :rolleyes:

[Marion Geneste]

This is exactly what happened.

Pretty much. At the moment the normally spread-out glob of internet trolls has descended on the Skyrim forums. After a few months we'll spray the pressure hose at them and they'll be spread out again, giving us back a relatively clean forum.

Until then we'll just keep throwing more and more moderators at them like the Russians in WWII.

[naomi]

Until then we'll just keep throwing more and more moderators at them like the Russians in WWII.

I heard they only hand out Ban Hammers to every other mod when sending them into the Skyrim forums.

[Laurenn Doylee]

I heard they only hand out Ban Hammers to every other mod when sending them into the Skyrim forums.

When the moderator in front falls it is the responsiblity of the mod behind to pick up his banhammer and wade once more into the fray.

[brenden casey]

I heard they only hand out Ban Hammers to every other mod when sending them into the Skyrim forums.

the other half will be given wet noodles!

i don't really know what the community discussion was like when i first joined since i was unaware of it until about 2 years ago. i enjoy this section more than the others in general, even when those sections are not hostile. but i notice that most of the regulars now are post 2007 with a minor few exceptions. i suppose that means the previous generation of responsible and inciteful posters have gone off to do something with their lives

[Emily Martell]

When the moderator in front falls it is the responsiblity of the mod behind to pick up his banhammer and wade once more into the fray.

It's not enough, we need some sort of super moderator. The Elite who will be entrusted with forum kinds fate. We need the Space Marine Moderators, genetically engineered and given the most powerful weapons the God Emperor Todd can give his battle brothers. The deadly exterminbanus noobus. The ability to call down a tactical banning on everyone in a thread at the click of a button. Force Banhammers, able to apply three bans to one person at once. Stem the tide and keep them back.

[Annika Marziniak]

It's not enough, we need some sort of super moderator. The Elite who will be entrusted with forum kinds fate. We need the Space Marine Moderators, genetically engineered and given the most powerful weapons the God Emperor Todd can give his battle brothers. The deadly exterminbanus noobus. The ability to call down a tactical banning on everyone in a thread at the click of a button. Force Banhammers, able to apply three bans to one person at once. Stem the tide and keep them back.

You must be on a lot of drugs. :teehee:

[The Time Car]

You must be on a lot of drugs. :teehee:

Oddly enough I've never tried, but I do get that a lot.

[lilmissparty]

It's not enough, we need some sort of super moderator. The Elite who will be entrusted with forum kinds fate. We need the Space Marine Moderators, genetically engineered and given the most powerful weapons the God Emperor Todd can give his battle brothers. The deadly exterminbanus noobus. The ability to call down a tactical banning on everyone in a thread at the click of a button. Force Banhammers, able to apply three bans to one person at once. Stem the tide and keep them back.

I say ban them all and let God sort them out.

[Queen]

I say ban them all and let God sort them out.

http://img.chan4chan.com/img/2009-05-26/1243372081152.jpg

[Sammygirl500]

I used to know most of the people when I was posting in the MW mod forum back in 2004-2005 era. Now it's like there's a newly registered member for every post. I wish it would go back to the way it was.

[Jinx Sykes]

Just ride it out, in a few months everything will be back to normal.