But does anyone else feel like the posting in Movie Talk (and even DVD Talk to a lesser extent) is getting more and more nasty?

People will always debate and argue over films, I know. But to me it seems like there has been a raash lately of the "You don't know what you're talking about! That film SUCKED" type of posts.

People hitting the quote button and blasting someone else's opinion because it differs from theirs.

I've noticed that in the Sports Talk forum people seem to make much more of an effort to put things "IMHO" or "I disagree" instead of "You're an idiot."

I know there's nothing that can be done and I guess I'm just blathering on, but it gets to where I don't even want to post when people are telling you how wrong you are because your opinion differs from theirs.

Recently, even when I've posted something factual as opposed to opinion, I still get "You're an ass" type of responses. (DTSC makes joke ehere)

We used to have this problem in the Farm to an extent, but somehow it got resolved for the most part.

Okay, I'll shut up. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I just an idotic ass who deson't know what he's talking about?

I've noticed it too. I have also observed the "This Film Sucks" threads are rampantly populating the Movie Talk forum, and it disturbs me too. Movie Talk used to be a classy place, but it appears to be turning into a rant forum.

this suggestion sucks!

Things can be done. If you feel that certain members are being particularly belligerent or aggressive, please report them so the mods can see if they possibly need an attitude adjustment. And if they're calling names or attacking people, then DEFINITELY report them, and we'll get them to stop.

If it's getting to the point where people don't want to post (like you mentioned), then IMO, it is a problem. The purpose of the forums is discussion... if something is interfering with the purpose of the forum, then that something may need to change.

I agree, and the amount of "____ SUCKS!" threads are really bothering me. Who knows if I posted them.. Hell I think my first post here was to talk crap about Whatever it takes in the review thread, but should there really be threads starting off with "______ SUCKS!" ?? it really doesn't offer much discussion or at the very least starts up a flame war rather loudly.

couldn't you make it automatically parsed into something else? "_____ Sucks" could be turned to "______ was disagreeable with me because...." or "I disliked ______, what is your opinion?" can you substitute phrases for others, kinda of like **** is substituted for certain "bad" terms?

You mean like using the forum censor software?

That sounds kinda scary.

Boat,

I agree, the tone in the forum has been more caustic these past few months. People feel like they can post insults in jest and it's just ok. So I'm going to do what we can to crack down on the attacks that have been going on here.

Thanks for expressing what many people are feeling.

P.S.

I'm going to be issuing warnings to people who post personal attacks EVEN IF THEY HAVE SMILEYS next to them

boat, my 'this suggestion sucks' post above was a joke,
if it bothered you, or you took it as an attack.. i apologize

You could just delete the post. But then again, why post once when you can post twice?

deleting would be pretending it didnt happen
if it really bothers someone.. i would rather acknowledge and apologize, rather then try to sweep it under the carpet

Something I've noticed over at my home forum is that the "I-hated-this-movie/it-sucked"-type threads proliferate during the summer, when younger members have slipped by our radar and end up posting in a manner more appropriate to news groups. These people are incapable of discernment for now; if something doesn't strike their fancy, then they de facto call it "bad."

And this appellation is reserved almost always for the milestones of cinema excellence--i.e., Citizen Kane is black and white therefore it SUCKS; 2001 "makes no sense" therefore it SUCKS; Vertigo is "too slow" there it SUCKS!

I am sure the same applies here at DVD Talk. Come September, the tenor of dialogue and discourse in the "Movies" section here should improve.

Jack Briggs - execellent point.

Twikoff... DUDE! Come on! Just cuz I created this thread doesn't mean I've lost my sense of humor.

The folks that I know here - you, DTSC, jack, etc, etc, etc, are in no way included in the above rant because we all know each other well enough to make caustic remarks knowing that the person is not taking them seriously.

BTW, your "this suggestion sucks" post really sucked.

This is the tough area. We accept it from people that we know and know are joking but how is a mod to know which is ok and which is bad. I think you just have to use the RTP (report this post) when it bugs you.

Thoughts?

I agree that the posts in Movie Talk have gotten worse over the past 6 months or so. I hardly even read that forum any more because of it.

And most of it isn't stuff that's worthy of reporting to moderators. It isn't just personal attacks that turned me off from the forum, but just that fact that very few people posting there respect other's opinions and that people just take movies to seriously in general.

What some one thinks of a movie isn't exactly life or death, but you wouldn't know it from the tone of posts there.

Or maybe I just feel that way because I'm not a hardcore movie buff?

Whatever the case, I used to frequent the forum, and now check in only a few times a month.

I noticed this in the DVD Talk forum. (I never go in the Movie Talk forum; those people suck! ) There seems to be a lot of criticizing the very existence of a thread. Mostly I'm referring to the recent Tarantino threads. Some posters for some reason were upset that anyone could criticize anything about, say, the Pulp Fiction DVD, and instead of arguing why it's the perfect DVD they just say (without smilies) "This thread is worthless" or "The people in this thread have nothing better to do than whine"...as if they're doing anything but whine about the thread while some of us are actually trying to have a dialogue.

Oh, and this thread is pointless and worthless, and it's now been hijacked into a bunch of whining about the DVD Talk forum!

I read the forum quite regularly and know that
your characterization of the forum, recent posts or
otherwise, is utter nonsense.

Just curious, what's left?

Well if you really want to know, Video Game Talk is the only forum I still read on a daily basis.

i think your over sensitive mate

basically if someone fires a shot at you, fire back!

but fire back with equal and justified force

I've learnt firsthand about firing back with a nuclear warhead against a airgun pellet

the problem, when you fire back, you start a bigger chain of reaction. ending up in a personal attack and opened to a good arse ramming if you arn't looking. the best thing to do, is try to get out as soon as possible.

Geoff, does the "otter farm" rule still apply?

For instance, a "personal attack" can be a lot of things, in the farm, there is a lot of sarcasm and in jokes, will the farm be treated the same way, or is this a Talk/Movie Talk thing?