Our Comments, Our Rules
We’re going to have a little more order in the comments.
* No more insults
* No more ridicule
* No more elitism
* No more typical WoW-forums behavior
We started this blog because we wanted a place where people could freely discuss hunters without the drama and meanness of the official WoW forums. It has been repeatedly been said to us that our comments are degrading in quality, that people don’t like the tone that’s been achieved, and some are not leaving comments as they don’t wish to be chastised.
Not good.
We’re not banning anybody, but we are putting a few people on Moderation. If you suddenly find your comment moderated — not anything our blackboot spam filter does, mind you — don’t fret, don’t worry. If what you have to say is of the proper decorum, it’ll be approved. You don’t have to agree with us, but nobody is going to be allowed to turn our comments into their personal fiefdom.
Be warned. TJ is going to be having some free time soon, and she’s volunteered to be the BRK Comment Goast Guard.
Comments
56 Responses to “Our Comments, Our Rules”
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might want to prevent all comments to this post. it would probably just start up here again if you dont.
-edit – to clarify, im saying it will start up because the only material to discuss here is the insults/ridicule/elitism that was in the last comment section, so it would probably transfer here
We considered disabling comments for this one, but decided that talking about the moderation isn’t a bad thing. If people want to voice their opinions on the subject, that’s cool with us.
Thank you BRK. This is the right step to take, in my ever humble opinion. Conversation and debate was degrading yelling (not QUITE yet screaming) matches of “I’m right because I say I’m right, and you’re a fool for not agreeing!!!” and, yeah, it was getting less pleasant around here.
Bring on the Coasties!
In light of the more pleasant atmosphere, I’ll spare folks the joke about what the Naval sailor said to the Coast Guard sailor he was introduced to…
BRK, just wanted to take this opportunity to say I truly appreciate the effort you put in to keep this a top notch open & welcoming community for hunters of all shapes n’ sizes n’ stripes. Moderation and the like is obviously a step no one wants to take but if it’s needed, then kudos to you for for standin’ up and doing it.
/sends pats to Loque and Hobbes
Who’s TJ?
I havn’t see who’s or what have been behaving less nice, but if there is, I have no problem with a little moderating.
Making one suggestion only to anyone objecting to comment policing…
If you don’t like it, get your own blog.
On a total unrelated note @ BRK Id like to see a g13 review before your n52 one comes out…lol. But seriously let us know if it fits larger hands. I tired an n52 and returned because my fingers felt crammed together.
Sadly this is the problem with getting more well known…..
The forum at mmo-champion used to be nice, but for the last 6months or so its been going down hill, its all “first” and name calling now
It a shame really as *most* people are nice, polite and err whatever the opposite of douchey would be
Go get all Coastie on them TJ and BRK. Being a Hunter and serving in the Coast Guard I have to say seeing on of our White Hulls on your site BRK really gave me a thrill…
However I have to confess. Though you have showed nothing but love to me through your dedication to the Hunter community and showing off one of my services glorious cutters. I am in fact and Orc hunter. I shall head to AV right now if you wish to come and kill me I understand.
I say good, the last thing we need is to turn the comments on here into trash like the ones seen in wowinsider. Keep up the great content and keep cracking down.
I’d require registration, but that’s just me.
/shrug
I support this decision. You tell ‘em, err, us, BRK.
Thank you for providing such a wonderful site for us to ENJOY ourselves.
Thank you BRK.
Long time reader but I rarely post, just though you deserve a comment here for trying to keep the excellent standards you have here.
Been reading your blog for a few months now BRK and tbh loving it. Shame its come to moderation but it makes your site a better place.
Very good idea!!!
Wow can get very rude, especially in the forums. Who needs rudeness or worse.
Good for you for taking a stand on decency and decorum BRK!!!
Totally support moderation ! So may forums / blogs suffer from lack of it. Well done & grats on a great site.
wewt for dbags who jack things up!
Totally in support for you BRK. If I wanna read some jerk telling me I’m an idiot and I don’t know anything, I’ll surf on over to Elitist Jerks…
Wise decision, and long awaited
well thats the funny thing. they actually dont tolerate one bit of flaming over there. heated discussion, yes, but as soon as someone gets out of line they get banned.
So, what hitcap we have ? I always thought that it’s 274hit but in this moment I’m a little dazed.
Only taking the hit capped comments into consideration–it seems TEJ toned down his condescension on his own. No need to moderate him.
It’s all about differing goals.
BRK = Fun. Some data used to back up the funness.
TEJ = Empiricism out yo azz but no fun.
Let the kid make his comments and vehementaly disagree. But I agree in some of the EARLIER posts comments he was way out of line.
Anyone catch my two huge assumptions? 1 that this post was about TEJ and 2 that TEJ is a dude? Anyone care to challenge my assumptions?
Do what you feel is right, BRK.
That’s all we any of us can ask.
Thank goodness. A move that was greatly needed IMO. Keep the fun, friendly, and informative the same! Let the bitter, condescending, and belittling stay at their own sad and pathetic sites.
Hunter-dom for all!
I approve. And if you ever feel like I am getting out of line, feel free to bust me. *Chuckles* I tend to be a bit……aggressive, I suppose. But hopefully moderation will help the more timid people who read your blog to be able to speak out. And the ones who don’t enjoy being called stupid for little to no reason. Or the people who just do not enjoy being looked down upon simply for posting.
Oh, and the non-min/maxers. Since when is it a bad thing to play a spec you enjoy instead of just always using the ‘most powerful’ spec?
“Be warned. TJ is going to be having some free time soon, and she’s volunteered to be the BRK Comment Goast Guard.”
Will she be monitoring our comma usage also? TJ as CGG is a wonderful idea… but she can occasionally have a strong opinion…
http://temerity-jane.com/?p=1136
/wave to TJ :p
This was something that was a long time coming. I understand supporting free speech and open discussion but when insults start flying around, that’s a little over the top. If you want to insult someone do it on the WoW hunter forums, not on someone’s blog. BRK takes a lot of time to do the things he does for the hunter community while taking care of a family and a job and personally I view it as an insult that people can’t be respectful. It’s one thing to disagree with what you’re saying in your posts it’s completely different to do it in a condescending tone. I know you don’t like having to police the comments but bravo that you’re taking the initiative to make this a hell of a lot better than the trash that is the WoW hunter forums, and forums in general.
/tar bigredkitty
/salute
Thanks BRK. It was feeling a bit divisive for a bit. We’re all hunters, no matter what tree we sit under
If we are talking about the EJ poster here…
I do think his alternative point of views are great. And I love the discussion.
I do hate the invisible finger that is tossed out every so often.
And to be clear the EJ here and the real EJ’s at the EJ forums are so different.
I’m not going to bash the fake EJ for his words or harshness, after all, he has all the time in the world to play WoW. And probably takes him weeks to work on his arguments.
Personal: (might get edited)
It did get edited! There’s no need to poke at someone specific over what is a general comment policy that applies to everyone. –TJ
allright curtis ill accept your challenge on assumption 1 (since i think this post was pointed at more than just tej).
yes TEJ does fit a majority of those, but also the response to him included insults, ridicule, and typical forum behavior. So in my opinion, brk was posting this to warn both TEJ, and to the people who had the same attitude towards him.
as for assumption 2 … dont know, pretty sure i dont want to
I, for one, welcome our robot overlords!
LOL… “Protectors”…
Just don’t ban me! Or i will not be able to read BRK at work.
Srsly, High five BRK. People need to chill out. I think it’s great you make a post (about every few months) about people behaving on the comments. I think it’s ridiculous that is has to come to that, but thanks. You have one of the most up-standing and safe to read blogs out there. Don’t let some Elitist Jerks ruin it.
Do it! DOOOOOOO EEEEEEET!
Everything is good, in moderation.
Hey, you never said punning was a bannable offense!
I’m all for it. This blog is the first thing I read in the morning, and sometimes the last page I check at night. The negative people can (and do…) have their own blogs… which is where they belong.
Thanks from me as well, BRK, and THANK GOD you were able to come back to us.
I started playing my Hunter- poorly- back in early ‘05. I loved the class to pieces, but I was so uninformed that I wore the Scarlet Leggings well through my 40s. Yes, the mail leggings with +20 Str and +10 Stam. /cringe
Now I’m part of my guild’s “strike force” for Malygos- with any luck, he’s going down tonight. I’m certainly not a top-tier hunter, but I can MD, chain-trap, and keep my spirit beast alive through the Sarth fight, and put out enough DPS to nuke Patchwerk…even when we have two or three undergeared alts in the raid.
I’ve stayed a fan of BRK because he made (and continues to make) inexperienced hunters feel welcome. A big part of that is his attitude of respect towards noobs who are willing to learn. No question is dumb. We’re all learning. He doesn’t make his readers feel stupid in order to build up his own epeen. Do I disagree with him on some things? Of course, but I know his blog will always be a place where you’re rewarded, not punished, for asking questions. Anything that keeps that attitude alive is a good thing.
@TEJ
When I think of people who are examples of success in their field, I often see them in two types:
Type A –
1) at the top of their game and know their stuff well
2) have a genuine, heartfelt desire for helping others be their best too
3) they are shining pinnacles in their field
Type B –
1) at the top of their game and know their stuff well
2) care only for themselves, ridiculing others who don’t meet their high standards
A & B share much of the same knowledge and skill, but there is something MISSING from the heart of type B.
This is not meant as a jab and run, but to me you demonstrate a Type B example.
Even with that said, I sincerely want the best for you. I spent a big part of my day thinking about you, hoping that you someday make a positive change in yourself while you still have time on earth to make a difference; not just for a silly game, but in all you do.
If you REALLY want a challenge, I challenge you to take a close look at yourself, at how you treat others in life, then swallow your pride (this is hard for many) and strive to become Type A.
Don’t bother to formulate some witty or stabbing comeback, because I will turn the cheek, and will afterwards STILL want the best for you.
With Kind Regards,
Tyberiuss
@shagrat: /agree.
TEJ does encourage some alternate views on different topics. Yes not all he says is totally accurate depending on our experiences on skills but he does make valid points.
That said I do feel he detracts from the enjoyable experiences I came to BRK’s blog for. If I wanted absolute numbers I would go to the EJ forums. I still read TEJ because I like alternative views(I’m contradicting myself here but meh). I read BRK for the BM hunter POV. If I want the top dps view I’ll trawl for it .
@TJ: I stopped reading your blog after it stopped updating for awhile, I missed it and I can’t wait to catch up.
You may also find that I don’t play WoW under this tag, I found that commenting under any tag for me resulted in “omg your arena rating sucks” comments when I played for fun. I no longer find it fun so its a null point
Despite my criticism of your post several days ago, I am glad that you’re taking a stronger stance on moderation of your comments. Moderation of this type generally only helps discussion, and is rarely a hindrance. Thumbs up.
Bravo. Being a mod on one of the Clan message boards for the CCG I play, I know how difficult it is to make the decision to mod comments, in particular. The Internet is all about free speech, after all, so I find it hard to mod people’s opinion on subjects they feel strongly about in a fair way. I don’t envy TJ’s job at determining when things are out of line and when they can slide as environmental rather than personal. Having said that, I applaud this step and look forward to enjoying the slightly erratta’d, yet more fun, version of BRK for years to come.
@Tyberiuss
I love that typification! I endeavor to be as much of type A as possible. There’s no reason to be a jerk about anything, and the fact that EJ’s forums are so well respected is not because they’re jerks, but because they’re usually right.
Someone needs to create a forum with the same attention to accuracy, detail, and testing that the folks over at EJ have, but create a rule that forbids people to act like jerks, even if they’re right.
I don’t mean to jump off the topic,but you misspelled Coast Guard….don’t hurt me.
If TJ is Moderating, I don’t know…
“Type A -
1) at the top of their game and know their stuff well
2) have a genuine, heartfelt desire for helping others be their best too
3) they are shining pinnacles in their field
Type B -
1) at the top of their game and know their stuff well
2) care only for themselves, ridiculing others who don’t meet their high standards”
This (among other reasons) is why the WoW boards suck so much. For every person of the ‘A’ type you get about 5 that are the ‘B’ type.
Semper Paratus!
No, I wasn’t a Coastie, I was a Squid. But I had an awesome Coastie Chief Petty Officer in a school I went to once, and he forever changed my opinion of Coasties for the better.
Full disclosure: I don’t usually even read the comments, as the post usually gets my brain going enough without reading all the other stuff.
I don’t comments that often but I do hope ya don’t block me or I have to actually work in work :p , keep the good voices coming, off topic I have a 55hunter with all 55blues, I have 2.7k heals 2.6k mana and2 percent xrit chance, what am I doing wrong…
@low lvl hunter
well, for leveling, you probably have too much gear with stam/int on it compared to gear with agi.
but dont worry, as your level increases, you will find more gear designed with hunters in mind and you will get enough talent points to finish up your goals in bm (im making an assumption here) and you can put some in lethal shots and into mm.
the main advice i can give you is that blue doesnt mean better. some green items are better itemized that blue items, especially around that lvl. id also suggest getting a addon like ratingbuster (possible spelling error there) in order to help you choose gear upgrades.
ZOMG BRK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The picture for this post… My father was the Captain of it! It’s the WHEC 718 USCGC Chase! No joke!!!
(long time reader)
Good for you! Bring on those happy mods!
“who’s TJ?” LOL
/wave @ TJ!
I have something TJ can guard..
.. with her body.
Be my body guard, TJ.
( This has been a test of the censoring systems. Thank you. )
I mean, the thing is that all these nerfs Blizz has been throwing out there have been tremendously taxing on the hunter community and with that and in knowing that, you must realize that BRK is a BIG voice in the hunter community.
So when we see wrong and we see you, BRK, sidestepping the serious issues with little to no attention until the issue is 6-7 days old, we feel that you are advocating poor class design, rather than speaking for those of us who are mad that Blizz is hurting our class and playstyles.
Right now, all hunter should be out there trying to find out what works the best and doing it, but your blog used to be a place where i came to learn and sadly, its turned into a place that sells tee shirts that don’t come in my size and “oh look what i got from raiding the other night” posts that no one cares about unless things are good.
And quite frankly, things are not good.
@Redeemer
What, pray tell, has BRK been sidestepping? From everything I’ve seen, he’s dealt with each impacting nerf as they came, but only once he has the data to make intelligent commentary. Yet another place where the person responsible spends their space going “OMGWTFBBQ F**K BLIZZ YOU BASTARDS I HERD BOUT A NERF AND I’M GONNA SCREAM AN WAIL AN THRETN 2 QUIT UNLESS I GET COOKIES” would be not only worthless, but beneath the quality of BRK. It’s not an issue until it goes live, and one cannot secure useful information until it goes live. Forum QQ and ambiguous blue posts do not good facts make.
Once Blizzard stops swinging the nerf pendulum back and forth, BRK will still be the place-to-go for hunter info. But, until then, what’s the point of working up videos and data posts that will likely be inaccurate the next time a dev gets an itch?
I remember when some prominent members of this community first arrived. There was sometimes a heated and insulting exchanges. It was made clear that while passion and facts were welcome, flaming and unsupported opinions were not. Those members are now moderators and hero members on the forums.
The threat of moderation can be another tool in that process. Like having your mom in the room tends to moderate coarse language. It can also be useful for giving people a second chance to rethink their comments perhaps in a more calm and detached manner.
All that said, I am a FIRM believer in free speech. That the free speech protected by the constitution (of the US) is an important tool for the maintenance of a free society. If THIS society is going to prosper as the US has, we should mimic that important aspect of it. I would therefore ask that moderation be used to ask if the author would like an opportunity to rewrite, rather than actually preventing anything from being posted.
Thank You Kindly.
Semper Gumby
I”m another Coastie WoW Hunter