Good evening!

I have been an intermittent member here for nearly 10 years. Tonight I was yet again frustrated by reading a long thread from a beginner, only to find when I reached the end that I was unable the comment, as the thread had been "closed."

I understand; there is a desire to block people who don't follow a certain ethic--in this case, it was a new game enthusiast looking for developers to help him realize his game idea--but, I like to respond to those people with an explaination about the community's views and how they might pursue their ideas without annoying people.

Frustrated by again being blocked from replying, I went to chat where I interacted with a forum moderator who, after hearing my complaint, said simply "maybe nobody wants to hear your advice."

I think he may he right. I'm excited about games, and though I'm a programming professional with 30 years of experience, I like to hear the thoughts and ideas of--and interact with--people who aren't programmers and just love games.

At any rate, I'm outa here. This site has become something much, much less than a community for game developers and enthusiasts, and I'm off to find somewhere where, well, where my advice is at least welcomed, and at best appreciated.

Cheers!

Thanks for being a member for the last 10 years. I work with the absolute beginners as a teacher every single day so I'm pretty immune to everything. Some people though who have been around as long as you or longer may develop an intolerance for certain types of posts but at the end of the day even moderation isn't infallible or always kind. That's not an excuse for mistreating people by the way but moderators make their own judgement calls on posts and each moderator may have differing opinions on a particular post. I can even tell you that behind the scenes our moderator group has even had extensive and thoughtful discussions on things some may consider minor issues. I'm hoping you decide that leaving based on one moderator's opinion doesn't do anyone any good.

This community is shaped by everyone.. anybody can step up and have their footprint on the site. But if you believe there are problems then it's important to bring them to light so that we can discuss possible solutions.

What thread was it if I might ask?

@Michael,

I appreciate your response. I "thought there were problems" and did what I thought was appropriate to "bring them to light," only to be told my advice was possibly not welcomed. The Noob post issue has always been an issue on this forum; the issue is not that but the response to my first, one, and only suggestion.

@Washu,

Your description about how I was too stupid to understand the forum system would have been a terrific topic in chat--really, I don't waste a lot of my time on the forum software or standards; I focus on what people say and what I want to say in response. Being taught how to better use the system would be a good use of time.

My issue was two things: (1) how you unecessarily block posts from noobs (I know this is a real issue, but if our culture can't let those posts die naturally, I question the value or your censurship), and (2) killing threads that yet remain in "new content," so people can see, read and be motivated to participate, but then blocked.

Your response to me was juvenile and unprofessional. Perhaps you mistakenly thought I was some kid myself entering chat to wage a flame war because I had too much to drink on a Saturday night. Perhaps I mistakenly thought that the "Moderator" label made you a keeper of the culture so that I could lodge a single--and my first--complaint with you to help improve the forum.

Honestly, I considered how I might have misunderstood your Chat messages, but after reading your post here, I conclude that you are just a bad choice for a Moderator position; you aught not ever convey blame or consesendence or be trite about your members. I am sorry for the site that you have this position; it deserves people of a higher professional character.

@Hodgman,

Yes, that was the thread. I understand the issue(s) you describe, and thank you for your suggestions.

@All,

One unclean asshole can make a room full of well-kept men smell bad. Think about that.

Happy gaming, all! I won't be back.

@HScottH Having entered chat shortly after you logged out of it and read your relevant posts as well the replies in the history, I find myself confused as to why the extreme reaction of insta-leaving the GD-dev site which you announced in chat and then with this post a couple of hours later. Was Washu's comment open to misinterpretation? Sure (though punctuation was an indicator that it was not meant to betaken literally), but it was also not his first reply nor his only reply to your raising the issue of:

not being able to comment in a thread that was locked and that locked threads should be deleted so that you were not reading through a thread only to find yourself unable to comment (i.e. wasting your timemy interpretation).

His initial answers to you included the fact that such threads were not deleted as they also served as an example of behaviours (i.e. thread content) should be avoided. His last comment as cited by you (without the punctuation included I note) seemed to have elicited an unexpected reaction in that you have decided to leave Gamedev.net but I will be honest, I truly hope that you are leaving Gamedev for other reasons than simply this, as this is not even a storm in a teacup to be honest.

I like to hear the thoughts and ideas of--and interact with--people who aren't programmers and just love games.

I suspect you have been hanging out in the technical forums and not so much in the creative forums else you would find that this does occur over here. Not being a coder for a long time, my skillset is on the creative side. Myself, as well a number of others who hang out there often discuss issues, mechanics, ideas etc, more importantly we would welcome people who can bring experience and eagerness into those forums to help foster this side of the community. I would ask that you think on what I am saying here and realise one very important thing. A community will evolve, but how it evolves is something you can help shape.

Lastly and this is just a general comment for people who enter chat.... it is not the polite moderated world of Gamedev Forums. Discussions are freeranging, often offtopic or slightly disturbing and sometimes very spirited and should NEVER EVER be taken as an attack. There are enough active members in Chat who are pro-active when it comes to shutting down attacks. That said, there are also interminable periods of silence where 10 members in chat are saying nothing while they do other stuff.

Edit: Also the best place for attracting attention with regard to issues within the GameDev.net website (including the above issue raised by the OP) would be through GDNet Comments, Suggestions and Ideas forum as it opens the issue up for discussion as well enables the Staff members who manage the site (as well hold overall decision power) to interact.

I notice people cry a lot here. (Everywhere actually, must be the fluoride.)

I do like the articles though.