What is this I don't even...

[Vilhem]

Someone wrote a really disgusting e-mail to one of our writers, but at least in doing so they linked to the thread that sent all the trolls over here. Any temptation I had in taking these complaints seriously was killed after reading that rats nest.

In the future, if we ever see this kind of influx of nasty comments from a specific forum, it's very possible the comments will simply be shut down completely for that specific post. I simply don't have the time or patience of this kind of thing, and at that point feedback can be given by e-mail or to our PAR Twitter account.

This has been a learning experience, to say the least.

Oh, the feels! The fact that he threatens to close all comments after he invited people to post their counter-feedback to the article...what did he expect? Flowers and daisies?

As for the email, I cannot condone behavior like that, but I'm surprised she didn't get more, yet he calls it a "learning experience". This says to me how poorly they're able to handle negative criticism. Heads up Ben, time to get off your high-horse.

[Abriael]

Oh, the feels! The fact that he threatens to close all comments after he invited people to post their counter-feedback to the article...what did he expect? Flowers and daisies?

As for the email, I cannot condone behavior like that, but I'm surprised she didn't get more, yet he calls it a "learning experience". This says to me how poorly they're able to handle negative criticism. Heads up Ben, time to get off your high-horse.

His response is indeed rather appalling. While I can't condone sending rude mails to people, I'm sure a bit surprised he's not used to it. I sure am. That's what the trash can is for (after giving em a good read, because even a rude mail can involve a degree of valid criticism, you never know).
When you write under the spotlight, receiving angry mail and negative feedback is part of the job. An unpleasant part, but indeed an integral part.

The many level headed and calm comments on his site and here prove him wrong first and foremost, showing that those that acted rashly are a vast minority. Yet he's very fast as to call a whole community a "rat's nest" and "trolls", because quite obviously everyone that dares pay him with the same coin that he's very liberal with in his writing must be a troll.

Luckily and quite evidently "having a negative opinion" does not equate to being a "Troll", and calling people "trolls" and "fanboys" or pointing out that they come from this or that forum is simply a nice and convenient excuse to avoid admitting that their criticism may be valid.

He's had a "learning experience", but unfortunately he learned exactly the opposite of what he should have. Sad indeed.

[Vilhem]

His response is indeed rather appalling. While I can't condone sending rude mails to people, I'm sure a bit surprised he's not used to it. I sure am. That's what the trash can is for (after giving em a good read, because even a rude mail can involve a degree of valid criticism, you never know).
When you write under the spotlight, receiving angry mail and negative feedback is part of the job. An unpleasant part, but indeed an integral part.

The many level headed and calm comments on his site and here prove him wrong first and foremost, showing that those that acted rashly are a vast minority. Yet he's very fast as to call a whole community a "rat's nest" and "trolls", because quite obviously everyone that dares pay him with the same coin that he's very liberal with in his writing must be a troll.

Luckily and quite evidently "having a negative opinion" does not equate to being a "Troll", and calling people "trolls" and "fanboys" or pointing out that they come from this or that forum is simply a nice and convenient excuse to avoid admitting that their criticism may be valid.

He's had a "learning experience", but unfortunately he learned exactly the opposite than what he should have. Sad indeed.

Yup..and while it is embarrassing on the part of whoever sent that nasty email, he should know better than to lump us ALL into that kind of category.

The fact that its a "learning experience" says to me that either they don't have enough traffic (popularity) as they claim to have, or they're so used to people kissing their ass they don't know how to handle negative criticism. It's quite easy to sift through trolls and hate mails. Sounds to me like Ben & Co don't have the thick skins they claim to have. :x

[Abriael]

Yup..and while it is embarrassing on the part of whoever sent that nasty email, he should know better than to lump us ALL into that kind of category.

The fact that its a "learning experience" says to me that either they don't have enough traffic (popularity) as they claim to have, or they're so used to people kissing their ass they don't know how to handle negative criticism. It's quite easy to sift through trolls and hate mails. Sounds to me like Ben & Co don't have the thick skins they claim to have. :x

They probably aren't as popular as stronger sites like Polygon or Massively. Most of Penny Arcade's fans go there for the comic, not to read articles. Mind you, that's no real reason to label their articles as invalid, as popularity (large or small) is a very poor element to go by in judging a writer's worth.

Again, the saddest thing is that Sophie has proven to be a lot more open to criticism than her boss was. That does her honor, if anything. Probably she's less used to having the vast majority of her commenters kiss her boots than an industry veteran like Kuchera, and thus retains a degree of humility.

His last comment perseveres in his mistake:

"I know you think it's unfair to judge the community by its words or actions, but I think that's good evidence to go by."

No, Ben. I think it's unfair to judge a community by the words and actions of a few individuals. There's no "its" words and actions, as the community doesn't have a brain of its own, and it's not a hive mind. Aliens and Tyranids are science fiction, despite what some people seem to think.

Just as it's unfair to conveniently use the alleged (because I honestly don't really see much real nasty stuff around, not even here, where the moderating hand of Mr. Kuchera isn't present) "nasty" actions of some people to completely disregard the valid criticism of a lot of other people that weren't nasty at all. I'm ready to bed the latter outnumber the nasty ones (if they even really exist) by quite a lot.

But hey, it's always nice to have an excuse not to accept that you did a bad job, I guess. Personally it's not my thing, but Kuchera demonstrated that some do appreciate the chance.

[ArkhamNative]

OMG. That certainly backfired on ol' Ben.

Someone certainly had an agenda against ARR, condemning a game from its *pre-beta* in a *preview* article. At this point I'm thinking it is Ben Kuchera, who has come across, in my opinion, as a total ass, never missing an opportunity to "Plan 9"-style rant ("You're all Stupid! Stupid!" and "Your puny minds!" etc.) against a whole community, rather than Sophie Prell, who seems more level-headed about both FFXI and ARR in comments elsewhere. I wonder if or how different the article Sophie turned in was, compared to what got published.

Hmm... Maybe it was a big troll by Ben all along? He certainly provoked anger and got his rant and last word out of it.

[Abriael]

I just had a (public) conversation with Ben that's quite telling.



And he concludes dropping this (alongside some personal attacks that I won't even bother quoting)



Notice how he completely evades the question on the percentage of the "guilty" comments, which tells me that it's most probably negligible. Can't endorse or discount it, but it's hardly anything to judge a whole community on.

And of course according to him linking an article in a forum and discussing about it (with people on both sides) is "organized forum trolling".

Once upon a time writers were happy to get more people linking and discussing their articles. I know I am. I wonder where those times have gone?


now forgive me while I go slit my wrists because Mr. Ben Kuchera blocked me on twitter.

[Preypacer]

I just had a (public) conversation with Ben that's quite telling.


And he concludes dropping this (alongside some personal attacks that I won't even bother quoting)



Notice how he completely evades the question on the percentage of the "guilty" comments, which tells me that it's most probably negligible. Can't endorse or discount it, but it's hardly anything to judge a whole community on.

And of course according to him linking an article in a forum and discussing about it (with people on both sides) is "organized forum trolling".

Once upon a time writers were happy to get more people linking and discussing their articles. I know I am. I wonder where those times have gone?


now forgive me while I go slit my wrists because Mr. Ben Kuchera blocked me on twitter.

Nailed. Ben clearly doesn't take well to having to smell his own BS.

Great job, Abriael.

You know, once upon a time a while back (for reasons I can't even remember anymore), I couldn't stand you.

Recently, though, you've become one of my favorite folks on here. Always a treat to read your posts, even if I don't agree with you all the time.

For whatever it's worth lol.

Kudos, sir.

[Abriael]

You know, once upon a time a while back (for reasons I can't even remember anymore), I couldn't stand you.

Recently, though, you've become one of my favorite folks on here. Always a treat to read your posts, even if I don't agree with you all the time.

Crap, i need to post something absolutely outrageous. Not being outright hated is not acceptable

[Preypacer]

Crap, i need to post something absolutely outrageous. Not being outright hated is not acceptable

Too late, sir.

Better you spend that effort on "indoctrinating" some fresh blood .

I suspect there will plenty in the coming months.

[SkyeWindbinder]

You know, once upon a time a while back (for reasons I can't even remember anymore), I couldn't stand you.

Recently, though, you've become one of my favorite folks on here. Always a treat to read your posts, even if I don't agree with you all the time.

For whatever it's worth lol.

Kudos, sir.

Wow. My sentiments exactly.

Or maybe we all just missed him. Well, whatever the case may be, Abriael is a leading source of sanity on the boards.

I hate that. lol