I've really got to say this . . .

[BStecke]

Ok . . . this has been bothering me because, I really used to love coming to this site because, when I joined, it hadn't yet exploded into the giant it is now, and it was a lot more like an intimate, almost "secret" society. Now, the site has exploded into what it is now, which, I have absolutely NO problem with new people finding and appreciating Blu-ray. However, everyday I'm finding multiple posts and multiple members who don't seem to be here for that reason.

I'm talking about the increasing amount of posts and members who seem to be here for the format war, and not the format. If there were no format war, half of the posts in this forum would not exist, nor would most of the animosity and ignorance that has seemed to spread. If my first visit to the site had been within the last two weeks, I would have been very unimpressed with what I've found. For some reason, we need a rally thread to buy more discs for every little news announcement. We all like Blu-ray, and if we see something we want, we'll buy the damn thing. We don't need instructions on the importance of this. We seem to have some sort of petition or letter writing campaign for every bit of bad news. We have people who start and advertise their trolling threads in other forums, and then the same people ***** because somebody got pissed that they're trolling, but then expect people not to troll on our site. All of this is unnecessary, and really detracts from the feel this forum once had. I would expect that most people who are buying and appreciating Blu-ray are of some age that that make enough money to buy the things needed to appreciate Blu-ray, and I would expect a lot higher level of maturity from a lot higher proportion of members on this site.

So . . . flame me if you want, but I know there are a lot of people that agree with me. Nobody's a more valuable person than another because they chose Blu-ray over HD-DVD, and if you feel that you are because you made that choice, then you need to get a grip and discover that there are many things that are a LOT more important than the format war.

I and others would love it if we could focus a bit more on the format, and a lot less on the war.

[T-Town Oil]

rock on man...

[JadedRaverLA]

Amen to all of that.

Sometimes a little gentle ribbing can be fun, but lately ths place has become as antagonistic and "off the deep end" for Blu-ray as that "other" forum is for HD DVD. It was nice when this forum was above the fray.

[The Shrike]

I absolutely agree with everything you said. I've wanted to write that for weeks, but my attempts all failed. My only coping mechanism was to engage in Blu Blood-styled camp. It hasn't helped.

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Ok . . . this has been bothering me because, I really used to love coming to this site because, when I joined, it hadn't yet exploded into the giant it is now, and it was a lot more like an intimate, almost "secret" society. Now, the site has exploded into what it is now, which, I have absolutely NO problem with new people finding and appreciating Blu-ray. However, everyday I'm finding multiple posts and multiple members who don't seem to be here for that reason.

I'm talking about the increasing amount of posts and members who seem to be here for the format war, and not the format. If there were no format war, half of the posts in this forum would not exist, nor would most of the animosity and ignorance that has seemed to spread. If my first visit to the site had been within the last two weeks, I would have been very unimpressed with what I've found. For some reason, we need a rally thread to buy more discs for every little news announcement. We all like Blu-ray, and if we see something we want, we'll buy the damn thing. We don't need instructions on the importance of this. We seem to have some sort of petition or letter writing campaign for every bit of bad news. We have people who start and advertise their trolling threads in other forums, and then the same people ***** because somebody got pissed that they're trolling, but then expect people not to troll on our site. All of this is unnecessary, and really detracts from the feel this forum once had. I would expect that most people who are buying and appreciating Blu-ray are of some age that that make enough money to buy the things needed to appreciate Blu-ray, and I would expect a lot higher level of maturity from a lot higher proportion of members on this site.

So . . . flame me if you want, but I know there are a lot of people that agree with me. Nobody's a more valuable person than another because they chose Blu-ray over HD-DVD, and if you feel that you are because you made that choice, then you need to get a grip and discover that there are many things that are a LOT more important than the format war.

I and others would love it if we could focus a bit more on the format, and a lot less on the war.

Agreed...I would really like a filter to turn some of it off. I don't mind a bit of this from time to time, but maybe a separate "rant" column could be put out there in the forum for stuff like this--just me thinking. But with the recent bickering and different things has turned me off from posting much on here.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by BStecke

...

So . . . flame me if you want, but I know there are a lot of people that agree with me. Nobody's a more valuable person than another because they chose Blu-ray over HD-DVD, and if you feel that you are because you made that choice, then you need to get a grip and discover that there are many things that are a LOT more important than the format war.

I and others would love it if we could focus a bit more on the format, and a lot less on the war.

I say ol' chap. Good show. <golf clap>. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think a lot of people got unnerved by the Paramount announcement last month and things exploded around here. After a couple of weeks we got over it but others took it to heart. We are still feeling the after shock.

Then my own blu-bloods took off and people went crazy. It was in the name of fun, but some people did not or could not see that. So I changed the venue and now we represent all that you hold dear about this board. So I urge you to join us. You are a worthy alli. When people see blu-bloods, they will come to think of us as classy "in the know" guys. And not the war mongers we played up for fun.

I agree we need to do our part so the studios know we are the obvious choice, but do we always have to sound like we are in a panic when we do it? Think quality posts - not quantity.

[CptGreedle]

I do agree that I see a lot of members who act immature and childish, especially when an HD-DVD supporter comes by. They tend to give the rest of us a bad name and let the HD-DVD camp spread more "FUD" about Blu-ray.
But I also notice that the HD-DVD camp tends to be even worse. Not only do they dismiss anything that is remotely pro-Blu-ray, they tend to go all out to tear down anything BD and do whatever they can to promote HD-DVD, even outright lies and misinformation.
I do not think people should troll on these threads or any other. I have no problem with productive arguments with members, because these are discussions, but name-calling and foul words are just childish.
I wish there were fewer posts with name-calling, but at the same time, I see the same thing on pro-HD-DVD sites far more rampant than here. Overall, I rather be here than there, since BD promoters only have to promote our own format rather than kick the others down as HD-DVD promoters tend to do.

[glenn22]

Originally Posted by Mericalis

Agreed...I would really like a filter to turn some of it off. I don't mind a bit of this from time to time, but maybe a separate "rant" column could be put out there in the forum for stuff like this--just me thinking. But with the recent bickering and different things has turned me off from posting much on here.

there is such a thread right here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=10976

[The Shrike]

Originally Posted by Mericalis

Agreed...I would really like a filter to turn some of it off.

Actually, I've added like two dozen members to my ignore list for just this purpose. They coarsened the discussion, so I blocked them. That has BARELY helped.

Originally Posted by tron3

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think a lot of people got unnerved by the Paramount announcement last month and things exploded around here. After a couple of weeks we got over it but others took it to heart. We are still feeling the after shock.

I agree we need to do our part so the studios know we are the obvious voice, but do always have to sound like we are in a panic when we do it? Think quality posts - not quantity.

I agree on the timing. That is when I noticed it too. After Paramount everyone flipped out, like this "war" was the most important thing in the world.

[ToonyLoons]

Agreed. I don't feel the need to counter everything the HD camp is doing. The BUY-A-THON on the 18th is good enough for me. That has nothing to do with HD-DVD or any petition or spike in HD sales. It is about supporting Blu.

On a side note, new posters should follow the link to the "Rules of Posting" in BStecke's sig.

[TLBradbury]

It's also important to treat others with respect when explaining the difference between formats, and why big Blu is going to be the winner. If we start trash talking them for even considering HD-DVD, we'll end up coming off like a bunch of idiot fanboys. I've convinced many people already to turn to the Blu side just by giving them the facts.

[SS316SRV]

TROLL!!!


Wow! I am joking. I joined this forum to learn about blu-ray news regarding releases, education about home theater technology, to gain a better understanding about blu-ray, and to have informed discussions with members of the HD DVD camp. To me, the TROLL tag is so cliche that it is a joke. This is not a "war" this is a new technology that everybody is trying to understand better.

[talbers23]

Perfect

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by BStecke

...
I'm talking about the increasing amount of posts and members who seem to be here for the format war, and not the format. If there were no format war, half of the posts in this forum would not exist, nor would most of the animosity and ignorance that has seemed to spread. If my first visit to the site had been within the last two weeks, I would have been very unimpressed with what I've found. For some reason, we need a rally thread to buy more discs for every little news announcement. We all like Blu-ray, and if we see something we want, we'll buy the damn thing. We don't need instructions on the importance of this. We seem to have some sort of petition or letter writing campaign for every bit of bad news. We have people who start and advertise their trolling threads in other forums, and then the same people ***** because somebody got pissed that they're trolling, but then expect people not to troll on our site. All of this is unnecessary, and really detracts from the feel this forum once had. I would expect that most people who are buying and appreciating Blu-ray are of some age that that make enough money to buy the things needed to appreciate Blu-ray, and I would expect a lot higher level of maturity from a lot higher proportion of members on this site.

I agree with the sentiment here -- the observation is that we're getting too reactionary and defensive -- but I don't see why all those different behaviours are lumped together in the same paragraph. For example trolling is completely different from tactical purchasing, which is different in turn from organizing a letter-writing campaign. I respect his views but I wish the OP had distinguished more carefully between responsible and irresponsible forms of activism.

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by glenn22

there is such a thread right here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=10976

When I was talking about that sort of thing...I am actually meaning a new category with a filter to keep it turned off until a member actually wants to read the thread. As it is and I'm not sure if we have the resources to do it, the rant thread and the "childish threads"--as they are being called--still show up--again with the filter idea. But anyway...I'll persevere to the end.

[erowe83]

Amen!!!!!!!!!

People are so caught up in the format war they dont even care about the actually movies it ridiculous.

[glenn22]

Originally Posted by Mericalis

When I was talking about that sort of thing...I am actually meaning a new category with a filter to keep it turned off until a member actually wants to read the thread. As it is and I'm not sure if we have the resources to do it, the rant thread and the "childish threads"--as they are being called--still show up--again with the filter idea. But anyway...I'll persevere to the end.

I see what you mean. I am in agreement for the most part. I've been reading and calling people on BS posts until recently, but I've given up for the most part and now I just ignore stuff like that entirely. As was stated earlier, the only real way to avoid the truly garbage posts is to identify those making them and put them on your block list.

[Zaphod]

I totaly agree with everyone. This site is nothing like it was 5 months ago, when the skies were blu, and the grass was green and little ponies pranced among the meadows...wait a minute...sorry wrong web site. But this website has lost a lot of it's luster in the from of decent, meaningful posts.

[The Shrike]

Originally Posted by ToonyLoons

Agreed. I don't feel the need to counter everything the HD camp is doing. The BUY-A-THON on the 18th is good enough for me. That has nothing to do with HD-DVD or any petition or spike in HD sales. It is about supporting Blu.

I'm not too into the Buy a Thons, actually. I don't know what the point is.

[groovyone]

We almost need a thread that's titled "I read this on AVS/Amazon" where people can post potential FUD they read instead of pestering the insiders with it.