Okay the title is a little all encompassing and not really fair. For that matter the jerk title applies pretty equally to computer gamers in general but the question is still valid.

What I mean is that gamers do not seem to be able to let others contently enjoy their game without feeling the need to bash something they personally do not like.

While the recent example of this is STO the truth is this applies to every MMO. I see people ona regular basis bash EVE. Not constructive critisism but open bashing. We cannot leave out WoW which is subject to constant bashing. But as I said we see this in every game.

It is not just the bashers that are jerks however but also the fan boys. You will find some person that things WoW is the greatest game they have ever played. However it is not enough for them to play their game, they must now go out and attack other games within their respective forums and scream that all the people there must acknowledge thier opinion that thier game is the greatest ever.

Why can we not allow others to enjoy the game they enjoy? Why can we not simple not play games we do not enjoy?  I mean I hate the feel of the Chevy HR but love the PT Cruiser. I do not go visit the local Chevy dealer 5 times a day to scream at people there buying Chevys that they must get a PT Cruiser or they are all foolws and suck. Yet that is exactly what so many MMO gamers, and gamers in general do.

You know what would be a real treat? To go into a games forum and find it full of threads where people are discussing the game without the need to bash another person.

For right now the target is STO and it's players are getting hammered pretty hard. SO hard that even this site has had to justify a stand. News flash for the bashers, there are people enjoying this game. If you do not then that is cool. If you have a complaint take it to Cryptic, MMORPG cannot help with game issues. If you hate the game do not play it. If you feel cheated then write a blog entry about your experiences. Why come and fill the forum with yet another thread of how you are the only person with a clue and since you do not like the game others must not either.

In a few months another game will come under the interest of these people and another group will be the ones being harressed. However I think it would be cool if we could stop this now and actually act like we where older than 7 years old and fighting about who daddy is bigger.

If you love a game then I think that is super. It doe not matter if I love it or not. It does not matter if it is technically on par with some other game. What matters in the end is that you are having fun and that is enough. If you do not love the game that is cool too, but instead of harrassing others why not go spend time with people that love the game you love?

People tend to actively bash things in order to minimize or trivialize what they are bashing and simultaneously bolster their own choices thus making them feel like they have made the "right" choices.

Originally posted by Sovrath

People tend to actively bash things in order to minimize or trivialize what they are bashing and simultaneously bolster their own choices thus making them feel like they have made the "right" choices.

Sounds about right. The thing is, there is no wrong choice. All the choices are the right ones. When it comes to taste anyway.

 No one is a jerk but simply opinionated. Most people just state what they perceive as a fact and then someone else chimes in and then a debate begins. Very few are actual jerks.

Its a self esteem issue in my opinion, people who are trolls on the internet get the kind of attention they are missing in real life or it makes them feel powerful/better about themselves. 

A forum by definition is a public place for discussion, yet people seem to be offended by others using a forum as a public place of discussion.

People will dislike games and voice their opinions, people will like games and voice their opinions. This will cause arguing and discussion. It is all perfectly valid until it gets down to flat out trolling of telling each other they are stupid or retards. So yes people will "bash" a game they don't like and people will praise a game they do like, it's the whole point of a game specific forum.

You can always not read the things people write.

One thing I have been surprised at lately is MMORPGs workers letting people post how they feel. (every now and then they delete a post that doesn't violate the rules but then if you repost the exact thing again they let it go, I had this happen when it was the first post on one of their "exclusives" and I think it was to try and control the direction of the posts, but once it went negative anyways they let my post stay). I've posted directly against the article writers several times and they let the posts stay and sometimes even have an argument back and forth with me.

I can respect a place that lets people post how they feel and their actual thoughts as long as it doesn't resort to personal attacks and flaming.

I don't think I bash... I usually make some comment or opinion or take on something and try using reason to explain why.  I believe you are mostly correct, but not all gamers are jerks... just most.  I do find it annoying when someone says something to the effect that "this... that... sucks/fail" and give no explanation as to why.  I guess throwing a generalized negative (or positive) label without an explanation seems "jerkish".

I think about 99% of what you read on gaming forums can be summed up with this comic.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/02/10/
 

My theory is that it is a little like rooting for your favorite football team.  People are emotionally "invested" in a game and feel like if the game wins its a win for the player too.  Then again some people are just trolls.

From my observations, we're mostly jerks because we tend to believe that our own personal individual opinions are more often than not correct and factual and when someone disagrees, we see them as being ignorant just for having a different sense of what they find either enjoyable or boring.

Originally posted by rashhero

From my observations, we're mostly jerks because we tend to believe that our own personal individual opinions are more often than not correct and factual and when someone disagrees, we see them as being ignorant just for having a different sense of what they find either enjoyable or boring.

I disagree with you, but you are correct!  (hee hee joking... good point nonetheless)

The biggest reason, by far, that people are jerks is because of the anonymity associated with posting on a forum. Think of how you would talk to someone disagreeing with you, to your face. Now imagine them as a 6'6" 240lb UFC champion. Going to be a bit nicer, right? Now imagine them as a 4'5" bitchy little girl. No need to be nearly as nice, right? The simple fact of the matter is that the internet has fostered the idea that civility should only be present in the face of a threat. No one here is a visible threat to anyone else, so the harassment and anger swells and grows with an unimaginable force. It's the nature of developed nations to act this way, unfortunately. I mean hell, would you cut in line then turn around and flip off the person right behind you because they said, "Excuse me!" Probably not. Would you do it when you are safe in your car, and they honk because you cut them off? Yeah, probably.

It's because people have the comfort of knowing that their RL location & identity is totally anonymous to whoever their bashing on. And even if it weren't. its probably hundreds/thousands of miles from any harm. Thats why they get so bold. I bet you this post will get quoted and replied with "Wow that was your first post on these forums? blah blah blah <input clever bash here>"

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

You can always tell when you've won an arguement on these forums.  When your "opponent" resorts to calling you a fanboi or troll, it means they have absolutely no basis for their opinion that said game is terrible or great.  Just end the conversation right there because you are dealing with a mentally unarmed person and it wouldn't be fair to continue.

 I believe Penny Arcade illustrated this concept best.

But frankly, it's not just gaming. You're right--people generally don't go around to Chevy dealers yelling at people if they don't buy PT Cruisers. However, have you looked in political forums? What about television forums? They can get just as heated as gaming forums. When people feel a vested interest in something--emotionally, financially, and otherwise--they sometimes become idiots over the subject matter.

Personally, I'm an English Literature student--I can't tell you how many times my friends and I go out and bash things like Twilight! :-D

Anonymity + Internet = Asschab.

Sad truth; give some people a keyboard and they become instantly convinced that they are the most intelligent form of life on the planet, their opinions are absolutely 100% bullet-proof and factual, and that everyone else is just jealous of their moral, intellectual and physical prowess.

We call it "epeen".

close, but no cigar :-p

I've always had a passion of hate for WoW.

Although, that might have to be my next MMO to try :(

Originally posted by Sovrath

People tend to actively bash things in order to minimize or trivialize what they are bashing and simultaneously bolster their own choices thus making them feel like they have made the "right" choices.

I think it's this along with a measure of insecurity where the "basher" isn't secure in their choices and must then proceed to trivialize other people's choices to make their more valid.  It's a little voice in the back of their mind going "I don't know if you've made the right choice, but just to save face, go make fun of that guy over there playing <insert game>"

It's not MMO players,  it's people that are on the Internet.  Though most people on the net are nice,  it's the ones that area total jerks that stand out.  The net provides a "safe haven" for social outcasts that can let their inner nature shine through.

People are anonymous,  and therefore can do things on the net that they may only think about in real life.