Community really come to this?

[kazekamio]

I've been playing DDO for quite a while but lately I've been growing more and more disgusted with one thing. The amount of whining coming from the community.

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize. Further more the side effect of going f2p is that official support quality drops and the quality of new content drops. It's inevitable and won't change as long as the f2p barn door is wide open.

It's getting to be really sad. I stick with DDO because it's the only MMO in existence where I can make a character and get into the character with a significant level of immersion. I don't to often look at the mechanics of DDO because I am to often busy enjoying BEING my character to worry about trying to overpower the mechanics. But it seems as time goes on those with my own mindset are becoming more and more of a minority while those who wanwan over every change that is made to DDO no matter what it is.

Yet the sudden hot topic is one of the mods, after enduring quite possibly years of almost daily lashings from the community that he literally employed to try to appease, retaliates once and suddenly the community seems to want a formal apology or a lynch mob. most likely both. Personally after reading these forums for the years I have, I am of the belief that every turbine employee should be allowed, by contract, a set number of times they are allowed to bash back against players per week. Seriously, as part of the requirements to remain a viable member of the work force they should as a form of therapy to fight stress be expected to lash out against the community that sees fit to bash their work on a daily basis. But then again that would surely quality as bullying on their part.

But by the same token the mob mentality that a lot of the whiners on these forums seem to have is just as bad. When I hear stories of the mods lashing out on players my only thought is 'about **** time!' You kick a dog frequently enough when it doesn't have fleeing as an option, it's going to turn to biting back. I am glad to see one of the mods finally bit back. I hope he doesn't have to apologize for this. I hope it gets swept under the rug and those that hurt their feelings over this are stuck with that dirty taste in their mouth and that feeling they get when something they are so passionate about lashes out at them.

Oh! Look! My patch is done. Here I come Fred, get those chintacles handy for my body is ready!

[Amundir]

Personally after reading these forums for the years I have,

There's your problem. Take a break (from the board). You'll feel better after a while.

[Cathimon]

I've been playing DDO for quite a while but lately I've been growing more and more disgusted with one thing. The amount of whining coming from the community.

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize. Further more the side effect of going f2p is that official support quality drops and the quality of new content drops. It's inevitable and won't change as long as the f2p barn door is wide open.

It's getting to be really sad. I stick with DDO because it's the only MMO in existence where I can make a character and get into the character with a significant level of immersion. I don't to often look at the mechanics of DDO because I am to often busy enjoying BEING my character to worry about trying to overpower the mechanics. But it seems as time goes on those with my own mindset are becoming more and more of a minority while those who wanwan over every change that is made to DDO no matter what it is.

Yet the sudden hot topic is one of the mods, after enduring quite possibly years of almost daily lashings from the community that he literally employed to try to appease, retaliates once and suddenly the community seems to want a formal apology or a lynch mob. most likely both. Personally after reading these forums for the years I have, I am of the belief that every turbine employee should be allowed, by contract, a set number of times they are allowed to bash back against players per week. Seriously, as part of the requirements to remain a viable member of the work force they should as a form of therapy to fight stress be expected to lash out against the community that sees fit to bash their work on a daily basis. But then again that would surely quality as bullying on their part.

But by the same token the mob mentality that a lot of the whiners on these forums seem to have is just as bad. When I hear stories of the mods lashing out on players my only thought is 'about **** time!' You kick a dog frequently enough when it doesn't have fleeing as an option, it's going to turn to biting back. I am glad to see one of the mods finally bit back. I hope he doesn't have to apologize for this. I hope it gets swept under the rug and those that hurt their feelings over this are stuck with that dirty taste in their mouth and that feeling they get when something they are so passionate about lashes out at them.

Oh! Look! My patch is done. Here I come Fred, get those chintacles handy for my body is ready!

The other poster is right, don't read the forums. I criticize and complain like a self-entitled brat because, I pay/paid good money, I played D&D for decades now and I don't like the direction they're going with this game.

[FranOhmsford]

I've been playing DDO for quite a while but lately I've been growing more and more disgusted with one thing. The amount of whining coming from the community.

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize.


Oh the Irony!

[MaeveTuohy]

I've been playing DDO for quite a while but lately I've been growing more and more disgusted with one thing. The amount of whining coming from the community.

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize. Further more the side effect of going f2p is that official support quality drops and the quality of new content drops. It's inevitable and won't change as long as the f2p barn door is wide open.

It's getting to be really sad. I stick with DDO because it's the only MMO in existence where I can make a character and get into the character with a significant level of immersion. I don't to often look at the mechanics of DDO because I am to often busy enjoying BEING my character to worry about trying to overpower the mechanics. But it seems as time goes on those with my own mindset are becoming more and more of a minority while those who wanwan over every change that is made to DDO no matter what it is.

Yet the sudden hot topic is one of the mods, after enduring quite possibly years of almost daily lashings from the community that he literally employed to try to appease, retaliates once and suddenly the community seems to want a formal apology or a lynch mob. most likely both. Personally after reading these forums for the years I have, I am of the belief that every turbine employee should be allowed, by contract, a set number of times they are allowed to bash back against players per week. Seriously, as part of the requirements to remain a viable member of the work force they should as a form of therapy to fight stress be expected to lash out against the community that sees fit to bash their work on a daily basis. But then again that would surely quality as bullying on their part.

But by the same token the mob mentality that a lot of the whiners on these forums seem to have is just as bad. When I hear stories of the mods lashing out on players my only thought is 'about **** time!' You kick a dog frequently enough when it doesn't have fleeing as an option, it's going to turn to biting back. I am glad to see one of the mods finally bit back. I hope he doesn't have to apologize for this. I hope it gets swept under the rug and those that hurt their feelings over this are stuck with that dirty taste in their mouth and that feeling they get when something they are so passionate about lashes out at them.

Oh! Look! My patch is done. Here I come Fred, get those chintacles handy for my body is ready!

I am uncertain what the difference is between this posting and the whining from the community you are complaining about. Assuming there is a problem, do you think you are being part of the solution?

[Qhualor]

Do what I do now. I only post to specific people I have no issues with and are like minded and I comment if I feel I should put in my 2 coppers in when devs post. I hardly read the forums anymore and experience a lot less whine, frustration, entitlement, trolling and arguments camouflaged as discussion. The forum community do not make a good representation of in game community.

[slarden]

You've been on the forums for a long time and you think this is a new trend?

That doesn't compute. This thread itself is a whine thread.

[FranOhmsford]

Do what I do now. I only post to specific people I have no issues with and are like minded and I comment if I feel I should put in my 2 coppers in when devs post. I hardly read the forums anymore and experience a lot less whine, frustration, entitlement, trolling and arguments camouflaged as discussion. The forum community do not make a good representation of in game community.

Oh Please tell me this isn't a joke?

Best news ever!

[mudfud]

Oh Please tell me this isn't a joke?

Best news ever!

LOL Her posting in this thread broke 99% of what she said she wasn't going to do.

[Buffyanne]

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize. Further more the side effect of going f2p is that official support quality drops and the quality of new content drops. It's inevitable and won't change as long as the f2p barn door is wide open.



It is generally accepted that going F2P saved DDO. This game would be dead like Warhammer online if it hadn't gone F2P. Many MMOs copied the F2P model because of the success that it had. F2P injects life into a game and I am sure anyone who joins a game F2P that sticks around for another length of time eventually pays for something whether it be expansion packs or by going VIP. Furthermore it is not the F2P players who contribute to the whine. More often than not they are never on the forums, they are playing the game. By far, in my opinion, the most whine comes from veterans wanting things 'back in the day'. Here is a little insight, 'back in the day' always sucked. Things evolve and get better.

[Cathimon]

By far, in my opinion, the most whine comes from veterans wanting things 'back in the day'. Here is a little insight, 'back in the day' always sucked. Things evolve and get better.

That's your opinion, and your opinion is wrong. It got worse over the years, quality and population especially. Let alone all the cheating that took place.

[Loholt-UK]

Oh the Irony!

This.

[Buffyanne]

Let alone all the cheating that took place.

So its the F2P casual players that invented duping?!!! Ohhhhh OK

[Faltout]

I've been playing DDO for quite a while but lately I've been growing more and more disgusted with one thing. The amount of whining coming from the community.

Now I admit, I have had my one bicker over the years. The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid. So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize. Further more the side effect of going f2p is that official support quality drops and the quality of new content drops. It's inevitable and won't change as long as the f2p barn door is wide open.
I haven't met many other f2p players in the forums. Have you considered that the whining brats are the paying players that have the illusion that they own the game? Maybe this will make you reconsider your f2p attitude. Because us f2p players are polite most of the time.

[Kawai]

Good points Op.
+1

hwvr, mentioning &/or including Freepers @beginning =bad results.
-their tiny little plastic pitchforks came out before they could comprehend the rest of it.

oh well.

ah, & this...


Do what I do now. I only post to specific people I have no issues with and are like minded and I comment if I feel I should put in my 2 coppers in when devs post. I hardly read the forums anymore and experience a lot less whine, frustration, entitlement, trolling and arguments camouflaged as discussion. The forum community do not make a good representation of in game community.

sad, but true.

[Basic_Uncaring]

I bet that an inconclusive *yay turbine I love you so very very much I don't care if you let the community manager insults other players and delete posts on the the forum that have not violated any rule whatsoever* (read all in one breath without taking pause) is actually going to last longer than *posts on the the forum that have not violated any rule whatsoever*.


Guess I won't be buying anymore collector edition expansion and my VIP account is long dead (still going to buy packs and classes cause Im an idiot that still bothers posting on the MB). Oh sweet irony!

[Kawai]

...Because us f2p players are polite most of the time.

true also.

[Vint]

There's your problem. Take a break (from the board). You'll feel better after a while.

I don’t see how this will help. If the people that actually cared about the game quit reading and rebutting the cries and complaints, the game would be even worse off than it is now.

On a related note it is funny to see how people react here OP. A few weeks ago people were jumping off of buildings and making demands if Bards, Palys and Barbs were not nerfed. Go look at their posting history over the past few days and apparently now the OP toons are not what is killing DDO. (I won’t spoil it for you, seriously go look at their posts).

[FrancisP.Fancypants]

So when that happened I was forced to take a haitus from DDO for a couple months until the surge of whiny self entitled brats waned and the community began to stabilize.

When you get right down to it, there is zero difference between a poster with this much lack of self-awareness and your garden variety internet troll; the results are the same.


Never change internet, never change. :rolleyes:

[Connman]

The other poster is right, don't read the forums. I criticize and complain like a self-entitled brat because, I pay/paid good money, I played D&D for decades now and I don't like the direction they're going with this game.

I am not complaining just observing, that it feels like we had a "DM" change, like in PnP when you go from one DM to the other. Regardless of the quality of the "new" DM, I find myself comparing the new one to the old one, and of course it seems like no matter how good the new DM is, if you loved the old one, the new one just doesn't seem to be as good.

[Susquehana]

It is generally accepted that going F2P saved DDO. This game would be dead like Warhammer online if it hadn't gone F2P. Many MMOs copied the F2P model because of the success that it had. F2P injects life into a game and I am sure anyone who joins a game F2P that sticks around for another length of time eventually pays for something whether it be expansion packs or by going VIP. Furthermore it is not the F2P players who contribute to the whine. More often than not they are never on the forums, they are playing the game. By far, in my opinion, the most whine comes from veterans wanting things 'back in the day'. Here is a little insight, 'back in the day' always sucked. Things evolve and get better.Yes going f2p saved the game and brought with it the entitlement group that wants something for nothing and demanded an easier game that took no ability or thought. You are sure that anyone who sticks around pays? That would be wrong. The research I have seen shows that roughtly 20% of free to play population spend money on those games. Yes free to plasy contribute to the whine as well. It seems in this post you made sure to be wrong as much as possible instead of spreading your wrongs over multiple posts, well done and thank you.

Back in the day did not suck, but this game only attracted D7D enthusiasts and they stuck around because the liked the challenge. then your kind showed uup and demanded to be superheroes.

[Susquehana]

I haven't met many other f2p players in the forums. Have you considered that the whining brats are the paying players that have the illusion that they own the game? Maybe this will make you reconsider your f2p attitude. Because us f2p players are polite most of the time.I have not found f2p people to be any more polite than paying customers and the truth is this game went downhill after f2p because it attracted the group that didnt want a challenge. Free to play doesnt make you any better or worse or more polite or rude so give it up.

[vryxnr]

I am uncertain what the difference is between this posting and the whining from the community you are complaining about. Assuming there is a problem, do you think you are being part of the solution?

The difference is the "whiners" the OP is talking about do this constantly, incessantly. Post after post after post, day after day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. If one topic they're complaining about changes, they find something else to complain about, and keep doing it without remorse. All this put out an atmosphere of hate, and it build up over time. In contrast, the OP and others like the OP who have posted similar threads in the past do not do this all the time. They do their best to ignore the complaining, and simply enjoy the game for what it is. But every time someone else complains and they see it, it eats away at them. After a while, all the hate that the complainers have facilitated builds up and boils over. The tactic of ignoring the hate and trying to simply do your own thing, or even the tactic of leading by example (by not complaining about every little thing, sometimes even if it contradicts what one was complaining about a week earlier) after a while seems to simply not be working, you change your tactics. Fight fire with fire. And in this one moment, posts like the OP happen.

That is the difference.

It's like a bunch of kids teasing another kid, lambasting this kid for every little thing: his cloths, his hair, his parents, his hobbies... and they do not relent. "Why don't you wear this. That hat is stupid! You're stupid! I saw you play this game, you're playing it wrong! Idiot! You should cut your hair, it's lame. Your parents are useless! Why don't you just go away!" Every time they see him they do this. Another kid plays in the same park and sees this happening. At first this third kid doesn't notice much, thought they were playing. Then he realizes what they are doing but figures it's either not his problem, or isn't as bad as it actually is. But days go by and the same thing happens every single day and this kid start getting upset that this is happening... so one day this kid goes up to the other kids and tells them "would you just stop?".

That first group of kids were complaining about the other kid, then a third kid came by and complained about the first group... but they are clearly not the same. This is a bit of an extreme example, but I feel the comparison is there to be made.

Or if you'd prefer: you go into a supermarket. The shelves are stocked with a variety of goods, some cool, some standard, some unique to this store, and some that you're not sure should even exist, but figure there must be someone out there who likes that. Some shelves are well stocked, others are not as well stocked. Then you come across a group of people yelling at the employees of this supermarket. Not even at the managers, but the clerks and guys counting stock and restocking and even the elderly greeter at the front door. They are yelling at these employees for every little thing about this store. The lights are too bright. Now they're too dark. The color of the tiles sucks. This product is out of stock. This product is too well stocked. Why did you build this display this way, it looks dumb and I can easily knock it down. This product is crappy! This product beside it is great quality, how dare you have this crappy product on the same shelf! Clean up this mess. You missed a spot! ... and there is a hoard of people wandering about the store doing this to every employee they find, and they do this all day long for weeks on end with no end in sight.

Most people simply wouldn't go in there (people who don't like forums and generally ignore them). But sometimes there is something in that store that you really want to check out, so you bear the hatred coming from other customers for a while to get what you need. Perhaps that product is so good that you go back in again and again, despite the other customers. But after a while, you can't take it anymore, and you tell some of them "Hey, what you're doing isn't cool. Could you lay off these guys?"

Again, the ones who were complaining about everything in that store for weeks on end, and the one person who finally had enough of it and complained to the 'complainers' about their complaining are clearly not on the same level, imo.

Again, extreme examples, but that IS how a lot of the "criticism of the game you all love and want to be better so you criticize incessantly about every little thing about it in the hopes of it meeting your own personal standard of what they game should be" is seen by a a good chunk of others who don't post in the forums that often, like the OP of this thread and others like it.

[FestusHood]

In my experience, the number of free to play players who last longer than a month who actually don't pay any money into the game is minute. To be honest, most of the ones i know spend a lot more money on the game than what a subscription costs. I assume by free to play, you are simply talking about non subscribers, and not people who literally play for years without ever investing a dime into the game, because i don't know any like that.

The idea that people who don't pay money into the game have a greater sense of entitlement than those that do is ludicrous. Paying money is in fact the most frequent defense that i see among the most prolific complainers.

[kazekamio]

Okay, now that I have a decent number of people from both sides of the argument in attendance I am going to ask perhaps the real reason I posted this thread. (Aside from the fact I am tired of people putting their feelings on the end of a lance and charging into every conversation they think might let them hurt their own feelings and blame someone else.)

What are you personally doing to help the DDO community as a whole?

Sure it's easy to assume the mob mentality and get your torches and pitch forks out to go on a witch hunt for mods than ban harmful posts. It's easy to say the game has become unplayable because Fred quit working. But I am not here in defense of Turbine for they have made many choices I'd love to **** on. I am here to ask, what are YOU doing to be an upstanding member of the community and help improve the whole?

[Azarddoze]

Okay, now that I have a decent number of people from both sides of the argument in attendance I am going to ask perhaps the real reason I posted this thread. (Aside from the fact I am tired of people putting their feelings on the end of a lance and charging into every conversation they think might let them hurt their own feelings and blame someone else.)

What are you personally doing to help the DDO community as a whole?

Sure it's easy to assume the mob mentality and get your torches and pitch forks out to go on a witch hunt for mods than ban harmful posts. It's easy to say the game has become unplayable because Fred quit working. But I am not here in defense of Turbine for they have made many choices I'd love to **** on. I am here to ask, what are YOU doing to be an upstanding member of the community and help improve the whole?

I shall attempt to change them all with my stupid philosiphical bs posts.

I'm sure they will then be able to stop caring about what ****ed them off the minute before!


It's a gaming forum... everyone wants the game to be what they wish it was. That leads to confrontation. Simple.

[PermaBanned]

Yet the sudden hot topic is one of the mods, after enduring quite possibly years of almost daily lashings from the community that he literally employed to try to appease, retaliates once and suddenly the community seems to want a formal apology or a lynch mob. most likely both... When I hear stories of the mods lashing out on players my only thought is 'about **** time!' You kick a dog frequently enough when it doesn't have fleeing as an option, it's going to turn to biting back. I am glad to see one of the mods finally bit back. I hope he doesn't have to apologize for this.
I speak as I wish to be spoken to, and treat others as though they're doing the same - in both my personal and professional lives. I own my words, and expect my staff (I run the kitchen half of a resturaunt & bar) to be accountable for theirs as well. In perhaps the most relevant example to what the Turbine staffer said back to a rude player: I have a regular customer who's been complaining (complete with expletives) about the quality of both the service and the soup o' the day for years (and ordering it consistently for those years). One day several months ago they dropped another F-bomb laden compliant to their server who had finally had enough and retorted with "Shut the **** up and eat your soup." Said customer complained to me about receiving this treatment, and I explained my staff was not here to take their abuse. Moral of the story: that staff member is still under my employ, and the customer still orders the soup.

Having read so many "you're a liar" and "my slow 5 year old nephew could write better code" posts over the years, it's high past time a few of my fellow DDO customers get told to "shut the **** up and eat your soup" - and the Turbine staffer in question didn't say anything that severe. I applauded their retort when I heard it, and hope there have been no repercussions levied against them.

[kazekamio]

I speak as I wish to be spoken to, and treat others as though they're doing the same - in both my personal and professional lives. I own my words, and expect my staff (I run the kitchen half of a resturaunt & bar) to be accountable for theirs as well. In perhaps the most relevant example to what the Turbine staffer said back to a rude player: I have a regular customer who's been complaining (complete with expletives) about the quality of both the service and the soup o' the day for years (and ordering it consistently for those years). One day several months ago they dropped another F-bomb laden compliant to their server who had finally had enough and retorted with "Shut the **** up and eat your soup." Said customer complained to me about receiving this treatment, and I explained my staff was not here to take their abuse. Moral of the story: that staff member is still under my employ, and the customer still orders the soup.

Having read so many "you're a liar" and "my slow 5 year old nephew could write better code" posts over the years, it's high past time a few of my fellow DDO customers get told to "shut the **** up and eat your soup" - and the Turbine staffer in question didn't say anything that severe. I applauded their retort when I heard it, and hope there have been no repercussions levied against them.

Beautiful answer. Thank you.

[arkonas]

while some of these posters have merit to their discussions some just do whine about everything and anything. i swear nothing makes them happy ever. i've been disappointed a few times but i still continue to play. i know its an old game with tons of codes to go through. they don't update the game weekly like some games. so some customers aren't use to the down time. when it happens they complain like it was done on purpose. every single time. there are a few i can think of that all they do is complain and sometimes it might make sense but its either constant or the way they word it.


i really hope turbine does pick one thing and sticks to it. they don't need to cater to everyone. someone will always be upset no matter what.

[MonadRebelion]

I have no idea what was said or by which Turbine staffer. However, I find it highly unlikely, whatever it was, that it was inappropriate, given absurdly insulting things I see written by forumites. It's really quite amazing the things that people get away with saying. It's pretty easy to see that the folks at Turbine are rather permissive in the way these forums are moderated.

[General_Gronker]

The amount of whining coming from the community.
Then maybe, just maybe, you should consider adding more signal than noise. For example, this post of yours is nothing but whiny noise. Try signal next time.

Seriously, don't complain about others' lack of contribution while contributing absolutely nothing yourself.


The research I have seen
Before accusing anyone of being wrong, you should make sure your post isn't entirely made of make-believe, like that one was. I assume you'll be citing your "research" now, yes?


the real reason I posted this thread. The real reason you posted was to whine about whiners. Period.


What are you personally doing to help the DDO community as a whole? Nothing. I don't give a solitary rodent's posterior about the "community". I provide my advice on improving the game, because that's what I care about, but I'm not so silly as to conflate the two.

[Erofen]

I assume by free to play, you are simply talking about non subscribers, and not people who literally play for years without ever investing a dime into the game, because i don't know any like that. Hi. It is nice to meet you. My name is Erofen. :D

[Amundir]

I don’t see how this will help. If the people that actually cared about the game quit reading and rebutting the cries and complaints, the game would be even worse off than it is now.

I......I-I wasn't trying to write a prescription. Just looking the patient over for a moment. o_O

Though I do find it interesting that you draw a correlation between board complains to the status of the game. Not saying there isn't one. But it kinda reads like "If there are complaints complaints the game is doing badly!" and vise versa. I don't feel too strongly that the board is a good sampling of the sentiment of those that play the game over all. IMHO of course.

EDIT: Aka, regardless of status of the game, people will always love to b****

[Paleus]

The change from p2p to f2p because I knew without a doubt it would lower the quality of the community by letting in players from the f2p communities I wanted to avoid.

You do realize the game went F2P like 6 years ago. As one of the unwashed masses that started playing at that time, you're welcome. The game was declining in release frequency and was not profitable. It went F2P, hooked a lot of players like myself who started paying into the game, and its still here 6 years later when a lot of other games from that era that weren't WOW-sized and didnt adapt are no longer around.

The internet is full of entitled whining posts, but lets just assume that P2P, F2P, VIP has no proven correlation between the likelihood of the individual whining. The only correlation you might draw is that when a massive influx of people joined the game that some of that group will be annoying. Do what others have suggested, ignore them and move on or at least try not to paint everyone with the generalization brush since we're a varied bunch.


Yet the sudden hot topic is one of the mods, after enduring quite possibly years of almost daily lashings from the community that he literally employed to try to appease, retaliates once and suddenly the community seems to want a formal apology or a lynch mob. most likely both.

Wait...what? I'm not seeing that sudden hot topic, but I admit to not reading every post on the forums and being absent much of the weekend. *Edit* I found it by looking for the locked thread. All I see is a minority (a very vocal as always minority) complaining and everyone else going, meh or agreeing with the original casus belli. I'll look into more when I can be bothered, but I seriously don't see this as a vocal "lynch mob."

But it looks like the typical of a few people at most who are chain posting the same thing over and over again trying to pretend like they have the majority of support while another group repeatedly responds that they are wrong stating that they are the true majority, while the actual majority is busy playing the game and not being on the forums. So best thing to do is honestly not get suckered into thinking that one or two people chain posting the same thing is representative of a majority of posters. It ain't. And this isn't something F2P brought about, its just the internets in general where a vocal minority can create the impression of a majority.