Why Grogheads is better than Boardgamegeek

DicedT · January 28, 2013, 10:10:36 PM

I posted a link to my zombie game article on the BGG wargamer forum (yes, guilty of shameless self-promotion). Then some idiot left a nastygram (as if an article on a paper wargame in Foreign Policy Magazine was an insult to the hobby).

Then I suddenly realized just why Grogheads is different from BGG. Someone posts a thought or a link here, and people respond with a comment, a witticism or a smiley. In other words, people on Grogheads seem to genuinely wish each other well. On BGG, there are too many folks to whom nastiness on the forums serves as self-medication for their anger. And who needs to deal with anger on a hobby forum? It's not like there's a shortage of meanness in the world.

Grogheads has a nice atmosphere. People here seem very comfortable in expressing themselves, probably because the community is supportive. Or maybe it's the moderation, or the membership, or whatever. Much like why bumblebees fly or why an obscure TV show named Star Trek became a legend, some things simply work.

My compliments to all of you Grogheads. Even if the name does sound like a forum for drunken sailors.

Michael

bayonetbrant · January 28, 2013, 10:31:26 PM

if only you knew how many names we tried through the domain name registrar service before we settled on "GrogHeads".

sometimes your 'conclusion' is just the place where you got tires of thinking ;D

I'm glad you enjoy it here - there's an atmosphere we've tried to create and overall I'd like to think it's been pretty successful. Personally, BGG drives me nuts. Too many people on too many personal crusades to set the wargaming world on the path they want, with (as you rightly noted) very little tolerance for other opinions.

Sadly, I've noticed it at CSW as well, such as the Game Stats & Trends thread where I was told to take a hike because I dared to suggest Combat Commander is a card-drive wargame...

GDS_Starfury · January 28, 2013, 11:20:18 PM

its the people!
thats all there is to it.

LongBlade · January 28, 2013, 11:33:27 PM

Assholes don't last long around here.

We don't want group-think, but we do ask folks try to get along.

Except Dan and Star. They're like a grouchy old married couple.

GDS_Starfury · January 28, 2013, 11:38:42 PM

Im not grouchy. Im hungover.
compared to that loveable mountain of snuggly fun Jarhead Im frikin Mickey Mouse.

TheCommandTent · January 28, 2013, 11:50:03 PM

I don't spend much time over at BGG but then again why would I when I have a place like GrogHeads.

Bison · January 29, 2013, 12:08:59 AM

I go there to look at the photos.

Arctic Blast · January 29, 2013, 01:36:18 AM

BGG is a handy database and source of help files and the like. The forum community is horrendous, though. A mass population of passive aggressive idiots all playing Internet Tuff Guy.

LongBlade · January 29, 2013, 08:55:50 AM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on January 29, 2013, 01:36:18 AM
BGG is a handy database and source of help files and the like.

+1

I never spend any time with the community there so I honestly can't say I know anything about it. From how it sounds I don't think I'm missing much.

bayonetbrant · January 29, 2013, 08:59:52 AM

I tried sticking up for Michael over there. We'll see if it helps. Doubt it - the mod team there is more interested in squelching arguments than anything. Even if someone is a dork and needs to be argued with...

Longdan · January 29, 2013, 12:54:44 PM

But Mike said something bad about XCom so I don't like him anymore!
I just got it for Xmas and haven't played yet. Now I have to rebuild my suspension of disbelief.
As for Star...well the best we can hope is that some day he will learn to go potty outside.

bayonetbrant · January 29, 2013, 01:29:53 PM

Quote from: Longdan on January 29, 2013, 12:54:44 PMAs for Star...well the best we can hope is that some day he will learn to go potty outside.

the problem is getting him to do it when he's supposed to, as opposed to just whenever the whim strikes him.

DicedT · January 29, 2013, 01:45:27 PM

Thanks for the fire support, Brant. Arctic Blast nailed the problem with BGG. Except that I didn't know BGG had moderators. Though Michael Dorosh seems to think he's one.

I've decided that I will no longer participate in unmoderated forums, or at least game forums. In fact, I'm realizing that the quality of a forum is determined by the quality of the moderators. Most are either too passive or too aggressive. We've been lucky at Grogheads.

Not to mention that Grogheads has better avatars than BGG, where I don't know what half the badges mean.

Michael

bayonetbrant · January 29, 2013, 01:50:51 PM

we don't need no stinking badges ;)

Martok · January 29, 2013, 05:26:01 PM

Aside from agreeing with most of what's been said here (although I can't comment on the BGG forums, as I've only visited there a few times), I don't really have anything to add, except this:

bayonetbrant, LongBlade, and the rest of the staff have done an incredible job here. And the people that frequent this place are...well, to save time, I'll just oversimplify and say they're pretty damn cool.

In almost two decades of surfing the internet, I can honestly say this is the most at home I've ever felt on "ze webs". So thanks to all of you for making Grogheads what it is.

Also, glad you're sticking around DicedT. :)