Where to post a rant/cautionary essay based largely on observations in one subforum?

So, I've noticed a particular trend in arguments, mostly in the Roleplaying and 3.5 forums (because I frequent those the most), and I'd like to start a thread about why it's a bad idea and counterproductive and what-not. However, I'm not sure whether it belongs in one of those forums, or somewhere more general, and if so where. (Specifically, it's the annoying habit of saying "[citation needed]" to claims one considers controversial, like some kind of power-drunk wikipedia editor.)

My best guess would be Friendly Banter. Of course, your rant would need to conform to forum rules or else you'll make at least one member of the mod squad unhappy.

I would advise against posting such a "rant/cautionary essay" anywhere, as it is likely to lead to a flame war. Stating opinions as facts followed by "[citation needed]" is a joke, as it turns out. I personally use it pretty regularly (perhaps more than I should) when writing online opinion pieces, and it always gets a laugh.

Writing a cautionary essay is unlikely to sway the opinions of people that you're attacking, especially since they aren't doing anything inherently wrong. How many people have ranted and raved about how asinine "lol"is? That and you've essentially already flamed them as acting like "some kind of power-drunk wikipedia [sic] editor".

I dunno if 'attacking' is the right word. It depends on how the essay is written.

I understand what he's objecting to, the idea that you can dismiss someone's claims in an argument by saying "oh yeah? Well, bring me detailed statistics proving your point, otherwise it's invalid." I've seen this happen a lot in internet conversations about politics, but less so with rpg stuff.

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Originally Posted by JustPlayItLoud

Stating opinions as facts followed by "[citation needed]" is a joke, as it turns out. I personally use it pretty regularly (perhaps more than I should) when writing online opinion pieces, and it always gets a laugh.

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The odd thing is that, in the cases I've observed, it's stopped being a joke and started being a nasty way to slam someone.

For example, someone will say "in my experience, people tend to react in such-and-such a way to this-or-that", and someone will reply tersely "[citation needed]", as a way to shut them down.

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That and you've essentially already flamed them as acting like "some kind of power-drunk wikipedia [sic] editor".

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Ugh, I suppose so. Irony, my old enemy, we meet again! :smallsigh:

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Originally Posted by kumada

I dunno if 'attacking' is the right word. It depends on how the essay is written.

I understand what he's objecting to, the idea that you can dismiss someone's claims in an argument by saying "oh yeah? Well, bring me detailed statistics proving your point, otherwise it's invalid." I've seen this happen a lot in internet conversations about politics, but less so with rpg stuff.

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I try to avoid political discussions :smalltongue:

And yes, despite the frustration against the practice in the first post, I would try to avoid making things worse.

If it makes you feel any better, I only use [citation needed] as a kind of tongue-in-cheek way of asking for a specific rules quote when someone is actually highlighting or explaining a game rule, that I'm unfamiliar with or have forgotten.

I'd never, ever use it as a means to dismiss an opinion or anything else non-provable. That's just rude.

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Originally Posted by tuggyne

The odd thing is that, in the cases I've observed, it's stopped being a joke and started being a nasty way to slam someone.

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I doubt that a rant thread would affect anyone who's using it to be rude. The only direct way to solve the problem would be to report any and all instances where you think the person asking for a citation is being nasty (be sure to explain why you think so in your report) and let the mods sort it out.

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Originally Posted by Savannah

I doubt that a rant thread would affect anyone who's using it to be rude. The only direct way to solve the problem would be to report any and all instances where you think the person asking for a citation is being nasty (be sure to explain why you think so in your report) and let the mods sort it out.

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Hmm, you may be right at that.

Good to get these opinions, anyway, before diving in.

We would really prefer that you didn't post this anywhere. Ranting about something people are doing is counter to the spirit and rules of the community. You are not entitled to tell people what they can and can't do on these forums.

If you find it rude, and don't think they are doing it deliberately, you may wish to talk to them to politely explain why you feel it was rude. If you feel that they are doing it deliberately to provoke you, then report it with a full explanation of why, and we will investigate further.