This is the exact reason why I stopped participating in forums. There are a few forums that I used to frequent, but the drivel that goes on makes it impossible to have a rational discussion without it becoming into a some sort of flaming smear campaign.

I still peruse them, but only the classifieds or marketplace section for used goods.

Thanks to RSS, I now simply follow blogs of people whom I find interesting.

Sometimes you want to say something, but it's counterproductive.

The more you stick your neck out on something, the more likely it is someone is going to try and cut it off.

I think part of it is a mob mentality.  WHen some see a few ganging on one person, they jump in.

Indeed.

@Alstein you're on Qt3 so you've seen the double standards there. You'd think I had somehow earned perosnal abuse through some sort of Derek Smartesq tirade. Every mob has its own rationalization for its deplorable behavior.

Sometimes, it's as simple as a bunch of wannabe authors being ticked off that someone got to write their own book (and incidentally, Random House asked me to write the book, it was by no means a vanity project, it was certainly a marketing decision on RH's house to have the creator of the game write the book too. It took 2 years to write and had multiple RH editors involved the whole time. And yea, I read enough fantasy novels to know that mine isn't horrible. I've had some success in life through my life by being able to objectively evaluate my own work).  

The issue with Qt3 was never whether my book was good or not. It's irrelevant. It's that people on a community I've spent a good part of my adult life on would take the time to go out and smear my book. It was really eye opening. These people felt the need to take time out of their day to do something that they knew (or I assume hoped) would make someone else's day a little less pleasant.

But that's the thing, the Internet allows people to be horrible without consequence for them.  I was joking to Jason Cross at the Qt3 dinner at GDC "I always wonder why I never see some of those vile jerks at these dinners, I'd love to see them face to face and see if they're aggressive in person." And I go to most of the Qt3 dinners at trade shows if I'm there. (I even have a Qt3 polo).

But of course, those kinds of people never show up at these things. Even back when I ran BBSes in the 80s and hosted get togethers, the most obnoxious "flame warriors" never would show up.  I know a few really really big flame warriors who are incredibly passive and quiet in person.

It's easy to shit on someone from remote. It's about the only time that life's weakest links get a chance to have a "level playing field" with people that in the real world, they'd never have access to.

Hence, why most successful people eventually migrate out of forums. Few people have the patience to be told off by some loser who wouldn't make it past a phone interview for an entry level job at their company.

People have different ability levels- I think it's hard for a successful person to realize that sometimes.   It's also somewhat hard for unsuccessful people- who don't wish to believe in their own lack of ability.

I've learned double standards exist everywhere.  You can either fight them or ignore them.  Each has its benefits and drawbacks.

I do think one of the reasons things snowballed- was because of your prior success.  If people hadn't expected Elemental to be the next MoM, they wouldn't have been let down as much when it wasn't. I've learned it's not hate that should scare you, it's indifference.

I'll admit I've been a troll myself.  I spend too much time on boards, though I think much of that is due to needing to fill up time in my day and at work.   And yeah, I don't think too many people would categorize my life as successful.   I gave myself a giant hole, and it took 10 years to fill it.

One of the reasons I went over to that board was to escape from my past somewhat.  I'm trying to disassociate myself from a time I'm not proud of.

I do concur with the evaluation of this note.  I have noticed people on Facebook doing the same thing, being far meaner and disrespectful online than they are in person...and these are people I know!  I can only imagine the way that people hate on each other when they don't even know the person they are talking to on the other side of the screen.