So lately we've had a bit of a rash of downer talk about how the Escapist forums have changed, sold out, not about the music etc. It's not serious and people still obviously love this tree house but I have an idea wo win one for happiness and light. Let's give a reason or two that explains why we like this place.
I very much love that this forum turns troll threads or silly posts into some bizarre tangent. The classic example is the troll hunting thread but a good recent one was the Banhammer Trek thread.

I love the funny posts, and I also get to chat with people that are equally intelligent.

As long as the Ban Hammer gets used liberally and anytime someone is being a dick or obnoxious for no reason, I'm a fan.

For some odd reason, people seem to think you can't possibly control bad behavior online. Sure you can, they're called mods and if you establish rules people will either fall in line or leave.

It's not like there isn't a good argument for doing it either. Like the Xbox Execs & Kotaku mods are slowly realizing, having an obnoxious user base and letting them be pricks drives customers away. No one wants to hang out in a room full of screaming assholes even if there are a couple of cool ones in there.

There are quite alot of great posters around here and the articles are great.

And Yahtzee ofcourse.

I like the generally intelligent discussion of the forums (one or two trolls not withstanding), the wit and insight of my fellow posters, the oft-times wierd tangents the threads go on.

Speaking of which, what's happened to Moogly Googly lately? Haven't heard a peep from him for ages.

I believe he was killed and eaten by Pygmies.

Yes, he was surprised too.

L.B. Jeffries:
As long as the Ban Hammer gets used liberally and anytime someone is being a dick or obnoxious for no reason, I'm a fan.

Yes, this is one of the things I really love about this place.
Other places people are too... I dunno... weak? to use the Ban Hammer at all, much less liberally.
This is how The Escapist is able to stay as an intelligent place to chill.
And it's not like they just go out and ban just anyone- don't act like a dick and you get to stay around, simple.
I also like how I can feel that it's really people here rather than just some corporation or a bunch of robots.

Anarchemitis:
Quote this post if you think you are great!

Ooh, Ooh! I am!

Funny posts, intellegent discussions, lynching RP's; what's not to like?

Apologies abound.

This has got to be my favorite forum on the web. I almost never have to deal with:

1) Illegible posts with internet spelling
2) Obnoxious people
3) Arguments that aren't thought-out
4) Internet ****wads.

I made my first thread-starting post yesterday with an essay about the dichotomy of hardcore vs. casual gamers, opened it up for discussion on 3 major points, and got really intelligent, honest, and well-thought-out replies. Most everybody on this board is respectful. I agree with the use of the Banhammer. Let the obnoxious internet miscreants go frequent some other board. Like Gametrailers.com or something. They'll have company.

I think the community here is top notch. I actually enjoy reading the user reviews.

I also think the forum community really cares about the integrity of the discussion that occurs. I certainly don't read every super long post that goes up on the boards, but the fact that people care enough to put together a lengthy post says a lot about their expectations that someone will read it and that someone will find it valuable or worth commenting on in a meaningful way. That is true engagement, and it is a rare thing on the internet.

There are a lot of great items The Escapist has that I really can't find anywhere else: 1) Actual articles that don't have a thing to do with reviewing a game 2) most of the community actually shares rationalized thought and brings meaning to a conversation instead of just blurting out garbage 3) the community members can debate over items in a thread, and very much like each other while being able to disagree. This not only shows a higher form of thinking but maturity and respect 4) and finally, the Ban Hammer. Nothing pisses me off more than dipshits who don't have a clue. I wish Microsoft would Ban Hammer most of the Xbox Live community.

So for me, besides the insights of articles and news updates, I think the community is what keeps me coming back. Proud to be a part of it.

I love this place because the mods are funny, trolls get stomped on and we are all gamers that aren't that average cunt spewing forth idiocy. Oh, and I laugh a lot at what some of you people have to say (Gigantor, mshcherbatskaya £>, PurpleRain ect...)

But yeah you are right, the creativity of this forum when we are left to our own devises on a stupid thread can go somewhere bizarre.

yeah i quite like these forums (this is just turning into a wanking about the escapist thread isnt it?) and the liberal banhammer use is definitely appreciated, though i would like it if thread that tangented were kept, such as the startrek thread, and the trollslayer one. keep the trolls and stuff off the boards, but maybe if we are following random train of thought x then dont lock it, just cause it doesnt really have a point. i love the creative stuff you guys come up with and seeing where these strange offshoot threads go is half the fun. also i dont always come here looking for a phylisophic debate. sometimes i just like to have fun and creative and completely randomly funny times.

Shucks, I like the people. Friendly but ruthless mods and considerate forum goers make for an all round smooth experience.

I like the air of respectability that you get from being on the Escapist, as opposed to being mired in the System Wars at Gamespot or swearing at each other over at Gametrailers.

I like the absence of sigs. Seriously. It's a relief to hold a conversation without watching wall-to-wall plugs for blogs, 'hilarious' quotes, and jiggling hentai boobs.

And if there's a zombie apocalypse, this is the first place I'm coming to: most of all, I like the Escapist Zombie Contingency Plan.

I love the extremely high signal-to-noise ratio.

And the video games. Can't forget about the video games.

I love the discussions, how open-minded and intelligent the people are, and how effective the mods are.

Everyone here is utterly awesome, each in their own individual way. While I don't partake in the intellectual discussions, they often dismiss annoying retarded penguin arguments and people are actually banned if they're being retarded enough. The mods are fair and clever. And you almost never have to deal with retarded people.

josh797:
(this is just turning into a wanking about the escapist thread isnt it?)

Exactly. An ego boost a day keeps the psychiatrist away.

Yep, can't argue with the greatness of The Escapist. The posters are great, the idiots are out the door rather quickly, the mods are friendly (albeit a little twitchy when it comes to the banhammer), the discussions are intelligent and constructive. I can go on, but I think this'll sum it up nicely:
The Escapist is my haven on the internet, somewhere I can have intelligent conversations, while enjoying myself, simply 'cos of the nice people (and mods).

- A procrastinator

I must say that it is likely due to Yahtzee that these forums are changing so much. There are so few people dating before his premire here, but this online magazine has been up for years. Even if this place is dreadful in comparison to how it once was, it is still brilliant. The admins don't just go kicking bum just because they're all out of gum, nor do they sit idly by while a flame war is going on. Kudos to yall.

I can't say the same thing for the Outspark forums, sadly. It was a place that didn't need much policing, but there are about six people there who are ruining everything...
*places flower on its grave*

I certainly came because of Yahtzee, but found the forums to be unique. Very few places on the internet, even hard science forums, are as intelligent, plus there is an unusually broad range of nationalities and unusual people which allows me to see things from a perspective not otherwise available to one of my age, background, and genitalia. And while I'm sometimes curious as to why a particular poster got banned, the results speak for themselves.

Plug opportunity!

I think I said everything I needed to say about the community here on the thread which basically turned into 'Ask A Mod'. The community here is witty, quick and can be very amusing. They're great to work with, and are more productive than a lot of magazines out there; especially given all of the reviewers here are volunteers. Thus, to my eyes, this means that the members here even surpass the hilarious guys over at the PC Gamer UK forums, who did little more than sit around for days upon end and make wry cracks at topics or one another.

I actually have good conversations on this board. I love the fact that trolls are more likely to trigger spontaneous RPs than flamewars. I love the preference for properly written English. I love that debates don't routinely degenerate into flamewars, even when they are on seriously touchy topics. The articles are not simple rounds of industry gossip.

And I have a harem! How can I not love a place that has given me a virtual harem!

mshcherbatskaya:
I actually have good conversations on this board. I love the fact that trolls are more likely to trigger spontaneous RPs than flamewars. I love the preference for properly written English. I love that debates don't routinely degenerate into flamewars, even when they are on seriously touchy topics. The articles are not simple rounds of industry gossip.

And I have a harem! How can I not love a place that has given me a virtual harem!

LOL You do indeed.

Slightly off topic, but I love your avatar even though I normally hate anime. It's like it's saying "Don't make me come over there and kick your ass. Because I will. I don't care if I have to pack a lunch and climb you like a redwood, your ass *will* be kicked."

The fine point of Escapism is Escaping from clients, co-workers, fanboys and idiots (perhaps even familiy, but I sincerely hope not) to talk about things we like in a mutual respect.
We all good friends! High five!

Melaisis:
Plug opportunity!

You forgot a link to "Download Ram at www.iamgullible.lol"

I like how lively the forum is. If you put something up, you get almost instant gratification. And from people who can form sentences!

The fact that everyone here is a nice and intelligent person is what makes me come back.
The moderators (or the moderator that I've ever seen ban someone) work hard to make sure that the people and both

a) Able to form a sentance
b) Not hooting Dick Holes

If it wasn't for the moderators and the fabled Ban Hammer then this place would have gone down hill.

I also like the User Review section.

At first i didn't like this place, it was harsh and uninviting, but i grew to love it. Because the people here are actually smart, they don't consist of morons and trolls like SOME forums i've been to and i also like the fact that you don't have to be a "veteran poster" for people to think your posts mean something. I've been on several forums sites, some with Karma and some with Stars, all which show ether how popular that poster is. For once people actually regard what i'm saying, and i'm not considered a band wagoner because i agree/dissagree with someone.
This forum is not a popularity contest.

I also like the general intelligence of most people, it's not ridiculously stupid, but not ridiculously smart, I can keep up with what people are saying.

It's a good forum.

PurpleRain:

PurpleRain:

PurpleRain:
I like this place cause Purple Rain's here.

Dude, thanks! You're awesome too!

Thanks! We should make a team or something. You're like a god you know.

I try my best.

I'm only here for the free tacos.

The_root_of_all_evil:
I'm only here for the free tacos.

We get tacos now?

I have to admit, this community of peopleis great to be around. I used to hate english at school. After being drawn in by Yahtzee and hanging around here, I found myself loving the ancient language once more. Plus everyone here is quite funny, are the great minds of tommorow and are probably devilishly handsom in reality. Ok, I'm pushing it now.

i'm new here and the other forums i came from (ultimate guitar, Questionable content, jolt) all make this place look like some kind of shining heaven. there's your regulars, the odd joke, its all good

plus, we all live in fear of the banhammer

jim_doki:
i'm new here and the other forums i came from (ultimate guitar, Questionable content, jolt) all make this place look like some kind of shining heaven. there's your regulars, the odd joke, its all good

plus, we all live in fear of the banhammer

Hey, I'm from UG too. How awesome. Not the worst place on the intertubes, but my god you get some funny folks posting there.