The dawn of a new generation can be stressful times. Tensions can often rise between users of different allegiances. This phenomena has recently generated a rise in what I would call the “shoot the messenger” attitude and it’s been ruining a lot of the discussion some people are trying to have.

In case you don’t know what I’m referring to, I’m talking about someone posting a thread containing negative news about a company and then being called out by several users supporting that company for trying to trash/undermine their console manufacturer of choice. Which, in turn, prompts users supporting the other company to underline the times when the roles were reversed.

This is the kind of behavior that has to stop. Those “calling out” comments bring nothing to the discussion, derail the thread and contribute to a poisonous atmosphere in the forums which is why, they will be moderated from now on.

I know what you’re thinking right now, you’re going: “Are the mods so naive as to believe that nobody posts bad news about the rival company just to watch the opposed fanbase rage?” Of course not, we know full well that sometimes information gets posted for malicious purposes but when those flamebaiting topics are posted, calling the OP out in the thread only fulfills their evil plans as they feed on the chaos and bitterness they’ve created (that *may* be a bit overdramatic but you get the point).

The correct way to handle that situation is to report the post/thread, telling us why you thinking the topic submitted was made solely to get a rise out of users. Signs of a flamebait thread include but are not limited to: adding a gloating or taunting comment at the end of the article, posting irrelevant information (ex.: news from a year ago), plain false information or magnifying a small issue in order to make things seem worst than they really are.

Another point I want to make is: just because someone openly favors a company in particular that doesn’t mean he or she(she? who am I kidding?) can’t post a negative topic about the rival company. As long as they stick to the facts and don’t use the thread to antagonize people it is fine.

wall of text... have to read... in chunks!

The Kowenicki thread was pure flamebait. I don't think it was intentional on his end but if he chose a more accurate thread title which more closely associated with the OP I don't think he would have encountered the problems. The reactions were expected. That doesn't excuse the way the others acted. The right way to act would have just pointed out how it was flamebait and that it needed to be changed (which I did).

/thread

PS: How Tuscan didn't get banned in that thread after derailing it even further, calling out "the defense force" (yeah we know what he was saying), then acknowledging the post was flamebait/off topic/bannable is beyond me. Especially when considering that others in the thread were moderated for the exact same thing

I get flamed all the time in the msft.forum, hope that you in particular will start banning these people

Am I correct believing that it was selnor's thread from a few hours ago that made you write this?

If so, does that mean that we should really simply just report such threads for obvious flamebaiting?

The Kowenicki thread was not the first occurence of this type of behavior.

I'm with you on this one. Just remember to use this rule evenly between all the users PLEASE, no favors and such. Some users never get moderated whatever they do or say i've noticed. The latest is against all the rules on this website.

OH and i'm gonna go off topic here;

Who's the guy in your avatar? :P

Good read.

*PS4 and X1 launch incoming*

I approve

Great job guys. Hopefully this will allow better discussion and stays away from derailing threads that we see way too often

Nor will it be the last. But I assume that was the "starw that broke the camels back" or was there another incident?