It's the internet. It's an open forum. You can go where you want and say what you want. It's okay. But why?

More specifically, why go into a thread about something you don't like or don't want to buy and start bad mouthing or downplaying?

Let's say console X has a cool feature. Maybe it can read to the blind. Is your first instinct to go into the thread and say things like "Well, my kids aren't blind so it's a useless feature" or "Blind people have their own way of reading" or "I buy my console for games. Not blind people helping."?

If "Game X: The Retun" is only available on console X and you don't have that game/console, is it your mission to go into that thread and say "Game X sucks. It has shitty frame rate. It doesn't sell well. Game Y on Console Y is better."

If so, why? Why do you do that? What do you get out of it? Just wondering.

I'd say there are two reasons.

1) because you're genuinely disappointed or concerned about a particular series, developer, or trend, and you're eager to express your feelings.

2) because you're insecure about your own opinions and/or want to provoke an emotional response from other fans.

The problem is that it's sometimes difficult to tell the difference in this community.

I don't hate any consoles. I find it amusing when people hate pieces of plastic as if they came into their houses/apartments and raped/murdered a loved one. But as for the idea that you can't enter into a thread when said thread is about something you dislike... that just doesn't make sense.

If someone dislikes something, of COURSE they're going to want to enter a thread about it. They're emotionally motivated to argue against it. Being angry or unhappy about something is a more powerful feeling than liking something. It's just human nature to focus on negative things plus... some of us, for some reason, feel like we can help change things for the better.

1) Genuine interest. Simple as that. Just because Nintendo has heavily dissapointed me in the past doesnt mean its hasnt made me happy in the past, so im interested in what direction they take.

2) Because expressing dissapointment is just as important as expressing excitement. That doesnt mean people are "Insecure" or feel the need to troll. Different opinions only make for a richer discussion.

Because we don't need every thread to be an echo chamber of only one side.

Telling people to not go into threads of games they don't like is just furthering the fanboy's agenda and trying to create "a safe space" for them. A circlejerk echochamber is just as bad for the gaming community at large as are toxic haters.

Guess why there are so many bans on this site, because fans cannot function outside of their safe space anymore and will press the ban button at the slightest hint of negativity. And of course our fine mods will kindly oblige because being negative about a thing that others are positive about is a crime against humanity. (except when it isn't because reasons)

What we need is a balance that will filter out both echochambers and haters. Removing just one of them will do us no good. But don't worry, I will always do my best to uphold this balance and I encourage people to do as well.

I see it as a desire to have the world fit your personal preferences. I remember as a kid how classmates would try to convince others to buy Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis because it was what they liked. This desire would take negative form when bashing one platform to lift the preferred one. It could also be lack of awareness that other people like things for different reasons. In summation, malice, insecurity, or ignorance would be my guesses.

Well if you only went in threads about things you liked then the entire site would be a collection of circle-jerks.

There's nothing wrong with giving criticism of something, but I understand what you're talking about. Some people are negative just to be negative, so far as not even offering any reason for their opinions. Just saying "Not good imo" and leaving, which should be ban worthy.

There is a clear value from negative opinions. I can, per example, intervene on a To The Moon thread by giving my opinion about why the game fails spectacularly story-wise. That adds a new point of view to the debate, being not just people clamouring the game. I can intervene on a thread about a game that was dissapointed and failed to get my attention. I may even get a new perspective that makes me change my opinion to the game. Discussion enriches the experience.

All good answers.

This is good. This is good.