Recreational whining

[DMarkwick]

... as Scott Adams might call it :)

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/

Here's an excerpt:


During my college years, I worked two summers as a desk clerk for a resort in the Catskills. That’s where my boss taught me that one of the services we offered was listening to irrational whining. He explained that certain customers enjoy complaining. To them, it’s not so much about getting a solution to the problem as it is the complaining itself. The resort catered to people’s vacation needs, and if complaining was what they needed, it was our job at the front desk to listen to it.

We were trained to write down the complaint on a slip of paper clearly labeled “Work Order.” And throw away the piece of paper when the complainer left. Okay, not every single time. Sometimes the complaint involved something fixable, and we fixed it. But often the complaints were purely recreational, as in “The leaves on the trees are rustling too loudly in the wind.” I would express concern, apologize on behalf of the resort, and make a big deal about writing down the details just right. “Are ALL the leaves a problem, Mrs. Johnson, or is a particular group of leaves being extra noisy?”

I confess that I did not believe my boss when he said people complained for recreation. But I witnessed it often and became a believer. You could tell the difference between the people who wanted a solution and the people who were in it for the complaining. The first group would just mention the problem on the way to the pool. The recreational complainers would bring a snack and a thermos and set up a campsite by the front desk. They were going to be there for a while, describing their pain, suggesting alternatives, asking for the manager, and anything else to make the experience last.


Been a while since I posted here, seems like this activity is prevelant in almost all game forums. Me, I'm looking forward to SH4 supplementing my SH3, and if there's no FSAA or whatever the current hot topic of whine is I'll suck it down like a grown-up :)



The stuff people have been complaining on is either:
exactly like SH3 (resolution limit) and so acceptable
not a big deal (FSAA? Big deal http://forums.frugalsworld.com/ubb/ubbhtml/biggrin.gif)
Moddable.

[JocMeister]

Been a while since I posted here, seems like this activity is prevelant in almost all game forums. Me, I'm looking forward to SH4 supplementing my SH3, and if there's no FSAA or whatever the current hot topic of whine is I'll suck it down like a grown-up :)



I´ll would like to see you suck up the fact that your game might crash when you try to use the stedimeter. Or if that actually works for you try to get the speed of a target without plotting :up:

[DMarkwick]

Been a while since I posted here, seems like this activity is prevelant in almost all game forums. Me, I'm looking forward to SH4 supplementing my SH3, and if there's no FSAA or whatever the current hot topic of whine is I'll suck it down like a grown-up :)


I´ll would like to see you suck up the fact that your game might crash when you try to use the stedimeter. Or if that actually works for you try to get the speed of a target without plotting :up:

'Scuse me I'll just write that down.

[danlisa]

Welcome back,

Thanks for the link.

[OneTinSoldier]

The stuff people have been complaining on is either:
exactly like SH3 (resolution limit) and so acceptable
not a big deal (FSAA? Big deal http://forums.frugalsworld.com/ubb/ubbhtml/biggrin.gif)
Moddable.

I'm really not sure where you're seeing people complaining only about those two items. It must not be this forum, because I've seen a whole laundry list of problems/bugs/complaints(whatever you want to call them) on this forum besides just those two items. I see you've already had one of them pointed out to you. I'm thinking that you'd probably better get prepared to do a whole lot more writing.

[Mikkow]

the mechanisms involved in this so-called recreational complaining is probably displacement (see this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displacement_%28psychology%29 ) and "help rejecting complaining", in which a person deals with emotional conflict or stressors by complaining or making repetitious requests for help that disguise covert feelings of hostility or reproach toward others, which are then expressed by rejecting the suggestions, advice, or help that others offer.

having read the forum for some time, it is clear that most of the things that people complain about are very real.

[DMarkwick]

The stuff people have been complaining on is either:
exactly like SH3 (resolution limit) and so acceptable
not a big deal (FSAA? Big deal http://forums.frugalsworld.com/ubb/ubbhtml/biggrin.gif)
Moddable.
I'm really not sure where you're seeing people complaining only about those two items.

Just because I mention those two items doesn't mean it's just those two items. I mention them as examples only. Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned them in case someone focusses in on them.

It must not be this forum, because I've seen a whole laundry list of problems/bugs/complaints(whatever you want to call them) on this forum besides just those two items. I see you've already had one of them pointed out to you. I'm thinking that you'd probably better get prepared to do a whole lot more writing.

Actually I'm getting prepared to simply play the game and mod it up to standard, applying the released patches as they appear, same as SH3. I usually only write to find out something I don't know how to do, or to help someone else out with the same. :)

This recreational whining thread is for mild amusement only ;)

[Immacolata]

Lol. Good story :rotfl:

I have no doubt that the endless threads of whining here are recreational. I mean you
can make one post about the AA. One post about the crashing stadimeter. One post about the fixed resolution. There, it has been said. It is out. Every followup post you make about those subjects are recreational complaining :)

[DMarkwick]

Lol. Good story :rotfl:

I have no doubt that the endless threads of whining here are recreational. I mean you
can make one post about the AA. One post about the crashing stadimeter. One post about the fixed resolution. There, it has been said. It is out. Every followup post you make about those subjects are recreational complaining :)

As concise a summary as I've ever read :)

[Tranton]

Lol. Good story :rotfl:

I have no doubt that the endless threads of whining here are recreational. I mean you
can make one post about the AA. One post about the crashing stadimeter. One post about the fixed resolution. There, it has been said. It is out. Every followup post you make about those subjects are recreational complaining :)

Don't forget about the measurements being Metric and not Imperial, something that Ubisoft stated would "of course" be ingame. I'd be curious to see if people's tune changes once they get the game and start experiencing some of these issues themselves.

[Onkel Neal]

:) No doubt, there are some bugs in SH4, but I agree; it's some kind of warped tradition for gamers to be poised to rush to a forum and whine about any perceived problem with a new game like it's the end of the world. It's almost like a contest to find something to complain about. :-? Most will be playing and enjoying the game for months but their negative comments will scare off meek potential customers, hurting sales and the chances of publisher support and followup games.

[DMarkwick]

Don't forget about the measurements being Metric and not Imperial, something that Ubisoft stated would "of course" be ingame. I'd be curious to see if people's tune changes once they get the game and start experiencing some of these issues themselves.

Ooh yes let's not forget that :D

You know, I think you might have misinterpreted the title of this thread ... ;) :D

[Immacolata]

The torch and pitchfork phase of everygame release ;) Picture the unwashed villagers ganging up and marching towards the castle.

Can't say Im not susceptible of this myself.

Being european I don't really care whether measurements are metric or imperial. Its easier for me to run with metrics, so even if they put in imperial units as a toggle Id run with meters. Just easier.

[danlisa]

:) No doubt, there are some bugs in SH4, but I agree; it's some kind of warped tradition for gamers to be poised to rush to a forum and whine about any perceived problem with a new game like it's the end of the world. It's almost like a contest to find something to complain about. :-? Most will be playing and enjoying the game for months but their negative comments will scare off meek potential customers, hurting sales and the chances of publisher support and followup games.
:yep: It's human nature to concentrate on negatives. However, for all the bad items being raised here there are areas where people are very happy.

It's just that people will have to 'wade' through the bad to get to the good. I hope future owners of SH4 will not be put off.

I think the crux of the complaints are based on items/bugs that are fundamental to a subbing sim, these I can understand. The contentious issue about AA/AF, well IMHO having a good game that looks pretty must come second to fuctionality. I hope the functionality 'bugs' get ironed out because I can live with a game that is not as graphically pretty as the rest.

[DJSatane]

I was trying to resist what I been reading until I tried the game... Btw, the fact that chronometer doesnt work and very frequent crashes to desktop when I try to use stedimeter. I also had crashes during usage of the deck gun. Btw, the crewmembers 3d models are transparent, I can see islands and ships through their heads!(this has been confirmed by other people). Oh yea I had a crewman ramble bunch of numbers in an "infinite loop" sentence.

I did a mission in a campaign, time compressed to a jap convoy, destroyers ignored me, even when i surfaced and fired deck gun into them at point blank range, damn i guess you could call this recreational ignoring of the enemy.

Ahh with SH3 I used to run a buglist, I may consider doing it with SH4.

[joea]

The torch and pitchfork phase of everygame release ;) Picture the unwashed villagers ganging up and marching towards the castle.

Can't say Im not susceptible of this myself.

Being european I don't really care whether measurements are metric or imperial. Its easier for me to run with metrics, so even if they put in imperial units as a toggle Id run with meters. Just easier.

Nien I mean no way, metric for u-boats, imperial for USN.

[Immacolata]

:yep: It's human nature to concentrate on negatives. However, for all the bad items being raised here there are areas where people are very happy.

It's just that people will have to 'wade' through the bad to get to the good. I hope future owners of SH4 will not be put off.

I think the crux of the complaints are based on items/bugs that are fundamental to a subbing sim, these I can understand. The contentious issue about AA/AF, well IMHO having a good game that looks pretty must come second to fuctionality. I hope the functionality 'bugs' get ironed out because I can live with a game that is not as graphically pretty as the rest.

ITs human nature to focus on negatives WHEN NOT OTHERWISE OCCUPIED :)

This is pre-owning board angst.

[JamesT73J]

:) No doubt, there are some bugs in SH4, but I agree; it's some kind of warped tradition for gamers to be poised to rush to a forum and whine about any perceived problem with a new game like it's the end of the world. It's almost like a contest to find something to complain about. :-? Most will be playing and enjoying the game for months but their negative comments will scare off meek potential customers, hurting sales and the chances of publisher support and followup games.

I think this is something that irritated Sonalysts' Jamie Carlsson no end, although he was ever so polite about it.

[Charos]

The torch and pitchfork phase of everygame release ;) Picture the unwashed villagers ganging up and marching towards the castle.


Before that you have to picture what got the unwashed villages motivated enough to march toward the castle - perhaps the taxes were too high, perhaps they were given too much cake. :yep:

Shaka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147962/): How do you catch a monkey?
Lt. Francis Farewell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002081/): Well, a gourd is used... with a narrow neck. Bait is dropped into the gourd: a piece of fruit, or - or something shiny. The monkey puts his hand into the gourd to get the bait, and then he's trapped... because he can't get his fist out.
Shaka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147962/): Once he realizes he's trapped, why doesn't the monkey let go of the bait?
Lt. Francis Farewell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002081/): Because his greed makes him blind.
Shaka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147962/): And what is he greedy for?
Lt. Francis Farewell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002081/): What he thinks he cannot have.
Shaka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0147962/): And now - What new bait have you brought for this monkey? Something shiny? Like the freshness of youth? Or lost love?