So yesterdays article about gaming television shows stirred up quite the debate. Unfortunately, it quickly degenerated into a free for all of comments that placed everything that was wrong with the medium squarely on the shoulders of local production, The Verge.
And sure, you guys have a right to be upset, after all, you’re being prodded with a stick and made fun of on TV. And while no one is above a little parody and deprecation, there’s always going to be a line that gets crossed, resulting in a few angry mobs and gardening shops selling out of torches and pitchforks.
However, that line runs both ways, and its kind of disappointing to see what the fellow community does when it’s pissed off.
I was forwarded a Facebook link today, for a page that is currently serving as a hate-hub for that particular Verge segment, and its presenter, Lalla Hariyama. And guys we understand your immense displeasure. We’re all angry. But most of us have calmed down and since gone on with our lives.
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/lalla_hirayama/status/120117656614477824″]Sure, her tweets have done nothing to excuse her airhead and misinformed attitude, but are we any better in so rampantly attacking her?
Yes, it was distasteful and we can only hope that the production crew behind the Verge have learnt a lesson. But when we get guys posting puerile comments and general hate-mail, it doesn’t really make us look any better either.
In fact, it makes yesterdays insert absolutely right about us. Sure, the journalism may have been shockingly bad, the facts distorted and the stereotypes trotted out for a field day on TV, but if that’s how we’re going to respond to something that bugs us, then we’re really no better than the clichés that the media heaps onto us at times.
There were a lot of crazy comments yesterday, but there were also some logical ones, like this one from Adriaan Pretorius. If you’ve got the luxury of a PVR decoder, record, and then fast forward through anything that you don’t like. Simple as that.
Any kind of feedback is great feedback in the media, even if it is negative, because that still gets people talking about your product. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. But don’t go creating hate-pages guys, because we all know that you’re better than that.
Be a little more mature, and don’t get so angry. Say what you have to say, and move on. That’s how life rolls.
Last Updated: October 19, 2011
