Negitive comments on mods

[JimboUK]

I don't think user competence is being helped by the automation NMM and the like offer, those of us who started with Morrowind had no choice but to learn how everything worked, if we didn't then we soon had an unholy mess on our hands. Those whose first game is Skyrim are getting everything done for them so when something goes wrong they don't know what to do and start blaming everybody else. I'm not criticising NMM, I use it myself but there is a downside.

[Aurielius]

I don't think user competence is being helped by the automation NMM and the like offer, those of us who started with Morrowind had no choice but to learn how everything worked, if we didn't then we soon had an unholy mess on our hands. Those whose first game is Skyrim are getting everything done for them so when something goes wrong they don't know what to do and start blaming everybody else. I'm not criticising NMM, I use it myself but there is a downside.

Though I tend to agree with you about knowing how to do installs manually, I do remember having about 15 windows open as I was transferring files of a mod into the appropriate sub folders in modding Morrowind. So I like the use of mod managers, it just helps to know how to cross check whether the author has assembled his package correctly.

[dazzerfong]

@ HeyYou:

 

That's actually a great idea: I remember Deadly Reflexes having the same thing, and I thought it was brilliant.

[Tamujiin]

@ HeyYou:

 

That's actually a great idea: I remember Deadly Reflexes having the same thing, and I thought it was brilliant.

 

Just a little off topic Dazzerfong?

 

Anyway, i have been helping a few new mod authors in the chatroom, kinda letting them know what to expect. So they dont get discouraged. I let them pretty much know what has been said here, and to ingnore those who get negative. And that staff will take care of it if they hit that report button, and dont say anything else back at the negative's.

 

You kinda get those hyper kids in there and then they get a bad comment, and they get discouraged.

Edited April 28, 2012 by tamujiin

[Vagrant0]

The problem is that ultimately modders come from all walks of life, and unfortunately many come from the walk of life that involves dispensing their unfiltered opinion on things that they originally entered into with bias and hostility. It's not the problem of the user, but rather of the sites that that user likely visited prior... Like Facebook, Youtube, and others that need not be mentioned. Sites where it is standard practice to just click on the most active topic at the time, troll, flame, or harass anyone they can, and never look back because they don't give a crap. Kids can't take out their frustrations in school, face to face any more, so they do it online anonymously, and just keep with the habit.

 

Most of the people who get banned for comments usually go out of their way to jump over the line of civility and proceed to urinate all over it either intentionally, or by stroke of pure thoughtlessness.

[Moveing]

Erm...no, Moveing. That is precisely the problem. A mod may "suck" - in your opinion. It does not necessarily make it a bad mod just because it is not to your taste, and it is against the forum rules to shout out and simply troll.

 

Doesn't goes that in more of the way of some sort of online bullying debate? I mean what else could be the point? When people just don't like the mod and say it, doesn't matter if reasonable or not, who cares? Just cheerleading things doesn't rise up quality anyway. When i see a problem which is easy to fix for even a absolute beginner, i told them. But there are enough cases where people just don't care what they do and just thing, the world should also enjoy their first steps into modding something. Most of these wrong texture new item stuff is made on purporse, why should someone do such thing? And how many "Imperial Palace Guard Armor playable" did we see already?

 

 

Kids can't take out their frustrations in school, face to face any more, so they do it online anonymously, and just keep with the habit.

Yeah, thanks to the smile or die policy liberal educations give them. People don't know anymore even how to debate on an argue base. But bann bad behaivior such as negative opinions will sure change anything.

Edited April 29, 2012 by Moveing

[HeyYou]

There is a world of difference between constructive criticism, and simply stating "this mod sucks". If you resort to the latter statement, you WILL be banned. I fully support that position. If you don't have anything CONSTRUCTIVE to say, then just keep your yap shut. There is NO right of free speech here.

 

If you find a problem with a mod, posting that in the mods thread IS a good idea, just report the issue, and leave out the inflationary rhetoric. Thankyouverymuch.

[Nintii]

I have a modus operandi ... a way of doing things before I download any mod ... this saves me from getting bent out of shape and needless frustration ... and I suppose away from

the problems or frustrations that many a mod user has ... which I'm sure has a lot to do with "knowing how to install" a mod.

Because not all mods are "click" and play like those installed with NMM and FOMM.

 

My checklist of things to do before I download ANY mod of my choice is to;

 

1) ... Firstly, check the number of endorsements ... believe it or not that makes a HUGE difference to me, that's why it's there , right ?

and then I read the comments section as well and if all I see are negative comments, then I don't jump on the bandwagon and crucify the modder any

fuirther, I just don't touch the mod ... it ends there.

For some modders, their work has preceeded them and so I just go ahead and download.

 

It is crucial at this point that modders understand the neccessity of the comments section and to not get upset if people find a problem with their mod ... they need to remain

open to constructive criticism, otherwise everyone is going to download something which has "issues", but now we can't talk about it because the modder feels "attacked.

Where's the wisdom in that kind of thinking ?

 

 

2) ... Now that they've passed the endorsement test, I then look to see if any other mods are needed to make this one work.

 

3) ... Then I check if there are known conflicts or compatability issues.

This point has on many occasions had me rather back away from many a mod and/or look to see if there is any known way around the "issue/s".

 

4) ... Lastly, I check the installation method ... not all modders have one, so if there isn't one and I still like the mod and it has passed all the other steps, then I will download the

mod and open the file and check if it needs the "advanced" installation method or the NMM/FOMM click, install and play method.

 

If a mod still does not work, then I read the installation again ... and if that doesn't work, I check for updates and the comments section ... if this fails, I delete the mod.

Yes that was all frustrating but I don't bother with that modder again.

 

Modders with committment to making things work or are clear on their instructions will always get me passing their way again and or my endorsement ... remember, to endorse,

it helps those of us who use it.

Edited April 29, 2012 by Nintii

[grannywils]

Thank you for your above post, Nintii. It was so refreshing, and to the point. In my opinion it is all that needed to be said on this subject. You have hit the nail on the head. If we want to use the work of these modders, then it behooves us to take the time to do a bit of homework ourselves. Period. The end. :thumbsup:

[ginnyfizz]

Erm...no, Moveing. That is precisely the problem. A mod may "suck" - in your opinion. It does not necessarily make it a bad mod just because it is not to your taste, and it is against the forum rules to shout out and simply troll.

 

Doesn't goes that in more of the way of some sort of online bullying debate? I mean what else could be the point? When people just don't like the mod and say it, doesn't matter if reasonable or not, who cares? Just cheerleading things doesn't rise up quality anyway. When i see a problem which is easy to fix for even a absolute beginner, i told them. But there are enough cases where people just don't care what they do and just thing, the world should also enjoy their first steps into modding something. Most of these wrong texture new item stuff is made on purporse, why should someone do such thing? And how many "Imperial Palace Guard Armor playable" did we see already?

 

What you are advocating is definitely not constructive criticism - if they have no suggestions for improvement, then as HeyYou puts it, a user should keep their yap shut. Don't like it? Don't download. Just standing there and jeering, in effect, isn't considered acceptable and will get your ticket punched here at Nexus. I'm sorry, but you just DON'T troll the mod comments, it's a zero tolerance area, and saying that you don't like the mod, especially using terms like "sucks" without giving reasoned suggestions for improvement might be judged as heading that way. Or could be called spamming.

 

I have had mods that have done some very weird things to my Oblivion install for example, but rather than resort to hurling abuse at the modder concerned and yelling in their mod comments, I've posted an explanation "Hey, I'm having this problem, is there a way to fix?" or something. Or PM'd them.