Trick is to ask questions.  Why does someone believe a certain thing?

I ask often and if someone has good, valid reasons for their views then
they'll sometimes influence me.  I have even changed my opinion on a
couple of things.

Always listen to those saying things you might not immediately agree
with too (even if they're arguing with the folk you normally believe),
it's always good to get a balanced view.  Often no-one is 100% right and
it's normally a mix.

Remember that even if you are vehemently opposed to someone's opinion on
something, their opinion is still valid (unless it's pcgames obviously).

Remember that the World is not US-centric - no matter how they draw
their maps :)  There are regulars in csipga for example from the US,
Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Portugal and many more.  If someone
complains about the blood being green in their game but you know it's
red in yours don't bother arguing - it probably 'is' green in their Country

Finally, never be afraid to state your own opinion.  I liked your local
tavern idea.

O RLY?!

Wow I didn't know anyone actually read my posts, much less valued them.

I value everyone's opinion who actually takes the time to critically
analyse whatever it is their writing about and actually describe it
rather than just posting "it sux" or "it rox" all the time. Everyone
makes those kinds of posts occasionally too, which is fine, but if
that's all you ever write, it's not much use to anyone reading.

Yes, that's the key, being able to recognize patterns among the
regulars and learning their tastes, then you can know if you're going
to like something or not better.

That's the only reason I still come here. :D

Even the people I often disagree with are usually entertaining and
sometimes make good points so it's all good in the end.

I don't respect them, but I always taking into consideration what PC Gamer,
Riku, and John Lewis has to say because the opposite is usually true. :)

There aren't enough people contributing to these groups to give them a
broad enough range of opinions (it probably doesn't help I have about
half of the contributors to .action in my KF!). Most people are often
polarised on their tastes in games, and games are so subjective that
even a save game system can make or break a game for some people
(myself included).

Demos make for my main buying decision, then reading lots of reviews,
then reading Usenet to find out the game isn't a bug fest (like
Boiling Point).

Quoth The Raven; bunboy <bunboy@cox.net> in
<To6xg.14976$6w.5346@fed1read11>

peoples merits are based on what they write at the time. some are overall
consistantly good like Pluvious and Wherner. i patrotically side with all
the aussies in here, and anyone who develops games or mods are ok with me.

there are others, but they might get a big head if i mention their names.

pc games, sayno2steam, pc gamer, etc.

*SNIP SNIP*

I respect the minimum/recommended requirements on the Box more than most
of these posters, at least in *deciding* to buy games.  Sorry guys. :(

Reason?  My computer's getting into Ancient Decrepitude (6-7 yrs old),
and not much coming out will run well, even if I dearly dearly want to
purchase it... :(

But yeah, Brad Wardell is a bit of a personal Authority to me on csipgs,
and in the rec.arts.anime.misc group, I always keep an eye on Anthony
"Dave" Baranyi for what's being televised in Japan.  But that isn't
comp.*.games.* , so I'll be quiet now.

Jonathan Fisher
we'll see about replacement, yeah, yeah... but I'm a TBS guy, ok?

There are a couple kooks who post in here that everyone knows not to
take seriously as they are only here to start trouble. Usually they
start a thread & you never seem them reply to the hornet's nest they
have stirred up. When a discussion ends I leave any disagreements I
have had with anyone in that discussion behind.

Just because Person X and Person Y disagree doesn't make either of
their opinions less valid. Each has reasons for why they believe what
they do. Persons X & Y most likely get along great that issue aside.

Everyone else's messages I value. Even if I don't agree at all with
what they are saying. If they are taking the time to think out a reply
to something I or anybody wrote the least I can do is read it. I often
learn something new.

Some people in here even get on rants & there are even pearls of
knowledge in the wildest rants (Steam killing conspiracy theorists not
withstanding).

The posts you really have to watch for, IMHO, are the ones from people
who don't post a lot. They may post once every 6 months, but when they
do their words are often profound and true.

Most of us are in here, me included, to BS about games & that's fine.
Lots of great conversations have come of that, but the ones who only
post when they have something truly important to say & those are the
ones whose words you should heed the most.

Remember, bunboy, anybody can have a bad day when you see a "bad" post
in here. And unfortunately, anybody can have a bunch of bad days
strung together as well.

and remove mob rule from the United States in my lifetime!

That's easy. The only opinion that matters to me at all is MINE!!

The opinion of a few people who still love Looking Glass with passion,
even if they would normally think that fanboyism is just a mental
disorder.

I think the only person I consider sane here is One Punch Mickey.