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[Antioch]

After wandering some time on other forums I could not help but notice the different atmosphere present on other forums. The most obvious difference seems to be the abundance of raging, spam, trolling and an oddly large number of opinions not backup up by fact or reason. This is accompanied by an army of moderators trying to keep everything in check (and surprisingly often abusing the power).

Of course I do not want to sound elitist, but the atmosphere seems to be way more relaxed here.

So how do these forums keep so relatively free from rage, troll and spam with only Toady and Threetoe as moderators?

[nenjin]

*in before angry comments about feel-good circle jerks

[Max White]

We have a working maturity filter.
To play DF long enough to become interesting in the forums requires some degree of intelligence and patience, meaning all the would be trolls and otherwise douchebags just give up to go play minceraft instead. You will find the same is true of any legitimately hard to go into game.

*in before angry comments about feel-good circle jerks

SCREW YOU! I WILL JERK THIS CIRCLE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE SKY!

[Vector]

Probably a combination of the nature of the first players when the forum was small, along with critical mass and a slow influx rate.

[Aqizzar]

Well for one thing, it's not a very big forum with only a few hundred regular members, and has a pretty subdued focus in the form of Dwarf Fortress and low-intensity gaming in general.  Also this-

*in before angry comments about feel-good circle jerks

But I suppose that's better than the alternative.

[Nightscar982]

I think we only have one or two mods anyway, so they can put their foot down when needed.

[XXSockXX]

It's probably that DF does attract players who are slightly more intelligent, patient and thoughtful than average. And kitchen spambots.

[kaijyuu]

Obviously a nice and respectful atmosphere (outside of the political threads, anyway) is a sign we're all circlejerking in an echochamber. Real maturity in discussion needs more arrogance and condescension, especially toward groups outside our own (especially especially toward niche cultures).

[Antioch]

It's probably that DF does attract players who are slightly more intelligent, patient and thoughtful than average. And kitchen spambots.

You would be surprised at the amount of forums I have seen those kitchen spambots, one even auto banned every user posting the word kitchen for a day.

[Ogdibus]

It probably helps that DF doesn't have PVP.

[Frumple]

I'unno Ogdi, some of those community or succession forts...

Though I guess that's less PvP than it is a communal effort to one-up the previous fellow's buggering...

[Octobomb]

I can testify to the learning curve. Check out the ksp forums - it's not as nice as here, but the fact most people there are reasonably intelligent really helps.
Another thing is the niche. DF is very, very, niche - which means a very tight group of personalities and people are attracted to it and like minded people tend to get along. We (nearly) all share the same slightly twisted sense of humour, are mostly comfortable with mocking each other yet few people would be able to identify a flame war here (hint: look for long, methodical, logical posts gracefully dismembering someone else's argument). Not to mention nobody rants at the newbies. Gimmie a moment, there's a thread (and a post of Girlinhat's in particular) which perfectly summarises me.

Note: Oh almighty XANTALOPE (computer insists it is block caps), it now recognises Girlinhat's hat as a leader. Be... springy?

[Max White]

It probably helps that DF doesn't have PVP.

Oh god yes, competitive play is fuel for stupidity.
If Dwarf Fortress took the Bartle test it would be hard explorer, and explorers tend to be the right mix of pro-social and not too asinine. Granted we have our 'MAGMA! DORF! FUN!!!' moments, but all in all not too bad.

[Octobomb]

Oh hey, I found the thread!
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=87991.0
Browse at your leisure - Girlinhat's post is some way down.
Also, we tend to be flexible, not to mention fond of being punny.
(obligitaryohgodwhathaveidone)

[Itnetlolor]

*in before angry comments about feel-good circle jerks

SCREW YOU! I WILL JERK THIS CIRCLE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE SKY!

You're going to need some good spices to jerk it well enough.