Moderation is better -and better legitimated in my eyes- if the moderator is a human, known as such through a bit of interaction, small talk, and involvement in the forums, as opposed to an administrative machine just popping up to quote regulation paragraphs.

This is linked to the modicum of sympathy that a moderator should generate in order to be "respected" (leading to legitimation and acceptance) and not only "feared" (which leads to de-legitimation and defiance). Of course, this bit of sympathy is subjective, in an extremely polarized environment such as this forum (where, for instance, people won't even agree on whether racial segregation is good or bad). Nothing will be consensual. There is no way a moderator will gather universal sympathy here. Nor universal respect.

The only thing that should matter at this point is the magnitude and the origin of said antipathy or disrespect. If it comes from a tiny fringe with already very questionable human judgements, I'd say the staff is doing okay.

The underlying views on the ideal attitude of people in power (distant, aloof, involved, cold, warm, technocratic, humane, personalized, depersonalized, etc) are interesting in itself. They echo the questions of "proximity/community police", bureaucracy, and knee-jerk twittering presidencies. With, I expect, self-contradictory general rules. If complains mean to be based on general principles about positions of power, let's see which coherent ones those would be.

You're perfectly right, but it's annoying nevertheless. :-(

I mean, look at the anniversary threads: "I do not like GOG's new design - Doomsday!" - "The anniversary sale doesn't contain the discount I'm witing for - I'm mortally offended." - "GOG changed a wording - They want to steal my games!"

Yes, I was exptecting a real bummer release to GOG's anniversary as well - but so what, GOG can only offer what they are allowed to. The ball is in the court of the respective publishers, unfortunately. :-( But there's no reason to charge GOG. I would be pleased if the criticism, justified or not, could be in a constructive way.

Although I won't deny you have the right to issue a complaint, I would like to know where it says that a GOG forum moderator is not part of the community and cannot comment like any other user.

Perhaps you can post a link to this rule please?

EDIT: +1 to Telika. Well spoken as always.

Well his forum title does say "automated bot". :P

But seriously. It's a bullshit complaint, made all the more ridiculous by some of the PMs I've received since he got here (sent by users who have either been warned or banned by him) telling me to stop sucking up to him.

Let's move on.

While some new and big releases would've been great, I appreciate what they offered (and gifted) us:

we got SW2 for free (and if you already own it, you get a gift code).

And the "10th Anniversary Collection III: The Modern Classics" offered some serious bang for the buck.
Sure, you had to pay for it...but it got you three games (worth a total € 120,-) for ~ € 7,20 each.

And even if some people have one or two of the games already - they get gift codes for the doubles...not too shabby, me thinks.

I've been edited. :P

I had a feeling that was pushing it. XD But I changed "bullpoo" to "ridiculous". Sounds better.

Linko90 is the community manager. So he absolutely should be part of the community. And I like it very much that he is around and participates in forum games and smalltalk threads and doesn't only show up when there is something to moderate.

agreed.

Yes, that's right and I do not wish to complain - I was only referring to some criticism in other threads, especially the anniversary one. A new bummer release was only a pleasing speculation of mine, not a solid expectation.

Mmmmm,very interesting.

i can't help but wonder what some of our community members are like in real life if stuff like this gets their panties in a twist.

probably best not to wonder too much...

Don't worry - I know that...I actually had something like "I know you are not complaining, but..." in my original draft, but then decided to leave it out.
I should have kept it, I guess... ;)

I'm willing to bet 99% of us are NOTHING like we are in here.

No one would ever know I was tinyE if they met me IRL, and they'd call BS on me if I told them I was.

No offense taken, I just wanted to make sure. :-)

*thumbs up* :)
I call BS on that. ;)