1UP Loses a Community Crux
By Matt Armstrong in SnakeLinkSonic, Blogging, 1Up.com on May 14, 2009
Earlier today, BigMex, one of the more consistent and qualitative bloggers from 1up, left the site (as of right now it's indefinite). He also left a pretty trenchant criticism in his wake and it's worth reading for anyone that frequents the site. Whether it simply pisses people off or garners their attention will have to wait to be seen.
BigMex was one of the handful of bloggers who turned the community side of the site into what made it so engrossing in the first place. Hopefully people won't just skim it for the controversy.
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Comments (11)
While I agree with some of what he had to say, dumping the majority of the blame squarely at Tina's feet seemed rather dickish. She may not be perfect, but nobody is. The initial part of the entry just sounded like sour grapes over the current choices for the contest finalists to me.
This being said, I don't deny the man his opinion or his anger. I do agree that the general quality of 1UP's community has gone downhill of late. Maybe he should take a look at his own words, however - he claims apathy from the users he spoke to about the contest and the state of the community? Perhaps that's where one could place a good deal of the blame, don't you think? I know personally that I've found myself visiting and participating at 1UP far less frequently since the UGO buyout and I'm far from the only one. That ripped the heart out of a lot of people. Things like that are hard to recover from.
*Sigh* I don't know what to say, honestly. He makes some salient points, but he also clouds the water with too much undirected anger, which serves at times to make it look like a well-worded temper tantrum.
This being said, I don't deny the man his opinion or his anger. I do agree that the general quality of 1UP's community has gone downhill of late. Maybe he should take a look at his own words, however - he claims apathy from the users he spoke to about the contest and the state of the community? Perhaps that's where one could place a good deal of the blame, don't you think? I know personally that I've found myself visiting and participating at 1UP far less frequently since the UGO buyout and I'm far from the only one. That ripped the heart out of a lot of people. Things like that are hard to recover from.
*Sigh* I don't know what to say, honestly. He makes some salient points, but he also clouds the water with too much undirected anger, which serves at times to make it look like a well-worded temper tantrum.
It was a good read (read in it's entirety). Sad to hear of the direction 1up has taken, I can't say much considering I barely "participated" in the 1up community. But hey, hope things work out for the guy and his future endeavors.. maybe find a new place to call "home".
thanks for the link, I've been a fan of Big Mex and am a little disheartened to see this happening. Ironically, I don't know if I would have read about everything if not for your blog here at BitMob since I haven't been too frequent a visitor to 1up in recent times.
I see where Rob is coming from. I think a lot of people, including Tina got a bit more lambasted than they probably deserved, but like you said, he does make some valid points. It's sad to see him leave though, a lot of people came to the website just to read his daily contributions.
~sLs~
~sLs~
Did you see Sam Kennedy's response to him?
He should "move" to Bitmob. So far this site is really fantastic.
He should "move" to Bitmob. So far this site is really fantastic.
Agreed love bitmob...however still hope my blog hits the front page. I have tried blogging on 1up a few times and each time my blogs are buried. Hopefully Bitmob is the solution.
While I've never read any of his blogs until now, I already know he likes to exaggerate. Sure, 1up may be only a 3/4 of what it once was, but saying there is a lack of a community between the editors and the bloggers is ridiculous. Every week I download and listen to four different podcasts that 1up supplies. There is no extravagant amount of money being made on their part, their only reward is the community's thanks. Same goes for Game Night. It may lead to more investors wanting to advertise there, but surely Listen-Up---the podcast that hung-around even after the lay-offs---doesn't need to be over three-hours long. Those extra two-hours are for us.
Ironically, my only major complaint against 1up is the "Popular Blogs". The system of counting number of page views or thumbs-up is completely useless when a social-circle indirectly controls who is displayed on the front-page. A friend comments on a friend's blog then they comment on that person's blog. No one can get knocked out of this enticing spot. I've blamed 1up for this shoddy system, and rightfully so, but for a man who claims to be such a big part of 1up, he could've done something a little more outside of his personal community.
Ironically, my only major complaint against 1up is the "Popular Blogs". The system of counting number of page views or thumbs-up is completely useless when a social-circle indirectly controls who is displayed on the front-page. A friend comments on a friend's blog then they comment on that person's blog. No one can get knocked out of this enticing spot. I've blamed 1up for this shoddy system, and rightfully so, but for a man who claims to be such a big part of 1up, he could've done something a little more outside of his personal community.
sLs: I honestly didn't realize he was as big a fixture as he was in the 1UP community until this, but that only serves to show just how outside the loop I was myself. He commented on a couple of my blogs that made it to the front page and I appreciated that - it's always nice to hear more feedback from new people - but one thing he rails on that I find a bit hypocritical is accusing the editors of being clique-ish.
Much like Michael said above me, the "inner circle" of 1UP bloggers is a remarkably closed and insular group of people who - and please don't take this the wrong way as it's not intended as defamatory - for lack of a better term, circle-jerk each other. I didn't see too many of them tracking down new community members and welcoming them into the fold themselves. If you check those bloggers, it's always the same group of 15 or so people commenting on each other over and again.
I'm not dissing anyone for having a circle of friends, mind you - just reminding people about glass houses and whatnot. I don't know...I think in my "old age" that I've just developed a critically low tolerance for internet drama and the blog equivalent of ragequitting, which is what this smells like to me.
I'm tired. I think I'm going to play some games. ShadowPraxis13 on XBL and ShadowPraxis on PSN if anyone's interested. Just message first plz.
Much like Michael said above me, the "inner circle" of 1UP bloggers is a remarkably closed and insular group of people who - and please don't take this the wrong way as it's not intended as defamatory - for lack of a better term, circle-jerk each other. I didn't see too many of them tracking down new community members and welcoming them into the fold themselves. If you check those bloggers, it's always the same group of 15 or so people commenting on each other over and again.
I'm not dissing anyone for having a circle of friends, mind you - just reminding people about glass houses and whatnot. I don't know...I think in my "old age" that I've just developed a critically low tolerance for internet drama and the blog equivalent of ragequitting, which is what this smells like to me.
I'm tired. I think I'm going to play some games. ShadowPraxis13 on XBL and ShadowPraxis on PSN if anyone's interested. Just message first plz.
@Michael & Rob
I don't really contest your statement there Rob, but what you said is exactly what he ended up exaggerating himself. I do only think it's e-drama for whoever wants to see it that way though (he at least got people talking about it). Fact of the matter is he was one of the better bloggers there and his departure is something everyone took notice to. How insular do you think the community really is though? I can see that from an outsider's point of view, but I know for a fact that many of us have gone out of our way to make sure new people see the site and the better people get read. Would you feel any better if I wrote a "What's Wrong With Us?" blog? I left myself because the technical hiccups the site is known for began to to irritate me to no end. Despite that I still visit and I still comment on people's blogs. Plenty of people have tried to expand the big circle-jerk, but it only ends up biting them in the ass.
I also don't really see anything "wrong" with what Michael said either. If either of you are familiar with anything I've posted up there, you'll know that I only comment on few blogs while lurking through the rest. I knew there was a problem the second I started turning up on that "Popular Bloggers" section though (and it's something I constantly bitch about to this day).
If nothing else, he didn't elaborate on the responsibility that the community itself lacked in the matter. He certainly suggested it, but there's an accusatory tone to the blog and people haven't responded well to it.
The one thing I don't think he was wrong about was the schism between the community and the staff. I just don't apply negative connotations to it. It probably has had some effect on how the community interacts with the site (especially considering all the changes the site has had just within the past two years), but there's no worth in placing any kind of relevance on it now. It's just arguing against some senses of change in the end.
~sLs~
~sLs~
I don't really contest your statement there Rob, but what you said is exactly what he ended up exaggerating himself. I do only think it's e-drama for whoever wants to see it that way though (he at least got people talking about it). Fact of the matter is he was one of the better bloggers there and his departure is something everyone took notice to. How insular do you think the community really is though? I can see that from an outsider's point of view, but I know for a fact that many of us have gone out of our way to make sure new people see the site and the better people get read. Would you feel any better if I wrote a "What's Wrong With Us?" blog? I left myself because the technical hiccups the site is known for began to to irritate me to no end. Despite that I still visit and I still comment on people's blogs. Plenty of people have tried to expand the big circle-jerk, but it only ends up biting them in the ass.
I also don't really see anything "wrong" with what Michael said either. If either of you are familiar with anything I've posted up there, you'll know that I only comment on few blogs while lurking through the rest. I knew there was a problem the second I started turning up on that "Popular Bloggers" section though (and it's something I constantly bitch about to this day).
If nothing else, he didn't elaborate on the responsibility that the community itself lacked in the matter. He certainly suggested it, but there's an accusatory tone to the blog and people haven't responded well to it.
The one thing I don't think he was wrong about was the schism between the community and the staff. I just don't apply negative connotations to it. It probably has had some effect on how the community interacts with the site (especially considering all the changes the site has had just within the past two years), but there's no worth in placing any kind of relevance on it now. It's just arguing against some senses of change in the end.
~sLs~
~sLs~
I just re-read my comment and thought I'd clarify that I didn't mean to label you as an outsider Rob (it read like that to me and I wrote it). I just meant to state that our "gated" behavior stems out of a necessary response and it had its consequences as a result. Sorry about that.
~sLs~
~sLs~
No worries, man. I actually labeled myself as an outsider in the issue before you did.
*Shrugs* It is what it is and, as you said, it's gotten people talking, if nothing else. Like I said above, I don't want anyone taking this the wrong way - I'm not angry or lashing out at anyone. Just offering my opinion on the subject. I've been enjoying the back-and-forth, if nothing else.
*Shrugs* It is what it is and, as you said, it's gotten people talking, if nothing else. Like I said above, I don't want anyone taking this the wrong way - I'm not angry or lashing out at anyone. Just offering my opinion on the subject. I've been enjoying the back-and-forth, if nothing else.
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