That can definitely be annoying, but are you sure it’s not a case of just having similar interests? I used to get called out by my buddies (one in particular) all the time because I never had a lukewarm opinion, just pure, binary love or hate (granted at least both sides). My reply was always the same: “ask me what I think of [insert something I have no particular interest in] and watch my response.” The response was generally nothing at all.
Point is, I tend to open my (big) mouth only when my opinion is strong (and sometimes that opinion is even informed and developed!).
Just trying to give your friend some benefit of the doubt.
As a self-professed “care bear” who is only interested in 2-player, Rahdo clearly identified himself as someone whose opinion on games is of no interest to me. I appreciate that, at least. Being uncritical is no doubt something that would turn me off too.
Brigid Brophy, a critic whose writing I often enjoy (her Fifty Works of English Literature We Could Do Without was quite witty), in the final essay in her Don’t Never Forget, wrote about her mother, who loved all works of art (in the broad sense of “the fine arts”) and could only respond to Brophy’s criticizing a work as showing that she didn’t care for art. Brophy apparently could not convince her mother that loving art often meant disliking some works of art.
Makes sense to me. Unless someone actually asks about something, why bother spending time talking about something that you don’t particularly care about. There are plenty of things I’ve played or watched or read that I just didn’t really have strong feelings about and so probably won’t even remember unless it’s actively brought up. I guess I had an okay time playing, uh, that one deckbuilder? You know, with the cards?
(I also, ideally, would like to primarily spend my time with things that are memorably great. Life doesn’t always work out that way.)
I have no problem with someone who finds enjoyment in everything. In fact, I’m quite envious; my brain constantly picks apart everything, especially the things I like.
I do, however, have a problem if that person presents themselves as a critic – to that point, I don’t know if Rahdo, himself, has claimed to be a critic; I think early on he only attested to “running through games” and not passing judgement. Though certainly even if he has never claimed it, he doesn’t deny it sufficiently to my liking (nor does he owe it to me to do so, but I will continue to ignore his content)
I yearn to experience the world in a way that I would find joy everywhere I look. It would be expensive… In a different way than it is expensive to seek out new things, searching for things that contain those ineffable qualities that I am otherwise unable to suss out without first buying them.
I actually recall an interview/discussion where Rahdo admitted he regrets ever giving his opinions early on, but that viewers always asked so he did. He specifically mentioned Rodney of Watch It Played, and said he believes he made the right choice by always being neutral.
I do recall Rodney stating he won’t usually consider a game that he doesn’t find appealing, due to the amount of work he puts in, but he never really discusses his opinions during the videos.
I would believe that easier if he didn’t do a “final thoughts” for each game he covers.
Still, it would be hard to have a fanbase and not appease them – I’m sure they are the ones who demanded a “Rahdo, tell us what you think about the games!!!one!!1!11!eleven!!!”
That’s fair. Though has he always had a Final Thoughts section? I’ve not watched his really early videos, so I really don’t know. From what I recall, it sounded as though viewers were asking for his thoughts, so he gave them and it eventually turned into a full part of the videos.
Though maybe he meant it more of a “in hindsight, I should have kept my opinion to myself”. I dou t he could really just stop doing them now, without upsetting his fan base.
Admittedly, they’re basically all I watch from him, and mostly to see his thoughts in the 2 player aspects of a game. I’ll also pay attention to any concerns/issues he mentions, but I can’t argue that he loves every game because they’re all amazing!
Pretty accurate. Though at least Rahdo (to my knowledge) has never considered himself a reviewer. I can’t say the same for a few other creators…looks at the Man vs Meeple page.
I was quite dismissive of Episode 1, but Episode 2 looks to be where the fun is. The only thing at the back of my mind is there’s guaranteed to be a Episode 3+4 pack next year, so can always jump on once the reviews are out. Only exclusive is a dice tray, and the next campaign will likely have it’s own design dice tray.
Really? I’m mildly more interested in Episode 1, but that’s probably due to the (relatively) lighter weight and (also relatively) shorter okay time.
I really need to sit down and try and watch at least part of a playthrough of both. I won’t be able to get through a whole game, unless I’m doing something else as well, as I’ve never enjoyed watching people play board games, but with that kind of an investment I can’t (well technically I shouldn’t) blind buy it.
All right, I have instead played ⅓ of a game of Hornet Leader on Tabletop Simulator, and I’m looking forward to the rest, so I ended up backing it. Not going for any of the others because I think the player has to find the period/setting interesting as well as the game itself (if they had a Spitfire/Lancaster Leader I might be more enthused).
