How is Tapastic's community so...Nice?

helloapanie 2016-01-15 05:08:03 UTC #57

Oh my god I'm so glad I wasn't the only one who noticed this. I just started making webcomics and wanted to upload my stuff on LINE Webtoon but I stopped myself because the people there are just....vile. They argue for no reason. I mean I get it, some comics might not pique your interest, but there's really no reason to be hateful about it. Just move along to the next comic!

Though I don't really have a fan base here on Tapastic either, but I'd prefer to creep around here because I get a nice and warm feeling every time I read something.

yvettegustafsson 2016-01-15 11:03:28 UTC #58

First and foremost I think there is a good vibe spread by @STAFF , working very hard to keep it friendly, habitable and engaging with the users helps a lot to hold the line. And second, you don't want to be "that guy" if you see many others being positive it might feel wrong to be the opposite. Vibes are contagious, good and bad. I really enjoy being here - I've never felt comfortable in forums, it has just not been my kind of place to be in but tapastic is very different from any other forum I've ever seen.

Thank you, all! <3

Marvin 2016-02-04 07:56:37 UTC #59

Now that I've tried to understand LINE Webtoon a bit more, I think I get (partly at least) why it's so much peaceful here.

On webtoon, notwithstanding the sheer number of readers compared to Tap, they don't have a forum where people can learn to know each other and unless I'm mistaken, they don't have profiles at all. Which means that when someone posts a comment, his name is just that : a name. The others can't click on it to see if the guy is a regular troll or has his own comic or anything... It's almost anonymous... And who says anonymous says it's troll's open bar...

And has @yvettegustafsson said, the fact that the staff here is so present and friendly and approchable sets the tone to the whole site

burgercat 2016-02-04 14:31:59 UTC #60

There is practically no drama here...like no arguments or grudges.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing, in fact that's great, but the community is so peaceful it feels weird o-o

Noglastiaa 2016-02-04 05:13:42 UTC #61

Lol I guess I get what you mean. It's pretty peaceful but I think it's honestly because the people gathered here are very peaceful and supportive. Like all the supportive people across the net gathered together. I mean I've seen a squabble of two but like that it.
Honestly if it could always be like this I'd be so happy:P
It's just such a great and positive environment.

scythe 2016-02-04 05:14:01 UTC #62

Believe it or not, there are people of highly divergent stripes lurking in these forums and reading comics on this site, and even though I'm a pretty opinionated person, I haven't gotten into any flame wars on here yet (not that I'm looking to start any). When it comes to my history with a site I regularly visit, that's at least a first.

I put it down to the relative newness of the site and its links to the app store, which I think every creator rightfully respects. For me, as long as Tap stays like this, and powerful, obnoxious cliques don't start forming (who start trying to police everyone's comments and comics), I won't be looking to flame anyone.

Shitposting however ...

zelkats 2016-02-04 06:05:50 UTC #63

I'm one of those many resident lurkers, lol. I think one of the main reason for the forum's peacefulness is because there aren't really many people here who encourage crap-flinging here. There HAVE been cases of name-calling and people acting like complete trolls even when the target is calm and isn't out to offend anyone here in the forum. But these users don't stay very long because the environment here isn't exactly a place they would thrive in. Plus, there aren't many people who speak their language (figuratively) here. An OP starts a gossip topic? Bam, Tapastic users shut it down.

winglesscomic 2016-02-04 06:10:53 UTC #64

can you imagine coming to tap one day and finding that you're unable to do this

i couldn't suffer another day

AnnaLandin 2016-02-04 06:50:45 UTC #65

There have been arguments, and people's tempers DO flare up occasionally - it's just that most of us like Tapastic being peaceful and nice, so we tend to work together in an effort to make it so. Tapastic is a really nice place to hang out, so why not try to keep it that way?

As an example of brewing arguments being shut down before they begin - I remember last year, someone started a thread where instead of recommending comics we liked, they wanted us to talk shit about comics that were "more popular than they deserved" - and the entire thread just turned into a long line of posts going "uuuh, how about no?" before it was shut down by a mod.

mariusthered 2016-02-04 07:28:12 UTC #66

that's because you don't see we have high windows to throw people out if they cause trouble

kidding! the mediators do a very good job at nipping problems in the bud.

maximumthemokona 2016-02-04 11:35:21 UTC #67

I'm pretty sure we're all just too busy/tired working on our comics to work up the energy to get mad at anything.

somvi 2016-02-04 12:17:57 UTC #68

Well the community is still new and the forums aren't as visible - now and then I see a new post by someone saying they had no idea this place existed. Users of this forum want to be here and didn't just sign up because it's popular.
Naturally, we're going to take care of the place if we're going to call it home.

The only drama I've seen are in old threads that pop up in topic suggestions or garbage that gets brought in from off site. Maybe you'll read the occasional insensitive brain fart or some childish outburst but it's still pretty tame. Obviously a good thing.

I imagine that the majority are creators that are used to dealing with people and having to maintain a reputation, so the amount of neckbearding is kept to a minimum. Most of us either have a webcomic going or work in the comic industry so there's also a bit of professionalism on display here in addition to well, just treating each other with respect. Kind of a rare thing to see on the internet when you get a bunch of strangers together.

hecdora 2016-02-04 12:22:18 UTC #69

Yeah, I have to agree. I was pretty weirded out when lurking at first. No hate, no trolls, no drama. It's like tapastic existed outside of the modern internet standards.
It's great! I love how it's a community build on respect. Everyone is just so human, rather than a faceless goon protected by their computer screen. I think it instils confidence and breeds creativity.
Plus it's great to be able to read and talk to like minded people.

zetina 2016-02-04 12:42:23 UTC #70

The fact that the community is pretty small makes you aware that people will probably remember you if you go out of line. The frequent posters set a very good example and never attack anyone for posting a repeat topic. If a conversation goes nowhere, most of those involved will put it to a stop and request for it to be closed.

These things will likely evaporate the moment the forums become impossible to keep up with and the frequent, recognisable posters can't be everywhere to set their example. It's a precious, fragile thing... But the forums also kind of groom new members into being like the regulars.

But yeah, there aren't any trolls and no one here is looking for a fight. I actually enjoy it when this crowd gets into arguments since, y'know, it's not the typical internet argument where people start attacking the talker.

Marvin 2016-02-04 12:57:12 UTC #71

Not attacking you but just in case you wanna see all the theories we already came up with about Tapastic's miraculous community, there's this topic already :

zetina 2016-02-04 13:12:48 UTC #72

you should be telling that to the OP, not me.

Marvin 2016-02-04 13:15:44 UTC #73

It was a general "you" and I assumed the OP would see this message too since they get a notification...

Vikiro_Hop 2016-02-04 13:28:27 UTC #74

I felt pretty much the same when I started here. At first it kinda bothered me, but now I look to the forums as a safe haven from the clusterfuck of stupid my facebook feed has devolved into. Like everyone said it's still a fledgling community and when more people discover the forums it is entirely possible for things to change. The few arguments I've seen on here have been laughably civil compared to the horrible shit you can find on the internet. Most of the time they just devolve into a live and let live situation.

Though I still haven't ruled out the webcomic cult theory as an explanation for why everyone is so nice.

Kayke 2016-02-04 14:19:49 UTC #75

I've definitely seen fights in the forum. The thing is they're usually dealt with quickly by the mods and the repeat offenders are banned for 1000 years and forgotten by history.

As for the site, I don't think it's strange at all that there's not a lot of drama. I feel like there's not much personal interaction on the main site. You can follow comics, but you can't "friend" individuals. People post their comics, other people react to those comics. Sometimes there's a bit of a back and forth in the comments, but it's usually about the comic characters, not about any real person. People rarely comment on other people's profiles aside from the whole "thanks for subscribing thing."

Also the comments are kind of contained. Two people might comment on the same page of some comic and maybe disagree on something... but then never comment on the same page of any comic ever again. It's not like... say Deviant Art or Twitter, where people tend to run in the same circles and have a lot of chances to rub each other the wrong way.

Sooo, I don't think it has anything to do with the people being nicer, I think it's more to do with how the site it designed.

PotooGryphon 2016-02-04 14:28:58 UTC #76

(silently grabs angry mean person and drags them into the darkness) sssshhh, you saw nothing... The mods are Mean Angry Troll Assassins >.>