It does bother me that topics can be so easily closed down. I happened to read your previous post that you reference in this current post, and it did not contain vindictive or rude launguage or any true justification in my opinion that warranted a shutdown. Sure you were upset, but that is your right as a customer who has supported the game a great deal as I know you have. I would have been more impressed by developers if they simply left a post like that as is rather than close it, or better still tried to reply in the nicest possible way and try to reassure someone who seems upset for whatever reason. I totally support a shutdown of people who use bad language or are racially inappropriate and such like, but to shut down a post with the sole reason that "the same people making multiple posts does not constitute many" or something like that sounds very dictatorial and arrogant to me.
I am concernded when freedom of expression is shut down especially in what should be an open topic for debate and discussion. Anyone who does not agree can either rebut or simply not bother to reply - to close the post makes me worry that anything other than complimentary posts and high praise could be cut or edited by the forum management. It makes me wonder about how censored forums such as this truly are.
The impulse question for me was never resolved despite multiple threads about it. Many people have felt betrayed by stardock because they do not necessarily WANT to install impulse on their systems for whatever reason - it is their right to choose. Others think Impulse is great - that is also their right. I will always be a supporter of standalone patches for many reasons myself - for reasons that make sense to ME, again that is my right.
Nevertheless to shut down threads that do not violate any of the usual laws against foul language etc is indicative of a heavily controlled and censored environment. For those who value freedom of expression , this is a sad story. My opinion of the forum and the devs has dropped as a result of some of the replies I have seen from them. Criticism and debate is a good thing even if sometimes it can sound a little harsh - but it should be allowed to continue. To shut it down is to behave autocratically. Remember...power corrupts...and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why bother replying to a disgruntled customer in a kind way whe you can just lock the post? Hmmm...very disturbing I think! Anyone who has the power to shut down posts needs to remember this.
Please Stardock, let people post freely, stand up for yourselves - but don't shut down posts unless there is a damn good reason.
I hope a more eloquent and substantial reason is given in future before locking posts!
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