I didn't mean to slight CAG with that statement - I've posted here for over a decade now so I know a wide range of people post here and my statement was pretty stupid. I'm just frustrated that we seem to be in a position where there's always someone unhappy about something and it's just tiring, you know? I mean this from a legitimate place - not some kind of petty "wha wha, why don't people like us?" spot. There have been so many times where I've honestly felt like just stopping this whole thing because I'm so mentally exhausted from constantly having to defend or justify things. Even if we took things back to plain old releases with no CEs there'd be things beyond my control driving prices up and forcing us into insane release schedules - or games that sell out too fast and result in death threats. I don't know, I just feel stuck in a losing cycle here when it comes to pleasing people.
I think this is probably the main issue, which is: why do you feel like you have to defend or justify things to everyone?
You can't please everyone, and if you try to do that, you're just going to be causing yourself more grief than necessary.
Providing feedback would be meaningless if it's always what you want to hear, and already know.
There's a reason people give this feedback, and it's because they don't see it the same way you do, and that's okay. I feel the problem is that you're spending too much time defending or justifying your position, and not enough time taking in the information. When you're defending or deflecting too often, seldom do you get the chance to reflect.
This is a discussion forum, so people are going to give their opinions, and discuss things that you may not agree with. That should be something to be expected, and not looked to as a weakness, but as feedback, and that's all it should be. Taking everything too personally will only wear you down quicker, as you've mentioned previously.
For example, I remember our discussion on variants, and stated that I just don't like variants and not a fan of it, so I decided not to buy them. That's just my position, and the way I view this approach. However, your responses were unable to believe that this was my belief, and you just couldn't let it go. I even stated that it's just my belief, and I can totally understand people who do like variants, and don't think there's anything inherently bad about them as a business practice. But the conversation just stayed stagnant, and continued to be a defend and justify conversation, even when my original comments were never meant to attack and denounce the practice, but to explain my personal dissatisfaction with it. You don't need to get people to agree with you to be able to move on. There needs to be a middle ground in these conversations for it to be a conversation. Once you decide there is no middle ground, that's when it just becomes pointless bickering.
Of course, there are sometimes when feedback that completely crosses the line, and I can understand in some situations to have to respond to those posts. However, lately it just feels like you're rolling in all of the comments(whether supportive, passive, or aggressive) all into the same category, and taking them way too seriously, and aggressively.
I still strongly support LRG, otherwise I wouldn't be keeping up with the op, and still be a part of the thread. I will still make purchases of titles that I want to own, but not the ones I don't. That's my choice, and you shouldn't perceive it as a personal sleight to you, or the business.
If it still feels too overwhelming, I would suggest to start thinking about someone who just deals with the different threads across forum. Find someone who will be a LRG rep, and be the one to take the information in, do some engagement with the posters, but more importantly, just do a bit of PR. We may not get an immediate response from you since that rep would spend time giving you the information, and you have to think about how to respond, but hey, that can actually be a good thing for us and for you since it'll give you the necessary time to reflect, rather than one based on impulse. Of course, there will need to be an adequate screening for the person to take on this role. I also understand you might say it's a cost issue, but I also believe there will be more than plenty of members in the communities that would be more than willing to take on that role for free, as you have many, many supporters, so don't ever feel it's a us vs them type of thing when it comes to support for LRG.
Well, that's about the right amount of a wall of text, so I'll stop now.
o
ed up LRG. 
