Why Is the Tone in the OMSI Community So Incredibly Harsh? What’s Going Wrong?

Before we go any deeper, one important note: At the end of this article, you will find a fully anonymized survey where we want to ask you directly about the current situation in the OMSI community. Fully anonymized truly means fully anonymized – no names, no email addresses, no IP tracking. You can express your opinion freely, without concern and without consequences. Whether you agree with my assessment or completely disagree: both are explicitly welcome. I am not looking for applause – I am looking for an honest picture of the mood.

OMSI 2 is not a mainstream title, even if it is the largest bus simulator within its niche. At the same time, it is well known that the simulator would no longer exist without its community, as there are no active developers delivering updates anymore. Maps, buses, mods, sounds – all of this exists because of commitment and voluntary work. In theory, that should create a community that sticks together. A community that welcomes new players, because every single person matters.

Instead, many newcomers experience something very different.

It happens regularly: A new user joins Discord or the largest OMSI forum, asks a harmless question – and is greeted with dry laughing emojis. Or with comments like, “Did you leave your spelling back at school?” as soon as a typo appears. Sometimes a missing period or a mixed-up letter is enough to trigger mockery. No “Hello,” no “Welcome,” no “I’m happy to help.” Instead: correction, irony, or plain arrogance.

If someone then asks the “wrong” question, they are met with a blunt “READ THE README” or “Use the support section.” That doesn’t feel like community – it feels like a digital bouncer.

Imagine this in real life: You walk into a model railway club, ask a question – and receive nothing but an eye roll and “It’s all on the notice board, go read it properly!” No one would stay long in that environment. Why do we believe that such a tone is acceptable online?

And honestly: I have rarely encountered this intensity in other communities. Of course, heated discussions, annoyed replies, or impatient users exist everywhere. That is inevitable. But being verbally attacked simply for greeting others or asking a basic question about the game – especially by well-known, long-standing members – is remarkable. Those who should represent the scene instead become a deterrent. And that is what makes this situation concerning.

Subjectively speaking: I find this tone deeply off-putting. I now think twice before posting anything publicly. Not because I fear disagreement – but because there is a high chance the response will be phrased disrespectfully. That is a poor reflection on a community that is supposed to be built on shared passion.

What concerns me most is that the team members of the largest OMSI forum seem unable to get this harsh tone under control. Of course, no one can monitor every single message. But when a particular way of communicating becomes normal over years, it is no longer an isolated issue – it is culture. And culture does not emerge by accident.

We must ask the uncomfortable question: How does something like this even develop? Is it being ignored out of resignation? Are certain prominent users tolerated because the community wants to keep them at all costs? Following the mindset: “Better a difficult expert than no expert at all”? Or does the team avoid confrontation to protect itself from backlash by the same loud personalities?

It can be compared to a sports team where one star player repeatedly behaves badly. He scores many goals but insults teammates, ignores rules, and drives away young talent. Instead of setting boundaries, the coach looks away – afraid of losing him. In the short term, this may work. In the long term, it poisons the locker room. Young talents leave, morale drops, and eventually the team crumbles – even if the star remains. The same pattern threatens here: if individual “high performers” are valued more than respectful interaction, the entire community pays the price.

These dynamics are not new in online communities. When certain members dominate for years and their tone is never corrected, an unspoken signal emerges: This is how you are allowed to speak here. New users either adapt – or disappear. And the longer this continues, the more it solidifies as the perceived standard.

If we now find ourselves in a situation where a rough, sometimes condescending tone is considered “normal,” then structurally, something has gone wrong over the years. A climate does not develop overnight. It is the result of many small decisions – or many decisions not taken.

This is not about oversensitivity. It is about respect. There is a clear difference between clear, factual correction and public humiliation.

If we are honest, however, it is not enough to simply describe the problem. The crucial question is: How do we get out of this situation? Because yes – a toxic climate is dangerous. Not only for individual users, but for the entire genre, its public image, and ultimately the future of OMSI 2.

My appeal first and foremost goes to the team members. Moderation is not just about moving threads or making witty comments. Moderation means cultural responsibility. If a disrespectful comment remains visible, it is effectively tolerated. There must be clear, visible guidelines – and above all, consistent enforcement. Not selectively. Not depending on how well-known someone is or how many projects they have released. Rules apply to everyone. Those who repeatedly belittle others or mock new users must receive clear feedback.

At the same time, we need role models. Team members should set the tone: friendly, clear, factual. A simple “Welcome” or “Please take a look at the manual, you’ll find the information there” completely changes the impact of a reply. It takes less than 30 extra seconds – but makes an enormous difference.

Think of a restaurant: If the head chef greets guests kindly, explains things calmly, and treats staff respectfully, that atmosphere spreads to everyone – waiters, new assistants, the entire environment. If the chef instead snaps at guests with “It’s all on the menu!” and rolls his eyes, that becomes the norm. Leadership always has an impact – constructive or destructive. It is not the rulebook that defines the climate, but the behavior of those visibly in charge.

There is, however, another sensitive point: In the past, the largest OMSI forum has not always set a good example when it comes to selecting or guiding team members. There have been repeated situations where moderators or administrators themselves stood out due to a harsh, condescending, or irritated tone. Instead of providing guidance, responses like “Wrong channel” or “Read the file already” were given. Of course, answering the same question for the twentieth time can be exhausting. But if frustration over the previous twenty users is unloaded onto the twenty-first, it always hits the wrong person. Those who take responsibility within a community must also handle repetition and beginner questions professionally.

Furthermore, irony is a difficult tool – especially in written form. What is intended as a lighthearted remark can easily be perceived as mockery or an attack. Team members in particular should have the awareness to recognize that not every user shares the same humor, background, or resilience. In many discussions over the past years, this sensitivity was missing. And when irony is consistently perceived as a weapon, it is no longer an individual communication issue – it is structural.

Irony on the internet is a bit like trying to trim a bonsai tree with a chainsaw. It can work – if you are extremely precise and know exactly what you are doing. In most cases, however, more falls than intended. In written communication, facial expressions, tone, and subtle signals are missing. What sounds like a harmless joke in your head may read like a jab on screen. And if those responsible for maintaining order regularly wield this chainsaw, they should not be surprised when more trust is cut down than intended.

But it would be too easy to place all responsibility on the team. Every single user contributes to the climate. Every comment, every reaction, every emoji is a building block of culture. If you see someone being treated disrespectfully, do not stay silent. You do not need to start a public argument – but you can respond kindly. You can offer factual help. You can demonstrate: This is not how we speak to each other here.

Perhaps even the “old veterans” need to rethink their approach. Being around for ten years does not grant a license for arrogance. Expertise is not a free pass for condescension. Those with knowledge could instead act as mentors. In a complex simulation like OMSI 2, which can feel like a jungle to newcomers, helpfulness would be invaluable.

In the end, the truth is simple: We all play the same game. We share the same passion for buses, maps, repaints, and timetables. No one loses anything by remaining respectful. But the community loses a great deal when respect becomes the exception. So why treat new players as if they must first pass an entrance exam?

If OMSI 2 is to remain alive in the long term, it needs more than good mods and ambitious projects. It needs an atmosphere where people dare to ask questions without fear of mockery. And that atmosphere does not appear by chance. It is created by decision. Every day. By every single person.

Yes, there are helpful members. There are people who patiently explain, who stay friendly, who support others. But they are often overshadowed when the loudest voices are also the harshest.

Respectful interaction is not a bonus feature. It is a basic requirement for any community. And if we want OMSI 2 to thrive for many years to come, we must ask ourselves: Do we want to be an exclusive elite – or an open community?

Finally, one thing is very important to me: This article is not directed against specific individuals. It is not about publicly shaming anyone. It is about a development that many have observed for years. Our own team emerged from the OMSI community. This commentary is not an attack – it is a call for reflection. Because precisely because OMSI matters to us, we should care about the direction in which this community is moving.

Here is our survey. We kindly ask you to participate anonymously and give us your opinion:

Have you personally experienced the harsh tone within the OMSI community? Have you ever been mocked for asking a simple question? Do you feel welcome in the community? Do you think the tone has become harsher in recent years? Do you believe the tone discourages new players?