Forbes writer Erik Kain has hit back at gamers who branded him a “joke” over his most recent article on BioWare and Mass Effect 3 – suggesting that many enthusiasts of the hobby refuse to debate sensibly with people who don’t share their opinion.

Kain was one of the most vocal critics of BioWare on the issue of Mass Effect 3′s day-one DLC and notoriously vilified ending. But after recently arguing that the company should be given the chance to prove they have learned from the debacle with their next game, some readers called him a “joke” and claimed they would stop reading his blog.

“I think that gamers need to be able to engage with people they disagree with,” responded Kain, in a follow-up article.

“I mean, those readers and commenters who are so disappointed in me and who will never read my column again, do you really disagree with me that much? Is my ‘wait-and-see’ approach to BioWare really so horrible that I’m just a joke now?

“This strikes me as almost religious in its fervor and rigidity, this unwillingness to engage in debate over ideas with people who may not share each of your opinions.”

Kain went on to imply that gaming has a particular problem with this issue.

“The perils of writing about video games become glaringly obvious at times like these, though no less dispiriting,” he continued. “I want this space to be a place where we can vehemently disagree, and still respect one another enough to keep talking honestly about the issues of gaming and the gaming industry.”

Do you think that Kain has a point? Do gamers need to engage more with people who don’t hold the same opinions? We’d love to hear your take on this in the comments section below…