What what in the butt?August 6th, 2008 by Leslie
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Shit-slinging is a pretty big and entertaining part of gaming culture, particularly where games played over the Internet are concerned. Competition combined with the relative anonymity of sitting behind the computer or television screen, rather than face to face with the person you’re insulting, can breed within even the nicest of people a sense of uncontrollable nerdrage.
Personally, I like it.
Back in the old days when I was rather more impulsive and said everything that came to mind, I made people cry. I called people cocksuckers, and was dubbed the same in return. I tore apart specs, sockets, cards, stat allocations, gear, and skill. I was called a “fat cow” and thought it was hysterical.
The abuse was just as much a game as the title we were playing. It was fun.
It still is.
I will add a few niceties for balance, of course - with extremism left out of the equation, this “game” becomes a non issue. I usually leave alone any of the very sensitive people on my team, and I will never take an online rivalry to the real world like a total fucking psychopath (you know who you are, and I know you read this - ’sup).
I’ll rag on the newbie but give them one chance down the line to prove they’ve learned the game. Ain’t nobody pops out of their mama’s vagina knowing how to play, after all, and some new players really do have potential.
But that’s enough carebearism, so I’ll end that train of thought.
There really is nothing like capturing the castle belonging to your guild’s arch nemeses and then plastering the digital walls of the most populated town with graffiti retelling their demise. And how much each person in that rival clan blows balls. Name by name.
Nothing like dominating a player without them landing a hit, and never letting them forget it. Nothing like capping the flag and running through the enemy’s fortified lines faster than they even realize how badly they got owned, and pasting celebratory ASCII macros at the speed of light.
Nothing better than watching an opponent simply exit the game; that warm and fuzzy feeling creeping up inside because you know it was all you, baby.
Whether it be Starcraft, an MMORPG, Team Fortress 2, or even Tetrinet and iSketch — no game is immune. Thank the heavens.
So here’s to you, all fellow gamers who play the alternate game within all games. That abusive tango of words and rage, glee and mischief. Today I praise your potty mouths. Cocksuckers.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Ahh, iSketch. I haven’t gotten on there in forever. Makes me wanna get on there and hijack some games
August 6th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I also like how trash talking goes along with traditional, same room multiplayer. A “friendly” game of Goldeneye or Mario Kart is the perfect recipe for breaking through the initial overly nice stage in new friendships and getting an excuse to let loose and talk some trash.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
A friend of mine made a Samwell Mii. It’s one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen.
At least trash talking is better than yelling instructions at your own team. My #1 internet pasttime is slicing up people who yell at their own teammates for sucking. It’s surprisingly easy, actually.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Britt - We (my crew) play it pretty often at night EST if you’re interested. It fills in the gaps between Pictionary on the weekends!
Frankie - Most definitely. My fondest IRL shit talking moments were actually in the arcade after the local middle school baseball games. Of course at that age it was a whole lot more tamed. It’s a pretty permeating part of gaming culture, for sure.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
This reminds me of the kid who used to play as Nightmare on the SC II arcade machine in the mall where I worked. He was what Sirlin would call a “Scrub” he’d boast about his skills, but if you pulled something that wasn’t in his book he’d call foul.
He’d always trash talk too, and it was funny because I’d roll in on my breaks, put my quarters down, and then go to my old standby of Mitsi and use two moves for some reason he COULDN’T counter (the forward kick then downward swipe) and I’d ring him out, twice, asking him what his problem was, why he was suddenly not that great. The whole time he’d tell me I was cheap, as me if I only knew that move, etc.
Now I’m not a great SC player, so if he had actually learned how to play the game (block properly, etc) I’d have been in for a challenge, but no.
I still miss the arcade for that. Having someone curse over a mic or reading text just isn’t as much fun as smirking and right next to somoene and whomping them.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Haha George, I had a similar experience with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, except I was the trash talking kid and I rocked everyone. It got to the point that the other regular players of hte machine wouldn’t even allow me to play. Gambit and Captain Commando for the win~
August 9th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Hi Leslie,
Just finished reading this article of yours and loved it. Drop me an email when you get a second, I’d like to run something by you.
August 11th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Too many Scotts!
That aside, my favorite thing has always been talking shit. I hate receiving it though. TF2 is especially great for this. I accidentally picked up some metal that an Engi was going to use (I sticky jumped onto it — whoooooops!) and this guy freaked out for hours. Best moment was when I cued in and was like, “Are you bleeding from your vagina?” and he FREAKED OUT.