GL/HF

So today I logged on to Heroes of the Storm to knock some dailies out. I grabbed Sgt. Hammer, because she’s free to play this week and my new favorite character, and then logged into a Quick Match. The match started and I typed into the team chat my standard greeting, “gl hf” which means “good luck, have fun!” It got the immediate response from a very cranky Sylvannas, “Fuck You.” I didn’t let it bother me, I simply played my role to the best of my ability, and we were doing pretty well! I was even joined by a very competent Thrall and LiLi who helped me clear the bottom lane. As we started to fall behind, I typed, “Keep together, guys. We’re not too far behind! We can still do this!” My Thrall friend responded, “You’re right! Keep going guys!” We lost the match, but both the Thrall and LiLi sent me friend requests and I’m excited to team up with them in the future.

What’s the point of this story? I’ll be honest, I was seething when I got the negative response from the player playing Sylvannas, and I can guarantee you that most of the people on my team knew right then and there that we were going to lose that match. If that person would have had their way, we would have lost AND had a horrible experience, but I tried to keep a positive attitude and made 2 potential friends from it. Online games are there for entertainment. People play them to escape their problems and just relax. It is unfair, irresponsible, and just plan disrespectful to go into online games with that negative of an attitude. I didn’t do anything special by trying to make that game positive, but I get very frustrated when I feel like I am the only one fighting the  battle.

Please! Please! PLEASE be a positive example in online games. Why lose AND have a bad time. I was playing Overwatch over the weekend and my group was losing terribly. One of my team mates called over on voice chat, “Reinhardt’s overpowered. Let’s all play Reinhardt!” And we did! And the other team got to see six shielded, hammer wielding mechs advancing on the capture point. Did we win? No. Did we all have a good laugh? Hell yeah, we did!

I understand getting frustrated in games. I understand people have bad days. But, I do not understand people who can so easily ruin other people’s fun. If you’re in too bad of a mood to make a game a positive experience for other people, then go take a nap or a bubble bath or something, but DO NOT pick up that controller, do not turn on that monitor, and certainly, “Don’t Be A Dick!”