Have Some Decency

I have to tell you that I must be getting old. I’ve been browsing the internet extensively lately, reading a lot of forum threads and gaming blogs, not too different than our own and I found myself frowning more often than usual. There seems to be a growing trend to include cheap vulgarisms in statements for no real reason. No, I am aware of the fact that that has been done before and I don’t really mind reading the “F” word every second sentence as long as it has merit. Vulgarisms are a part of our everyday language and even though in most cases they aren’t necessary I find them a good way to make a point or emphasize an opinion. I condone that kind of language use. I do.
The problem is that even though I don’t mind listening to the Angry Video Game Nerd swearing or "Yahtzee" Croshaw calling people bastards I do have a problem with people offending or mocking others because they are have no way to prove their point.
I’ll give you an example.
I’ve read a review of Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise on a polish blog – the text itself isn’t that bad, save for the fact that the author’s grammar and orthography are not particularly good, but the review’s conclusion made me want to find that guy and kick him in the groin hard enough so that he would be unable to pass his genes. Let me quote.

“I can recommend it [the game] to caretakers of young children or single mothers who got child benefits. However, the game is probably best suited for girls who are so ugly that they need something better to do than get scared while looking at themselves in the mirror. Even a stud and a real man like me can find the game to be a pleasant change.

P.S
I forgot about horticulture students… I recommend the game to them too.”

At first I was pretty sure that the ending was some sort of cumbersome irony, but after reading the whole text for the second time I knew that the guy actually meant it.
Now, it’s one thing to call people names when it serves humorous purposes, but that was beyond my tolerance. In a goddamn Viva Pinata review of all things. Was it really necessary? I may not be some sort of self-righteous morality protector, but one needs to have some decency. Or leave the gaming world and become a politician.
It’s not just the blog. It’s all over the internet. You don’t have to search too far. Go to GameTrailers, check the forums and tremble. There are a lot of gaming message boards that feature insecure, aggressive teenagers who call everyone a moron, but the forums on GT harbor the largest and most diverse menagerie of boorish and militant assholes (yes, I used the word for a purpose). And they come in all shapes and sizes. People with common sense are few and far between in there.
Chances that you could have a normal discussion on GT are pretty much non-existent. You would be better off trying to breathe in outer space.
I don’t get it. It’s not politics we’re talking here, it’s games - an entertainment, a way of relaxing, spending your free time in a creative way that doesn’t involve hurting others. If you offend people because of a trivial matter like this I don’t want to know how you can react during a heated argument.
And I’m not really worried that our humble, little blog will face an assault of negative, hateful comments from the GT community… or any other for that matter, because most of the people on those boards feel the same way as I do, even if they themselves indulge in this shameful behaviour. I can only imagine that this must be the internet “incognito” syndrome. Let me tell you this. Just because you’re under an anonymous nickname it doesn’t make you less of an cretin.
I would really like to think that it’s just kids who do that, but I don’t think that’s the case. You see, you can expect children and younger teenagers to become emotional and aggressive during a discussion, because they are too impatient to look for suitable arguments and because of that they can act nervously. It’s normal at some age. Now, when a grown-up calls you a f***er because he doesn’t agree with what you have said or written it mean he’s an idiot. It clearly shows his cognitive processes are not developed enough to participate in an exchange of ideas and arguments. And that is what worries me because it directly influences game developers. I’ve written about it in my earlier editorial so I won’t go back to the topic. The thing to add would be that more stupid people joining the gaming community is good for the industry but not good for the core gamers. A paradox in a way.
I could go on, bringing fanboys into the equation, but that is a pretty broad material better left for another editorial, so I will stop here. Treat this block of test as a prelude to a series of editorials about gamers’ etiquette.

Actually why not write down a code of gamer’s behaviour – something like “Screaming SCHEIßE! into the microphone during Call of Duty match is considered faux pas and will not be tolerated.”

I dare you gamers to come up with a code like that and write your examples in comments under this article. When we will gather enough, we’ll make a comprehensive guide and put it up on a website.