| Ramblings
of a player/host/old man that's been there
done that! |
| Online
Gaming Courtesy: Online gaming is very exciting with
the prospects of facing players from all corners of our world.
We should keep in mind that this very world-wide competition
brings with it a variety of attitudes and cultures. Amazingly
enough, these are often overcome with little to no effort.
We even manage to break the language barrier with the use
of common terms such as gg (good game) gl (good luck) or a
simple smile or wink at the opportune time. Sometimes the
difference in cultures and language can create confusion when
humorous sarcasm is used. Sarcasm in some cultures, regardless
of intent, is insulting. This is also true with exuberant
confidence which can be construed as bragging or intimidation
while in some countries it is a norm that is accepted. Often
times an opponent might not speak your language fluently but
fools you by knowing common phrases used in online gaming.
We assume they understand our language and we attempt to engage
in a rather intense conversation that includes slang or sarcastic
remarks about ourselves. Their translation can sometimes be
very direct and to the point and self-sarcasm is lost, or
worse they interpret it as being directed toward them. In
short, not everyone understands each others' sense of humor,
even within shared cultures. |
Tip:
Don't panic and refuse to chat with players because of this,
just keep in mind that what they say may not be what we hear.
If you're confused by a statement, the old "smile and
nod" maneuver works fine. No reason to get defensive
or go on the attack to save your pride, remain pleasant and
understand the cultural differences that sometimes occur.
|
| Slow
Players: We've all had them and will continue to face
the slow-moving player. Often times we assume they are multi-tasking
(chatting elsewhere, playing more than one tournament, etc.).
They might be, but don't assume. Informing the host and requesting
a watch will often times speed things along. I always consider
the possibilities for slow play, which can be many. Disability
is the leader here: Imagine a quadriplegic that is home-bound
and using online gaming to fulfill interaction with others.
Blowing through a straw, using voice recognition software
or simply trying to get slow-moving fingers to click the mouse
can cause slow play. However, remember that these tasks, in
and of themselves, can be a victory to the disabled player.
Also, consider that not everyone has broadband internet, some
dial-up connections can be more aggravating for them then
it is for you. And last but not least… some players
actually think about the possible moves they can make on a
roll and refuse to settle for the old "hand slap to the
forehead" followed by the "Doh" maneuver that
I often do. |
Tip:
I suggest that if a player is being slow to ask them, "Are
you ok?" Don't resort to one word demands such as "Play"
or "Hurry." Asking a host to watch a game is the
best solution to a slow player and hosts are happy to do this
in SimmplyGammon tours. |
| Rude
Players: Rude behavior is subjective. Again, we need
to consider cultural and language differences. Often, translation
of an English word or phrase does not translate well. In some
languages the words "silly" and "stupid"
have the same meaning but very different results when presented
in a humorous context. When an opponent enters a match without
the usual greeting and "Good luck," this may be
due to several reasons. Perhaps they are not familiar with
English or they are afraid it will cause conversation they
won't be able to handle. Take, for example, the situation
of a friend of mine, who would not go into online gaming simply
because his typing and spelling skills were not adequate enough.
Let's not assume a player is rude when they are afraid to
type. Consider this example from my own experience: I was
playing an opponent I had often chatted with before. They
were being unusually quiet this night, not saying even a word.
I later found out it was not the person I thought, but their
child with explicit instructions not to chat while the parent
stepped away for a few minutes. With this said, there are
players that are rude online, just as in real life. These
types of players usually do not find a SimmplyGammon Tournament
Room very conducive to their ways and seldom return. |
Tip: Rude players are easily
handled, however. Ignoring them works wonders, and the "smile
and nod" maneuver is also very effective. I think I could
actually hear things hitting the wall when an abusive player
got the simple reply "tyvm :." I'm sure there is
an old adage for this one as well. How about, "If you
can't say something nice, say nothing at all." If a player
is using profanity it is best to call a host to the table
to monitor or log for future action if necessary. Keep in
mind that at the game table even token hosts cannot see chat
prior to their entry. You may want to copy and paste if you
feel it needs to be documented. Don't let an abusive opponent
drag you into a verbal battle, and please, do not bring it
out into the lobby. Simmply ask, "Host to table 110 please"
and one will be there. |
| Conduct:
Every gaming site has a "Code of Conduct." It might
be referred to as a "Terms of Use Agreement" or
other similar contract which every member of the site must
agree to in order to maintain a membership on that site. Gaming
sites, in general, like to keep a good "Web Rating"
so they remain a family friendly site. These "Web Ratings"
are not the same as television ratings. For example: MSN Game
Zone maintained a "2" class rating; this translates
to something like PG-13 but without the language allowances
that movie and TV ratings allow. |
Tip: I strongly advise each
player to find these "Code of Conduct" and "Web
Rating" pages and read them. Feel free to ask if you
are not sure where to go. SimmplyGammon strictly enforces
these CoC's and ToUA's in their tournament rooms. |
| Luck
and the Game: Backgammon is played using dice and
this brings the element of chance to the game. If you have
issues with chance being part of the game, backgammon is not
for you. Unlike chess and other skill games, backgammon combines
skill and chance. Its part of the game I love, each roll of
the dice brings new choices. Some call them the lucky rolls
others use the term freak rolls, I prefer the term, "favorable
rolls". Good games have been played with bad dice, bad
games have been played with good dice, and this is where skill
comes into play. A player has a choice to move any stone to
any point he chooses, based on the dice and providing the
point is open. If a player is conservative and places all
stones on three points, then the odds of a "favorable
roll" diminish. The player that places stones on more
points increases the "favorable roll" greatly. Any
roll of the dice can be good or bad depending on the board
you have built. Multiple doubles? Good and bad as it can be
great on the bear off and bad when you're trying to build
a prime unless all your stones are on three points. ;) More
times then not, I've had doubles force me to break down a
good prime early. |
Tip:
Avoid telling an opponent he won by luck, if they did, they
already know it and if they made their own luck then you're
insulting their skill of the game. Try not to reply to every
double they roll with "very good roll", it's not
always a good roll to them. A player can roll 4-1 and if it
makes the bar point, it's a very good roll. I prefer to wait
and see what a player does with a given roll and then reply
with, "very good play" if that's the case. If an
opponent tells you that you won the game by lucky rolls, thank
them and smile, you know if it was luck or skill.
NOTE: 2 dice with same 6 values on each, doubles will happen,
get over it. Three or four doubles in a row? Zone Dice? Then
explain to me how Abuelita gets them on my board at home or
I manage Zone Dice on her board. |
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