Online Sports Etiquette

If you thought poor sportsman spirit and rudeness of behavior was only part of real sports, think again! There has been a slow proliferation of some unwanted behavior even in online games.  Many multiplayer games suffer from this and many online game communities are mature enough to weed out members who behave in this fashion. However, it is up to us as players to ensure that we follow proper online gaming etiquette at all times.

• Being anonymous gives some players the impression that they can cheat and get away with it. However, you should bear in mind that cheating is like admitting that you cannot win without resorting to such tactics. Would you rather not try harder the next time, beat everyone fair and square and feel more satisfied about it? If you still do not manage to win, you are probably better off finding a game you are good at.
• Making fun of opponents you have defeated or bragging endlessly about your wins, taunting other players only makes you look childish. In fact, even children beyond a certain age know that they should not behave like this. Emoting appropriately can help motivate you and lends an edge to the battle but overdoing it will end up irritating everyone.
• Never use all CAPS while typing out a message. It is generally understood that typing in capital letters is like shouting and nobody wants to be shouted at.
• Give newcomers a chance. Even you were a newcomer to the game once and it took you time to understand the various rules, the details and the nuances. It may have taken you days and days of practice and yet today, you can play the game like a pro. Give every newcomer the same chances that you got.
• If you are taking part in a team game, you have to learn to cooperate with your team members. It does not matter how good you are or how bad they are, when you are working as a team. This should not be an excuse for you to go off on your own and deal with the opposing teams. Remember participating and then winning the game is far more important than trying to aim for more points. Also, you may be better off suggesting what your team members could do to improve their game so that you can try harder the next time.
• If you are working in a multiplayer game and find yourself losing badly, do not just disconnect and walk away. This is almost like turning your back on your friends. If you are having trouble with the game, you should speak to friends, understand how to work out your problems and then get back to the game.
• If you are a good player, there will be many who will try to unnerve you or try to get under your skin by insulting you online. The best way to respond is to not respond! Most systems now have an ‘Ignore’ function that will block all further messages from those persons.