10 Things to Never Say in an Online Game

If you play online computer games it's probably because you enjoy interaction. There are plenty of quality single-player games available to sate the appetite of the solitary gamer. Even if you're not the most genteel and struggle in real world social settings, you need not worry. For one, nobody will actually see you, and two, if you don't know something you can always just remain quiet. Some even tout online games as a way to improve the world, as they require collaboration, problem solving and quick thinking.

However, for those who are uninitiated, there are certain things that should not be said in online game worlds, just as there are things that should not be said in the real world. Sure, it's nice to have the freedom of anonymity to say whatever you like without fear of reprisal, but in the interest of a better gaming experience for all, I am offering ten things that should never be said in an online game.

10) "I'll sell you this in-game item for real money." Not only do most game sites ban this kind of transaction, it is at its essence not playing by the rules. Think of Monopoly. If you asked another player to sell you all their properties for $20 in real money, it would make for a lousy game. Games work by balancing players strengths and weaknesses. Of course you can use real money to buy special items for many games, but the designers of the game create those items to interact with the game world in specific ways. Selling items for money cheats the buyer and all the other players.

9) "Sure, I'll buy this item you're selling but I'm a little short at the moment. Can I pay you back when I finish my quest?" Don't sell anything in a game unless you get the payment at the time of the transaction. If you sell your item based on a promise to get paid later, don't be surprised if you never see that person again or never see the payment. And don't go crying to the game maker asking for your item back. You won't get it.

8) "Let me tell you this awesome hack." Most sites do not allow hacks, so offering to share one with other gamers is just inviting trouble. Sooner or later, the creator of the hack will get banned along with anybody stupid enough to use the hack he created. Just report anybody you hear offering to give you a hack.

7) "How do I do such-and-such?" This question is actually perfectly reasonable if it is something not covered in the game tutorial. Yes, some tutorials are severely lacking and require a sort of learn-as-you-go method of gameplay, but a lot of the questions I hear show that the asker has never bothered to even glance at the instructions. If you want to play the game, read the instructions. It's that simple.

6) "Gay people suck." Sociopolitical statements belong on sites where they are welcomed. I don't want to hear your opinion on gays, Bush, Obama, health care reform, abortion, or any other hot button issue. If I did, I would go to a forum that discussed the issue. People who talk about this stuff are just trolls trying to stir up an argument.

5) "Can somebody power level me?" Ugghh. Game makers need to figure out a way to put a stop to this nonsense. People who want someone to power level them are leeches who let another player do the work so that they can gain experience. Fortunately, most games won't allow people to form parties unless they are within a few levels from each other, but once you reach a game's higher levels it doesn't make that much difference. It can take days or weeks to go from one experience level to the next. Games need to require that higher level players receive in-game money for power leveling every time. That would eliminate 99% of these leeches.

4) "Come see my website: www.lamegamecrap.com." Some game makers put ads in their chat windows to help generate revenue, and I don't have any problem with that. They need to keep the game running somehow. What I do have a problem with are people(or their bots) who don't actually seriously play the game at all but instead use the game chat as a source of free advertising. If you want to advertise your site, pony up and advertise at a real site. Don't be a cheapo and annoy your fellow gamers.

3) "So-and-so is a (insert profanity here)." Flame wars are part of the internet, and online games are no exception. But an online game is not a forum discussing Nazi war crimes, child molestation, or some other emotionally sensitive issue. It's a game. It's supposed to be fun. Sure, people can act like jerks in a game just as they can in real life, but getting into one of these absolutely meaningless name calling spats does nobody any good. If you have to call somebody a name, please do it in a private conversation with the person so that the rest of us don't have to hear it.

2) "Can anybody give me some money/items?" This is possibly the most annoying thing I have heard in an online game. I see people sit in public areas and beg for money or items for hours(yes, hours!). In many cases a person will spend more time begging for a certain amount of money than it would actually take to go out and in earn it by playing the game. If you want to be considered a complete jackass, become a cyber beggar.

1) "My real name/password/phone number/address/credit card number is...". You would think this is obvious, right? Nobody would be silly enough to give out sensitive information that would allow somebody to hack their game account, steal their identity, or even show up in person at their house. Or would they? Sadly, the answer yes. People still give out private information to people they have never met in real life, endangering not only their online personas, but their real world lives. No matter what somebody tells you, don't give out any personal information. Ever.

Don't make your fellow game players turn off their chat. Chatting is a great part of online games. Avoid these ten statements and make your online game a lot more pleasant for all involved.

visionsfortomorrow.net.