I play World of Warcraft, and have been playing the game off and on for years. I recently acquired my own account, early this year around the time of my birthday. I really enjoy the game very much. There are so many places to explore, so many interesting quests, NPC’s, items, weapons, and ultimately players. The players are what this article is about. I have met so many fun people on the game, as well as play with my friends from my real life world. I also have met people that make me want to strangle them.
Now you say why would you feel that way Wolffie, well here’s some examples of what annoyances or “Virtual Rudeness”, I have encountered. So I’m on my Hunter checking my mail, you know seeing what sold in Auction House or AH as we call it on my game. I could also be questing, or talking to guild mates or other friends from the game, when out of nowhere I get a box popping on the screen, with someone I don’t know sending me a group invite.
Another time I’m on my Druid like yesterday and receiving repeated invites from people I don’t know. You have the options to accept or decline. So I decline and some people just can’t take the hint, and will send multiple invites even when I keep declining them. Now this entire time not once do they whisper me, or talk in private chat, and ask me if I would mind joining them for whatever reason they sent the invite. They sent these invites at the most inconvenient time also, like when I am in the middle of a fight. Most of the time I don’t even see who it is, because we have a way of tracking people using a social player finding option on the game. You can search for players by Zone, Guild, or one another way, so you don’t have to be near a person, to issue an invite.
I have also been in a situations in which someone has come up to me to initiate a duel. Now on WOW we have a PVP option, also known as Player(s) vs. Player(s). In that form you can take a player completely out in a one or one or group fight. In the duel option your not full PVP, and once your health falls into a certain range it will end the duel. Now I usually don’t duel because I’m trying to raise my characters as quickly as possible. You have the option to accept or decline the offer. I of course decline cause once again, the person doesn’t ask, but just initiates the duel. Then when you decline, they want to use emotes to mock you. Oh and by the way, many times the person is 10 or more levels higher then me. So what does that say about them, that they would fight someone weaker then them.
I’m sure I’m not the only person this has happened to on WOW, and since I’m not sure what systems are set on other MMO’s, I bet players has been in similar situations. These acts of sending unwanted group invites or duels is just plan old “Virtual Rudeness”. Now I know grouping is a good way to get quests done as well as meet new people, but if you don’t have the decency to ask me before you initiate these things, then I’m not going to accept. Even Blizzard (makers of the game) have placed tips on courtesy, when your character is going into game, on the loading screen. One of those pieces of advice is before initiate things like duels and group invites it’s polite to ask the player.
When it comes down to it, the way you treat other players in game, can reflect well, or badly, not only your characters reputation in game, your guild, and ultimately I think how people think you are in real life. Personally I feel if you don’t have the decency to ask me if I want to join up or duel, then your not worth my time. To me it seems if you lacked the politeness to do this, then what kind of experience will I have playing with you. Will you be a great quest partner, or one of the ones that will leave me in a bind, such as getting what you want, and when you get it leave. Will you help me with what I was doing before you sent me an invite. If you don’t then I basically wasted time that I could have spent to get my stuff done.
So people, if you want to make friends, get help on quests or work on your PVP skills, before you send out invites, take the time to ask. It’s not hard to do. If you take the time to be polite, people will remember it, and might be more inclined to accepting invites next time, if they don’t during the time you first ask. I know it would make me more likely to listen and want to help. If you don’t and I or another player(s) decline, now you know why.
>^,,^< WOLFFIE
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In the beginning, there was just television. No interactivity, no team work, no online connectivity, just television but with television came no taxes. Then Pong emerged that lead us to famous titles such as Geometry Wars (bias) to Gears of War to World of Warcraft. Now, the greedy politicians want to get their grubby hands on video games with a Video Game Tax.