Lately I’ve been playing games a lot more with my comrades on the PSN, who, most of which love to talk trash, especially while I’m present. I do admit that I partake in the joyous festivities, and begin calling people “douches” or “fags” while enjoying a match or two of my favorite games (BLAZBLUE!), but recently I’ve noticed the amount of tension and frustration a constant barrage of insults and name-calling can cause.

During a game that requires your full attention, such as Blazblue or Street Fighter, talking shit could distract you or throw you off and possibly cost you a win. On the other hand some trash talk can be so infuriating it may have an adverse effect, and cause you to explode into a wrecking-ball of fury bound on destroying your opponent; although the “wrecking-ball of fury” part is less than likely, frustration remains constant in both scenarios.

Trash talk and games go hand in hand; in fact, trash talk is in association with nearly anything competitive, but is it welcome? I think it is a very useful tactic in games if used correctly, but sometimes people can, and usually do, get carried away. This normally ruins a great night of gaming for those not as tolerant. I on the one hand have become very hardened through the amount of insults and fun poked at me. I won’t say I haven’t been affected negatively by smack, but a continuous array of personal attacks does get old after a while.

The purpose of this blog isn’t to try and persuade some of us who have a strange illness known as, diarrhea of the mouth, but to merely state my view on the topic. Maybe some of you think that I’m “being a whiney bitch and need to man up.” Well to those of you that think that here’s a big-ass “Go fuck yourself motherfucker.” I hope that doesn’t bode well with you, because you suck ass… My apologies about the “wrecking-ball of fury” showing it’s ugly little head in the previous paragraph, I just needed to vent.

One of the major things that annoys me about trash talk are the people that “dish it” and can’t take any negative criticism themselves. I mean, come on… You can say something about someone’s momma, but you get pissed off when that same person reveals that you secretly love little boys? Honestly, if you can’t take shit, then don’t open your big mouth. Though that’s not the same for someone who fabricates an insult about another person and he/she responds by getting personal.

Personal attacks should be saved for the internet-tough guys that tell you how much you suck after telling them “great game,” not friends. If you want to pick a fight, by all means go for personal insults. Maybe tell your friend how much his lazy-eye disturbs you or how much of a loser he is for still living with his parents. I’d have to be really good friends with a douche like that if he ever uttered something to that degree. Yet, insults like these really aren’t that bad if you’re talking to a person privately, which brings me to my last point.

Trash talk can be an annoyance and sometimes uncalled for, but talking smack in front of friends to make you look like some kind of “big shot” is probably the most childish thing you could do in a competitive game. This is usually demonstrated by talking to your peers as if the person you’re insulting isn’t present; not to be confused with someone making fun of you directly. Trust me guys this makes your e-peen grow a few inches…

Well to conclude this tl;dr blog I’d like to leave you all with a note. Don’t be a dick to your online friends. Remember they’re your friends for a reason, and while smack/trash/shit talk might make a game between good friends more enjoyable, restrain yourself from getting carried away and getting personal especially in front of a group of friends. Trash talk should be a fun and welcome aspect of anyone’s gaming experience not a humiliating, irritating annoyance.