# Can we rant about the idiots on public game servers? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534 "2008-12-10T08:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/61 "2008-12-11T14:21:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > At one point, one of the other players who hadn’t done the dungeon before, triggers an escort quest before everyone in the group has qualified for it, thereby preventing half the group from being able to do the quest. He apologizes for screwing up, nobody makes a big deal about it, and those of us who did get the quest drop it, so the other half of the party doesn’t have to follow us around until we can finish it. How does a quest get triggered in WoW? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/62 "2008-12-11T14:21:31Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Timmies? Uh, when did that become a term? ☹ For the sake of people who may or may not be called Timmy IRL, can we squash this term? Ah, I don’t mind. Thanks for thinking about me, though. 🙂 > [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](#): > > That’s the weird thing though… I don’t play games to “do a good job” or “get things done.” I play to shoot fools and goof around. Some people call that “playing.” > > Whaa? I (and I think 99% of people) see internet gaming like a pickup game of football. Some people get together and are like “hey lets throw the ol’ pigskin around” and everyone is having a good ol’ time. Than you come along and freak out because we are down two touchdowns and are call us a bunch of noobs who aren’t taking it seriously. Stop ruining our pickup game! > > For me, some of the best times in online gaming have been spontaneous moments of goofyness. I grow so tired of all the people who want to take the game so seriously and those moments are growing fewer and fewer. Stop ruining our pickup game! I think a better analogy would a PU basketball game. You get a team with four guys who know how to play, and are not too worried about who gets how many points, and then you have one fool who is all about dunking the ball, or will not pass the ball even if he’s double teamed because “he can handle it.” Now one guy is having fun, but no one else is. ---
**Author:** ![Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hero_From_Sector_7G)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/63 "2008-12-11T15:38:38Z")
I guess it is a personality thing. If a dunk battle broke out in my basketball game, I’d probably join in. Who cares. One of my favorite TF2 servers the admin has a good sense of humor. He covertly installed the goomba stomp mod, but didn’t tell anyone. One evening it was discovered, and an impromptu mario game broke out. Half went soldiers, half went heavy, and heads were squished. Everyone was giggling and cheering for the occasional stomp. Good times for all. However, there were the few people who joined and had no clue what was going on. They, like the OP, got pissed, called us names, pouted and didn’t get in on the fun. I prefer my play to be loose and silly. My life is too serious and organized. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/64 "2008-12-11T18:09:09Z")
I’ve had reasonable experience with pick-up groups in WoW - very few classic idiots, and when I’ve screwed up (and since I mostly tank, screwing up usually means everyone dies) people have generally been cool about it. I think I got booted from a group once, and that run had been a train-wreck from the get-go. But the thing that bugs me about pick-up groups is when someone joins the group, and then has to bail 20 minutes into the dungeon (or worse, just disconnects or quits with no explanation given). It’s a dungeon, you KNOW it’s going to take about an hour to play through, and there are four other guys who are counting on you… Now, real life takes precedence and sometimes something comes up. But damn it’s annoying to have to spend 10 minutes re-recruiting someone, walking back out to the entrance, summoning him to the dungeon, et cetera, especially because now that your hour-long run is taking an hour and a half, some of your other people are starting to drop out. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/65 "2008-12-11T18:11:15Z")
> [@mske](#): > > How does a quest get triggered in WoW? In this case, I think it’s triggered by talking to a non-hostile character in the dungeon. There are some pre-requisites that have to be met first. If you’ve met them and you’re near somebody in your group who starts the quest, you can do the quest too. If you lack the pre-requisites or aren’t close (i.e. dead) you don’t get the quest. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/66 "2009-01-07T22:37:17Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Sounds like Kongregate. What I do there is hit the high scores panel when the chat gets too stupid. It overlays the chat panel so you don’t have to see it. 🙂 I can tune out the chat on Kongregate mostly. But I’d rather not get it at all. I actually like the in-match chat for Kongai, wherein I can talk to my opponent; but it doesn’t always come on. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/67 "2009-01-08T00:08:06Z")
That’s why you don’t play with pubbies. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/68 "2009-01-08T00:46:40Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > That’s why you don’t play with pubbies. And how do you not play with the random masses if you don’t have a group of people to play with? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/69 "2009-01-08T00:51:12Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > And how do you not play with the random masses if you don’t have a group of people to play with? Then get a group to play with. Do you play video games? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/70 "2009-01-08T01:02:52Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Then get a group to play with. > [@Just Some Guy](#): > > And how do you not play with the random masses if you don’t have a group of people to play with? See above. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/71 "2009-01-08T02:03:08Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > See above. Well, are you 25 years old, or older? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/72 "2009-01-08T02:23:00Z")
**Least Original User Name Ever** , answer the question without circular logic. I’m still waiting to know how I find a group without playing with people I haven’t played with before. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/73 "2009-01-08T03:52:22Z")
Well, if you’re 25 or older, I can recommend a group. Otherwise, use the Internets. There are plenty of groups out there that game together that are as serious (or not) as you are (or not). I don’t play with pubbies much anymore. Well, play \*with \*pubbies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/74 "2009-01-08T03:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=Just Some Guy] I’m still waiting to know how I find a group without playing with people I haven’t played with before. [/QUOTE] Play with people you do know like Guildies, decent players you’ve already met, RL friends. Pick Up Groups aren’t the only option. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/75 "2009-01-08T04:05:04Z")
Damn edit window, any way, to the OP: This is one of the reasons I enjoy Guild Wars. In it, you have the option of taking AIs in your party in lieu of real people. What I like to do is take those plus whoever I know that wants to go where I want to go. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/76 "2009-01-08T10:26:34Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Well… I’ve been thinking for a long time that I should try one of these multiplayer on-line games, but you guys convinced me in this thread that it’s not for me. Same here. I played Runescape for a while before realizing I was paying for the privilege of endless stare-and-click repetition while an endless stream of gobbledygook appeared in the chat window. Now when I get the urge to play an MMO I just turn on a game of [Progress Quest.](http://www.progressquest.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/77 "2009-01-08T10:43:22Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Then get a group to play with. > > Do you play video games? This sort of attitude is why I don’t play online games much anymore. “Oh, you’re not part of a clan/tribe/party/group already? Fuck off then, weirdo.” ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/78 "2009-01-08T11:07:39Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > Even World of Warcraft (actually, ESPECIALLY World of Warcraft) there would always be that one guy who would just aggro everything in sight and then proceed to get lost in some dark corner of the dungeon, getting us all killed. Rafferty? Are you talkin about Rafferty?! That little tiny thief that thinks he’s a fighter & manages to aggro everything incl things not in sight? Yup. I know one of those… 😃 I understand your frustration. I was just like what you described when I first started playing online MMO’s - AC2 took my virginity. I always struggled with keeping a look out for msgs on the chat screen - most of it was garbage talk anyways so i got in the habit of ignoring it real fast. Shame on me. (And I still do it on WoW - LOTRO has an alert so I tend to pay more attention on that game). Some of us pull a Jenkins because they’re too impatient and/or not payin attention. Some of us take our time to learn the game and the really good ones (imo) will even ask for directions in hopes that we wont be shot down and made fun of because that just ruins the game as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/79 "2009-01-08T14:05:52Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > This sort of attitude is why I don’t play online games much anymore. > > “Oh, you’re not part of a clan/tribe/party/group already? Fuck off then, weirdo.” While I understand your sentiment and in some cases agree with it, it’s not really applicable to what **LOUNE** was saying. He wasn’t dismissing **Just Some Guy** for not being in a group, he was suggesting an answer to the problem of not wanting to play with random people. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534/80 "2009-01-08T14:55:01Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > While I understand your sentiment and in some cases agree with it, it’s not really applicable to what **LOUNE** was saying. He wasn’t dismissing **Just Some Guy** for not being in a group, he was suggesting an answer to the problem of not wanting to play with random people. That’s not how it was coming across, IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-rant-about-the-idiots-on-public-game-servers/476534.md?page=5)