Gaming Etiquette - Is there one?

Ok, so by admitting this, I'm sure I'll be placed into some nerd-like category but it's true - I enjoy many of the Xbox 360 games. Yes, I liked video games as a kid but there was only so much creativity that can be drummed up by the endless side-to-side motion of the spaceship or frog or whatever icon thingy at the bottom of the screen on the timeless classic that is, the Atari. Then, along came the newer game consoles where the figures are 3-D with great simulations, etc. and so, I've been hooked.

While I'm not the best at the games I play regularly, which include Football, Basketball, Texas Hold 'em, Zuma, Halo 2, Uno, and many others, I certainly wish that some of the people I encounter online, would realize that what we're doing is, quite simply, playing a GAME!

Seriously, people. What is it about a GAME that makes you want to scream profanities and racist comments at the other players when you lose? I repeat, it's a GAME. Maybe this is why people are so addicted to video games. It provides a way to unleash all of the anger and frustration from not being able to play, ahem, dare I say, REAL SPORTS. Or, even better, the jealousy from not being a participant on the World Poker Tour where you can play for, get this,, REAL MONEY?? Hmmm, I seem to have a theme going here.

Theme 1. It's a game that you're playing. Seriously. You're not in the REAL military inspiring your troops to do great things in battle to save your team and protect your country. Sure, you can get upset when you lose because after all, it is competition. However, to go on a tirade because you couldn't win and talk about assraping and mexicans and a whole slew of other indescribable offenses? Maybe you should use all of that frustration and energy to practice so that you can, oh say, maybe play better?!?

Theme 2. When playing a card game of some kind, you must realize that while it's an electronic form of the game, it is, and will always be, just cards. Also, when people speak to each other, even in a trash-talking way (mind you, trash talking is different than screaming profanities), it is always polite to respond. So many people act like they can't open their friggin' mouths to even say hello when the game first starts and a bunch of people are saying hi or whatever.

Again. It's cards. When you sit around a table to play a game, you usually have some interaction. Maybe the problem is that the socially insecure and rude bastards feel so much more comfortable playing a game because they are well hidden behind a machine, that they freeze up when communication is needed for game play, such as playing as partners in Uno, or trying to coordinate an offensive in basketball or football.

Here's a thought. Maybe we should all get out in the real world and play a REAL game like say touch football or get together with a bunch of friends with some beer to play cards one evening. You know, like REAL people and not a bunch of androids infront of a computer screen.

Sadly though, the lack of manners and oh heck - plain common sense - is not the most troubling to me as I can tune out ignoramuses. The part that really troubles me is that I hear young kids cursing and saying phrases like I mentioned previously as if it's a regular aspect of communication. I know, I know. Kids are supposed to be allowed some freedom to express themselves and what not. But, when I hear a little boy or girl on a game that is talking about assraping and other indecencies, it begs me to ask the question - where are these kids playing these games that no adult in their lives can hear what they're saying?

I'm not saying that parents are responsible for everything their child does or doesn't do - but wow - I think my profanity database has improved greatly due to Xbox 360 games so I'm much better equipped for my commute back and to work when I hit massive road rage. Thanks fellow gamers!

Friend or Foe?

Yesterday I had a conversation with someone I've known for a very long time. The person knew me when I was a scrawny teen with pretty much nothing. We've been through a lot together and I always thought that we were really good friends. Well, this may just be the year of the worst friend-related realizations for me. I mean, it's like the stars and moon and other elements in the universe are lined up to just screw with me. Or screw me over. Whichever comes first.

Example:
I just found out that this friend of mine dated (and I use the term loosely) a guy I dated. Ok, weird but whatever. It's not like I'm wishing he and I were together or anything. After all I'm happily married. But, isn't there a rule about dating a friend's ex?

This guy was a true jerk and of course, I didn't find out until we were dating for like 5 months. Why? Well, turns out he had a kid he never told me about for starters. And, to protect the not-so-innocent, I'll just say that he had issues with the law. Anyway, she dated him for like 4 months and then they broke it off. So, the main point about me being ticked is that she tells me this after like 6 years AND that the four month period just happened to overlap with the time he and I were together. Howz them for fightin' words??

Ok, so I have absolutely no desire to start a fight, but seriously. Someone who is supposed to be a friend was screwing someone I was dating. What the!? And she still thinks we're friends. Well missy, I think that categorization of our relationship is a little skewed.

So, is it wrong to be ticked at her? After all, it happened several years ago although I just found out.

Would you believe?

that I haven't posted anything for, like ages? Not updating my blog was tough - I mean tough like going cold turkey and quitting smoking (not that I smoke, but I imagine it would feel this way) or quitting coffee (which by the way is just plain insane and stoopid because caffeine is my lifeline).

Why is blogging so addictive? It's not like I write for a particular person to read it. I write it to clear my mind of whatever random (and sometimes useless) thoughts that are floating around in there. Ok, I admit that I posted two notes asking for input - one about a sucky aspect of my job and the other about music. But still. Who is this imaginery person that I write for? Why do we write in journals? I'm sure this can be linked back to some ancient time when Gods walked among us and great thinkers roamed the earth and blah, blah, blah. Uhmmm, what was I saying?

Oh yeah, journals and diaries. Where'd the notion come from? Maybe some caveman was trying to sharpen his brush or leaf or something of the sort against a rock or wall or ginormous solid surface and discovered that it left a stain. Hence, writing was born! Or maybe, doodling was invented.

Anyway, some bored or positively tortured soul probably started writing everything down from the discovery point. And now I too, write almost everything down. I think I write too much and yet, not enough because sadly, I'm not a published author...yet! But I'm guessing no one will pay for my wild rantings, so in the meantime, I'll ramble free of charge here. :-)

So, school starts again soon. When you see kids walking to school with their heads, shoulders and lips dragging along, I'll be right in line behind them. Until the first night of class and I realize that I missed it. Great. Now I sound like a nerd. And unlike what many may say, it's NOT cool to be in the same company or bracket with Bill Gates, unless they're talking tax bracket and VP of some company. Dude is still a nerd with wild (or not so much!) rumours about his questionable hygiene.

So, to close this post, good night to my alter ego (no, not you Kevin!) and I hope after a good night of rest, I won't be rambling as much.

How do you respond to...

...weird sayings and responses?

Have you ever greeted someone and have them respond with a word that you just don't understand? No, it's not that they're speaking a foreign language or anything, it's just that they say the weirdest things that must have been passed down from generation to generation without any real understanding of the word.

Allow me to illustrate.

I say: "Hi". They say: "Howdy".
(ok, this one I get. It's a form of hello, like "hi".) but the rest are, well, just weird...

I say: "How are you?" They say: "Ducky".
What the hell does feeling like duck have to do with anything? When did the duck become a conversation starter?

I say: "How's it goin'? ". They say: "Peachy"
Ok, I actually questioned someone about this response. I asked if he felt fruity and fuzzy. He hasn't used that term to respond to "hello" or any variation since.

I say: "Hey, how are you?" They say: "how are you?"
Ok, who's on first? I asked you a question. Why are you asking me a question in return? Isn't the typical order, question - answer, etc.?

An experiment that I have conducted in the past week also tells me that of the 15 people I said "hello" to, only 3 actually responded in like or with some recognizable variation of "hello". Also, when someone asked how I was doing, I responded, "terrible" and the person said, "good. glad to hear it." Ok, maybe the person hates me and is happy that I was having a terrible day or (and I dare say that I think this is the real reason) the person was simply not listening to me at all!

My new experiment this week is that I have been using adjectives to respond to people asking me how I'm doing or how's it goin'. Only one person out of the 8 that I've used in my experiment caught on to what I said. I'll see if the responses get better going forward.

Anywho, hope we all have ducky and peachy hump days!