Hardcore "are more tolerant" of Xbox Live abuse than casuals, says former Xbox Live enforcer

I totally disagree with that, as a hardcore gamer I totally detest cheaters or people who who spit there dummy out when they cant win (unless their death in the game is funny then i cant help but laugh); but to brand hardcore gamers as not having any ideals about the perfect gaming traits is wide of the mark. I think you need to shift that statement onto the trolls,campers and cheats, not true hardcore gamers, cause we want to play the games and yes to the hilt but if someone's cheating I believe we are the first to be up in arms about it because if you cant play the game properly or fairly don't play at all!

I don't have a problem with people trash talking. I think if your playing CoD or Halo it's part of the banter and goading of other players. You wind someone up enough and they won't perform to the best of their ability and/or rage quit. Football players do it, sprinters used to do it and boxers do it. All forms of sport have psychological games going on so why should gaming be any different.

There are limits to what I'll accept listening to before I complain, like the "N" word, I'm not black and I still don't like the word, and the excessive use of swear words but it has to be really bad before I'll complain about that.

No idea, tend to play in parties with friends - online gaming is boring as hell on your own because the other people have been either without mic or 12/12-in-the-head.

The whole feedback system is flawed anyway - I have 13% trashtalk even though I only speak to friends and 44% quitting early which I've only ever done due to connection failure - and unsporting conduct fills the rest probably due to me winning - though there was that time I teabagged/knife combo on CoD MW2 - but they were doing it too, it was very much a thing.

Well if I find someone being a complete ******* on Xbox Live, then I'll probably file a report and an avoid. I don't read random messages either, those go right into the delete pile.

Most of the time when I play multiplayer if the game has the option then I'll mute everyone anyway.

As Bezza pointed out the feedback system is flawed. I think I have about 11% trashtalk? Where from I wouldn't know, I never use a mic unless I'm in a party with people I know, even then I'm a bit quiet and well behaved. Plus until Minecraft came out I hadn't used a mic for nearly over a year.

I can understand the 22% on quit early as if I'm not having fun, it's a waste of my time and I'll quit.

I just ignore it all, i don't even have my mic on!

If someone calls me something or swears at me, i just kill them again.

i only use my mic with friends these days. im not interested in abusing anyone and getting screamed at by some quickscoping 12 year old. i play a lot of mw3 and always 'start a party' so friends can drop in and out and i never have to listen to nonsense.

This world is full of 'Do Gooders' if you can't handle banter or trash talk, just give up. Life is way harder than that. I'm constantly being called a "British Fag" it doesn't bother me, after a while it gets amusing.

I think it's possibly a case of 'Group Think' where members of a perceived group will accept behaviour by other members that they wouldn't necessarily put up with at any other time because they don't want to stand out as different. Think racism in football to offer a recent high profile example.

It's not until you get a sudden increase in outsiders to the group that this behaviour is pointed out, and many people then feel safer to say "now you mention it I've never liked this," as they will no longer be individuals but instead part of the new subgroup.

Unfortunately that's the way the human brain works and it won't change any time soon. The sheer number of otherwise rational people on this forum saying they don't mind or to grow a thicker skin would sort of prove his point.

(I really need to stop watching the Psychology units on late night Open University and get some sleep)

if you can't handle banter or trash talk, just give up.

It depends on your perspective. One person's harmless banter can be deeply offensive to others. I know I've said some awful stuff in jest and thought "god, I hope no one overheard that". Does that mean people who are easily offended shouldn't be allowed to play online? I don't think so.

EDIT: Cunning said it better than me.

I do get your point, msb. Maybe it's my mind set, I either laugh at or ignore what someone, somewhere, is saying.

The headline kind of speaks for itself, afterall, these "Hardcore" gamers have been on live a heck of a lot longer than the newcomers, but newbies usually (like nearly everybody) like to push their luck and see how much they can get away with, the veteran gamers have already been through all that, that goes for me too.

Automute for the win. I play in an open plan lounge at my desk. If my wife is watching high class TV like Big Fat Gypsy Weddings USA, she doesn't really want to hear me talking smack online in the background. However, I still treat her to the odd profanity here and there when things are competitive or the poxy host has rage quit. Not directed at her for the record!

Automute for the win. I play in an open plan lounge at my desk. If my wife is watching high class TV like Big Fat Gypsy Weddings USA, she doesn't really want to hear me talking smack online in the background. However, I still treat her to the odd profanity here and there when things are competitive or the poxy host has rage quit. Not directed at her for the record!

If she's watching Big Fat Gypsy Weddings then she needs some profanity to bring her back to real life!

Haha, she's a wedding planner and watches anything remotely bridal related. Hitched or Ditched, Don't Tell the Bride, Four Weddings, Say Yes to the Dress... I have a working solution, and it involves a pair of Turtle Beach headphones.

I should probably point out that it's a very rare occasion I actually report someone, I'll only do it if they're being very very naughty, usually it's just an avoid with your average crap music, stupid ranting if the game doesn't have a mute option.

Also children are an instant mute and I've just realised why people call me a grumpy "old" man.

I've heard it mostly before anyway, I doubt anyone on the internet could come up with something that's "better" than anything I've been called in my own home.

High class TV like Big Fat Gypsy Weddings USA.

Here I was thinking the original was bad enough.

the real problem i find is immiture American children, calling everyone else fags, swearing at people, yelling at there paretns to bring them a drink while the mic is on, reporting people for "cheating" when they lose, being patriotic dicks.... it all really pisses me off, however i came up with (what may be a counter productive) solution, when you kick there arses, in the post game chat say "you lost, just like in Vietnam" i once sent one of the crying to there mother after i Layethed The Smackdown on his Candy Arse on Halo 3

Like many other comments I only really talk to friends, many of which I have collared through this very forum - and for that I am most grateful. Most people tend not to talk anyway on the rare occasion I'm alone, though I suppose it very much depends on the game.

meh. Some people are worse than others. Some people talk a lot of trash and say things they shouldn't. If words hurt you then mute all, otherwise tell then to get a life or leave you alone. It's really not that big of a deal. That person that is calling you names ultimately has issues or a bad life. At some point they'll be out in real life and get punched in the face. I usually just avoid them after the match. However cheaters and glitchers get reported and avoided.

Not sure about trash talking being against the rules. The first time I ever came across the term was during the marketing for the original Xbox. They made a huge deal about how you could 'trash talk your opponents' and had ads with people slagging each other off.

It's not too hard to deal with these people. Just remain incredibly calm and patronise them as heavily as possible. Be polite and never swear:
"Wow, you're pretty angry. Are you sure you're OK? Did your dad not hug you enough when you were little? You just need a big hug. I'll give you a hug. Come over here."
"You sound young. Are you into Pokemon? Wanna trade? I got a spare Bulbasaur. Do you want my Bulbasaur? How about a Jigglypuff? Hey, kid!"(repeat every time they open their mouth)
You can usually get the other players on your side and laughing. That usually shuts the fools up, or even better, makes them more angry!

Or you can just agree with them and completely disarm them, they have nowhere to go then:
"Yes, you are a much better player than me. Well played. I'm really not so good at this game. I know, I know, I should practice more. Congratulations. Good game."

Here I was thinking the original was bad enough.

You know it

Or you can just agree with them and completely disarm them, they have nowhere to go then:
"Yes, you are a much better player than me. Well played. I'm really not so good at this game. Congratulations. Good game."

Good call, I've used a similar line before. My retort for if I gained the upper hand in a match overall is, "You just got beaten.. By a dad."

I think my gamertag works against me sometimes though. Can imagine kids enraged at me being in their match going, "Fahkin' 'ell bruv, some dad is like playin' in-game wiv us. F#%k 'im up!" I always know when I've royally pissed someone off. Instant friend requests and invites to play a (re)match after they've had their bums whooped.
Can't be fussed with all the banter nowadays though, mike lead remains unplugged.

Haha, she's a wedding planner and watches anything remotely bridal related. Hitched or Ditched, Don't Tell the Bride, Four Weddings, Say Yes to the Dress... I have a working solution, and it involves a pair of Turtle Beach headphones.

good old Turtle Beach where would we be without em

I very rarely use my mic when in game on my own. The most it is used for is party chat with my mates when playing online but that's never an in game lobby chat so any insults/trash talk is just friendly competition and all things said are taken with a grain of salt.

I find the general state of the Xbox community depends on the amount of Americans playing. There's a point when patriotism turns into just being a total **** to anyone who isn't of your nationality. Just me though, I'm sure there's a French guy somewhere saying the same of us English.

There's a culture on X-Box Live of verbal abuse. I don't take part in it but I don't think I've ever reported it, so in my own way I contribute to it, but I still think it's a problem.

In the end, X-Box live is a public space, even if it's a virtual one. you can't go into a swimming pool or a restaurant and start screaming and swearing at random people. You should be thrown out of X-Box Live like you would any other public space if this is how you behave. There is a basic standard of behaviour in general society, why should X-Box Live be different?