Boards›[ARCHIVED] Miscellaneous

Crossposted from Player Behavior: The worthlessness of 'GGWP'

Goth Skunk·3/21/2014, 10:37:10 AM·2 votes·580 views

'GG(WP)'

This acronym is typed out at the conclusion of nearly every game of League of Legends played, by at least one person. It stands for 'good game (well played),' and on its face this seems like good sportsmanship. Those who say it imply that they respect the members of their team and that of their opponents for putting up a challenging fight.

But do they really? I would make the argument that the phrase 'GG(WP)' has lost its meaning and has become merely a pandering gesture. When one types out 'GG(WP)' at the conclusion of a match, they are not saying 'Good Game (Well Played),' instead they are saying, 'I acknowledge that the match is reaching/has reached its conclusion.' I no longer care about putting forth my A game, there is no point.'

I submit with my argument the supporting evidence of the prevalence of the phrase itself, and the frequency with which it appears. For such a supposedly meaningful message, it requires shockingly little effort to convey. Six keystrokes: (Enter)+G+G+W+P+(Enter). It is this lack of effort that utterly destroys any positive content the message is intended to convey. Additionally, people will use the phrase whether the match ended in utter one-sided domination or ended in a nail-biting edge-of-your-seat contest of skills, tactics, and strategy. Despite the disparate range of game quality played, the same valueless message is used at it's conclusion.

This pandering gesture likely is the result of a long-standing tradition of an obligatory post-game handshake at the conclusion of whatever competitive match has been played. Such a practice begins as early as little league community sports at age 5 and carries on through the years in all levels of amateur play. No matter the outcome of the game, the partakers are always coached to meet the other team in a lineup, shake hands with one another, and say 'good game.' But if anyone were to truly observe this action taking place today, it is clear in the eyes of all children partaking that they're only engaging in the activity so that the adults supervising (coaching) them do not get angry. To classify this as educating the importance of sportsmanship a joke, because without sincerity, the words and the gesture are both hollow and meaningless, and to imply otherwise is to insult the intelligence of the losing team, which is concurrently an unsportsmanlike gesture. We perpetuate the behaviour because we see professional players continue it, but we only mimic the behaviour, we do not sincerely mean it. They do at the professional level because they acknowledge they are amongst -- and playing against -- the best the game has to offer, and on any given day the outcome could reverse. TSM would not trash-talk on CLG after one win, because they know at their level of skill they could easily lose the next game if they play poorly, and that would open up opportunity for CLG to trash talk right back, starting a cycle of unsportsmanlike behaviour that would trickle down into the amateur ranks wherein everybody else plays because we look up to these guys as the best of the best, and want to emulate not only their skill, but their behaviour as well.

True sportsmanship and sportsmanlike behaviour requires sincerity. I believe the phrase 'GG(WP)', because of its commonplace prevalence, has lost all of its sincerity. In terms of the sportsmanship it brings to the game, I believe it has a maximum potential positive value of zero, and a limitless negative potential. People can and have used 'GG(WP)' laced with a tone of sarcasm, mocking the message it is intended to convey. They do so as a way to 'twist the knife' further after dominating their opponents, without officially breaking any rules concerning player behaviour. If at the end of a game I am on the losing side, and my opponents can think of nothing to say other than 'GG(WP),' then I personally would rather have them say nothing at all.

It is for this very reason that I personally never say 'GG(WP)' at the end of a match. If I have nothing to say about the match, I will say nothing unless I am directly addressed post-game. However in games where I genuinely felt challenged and had to work to achieve victory, I will praise my opponent for their gameplay in post-game. I will mention specific players and specific events in the game that caught my attention, and I will praise the players involved. I will acknowledge the actions of my teammates, and I will offer advice to my opponents if I feel they could benefit from it. These kinds of actions carry far more positive weight than a six-keystroke acronym, and it is this kind of sportsmanship I think Riot ought to be encouraging. This kind of behaviour demonstrates that the players behind them genuinely care.

Someone who simply types no more than 'GG(WP)' does not care (or perhaps, does not care enough), and does not promote a more sportsmanlike environment for his peers. At best, their behaviour level is neutral, and at worst they are among the worst behaved players in the game.

Crosspost thread can be found here: http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=4379371

6 Comments

Tulare3/21/2014, 12:06:12 PM1 votes

I partly agree with what you're saying. No doubt, "ggwp" is not always spoken with sincerity. I believe that making a token effort, however, is better than making none at all. There is, I believe, positive potential. When players make that token effort, it primes them to better recognize sincere sentiment when it occurs. After a mediocre game, I'll say, "ggwp." After a good game, I'll type out the whole phrase, "Good game; well played." After a great game, I'll do as you do, offering specific praise and feedback.

Other players notice the increased enthusiasm for the gesture and I think that, in part, it is because the token gesture is ubiquitous. If it were commonplace to leave the lobby without saying a word after a game and everybody happened to stick around to say "ggwp," I think you'd agree that would be a meaningful gesture. Likewise, "ggwp" creates the baseline by which more meaningful gestures can be gauged.

Furthermore, even the token gesture reminds the player saying "ggwp" that sportsmanship means spending a moment reflecting on the game afterward. Like those grade-school children congratulating one another, perhaps it feels empty but it enforces a habit of thought that can bloom into sincerity. Good habits grow out of practice and I think that saying "ggwp" is the seed from which more sincere, thoughtful sportsmanship can grow.

MackleDoge3/21/2014, 9:30:28 PM1 votes

"Someone who simply types no more than 'GG(WP)' does not care (or perhaps, does not care enough), and does not promote a more sportsmanlike environment for his peers. At best, their behaviour level is neutral, and at worst they are among the worst behaved players in the game."

That's a pretty insulting declaration in and of itself. I always say GG because no matter what happens in the game, I do my best to have fun and make it fun for everyone else. I also will specifically mention players that did really well or had a great play. Players that I really enjoyed playing with or against because of friendly communication or great attitude. But that isn't lessened or cheapened by me typing "GG" or "GGWP" right before the Nexus explodes and I'm a bit offended that you just blatantly say I'm uncaring.

Goth Skunk3/21/2014, 9:36:05 PM1 votes

And I disagree with you on making the token effort. I believe that when one makes the token effort to be sportsmanlike, they're only doing as much as is necessary in order to avoid potential scrutiny later on.

No effort is required to type 'GGWP'. And I fully believe that its prevalence in the game has completely hollowed out its intended meaning. When someone types 'GGWP' and leaves the post game room, what I'm reading is 'I'm saying this so that Riot's tracking systems will *think *I'm a sportsmanlike player, but I don't really mean it. So long, sucker.'

Because of 'GGWP's prevalence in post game discussion, I would actually prefer a post-game room where no one says anything and just leaves over a post game room where 10 people all say 'GGWP.' To me they are equal in meaning, but it's the insincerity behind 'GGWP' that makes it worse.

A habit enforced does not carry sincerity by default. A better job must be done educating people on what it means to be a sincere sportsman. Our standards right now are far too low and too easily abused. When one is dominated in a game, and the enemy Lee Sin who went 10-2-7 and carried his team to victory, with 8 of his kills being your deaths, says to you at the end of the game 'GGWP,' he is not being sincere. He is mocking you under a guise of sportsmanship. There is no higher insult that can be levied against a conquered player, to claim that he played well when he knows for a fact that he did not. It shows no respect whatsoever.