"It's just a game!" is an insult

darkdill·Dec 16, 2014·8 votes·3,258 views

Call me what you will, but whenever someone tells me "chill, just a game bro!" or something like that, I want to punch that guy in the face. Some of us treat even normal rounds seriously, you know.

23 Comments

TeemoJenkinsDec 16, 20145 votes

Umm... if logic makes you mad, you might want to talk to a doctor about some medications or programs available. It is just a game. You aren't curing cancer, you aren't going to win money, 1second after that game ends you will have gained / lost nothing other than an electronic representation of how that game went. It's just a game, if that's insulting to you, you may have a problem and I recommend a good psychologist.

AnonymousZaoDec 16, 20142 votes

{quoted}

Umm... if logic makes you mad, you might want to talk to a doctor about some medications or programs available. It is just a game. You aren't curing cancer, you aren't going to win money, 1second after that game ends you will have gained / lost nothing other than an electronic representation of how that game went. It's just a game, if that's insulting to you, you may have a problem and I recommend a good psychologist.

But here's the thing, what if he is trying to make money by playing the game? Then it's no longer "just a game" and actually, in a sense, becomes his job since that's a source of revenue; possibly his only source of revenue. Worlds isn't the only Tournament for LoL. There are plenty of other tournaments, while being smaller, that still have a $500 or $250 pot for the winner. To win these he needs to practice and if he's playing with people that don't care how is he suppose to get better? Just a thought.

redniwediSDec 16, 20143 votes

Pro teams often fight one another for practice, as players of their skill level have to worry about things that regular players do not. The meta we play with could actually be detrimental to a professional's ability to play against other professionals.

AnonymousZaoDec 16, 20141 votes

{quoted}

Pro teams often fight one another for practice, as players of their skill level have to worry about things that regular players do not. The meta we play with could actually be detrimental to a professional's ability to play against other professionals.

That is certainly true and I can see the validity to that response, but for smaller pot tournaments I wonder what practice opportunity these teams have. They may not have the chance to scrim other teams of similar skill all the time and may need to play ranked/normal games where people troll all the time etc. So for them to constantly get into games with people trolling or just playing bad and not caring it could really hinder the team. Obviously that would make people upset as opposed to the casual player.

ravenswolfyDec 16, 20142 votes

{quoted}

1second after that game ends you will have gained / lost nothing other than an electronic representation of how that game went.

You actually lose your time. I'm all down for at least putting in some effort into a game in trying to win even if you're screwing around, but to play the game and waste others times intentionally.... that's a bit messed up

NJSP TrooperDec 16, 20141 votes

Yeah but it's a game that pays well if you become really good at it. Maybe he's trying to get to the big leagues or something. I know when my friends are offline i have no choice but to practice in soloqueue. So saying "its just a game" is rude because there are people here that are trying to make a living out of it.

HawkefireDec 16, 20145 votes

I don't mind people not taking Normals as serious as ranked, but when they start using that as an excuse to play very bad or to just to troll around is when I start getting annoyed.

You don't have to give 100% effort in Normals, but seriously guys, at least give it 80% or somethin.

Drunk RummateDec 16, 20145 votes

but it *is *just a game

yeah, take it seriously that's fine... but dont let it control your emotions. if you find yourself getting angry at someone because of a video game then you need to take a break.

maikokkDec 16, 20144 votes

chill, its just a game bro

causeimdabatmanDec 16, 20144 votes

Finally someone understands!

SexyTaylorSwiftDec 16, 20143 votes

I honestly feel the same way, mostly about ranked though. Like, don't play competitively if it is just a game to you lol. People that say it's just a game are the ones that are bad at it xD,

XonesDec 16, 20143 votes

Very cool story, can't wait for the ending, i'm sure it's going to be as thrilling as the beginning, keep it up, OP.

KorkeeDec 16, 20143 votes

But it is "Just a game" normal or ranked. Unless you are playing professionally it would do you well to take a step back and a deep breath if you literally want to punch someone over a video game. I'm about as vested in this game as it gets (3-6) hours a day playing and all the champs and about 250 skins. But when someone trolls me I simply click ignore and pretend they don't exist. It's not worth the stress, I used to get worked up but that's what they want from you. summoner 31

EleshakaiDec 16, 20143 votes

It IS just a game. If you're getting insulted by someone reminding you that it is just a game, then you might need to re-evaluate your priorities. It being 'just a game' doesn't mean you shouldn't try your best - you should always give everything your best... but you have to recognize that it IS just a game, and if you're insulting others over their performance or if you're taking a single loss so seriously that you think a person should uninstall or be banned over it.... you might want to take a step back and reassess... because you've forgotten that it really IS just a game.

I play games a LOT. I even have a website I do reviews for and I've recently started streaming... games are very important to me, they're my biggest hobby. But... they're still just games. They're not as important as people, even the strangers you're playing with... and it's important to recognize that.

JubbinautDec 16, 20141 votes

That may be the best expression of an appropriate mindset I've seen in a long time. Kudos.

redniwediSDec 16, 20142 votes

When I tell someone "it's just a game" I am not making a statement about how serious we should play.

I always take whatever game I play seriously, it's how I find enjoyment in competition. The problem is some people overreact in the name of being "serious". The victor of any intellectual competition, from chess to real life warfare, will always be have a cool and collected demeanor, at least while the competition is taking place. League may require a good reaction time, but in the end it's knowledge and how we use it that makes this game what it is.

So yes, I will tell people it's just a game with the understanding that what we're doing is participating in a competition that has clear guidelines for victory. I take this game seriously, and so I do not appreciate it when an overly emotional team member starts having a temper tantrum because they are "serious" and I'm not. In order to play seriously you have to act seriously, not act like a spoiled child who was told no.

XtremeyDec 16, 20142 votes

I only tell people "its just a game" if they're raging in a gamemode like poro king or urf. Those gamemodes are just meant to be for fun.

banning machine2Dec 16, 20141 votes

Whenever I hear that I directly start trolling like no question (not a joke). Reason why I am in silver. I will keep doing it and make those idiots spend the worst 20 minutes in what they call "just a game" everytime I hear that quote especially in ranked. I feed and start following the guy making sure his cs goes down to 1 per minute at max! watch him die in every fight and ofc report him after game for verbal abuse if not more like afk because every single time I do that to a moron his "chill it's just a game" ends up becoming insults recorded in chat! ofc when he starts getting mad the only answer he gets from me is chill it's just a game. let's have fun and do our best. I salute your effort that I believe is smarter than mine. If we could indeed make it a bannable offense just like any other insult that would be a good start. We could add up more to that later.

FHMarshyDec 16, 20141 votes

Ranked Normal

TeemoJenkinsDec 16, 20141 votes

I'm all for playing hard and winning. I find that when people say "It's just a game" it's typically due to someone else flaming them for a bad play. So your "pro plays" lead you to be toxic to which they responded "It's just a game". Perhaps analyzing why the statement occurred rather than saying "OMG people dis is srs biziness" will make the league experience more enjoyable.

Personally I've never seen or heard someone say "It's just a game" that wasn't a respond to someone being absolutely acidic towards them.

Shadow GilgameshDec 16, 20141 votes

Well OP it depends why they say that most of the time.

If they're saying that because they're a 0/11 jungle urgot then yeah, it's really insulting. But if they're saying that because someone is flaming them over a lost team fight, then it's well needed perspective.