I certainly wouldn't disagree with that; I was just point out the irony, here.Meaty said:
Poor Sports
- Thread starter Mrs. Aforcer
- Start date
I can't stand people who only care about winning, not having fun. take Macheap for example. Ok. You start the game, do all this stuff on your first turn, then every turn just attack. after a few turns, you win. NOT MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THAT! It'd be a lot more fun, challenging, and satisfying to win in a long, challenging, and most of all FAIR match.
One thing I noticed is that poor sports tend to be either towards the higher ranks or the lower ranks and that people tend to mellow out in the middle. A lot of people playing with high win-loss ratios let their egos take control of them and throw a fit if the slightest thing goes wrong; a lot of people playing with low win-loss ratios have grown ever more frustrated and will snap back at you for anything.
It's even worse when you're new to the game and the other player knows it, as I've had many cases of people applying psychological intimidation to me, like talking at 80 miles per hour. The first tournament I ever went to, I overlooked the fact that Beldum Delta doesn't get the Metal Energy benefit (among NUMEROUS other things) because the guy was rushing me, tapping his fingers the whole time I took my turns and when it was his turn, he spoke as rapidly as possible. The overload of information threw me off, and I played right into his hands. Similarly, in a later tournament a few months from then, my opponent was talking to his friend right before the match, and they were saying stuff like, "Yeah, this is going to be quick and easy." When I thanked him for the match and complimented his deck (Lunatone-Solrock), he said, "Yeah yeah," and quickly packed up and left. Essentially, he was indirectly implying that I was a waste of time to him, and his friend was helping him do it.
This is way worse than loud and brash displays of rage. It's the quiet and subtle motivation destruction they purposely place on you if these guys know you're not used to the tournament scene. You may have the upper hand, logistically speaking, but they disrupt your ability to think at your best and overall make you feel lousy. I never called for a judge because I didn't know you could do that and I thought this was typical. I later found out that this is just a minority of psychological bullies and that the judges don't like this sort of behavior one bit.
It's stopped happening to me though, as I think that people have started to recognize me after being in many tournaments for 3 years.
It's even worse when you're new to the game and the other player knows it, as I've had many cases of people applying psychological intimidation to me, like talking at 80 miles per hour. The first tournament I ever went to, I overlooked the fact that Beldum Delta doesn't get the Metal Energy benefit (among NUMEROUS other things) because the guy was rushing me, tapping his fingers the whole time I took my turns and when it was his turn, he spoke as rapidly as possible. The overload of information threw me off, and I played right into his hands. Similarly, in a later tournament a few months from then, my opponent was talking to his friend right before the match, and they were saying stuff like, "Yeah, this is going to be quick and easy." When I thanked him for the match and complimented his deck (Lunatone-Solrock), he said, "Yeah yeah," and quickly packed up and left. Essentially, he was indirectly implying that I was a waste of time to him, and his friend was helping him do it.
This is way worse than loud and brash displays of rage. It's the quiet and subtle motivation destruction they purposely place on you if these guys know you're not used to the tournament scene. You may have the upper hand, logistically speaking, but they disrupt your ability to think at your best and overall make you feel lousy. I never called for a judge because I didn't know you could do that and I thought this was typical. I later found out that this is just a minority of psychological bullies and that the judges don't like this sort of behavior one bit.
It's stopped happening to me though, as I think that people have started to recognize me after being in many tournaments for 3 years.
I beat this really angry guy very quickly and when it was over I shook his hand and said "good game!" To me he scoffed and said "good LUCK" for a total burn on me.
Oh, isn't it? Quite honestly, I think I prefer the people who are outward and direct about their rage, because at least they get chastised by other players or judges. The subtle ones, however... they just chip away at you under the radar, and there's nothing you can do about it -- or so I thought.Ophie said:
Thanks for all your advice, guys.
Mrs. Aforcer said:
don't let them get under your skin, as you know...that's their whole intention in the first place...the majority that act that way often do so out of lack of confidence in their own skill, so they resort to crude mind games to get their opponents out of their game and cause mistakes in their gameplay
there's plenty you can do, even without having to get judges...most of it, is just to stand up to it...if they make a snide remark or action, kindly return it with one that strikes at the very thing they're trying to build by doing so, their ego...not only will they not see it coming, but if it's in earshot of other more mature players and they've witnessed how the person has been treating, they will end up being laughed at and humiliated...shriveling their egos
as a judge in other games, I watched behavior like that and if it's not too bad...I would go up to the kid and tell them the same thing...if it was overboard however, I wouldn't hesitate to boot them out of the tournament and ban them from future tournaments until they fixed their attitude (something I only had to do once)
bottom line is, don't be afraid to stand up for yourself, especially if you know you have friends there...there will always be arse-holes and poor sports in competitive play...pity them and treat them as such
Whoa, the guy who played lunatone-solrock reminded me of Paul... Paul is awesome!Ophie said:
Yeah, but it's stressful. Almost every time my cousin andre(a noob, more info here: http://pokebeach.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=52535) gets tails on a coin flip he gets SO angry and sometimes curses or THROWS A CARD ON THE FLOOR. I'm just like "Well, gee, it's not my fault...and why'd you do that to your card?"Mrs. Aforcer said:
You can try to ignore that kind of thing, but it does take a lot of fun out of the game sometimes.
This happened to me once at the LA prerealese. This guy got a horrible start and I took prizes easily. Later I tried to say good game but the only answer I got was him saying something under his breath and turning away angrily and quickly.
that's pretty sad... i don't like it when people play like mchamp or something flippy, flip 4 heads on hurricane punch and then say, "ha, i knew my deck was better than yours!" or something like that.That's what I try to do -- be the better person and all. No matter how poorly or well I do, I always say something along the lines of "Good game, bro, good luck next round." I'll admit, more times than less they'll smile and return the favour, but the times they don't seem to greatly overshadow the former.
I do try to tell my friends. A lot of the time they won't go out of their ways to, like, find the guy and tell him off, but they certainly are a source of comfort.
Thanks, though, next time I may just report it. Though, won't calling out their egos have the same ego-shriveling effect? Something along the lines of, "All this fast talk and patronization is really a sad way to try to win; do you have to play these mind games because you can't win by pure skill alone?" Not sure if I'd have the courage to say such a thing, but I wonder what their reaction would be if I did.
Yeah, I get this a lot too. It's discouraging in another way, really; it makes me feel really bad for winning -- like my victory was a fluke. Medaforcer's always telling me, no, that's not the case, but I can't shake the feeling, really, that it was just a glitch, y'know? Such behaviour really is just as degrading as being told your deck sucks, though, because it basically implies that your deck shouldn't have won.
Thankfully, where I am, I don't think there are any poor sports. Although I can say right up until about...2 years ago I was a VERY poor sport.
Thank God I never played Pokemon, or I supsect I would ha' been booted out ages ago. I never took losing well, tears, tamtrums, inflicting pain on the winners (on occasion). Usually I just get mad. It got to the stage where I had to be pulled out of some things, taken to a Psychologist (no joke, it got that bad). Looking back I am so ashamed of my behaviour, but I don't know why I got mad, I think it was things I thought I COULD win, I should be able to. I do sometimes feel frustrated at losing, but its like once in a blue moon.
There probably is no excuse, but I was diagnosed with AS, perhaps that could be contributing. I better let you know, I don't scream when I lose anymore, especially at Pokemon. Part of it I think is because I've matured, the other part is subconsciously, I know that I'm not totally fabulous, new(more rusty, but new to competitive play) and having fun, even when I'm losing.
Thank God I never played Pokemon, or I supsect I would ha' been booted out ages ago. I never took losing well, tears, tamtrums, inflicting pain on the winners (on occasion). Usually I just get mad. It got to the stage where I had to be pulled out of some things, taken to a Psychologist (no joke, it got that bad). Looking back I am so ashamed of my behaviour, but I don't know why I got mad, I think it was things I thought I COULD win, I should be able to. I do sometimes feel frustrated at losing, but its like once in a blue moon.
There probably is no excuse, but I was diagnosed with AS, perhaps that could be contributing. I better let you know, I don't scream when I lose anymore, especially at Pokemon. Part of it I think is because I've matured, the other part is subconsciously, I know that I'm not totally fabulous, new(more rusty, but new to competitive play) and having fun, even when I'm losing.
AS? Asperger syndrome?Enshidia said:
Well I played a guy at a battle roads once, I do okay cause I always use stuff I throw together I dont get that competitive lol I used a Kingdra deck But I didnt use staple techs at the time like uxie or regice. I move on now, I beat this guy who is supposedly one of the people who is really good and always makes it into top cut. Game goes on I get teh upper hand and he gets all pissy, I win and move on to teh next match. This *bad word* hella gets his panties in a bunch cause he lost which I can understand, He was running Luxray I mean If I was playing Kingdra vs a mag deck and lost id be pretty heated but Id keep my cool. So I dont make it into top cut and he scolds me saying " what the hell you beat me and didnt go into top cut oh my god you shouldve let me win " and honestly when people say stuff like that I take them out side and tell them " okay lets fight foreal " ( If you wish to know why I would liek to fight them msg me and Ill tell you why ) so just be mean back if they really push it
Unfortunately, it's part of the game. There will be players that just can't react very well to losing (and sometimes winning). I generally just try ignoring it whenever it happens to me. Something like this actually happened at my league a little while ago. Just some bad attitude towards losing and not getting placed this player thought he should.
PS: Hey Medaforcer and Mrs. Aforcer. See you guys at league =]
PS: Hey Medaforcer and Mrs. Aforcer. See you guys at league =]
medaforcer and mrs. aforcer: are you related or something?
I am only honestly consider my self a poor sport is when I get stalled out on purpose. But it is not to the point where I give up a tantrum or anything, but I do sometimes express it to the "winner" who needed to win by stalling rather than skill by just playing me out.
I mean I can understand with older people which I have no problems at all but people my age or a bit older or younger is QUITE ANNOYING.
But other than that I can honestly say I am not a poor sport. Even to people who aren't "the greatest", they are still players and they deserve credit where credit is due on a win.
Other than that most of the people in my area and most places I go are pretty good. Everyone shakes hands ans wishes luck to others.
I mean I can understand with older people which I have no problems at all but people my age or a bit older or younger is QUITE ANNOYING.
But other than that I can honestly say I am not a poor sport. Even to people who aren't "the greatest", they are still players and they deserve credit where credit is due on a win.
Other than that most of the people in my area and most places I go are pretty good. Everyone shakes hands ans wishes luck to others.
AnthonyG said:
man, I know exactly what you mean, at Cities I was going against this guy (who became or already was a prof., and should have known better) and he was slow playing the whole game and near the end of the round we're tied in prizes...I'm making an attack with Mamoswine (LA) Charge Through and adding the extra dmg to Mamo, so I'm starting to call the bench poke to hit, and as I'm calling it, time gets called...so I change the target so I can knock out a poke and win the match...he calls me on changing the target, even though time got called as I was calling my target...I end up losing because of the bs rule about sudden death and it going to the next poke to get KO'd, cuz all he had to do was attack and that was game
now our head judge uses this time indicator to let people know when it's close to time getting called...I'm usually a good sport, but I really can't stand slow players...you should at least have an idea of what you're going to do at least before it's your turn, especially in the masters division
hukedonanime said:
Was it David or is this a different league? Who is this by the way?
Kingdra King said:
Boyfriend-girlfriend