Is trash talking a negative thing?

Current Fighting Games Fighting Game Discussion
1

In the world of sports, there are some sports where trash talking is considered legit. Football, basketball, and ESPECIALLY boxing and MMA. No way in hell, are two fighters going to be lovey-dubby before the match starts, or in that matter, after it ends.

In the world of virtual sports, well, I think we all know trash talking is a part of it. From Halo to Hello Kitty Island Adventure, people talk trash. It’s part of competition, it’s fun, and it get’s people pumped up to play again, to return the favor.

Street Fighter 4, also a great example. It’s a fighting game, you get into someone’s head and let it out! Check out Wong after the first round how he get’s into Ross’ face (@ 49 seconds):

[media=youtube]2OwKykhVSqY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dstreet%2520fighter%25204%2520trash%2520talking%26oe%3Dutf-8%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen&feature=player_embedded"[/media]

I know they are friends, and it was all in fun, but maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t and he was playing some mind games.

Though, when is too much trash talking a bad thing?

I was playing matches the other day, that when I beat someone’s ass with my Akuma, or I get my ass handed to me, there seemed to be about 75% of messages exchanged between both parties. From “GG” messages, to “Fuck you, you suck”, I have received them all. It’s all in fun, but does this site consider it legit?

I was messaging one of your veteran members (confidentiality will remain intact), and completely beat his ass. I sent him a message letting him know how much of a great time I had beating his ass, but apparently he took it quite personally. Messages went back and forth for a while, that he we realized we lived in the same city, he even told me to pass by his work, to apparently have a real life Street Fighter session. He then messages me this morning, still upset, telling me I am banned from all local tournaments, stating I am not professional.

I know trash talking is a part of this game, but since I do like these forums and respect the majority of everyone here, my questions is:

Is trash talking (whether light-hearted or not) considered unprofessional, and frowned upon by this community? This is for online or tournament play?

2

I would say that it depends on how it’s intended. Good natured-trash talking is just building hype and a competitive atmosphere. There’s a difference between that and being a dick, though.

3

Light-hearted, cheeky remarks are one thing, but in general I will always frown upon trash talking because it’s a manifestation of two character traits I’m not very fond of - arrogance and (usually) a bloated ego.

4

Depends on the community. I mean, from what I’ve seen of the AI and Denjin SoCal communities, they’ll trash talk all they want, and they’ll be cool with each other after. There’s certain amount of hype…
I invite you to watch Sanchez’s match [media=youtube]-NWGRT6HFVI"[/media] It’s the last match. ~7:46
Commentators pretty much explain it.

5

I only do it as a gag with really close friends. Ive never talked smack on live or anything or in an arcade.
Like pointed out earlier, it seems to be an arrogance and ego thing. And then if you lose, you really look like a fucking giant ass and everyone else will be laughing.
And these days you never know if someone is crazy enough to pop you in the mouth or so.

Ive had a few people talk trash on live to me, “oh you gonna get fucked up son! whats really hood!” I just stay silent or say, we’ll see.
I had one guy lose and say I sucked and ragequit sayin he wasnt ready, he was practicing.
So I gave em a player match request. I beat em 10 times in a row, then I said you ready yet? warmed up? thats about the extent of my trash talking.

6

If you know the person and are friendly with them a little competitive trash talk is fine… no one is going to care. But if you just play some random person and message them with “I had a great time beating your ass LOLOLOLOL” that’s just douchebaggery and there’s no reason for it. I actually think it’s kind of pathetic that people have the need to message others after winning and talk trash.

7

Before this thread gets closed (like all the other threads about this), I hope people understand the difference between ‘‘You fucking suck’’ and ‘’**** Coast all over **** Coast son!’’.

8

I disagree with your premise that it’s ok in the sports you listed.

It’s a dick move and the athletes should act more professional.

9

its fine man

i don’t do it at all though.

IB4C

10

I don’t usually waste my time trash talking online because it takes a while to type without a keyboard. I’'ll reply to GG messages or “You’r E.Honda was amazing!” but as far as trash talking. I’ll leave it for when I’m at the arcade or if I’m with friends.

11

Just like I figured, it’s a mixed consensus.

Well the sports I listed, it’s not that I agree with them or support it, it’s just that it happens, and it is a common thing. If you watched the Lakers play the Rockets last night, Kobe was all over people’s faces screaming, “You can’t guard me!”. It’s just a part of it, and people understand it. Now, you take tennis or golf, and high etiquette sport, this is NOT common, and is frowned upon.

But you talk about professionalism, and this is where the debate starts. Some people take this game as a profession, and others for fun. Some people stand by this unwritten rule that you some will abide by, to be a professional gaming athlete. Though at the same time, others will take those rules, and wipe their ass with those rules.

But again, this is an opinion, in both our sides.

The other reply I knew that was coming. A percentage will say it is fine, and people do it. This just confirms to my why this thread might be closed, because this is now pointless as there is no right or wrong answer.

In the eyes of some…it’s cool to do it, and in other’s view…you are a douche-bag if you do it.

Understood.

12

I personally don’t do it. But I don’t let it bother me either.

My take on that is that if you wanna say I suck, go right ahead. But I’m going to call you on it after I beat you. Nothing more hilarious than seeing someone talk smack about his opponent, and then proceed to lose to him. I would be so humiliated if that happened to me. :slight_smile:

Talking shit after winning is poor sportsmanship though. Talk during the match, when you risk looking like an ass by losing, is okay. But putting the other guy down after beating him is a dick move in my book. You already proved your point by winning.

I prefer friendly rivalries and mutual respect. Much more rewarding that way I think.

In any case, sounds like the guy you had issues with just had a big ego and got seriously butthurt about losing to someone on LIVE.

13

Some people need to talk with their eyes open. u lost, u got frustrated and send an ugly message… errmm in the name of fun? I dun think so, especially against someone you do not know.

With friends maybe ok but the best way is to laugh it off, because it’s a game after all, we dont any anyone being stab on the road because he ‘dirty’.

14

There’s a fine line between friendly trash talking and being a dick. As long as you don’t cross that line and take things too seriously then its all fun and games. Isn’t that the point of trash talking? To get your opponent a little worked up so he’s off his game a bit but don’t go too far and end up scrapping outside yknow?

15

I am not going to literally get my ass kicked over a video game just because I mouthed off, imo. I remember I was in the arcade and some guy was talking major shit at a MvC2 cab, and it got to the other guy so much that he started choking the shit-talker. it was crazy.

16

I think as long as you’re not trash talking someone during the actual round it’s all good. Within reason of course.

17

It’s a very American thing to feel the need to trash talk.

In ranked or tournament play it is very pathetic to feel the need to trash talk out of desperation to get some form of advantage over your opponent.

In friendlies/with people you know it’s fine, but I have voice comms disabled when playing ranked due to the sheer quantity of bad mannered Americans.

18

I personally don’t like to trash talk at all. I think it all has to do with the American mindset.

In Japan and other locations around the world, people congratulate you for beasting them.Or if you’re beasting then you congratulate the other player for playing. But here the ego is so much bigger so everyone starts off with a disposition of a hurt baby fawn with rabies. I think it’s tacky, unless,like people have said, it’s with close friends and both have a mutual understanding about it.

but to be honest, a lot of the best players I’ve played against are pretty mature about it and just enjoy the fight more than beating the opponent.

19

Nothing wrong with talking trash.

20

Haha if you really think trash talking is a cultural phenomenon limited to Americans, you need to get your nationalistic blinders off and see the world how it really is.

Personally I think trash talking is pretty lame, at least when it’s done in the way JWong does it: the in-your-face, “come get some” attitude that imitates boxers and other professional fighters. The thing is, that it doesn’t translate to a video game, as nothing about JWong is physically intimidating (in fact it’s quite the opposite) so all that “rah rah rah” shit makes him look ridiculous, not fierce. He’d be better off with sarcastic remarks about mistakes made by his opponent or pointing out how they couldn’t decipher his mindgames.

At any rate, it’s clear that he and Ross are friends, I’m sure in casuals they spout off at each other, just like I would with my friends. But if I were at an arcade or tourney with strangers, would I talk trash? Definitely not, because it’s not really all that sporting. Especialy in a tourney situation I try to shake hands after every fight, which I think is way more important than ego boosting through yelling shit at each other.