Re:Why I don't use my real photo when messaging with custome...
by Consultant32452 on Friday February 16, 2018 @10:58AM
(#16393215)
I think a plurality of kids in middle and high school go through this phase whether they play video games or not. It's a normal part of growing up. You've got lots of new hormones and frustrations in life. It's a time of testing all sorts of social boundaries. I wonder to what extent gaming increases this phenomenon from the norm, or whether it's just a different avenue through which these things are expressed.
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Re:Why I don't use my real photo when messaging with custome...
by Bartweiss on Friday February 16, 2018 @12:09PM
(#16393803)
I have a rather vivid memory from age 15 of someone tossing off a "your mom" joke to someone whose mother had just died. It was, obviously, a terrible moment.
And it was far from the only thing of that sort that happened. I remember really upsetting people on a couple of occasions because I thought about the likely, harmless consequence of what I was saying, and didn't consider whether it could cut some people much deeper.
None of us were taught to do this by gaming online. Honestly, I'm doubtful that gaming teaches cruelty any more than team sports or school cafeterias do. I get that it's depersonalizing and people say cruel things, but it feels like a boogeyman given how much actual violence gets ignored at that age.
Re:Why I don't use my real photo when messaging with custome...
by Consultant32452 on Friday February 16, 2018 @12:38PM
(#16394069)
It's worth noting that all of this behavior is normal and healthy. It's part of socialization to learn how far you can push. Some back and forth teasing will be better for you and enjoyable for everyone, too much will make you an outcast. Additionally, this is a part of establishing or figuring out your position in the social dominance hierarchy.