Sometimes you're the problem. How not to be a boor in online games

Sounds daft, but it is true. We're not cyborgs yet, we can have a bad day, things might just go wrong, we can make a bad choice – but always remember to own it up. Sometimes, just sometimes, it might be your fault.

Again – don't get dragged into an argument, it's not worth it.

It sounds like the advice of an online motivational coach, but simple things are often the truth. You're mad at your team for falling behind, leaving you to charge alone? Maybe they needed another minute, maybe they just weren’t able to? We'd all love to be completely infallible, but, again, that's impossible for the time being.

Remember: if you feel your skills are really low, it may be better to do something else for a while, clear your mind. Take a walk, dust off your shelves. And no, don't just switch to another game – it rarely works.

If you're looking for truly competitive games, get yourself a team. It is then easier to both deal with toxicity, and achieve good results. Playing with a team of like-minded people is the best way to experience online games. And then, even if you do play with friends and at a competitive level, also try to keep it within limits. When stakes are high, tempers are prone to blow, but… it’s just a game.

Tyler “Ninja” Blevins can say what he heartily wishes, but most of us are playing for fun – and even if it’s ranked. Of course, perseverance is a desirable quality and it’s great if you can give 100%. “Never settle” is a great motto to follow, and self-betterment is, no joke, worth pursuing.

What Ninja’s tweet seems to be missing is that, in the end, we play mostly for entertainment. Playing video games is just a pass time in the end. And then, if you’re a pro, you’re not really going to call your opponents names if you lose. Smashing keyboards and blowing up should not be “part of the game.” When we launch our favorite title, we’re always doing so with hopes of having a good time, progressing with our character a bit, and hopefully winning a few games. If none of this seems to work, or your desires are more unconventional, and include insulting people, then visit a practitioner, or lay off games for a while.