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Just curious about what other gamers think about your opponent wearing an earbud while they're playing. They could be listening to music, to a sports broadcast or NPR for all we know - but does this bother you? Does it take away from your experience playing that person, even if they seem to be paying full attention? What if they seem to be distracted for a moment or two throughout the game?

if they can hear me I'm fine

As long as they listen through out the game, and I can't hear what they are listening to I don't mind.

I can understand the need as in some situations there is a lot of outside distractions, so cutting them down can allow someone to focus on the game more.

If they don't frequently have to ask "what did you say, I wasn't paying attention," sure. If they are constantly distracted, it's time to call it a game and tell them to play when they can actually pay attention to the game. Exceptions are made for distracted opponents who are going through a hard time with friends, family, significant others, jobs, etc and are using the game to distract themselves, but occasionally get called away to deal with personal matters and forget rules-those are completely understandable. If you're listening to Justin Bieber and ask me to repeat myself on what I said I'm gonna do, I'm libel to use my heavy, metal tape measurer as a blast template. It may only be a krak missile, but I don't think even terminator armor will hold up to it.

Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

I generally agree with this idea. The game of 40k is such an involved effort even on your opponent's turn that it really isn't fair to have to be paying attention to what is going on for both you and your opponent. This is also where sportsmanship scores come in as well.

If I am talking to someone I expect to have their full attention anything else is just rude

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

This.

Daston wrote:If I am talking to someone I expect to have their full attention anything else is just rude

Also this.

Much the same could be said about an opponent constantly fiddling with their phone. Overly distracted players kill the human interaction component of wargaming and at that point I may as well be playing against myself.

Seriously, your call. Does it bug you? I think you have the right to demand your opponent's full attention. Or do you enjoy having a distracted opponent who you can decimate? Nothing wrong with that either.

This is something we're gonna see more and more of since devices that provide instant entertainment are easier to get and give more bang for the buck. Sure, it is a blow to the ego when your opponent thinks that a game with you isn't enough to entertain him all by itself, but you know, if you're over that, then go ahead and just play, why not?

Personally, I could see playing my ORKS being even more awesome against the backdrop of my favorite hardcore music. So earbuds would let me do that. Especially if my opponent wasn't into my kind of music, I guess we could each rock out to our own faves (Queen for an Eldar Player, for example, Death Metal for ORKS).

Solorg wrote:Queen for an Eldar Player, for example, Death Metal for ORKS.

Eldar listen to Queen? I am amazed! Respect to Queen!
And of course respect to ALL metal! (and Orcs of course)

If they are playing me, I expect to have their attention.

If they are distracted by fiddling with their phones or whatever, I may as well just be playing doom (I don't play RTS games and you couldn't PAY me to play 3rd player).

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

Yes me too. To be honest, it's the kind of thing I can't ever imagine my regular opponents doing.

I've played against people who have conversations with themselves when they are playing, but that's a different matter entirely

I usually talk to the minis.
What is worst is that they talk back!

Impudent pipsqueaks, enough backchat, get in there and fight you useless ill-disciplined little

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

This.

Never experienced playing someone with an earbud in, believe it or not. However, people on their phones really piss me off.

It would not bother me if they asked if I minded if they listend to "There" Music. buds or not.

No Texting. Period.

Would be okay if you had their number

LOLWUT U FKN PLYN 40K OR RU BIN PWND BI UR GF?

Apologies for any txting errors not my forte.

I'm mostly deaf in my right ear, and sometimes wear an aid to boost my hearing.

Some people have been known to rip into me for not paying attention to them by having an 'earbud' in at all times..

Just saying, don't assume ..

That said, if you can rock out to the beat coming from my 'hearing aid' then i probably do have an earbud in

I don't particularly mind, as long as they are paying attention to what I'm saying and what's going onto the board I don't particularly care. I'd rather them listen to their music via headphone than force me to listen to it.

If they can hear me, and are paying attention, then it's ok. If I have to repeat myself, I am likely to get upset and tell them to go do something that requires less attention. If they are messing around on their phones, then I will excuse it if it's not all the time or if they give me a good reason. If they keep messing around on their phones throughout the game, then I will either ask them to put it away, tell them to GTFO, or start fudging rolls when they aren't looking.

angelshade00 wrote:

Solorg wrote:Queen for an Eldar Player, for example, Death Metal for ORKS.

Eldar listen to Queen? I am amazed! Respect to Queen!
And of course respect to ALL metal! (and Orcs of course)

Why do Eldar players always get the steroetypes?

I would be annoyed at the person, unless of course it was a hearing aid.
As for texting, if it's important and they just take a minute and it's only once in the game, ok, but otherwise.

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:Guess I am old fashioned. but it seems highly disrespectful.

Definately this... unless theres been some pre-game disscussion with a damn good excuse. (I'm talking important family stuff, not 'the games on the radio'. ) I may be a non-competitive sort but that doesn't mean I like to play someone who only has half their attention on the game.

A game without talking to the opponent seems pretty damn awkward to me. Throw me in the finding this rude camp, glad i have yet to experience this.

I like background music in any situation. And not the music they play at the local GW (Unless they start playing Disturbed again), and usually wear one earphone in just because I can.

I don't let it 'overlap' with the game, but its at an enjoyable level. If someone says "can you take that out" I will, seems fair.

puma713 wrote:Just curious about what other gamers think about your opponent wearing an earbud while they're playing. They could be listening to music, to a sports broadcast or NPR for all we know - but does this bother you? Does it take away from your experience playing that person, even if they seem to be paying full attention? What if they seem to be distracted for a moment or two throughout the game?

Excuse me, but the POTUS requires my constant vigilance as I play
this game of tiny toy soldiers.

This never happens to me, luckily enough. Then again, my FLGS is amazing.

doesnt bother me... what does is when people gather around and watch and constantly talk/make comments. Then I get distracted and as a newer player, lose focus and either start making mistakes or screwing up in general.

People having a chat about their paintjob on their army with a passerby, after taking a 1/2 hour bathroom stop for the first 1/4 of a 2 hour times tournament match (in the last round)...

THAT gets my goat, especially since i could have won or at least contested the remaining objectives with about 2 more minutes of play.

The guy was a great guy, but not very focussed that day, i guess..

Ascalam wrote:People having a chat about their paintjob on their army with a passerby, after taking a 1/2 hour bathroom stop for the first 1/4 of a 2 hour times tournament match (in the last round)...

THAT gets my goat, especially since i could have won or at least contested the remaining objectives with about 2 more minutes of play.

The guy was a great guy, but not very focussed that day, i guess..

I'm sorry, but this is why I like turn timers. The scenario you present
sounds like deliberate stalling with a nice guy smile.