Overread wrote:First up I'd say people playing you at 5am or you getting yourself blind drunk to play at a lower skill level - that all sounds like a really unhealthy gaming environment and I'm glad you're no longer doing it.
That kind of approach is very toxic and not at all healthy.
What you are talking about is a complex issue that many of us face on both sides. The issue of skill divide in the playerbase. It's a serious issue in many hobbies, especially as we get older because many hobby groups as you go past school/uni ages tend to end up with more and more skilled people - even if just by virtue of how many years they've been doing the hobby.
Now how do you bridge that with lower skilled people? I think throwing games now and then can be ok, esp if someone is new and just playing casual. However I think its not the best approach and it can be insulting to both sides.
It can also mean that someone of lower skill has less chance to improve because those games you throw teach them and reinforce bad tactics and practice they are doing to win those games. So you'd be teaching them bad habits that would reinforce their weaker position.
Tbh I kinda like getting crazy drunk during games.
On a more serious note, thanks for the advice and I think you make good points about reinforcing bad habits. I think you made three good points. Unfortunately I think sometimes competition can bring out the worst in people. I am still friends with all of them, especially since I no longer play games with said people though now I try to avoid competitive scenes like tournaments in general. It's just a lot of stress and I hate seeing people upset when they lose.