I've laid off RO for a bit (delving into the world of Second Life and all that mess), and upon my return to the Eastern Front I've noticed somewhat of a shift in the attitudes and, more noticeably, the language used by players online.
I'm not one to be squeamish about off-color remarks and the like, but when I log on to a server and am immediately asaulted by "G-D this" and "F-YOU" and the like I have to wonder at the caliber of players we have on board now. 'Back in the day' I could hit any server at any time of day and be greeted by a very welcome bit of mature gameplay, without the slightest nod to crude language with the exception of a mild expletive every now and then (usually preceded by violent death in the field). Now it's almost like a number of RO servers are populated entirely by players who throw curses and insults about like they were nothing.
I've got nothing against good-natured taunting of enemy forces on occasion, but when it's a constant drone of accusations of homosexuality on both sides, and stories of relations with one's mom or sisters (or fathers, for that matter), it just gets to the point where one wants to disable Voice comms altogether and lose a vital part of RO, team interaction.
Another item that goes along with this is the current fashion for race-baiting, especially for those players who identify themselves (true or not) as being anything other than lily-white. I've done this myself- given myself a 'gangsta' screen name and 'talked the talk' on Voice, just to see what would happen. Predictably: I was immediately assailed as being a 'dumb N***er' and the like. On another occasion I chanced to log on and listen to a Jewish player be browbeaten for nothing more than being Jewish (I made a point of observing his gameplay and listening to his Voice comms in-game, and he was anything but antagonistic about it).
One of the big areas of concern to the group of players I had the good fortune to lead was a potential for RO to draw in the wannabe White Power crowd, as it is one of the few outlets for them to 'be' (even virtually) one of Germany's Finest. OTOH, there are also the Reds, who are just as virally anti- whatever and take every opportunity to German-bash just because of that nation's history.
Where is this all leading us? Will RO one day be investigated as a 'virtual training ground for extremists'? Will individual server admins be sued for knowingly hosting games in which hate speech (from all quarters) is routinely condoned? Will individual PLAYERS be hauled in for 'communication of threats', even those in a virtual setting? The way the state of the world is heading, none of these would surprise me a bit.
In closing, I urge each and every one of you RO players- especially you veterans who should know better- to WATCH WHAT YOU SAY out there, both in general commentary as well as to each other regardless of what side you are on. For a new player logging on, such language can be a harsh- and quite unnecessary- introduction (not to mention if Mom or Dad is taking a look at what Little Johnny got for Christmas). For older players such as myself, it's just a sad commentary on the passing of what used to be probably the most professional and 'gentlemanly' game in play.
I'm not one to be squeamish about off-color remarks and the like, but when I log on to a server and am immediately asaulted by "G-D this" and "F-YOU" and the like I have to wonder at the caliber of players we have on board now. 'Back in the day' I could hit any server at any time of day and be greeted by a very welcome bit of mature gameplay, without the slightest nod to crude language with the exception of a mild expletive every now and then (usually preceded by violent death in the field). Now it's almost like a number of RO servers are populated entirely by players who throw curses and insults about like they were nothing.
I've got nothing against good-natured taunting of enemy forces on occasion, but when it's a constant drone of accusations of homosexuality on both sides, and stories of relations with one's mom or sisters (or fathers, for that matter), it just gets to the point where one wants to disable Voice comms altogether and lose a vital part of RO, team interaction.
Another item that goes along with this is the current fashion for race-baiting, especially for those players who identify themselves (true or not) as being anything other than lily-white. I've done this myself- given myself a 'gangsta' screen name and 'talked the talk' on Voice, just to see what would happen. Predictably: I was immediately assailed as being a 'dumb N***er' and the like. On another occasion I chanced to log on and listen to a Jewish player be browbeaten for nothing more than being Jewish (I made a point of observing his gameplay and listening to his Voice comms in-game, and he was anything but antagonistic about it).
One of the big areas of concern to the group of players I had the good fortune to lead was a potential for RO to draw in the wannabe White Power crowd, as it is one of the few outlets for them to 'be' (even virtually) one of Germany's Finest. OTOH, there are also the Reds, who are just as virally anti- whatever and take every opportunity to German-bash just because of that nation's history.
Where is this all leading us? Will RO one day be investigated as a 'virtual training ground for extremists'? Will individual server admins be sued for knowingly hosting games in which hate speech (from all quarters) is routinely condoned? Will individual PLAYERS be hauled in for 'communication of threats', even those in a virtual setting? The way the state of the world is heading, none of these would surprise me a bit.
In closing, I urge each and every one of you RO players- especially you veterans who should know better- to WATCH WHAT YOU SAY out there, both in general commentary as well as to each other regardless of what side you are on. For a new player logging on, such language can be a harsh- and quite unnecessary- introduction (not to mention if Mom or Dad is taking a look at what Little Johnny got for Christmas). For older players such as myself, it's just a sad commentary on the passing of what used to be probably the most professional and 'gentlemanly' game in play.
![[3.SA]Koba](/data/avatars/s/8/8674.jpg?1568638684){kind=avatar}
