Zone Chat Psychology (Thoughts?)

Veinblood1965

Just think Facebook post and you'll understand....always a downer. Cool game though would be quite fun if I were a newby. NJ.

wishlist14

You can't control other people. It's great that you were having fun but not everyone likes hide and seek and that is something you can ask people on zone chat to group up with you then play as a group. I'm sure there are things you don't like spammed on zone chat.

It's like being on public transport and expecting everyone to want to listen to you having a loud conversation on your phone or to appreciate listening to your music. It's more about personal preferences. I personally dont like hide and seek and I find it childish. Im not trying to be rude to you this is my absolute personal feelings about that game. I loved it when i was a little kid. I dislike it in guilds so i dont join in so yes i understand that ppl on zone chat dont want to see it on chat when you can create your own group.

SidraWillowsky

SirAndy wrote: »

It feels like we had a sudden influx of hormonally imbalanced teenagers looking for a place to practice pushing their virtual boundaries and showing off their epeens.

School IS out for the summer, though that wouldn't explain the general overarching trend that you're describing. Still... it's mega hot right now, and mom's basement is cool...

mustangmorgan31

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Red_Feather

I been in games where people claimed to do it but were questionable in how they acted when found. Like it was a troll. So I would have a hard time believing the game was authentic and not a scam.

Elsonso

SirAndy wrote: »

I've been here for 6 years now and i have noticed a shift in zone chat towards the negative, rude and mostly infantile behavior in the last 6 months or so.

Well, to be fair, I've noticed this in many more places than ESO and ESO zone chat.

Saucy_Jack

For those suggesting making a group: you realize that if people group up with me, they can see exactly where my character marker is on the map, right? Kinda defeats the purpose there.

jainiadral

mustangmorgan31 wrote: »

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Wait, you can create a new chat tab? How do you do that?

I usually use different tabs in most games when I get sick of map chat, but I couldn't figure out how to do that here. Is it part of the interface or do you need an add-on?

AcadianPaladin

@Saucy_Jack I quite recommend the suggestion above about forming a group open to any in zone. The key is having the group leader not be the person hiding. This should not only work okay but avoids spamming zone chat with the chatter associated with a specific event.

I disable zone chat unless I have a specific temporary reason to turn it on. Sadly. I would love to hear 'Type X to join < fill in the blank >' or 'LF help with WB XYZ' or 'LF healer for nFG1 pledge' or 'How do I find/do/start XYZ'. Alas, any of that desired chat gets totally lost in all the inane spam about current events, controversial political drivel, general jerkiness, WTB, WTS and guild recruiting adds.

Sylvermynx

jainiadral wrote: »

mustangmorgan31 wrote: »

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Wait, you can create a new chat tab? How do you do that?

I usually use different tabs in most games when I get sick of map chat, but I couldn't figure out how to do that here. Is it part of the interface or do you need an add-on?

Not in game at the moment, but I think it's in the Options link inside the chat pane.

jainiadral

Sylvermynx wrote: »

jainiadral wrote: »

mustangmorgan31 wrote: »

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Wait, you can create a new chat tab? How do you do that?

I usually use different tabs in most games when I get sick of map chat, but I couldn't figure out how to do that here. Is it part of the interface or do you need an add-on?

Not in game at the moment, but I think it's in the Options link inside the chat pane.

Cool, thanks I'll poke around later tonight. I kinda miss crafting stuff for people.

Sheezabeast

Sometimes zone chat is just plain creepy. I was in Mournhold in Deshaan and someone in zone was offering a gold reward to anyone who could locate a specific player, even posted their @name...and it sounded so stalkerish they way they phrased it, and the name they wanted had 'girl' as part of the username, and I just hope he never found her...it was straight up harassment and stalking, and people in zone were calling the player out for it.

Your game sounds innocent enough, but with creeps like that, it puts people on edge for trolls and stuff. I hope more people have innocent fun.

zvavi

Lets assume it takes 10 minutes to find you, and that 50 people from zone chat decide to participate. It brings 500 average gold per player for 10 minutes of play. And therefore, pointless. Also i dont support gambling for the exact same reason. Did i insight your understanding of why it is pointless and why people didnt participate?

wishlist14

Veinblood1965 wrote: »

Just think Facebook post and you'll understand....always a downer. Cool game though would be quite fun if I were a newby. NJ.

I totally disagree, I bet there are games or activities you hate but can't for the life of you understand why anyone can enjoy them so this is not different. The issue is not about op not having fun or that fun is not allowed .

Minyassa

Apparently the meme I posted to explain the issue was too adult and got deleted. So anyway, it's referred to as "GIFT", referring to the Greater Internet ****wad Theory, from a Penny Arcade comic. The theory is that a normal person plus anonymity plus an audience equals a total ****wad. That's the popular prevailing idea about why there are so many people like this online. I don't really agree entirely...I don't think an actual *normal* person does this. But there are a lot of depressed, angry, frustrated people out there trying to escape from a miserable life through online play, and THOSE people are super keen for a chance to lash out and spread the pain. So it's basically self-medicating through hurting others.

EmEm_Oh

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So let me set the stage: tonight I was in Elsweyr, having just finished a really fun round of guild hide & seek (I hide somewhere, and provide ever-increasingly precise location hints over time; the first person to find me and open a trade window wins the prize.) At any rate, since it was so much fun, I figured 'hey, why not do this for everyone in zone?' So I found a good hiding spot, told everyone in zone chat the rules, and again provided better and better hints until finally someone found me (shoutout to Taiku_Cat!) and won the prize, 25k gold.

What I couldn't understand though, was the attitude of a number of people in the chat saying that it was pointless, or that people should just come to the wayshrine to get free gold, or this, that, and the other. I mean, there were definitely people in chat who were enjoying the hunt, and while I realize 25k isn't much for people who already have a ton of gold, it's a significant amount for any new players just starting to get on their feet. So why would people go out of their way to take a fun event that wasn't hurting anyone and try to trash it? Like, what's the point of that supposed to be?

Basically...what you find enjoyable, others find repulsive. This is a mmo, where impulsiveness and baiting is #1.

Donny_Vito

EmEm_Oh wrote: »

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

So let me set the stage: tonight I was in Elsweyr, having just finished a really fun round of guild hide & seek (I hide somewhere, and provide ever-increasingly precise location hints over time; the first person to find me and open a trade window wins the prize.) At any rate, since it was so much fun, I figured 'hey, why not do this for everyone in zone?' So I found a good hiding spot, told everyone in zone chat the rules, and again provided better and better hints until finally someone found me (shoutout to Taiku_Cat!) and won the prize, 25k gold.

What I couldn't understand though, was the attitude of a number of people in the chat saying that it was pointless, or that people should just come to the wayshrine to get free gold, or this, that, and the other. I mean, there were definitely people in chat who were enjoying the hunt, and while I realize 25k isn't much for people who already have a ton of gold, it's a significant amount for any new players just starting to get on their feet. So why would people go out of their way to take a fun event that wasn't hurting anyone and try to trash it? Like, what's the point of that supposed to be?

Basically...what you find enjoyable, others find repulsive. This is a mmo, where impulsiveness and baiting is #1.

Yes, this is very true.

We tend to think our way of gaming is the right way, but we forget that others have a different mentality. While you were trying to have your version of fun, they were trying to have their version of fun. Who is to say which one is right? I can assume my way is because being polite and respectful seems like that right way to game, but then again that's just an assumption.

Note: This is not meant to defend the actions of other, but merely a thought on the pyscology that you mentioned.

StabbityDoom

mustangmorgan31 wrote: »

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Same, mine is called "silence" which is way less fun

wishlist14

Saucy_Jack wrote: »

For those suggesting making a group: you realize that if people group up with me, they can see exactly where my character marker is on the map, right? Kinda defeats the purpose there.

Fair enough, good point. Tbh I would not say anything if you were playing hide and seek on zone chat. I hate being rude to people plus I do not own zone chat nor do I moderate it so it's non of my business. However, if you ask my opinion then im going to be honest like i was above. I hope you enjoy eso and know that i would not care if you do hide and seek on zone chat I may not appreciate it but i wont say anything about it. Just have fun and dont expect other players to like it and those that do well they are a bonus 😊😊😊

Inaya

The anonimity of the internet makes some people brave. I wonder if most of those people would say the same rude, obnoxious things to a group of people they were face to face with?

You have to consider the source. I kind of feel sorry for someone who can only get enjoyment out of the game by being rude and disruptive to other people.

CMDR_Un1k0rn

Inaya wrote: »

The anonimity of the internet makes some people brave. I wonder if most of those people would say the same rude, obnoxious things to a group of people they were face to face with?

You have to consider the source. I kind of feel sorry for someone who can only get enjoyment out of the game by being rude and disruptive to other people.

I agree, and I'm guilty of it myself at some points in history.

xeNNNNN

SirAndy wrote: »

I've been here for 6 years now and i have noticed a shift in zone chat towards the negative, rude and mostly infantile behavior in the last 6 months or so.
I mean, we always had some of that over the years, but it's been noticeably worse as of late.

It feels like we had a sudden influx of hormonally imbalanced teenagers looking for a place to practice pushing their virtual boundaries and showing off their epeens.

Larger community, larger amount of idiots. The negatives always tend to be more visible than the positives as well. This is why I usually dont even bother with Zone chat unless someone is asking for help.

StabbityDoom

Inaya wrote: »

The anonimity of the internet makes some people brave. I wonder if most of those people would say the same rude, obnoxious things to a group of people they were face to face with?

You have to consider the source. I kind of feel sorry for someone who can only get enjoyment out of the game by being rude and disruptive to other people.

If you live in the US, you should already know the answer is yes.

Donny_Vito

StabbityDoom wrote: »

Inaya wrote: »

The anonimity of the internet makes some people brave. I wonder if most of those people would say the same rude, obnoxious things to a group of people they were face to face with?

You have to consider the source. I kind of feel sorry for someone who can only get enjoyment out of the game by being rude and disruptive to other people.

If you live in the US, you should already know the answer is yes.

Yep! No behind-the-back talking here....we'll say it to your face!

Darkhorse1975

StabbityDoom wrote: »

The newest zones are cesspools until the bros leave - they only stay for new content.

So true, its like night and day between the starter zones and most of the other non-starter zones. Some of the less populated zones have the most quaint and enjoyable zone chats.

Nestor wrote: »

The best revenge on a troll is to ignore them.

Not always easy I admit.

Best answer!

driosketch

I've done hide and seek once or twice with a guild. (There the person hiding can set themselves to appear off line.) It's fun.

I will caution one thing, avoid hiding in and around crowded towns or quest areas that change with the quest. The people seeking you may end up in a different phase. If you want to see this effect in action the western most wayshine of Malabal Tor, north of the Greeshade gate, is just outside a quest phase. You can see people on a different progression than yourself disappear as they enter the town.

AnomanderisPurake

wishlist14 wrote: »

You can't control other people. It's great that you were having fun but not everyone likes hide and seek and that is something you can ask people on zone chat to group up with you then play as a group. I'm sure there are things you don't like spammed on zone chat.

It's like being on public transport and expecting everyone to want to listen to you having a loud conversation on your phone or to appreciate listening to your music. It's more about personal preferences. I personally dont like hide and seek and I find it childish. Im not trying to be rude to you this is my absolute personal feelings about that game. I loved it when i was a little kid. I dislike it in guilds so i dont join in so yes i understand that ppl on zone chat dont want to see it on chat when you can create your own group.

The OP is not talking about people being recalcitrant, he's talking about people being downright obnoxious and rude. Usually when you see an ad you don't like on a jumbotron or just any other billboard, you roll your eyes and ignore it, you don't throw your boot at the screen or smash it in with a rock, do you?

The OP was just trying to tell us how rude people have become in ESO and he's right, although I have yet to run in to such obnoxious people as he describes.

msalvia

Weird, it's almost like zone chat (and the general player base) got more negative and trollish when more WOW people started playing...curious.

MasterSpatula

Saw you the other night, I think.

Whenever I'm trying to get a group together to do a WB, I get a little annoyed by too much gabbing in /Zone. But you were nothing compared to the people who seemed to have audited PHIL101 or POLI101 and were eager to show how much smarter they were than everyone else. Those guys make it impossible to use Zone to get content done.

If you don't make chat useless for grouping up, then more power to you. If you spam (including guild recruitment that fill the entire chat window in one message), then I'd honestly rather you go away.

But you're probably going to have to be an outright jerk to get me to actually say something.

jainiadral

Sylvermynx wrote: »

jainiadral wrote: »

mustangmorgan31 wrote: »

The zone chat is usually so horrible, I created a new chat tab called STFU. It consists of tells and group chat only. lol

Wait, you can create a new chat tab? How do you do that?

I usually use different tabs in most games when I get sick of map chat, but I couldn't figure out how to do that here. Is it part of the interface or do you need an add-on?

Not in game at the moment, but I think it's in the Options link inside the chat pane.

...and an update...

There's a little plus next to the word "Chat" at the top of the window. Hit that and you get a new tab + the options menu pops up so you can exile annoying stuff to it.

The plus is easy to miss when you wince a lot at the window