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Hi Ms. Netiquette,
I have a little problem in Word Search Daily. I was working on this week’s badge and no one said “thank you” when I gifted them, but when they gifted me I said thank you to them. I think it’s just common respect to say those two simple words “thank you.”
Can you say something in your column?
Thank you,
Seeking Gratitude
| Dear Seeking Gratitude, It is very polite of you to thank others when you are gifted in any game that provides gifts. However, as polite as it may seem to be thanked, you will find yourself better able to enjoy yourself if you give up this expectation. If you do get thanked, be grateful, and if you don’t, let it go. And since you are already in the habit of thanking people, I encourage you to continue doing so. For many who play these “automatic gift-giving” games regularly, the “thank you” is inherent. Most of these games automatically give the gift to a random recipient, or in some cases, you have a choice between more than one player. Since this function is built right into the game, which is nearly always a single-player game, the recipient has no way of not being gifted. If this player does not engage in chat (as many players do not), then he or she will likely never say “thank you.” Furthermore, there are a myriad of reasons why someone might not thank you. He or she may have stepped away from the computer. Perhaps the person is so wrapped up in the game that the gift goes unnoticed. Perhaps the player has a disability and cannot type and play the game at the same time. And the list goes on. Not saying “thank you” in these games should not be considered rude. However, saying “thank you” should be considered polite. The next letter addresses this issue from the other side of the coin. |
Hi Ms. Nettie,
I have been playing YAHTZEE Party quite a bit lately, and I thought I would bring up the issue of token gifts once more. Depending on how many people are in the room, the top scorer for the game gets to award a token gift to one of two random players in the room. Most people in the room understand what is going on and give everyone the benefit of the doubt if nothing is said.
However, several times a day, I see people getting their feathers ruffled over not being thanked for a token gift. Once in a blue moon, it can even get ugly.
Often, when I have settled in for a long session in YAHTZEE Party, I have to run to the bathroom or to get a refreshing beverage between games, and I often miss the token gift. I think that would be a fairly common occurrence for others in the game, not to mention those who have their chat off, altogether.
Could you please remind everyone of your position on token gifts as a whole, not only in YAHTZEE Party? Just because someone does not respond doesn’t mean they are an ingrate.
Thanks,
Don’t Demand, Understand
| Dear Don’t Demand, Understand, I think you just did a great job of explaining it yourself, and I thank you for the letter… as well as any tokens you may end up giving me in one of my favorite games! |
Dear Ms. Netiquette,
I completely agree with your assessment of the Dice City Roller situation. Pogo is a public site, and people come to play games. You have to be prepared for the fact that if you’re making “house rules” (not trying to outbid someone, which the rules SPECIFICALLY allow and encourage), not everyone is going to want to follow them.
However, you didn’t mention her alternative. Odds are, she was placing a minimum bid. She always has the alternative of placing a LARGER starting bid, making it more difficult for the opponent to outbid her.
Thanks for your calm demeanor, Ms. Nettie.
You Can Always Outbid!
| Dear You Can Always Outbid, Good point! And I thank you for the reminder. In games with auctions, you really do have to accept the fact that the auction is a component of the game, but you do have a few choices– play in the “No Auction” rooms, choose not to partake in an auction, or go ahead and bid to see what happens. It can be a bit of a transition for someone who is used to playing with easy going types to playing with those who are more aggressive, but it’s all part of the game. Any game that has a head to head competitive element is going to be different from game to game depending on the make up of the opponents. Sometimes we will end up in games with highly competitive people, and other times we won’t. The rules of the game don’t change, so we just have to learn to roll with it. |
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