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Ms. Netiquette,
I always grant extra time when a player’s time runs out in SCRABBLE. If an opponent does not extend me the same courtesy, I leave.
Recently, a player and I were extending each other time when unexpectedly the player didn’t. I replied “Really? You joined my game and now you don’t extend time?”
In my opinion when you join someone else’s game and they extend you time, you should do the same. In that case, I said no more and continued playing, and the opponent extended me time once more. As the game drew to a close and there were only a couple of tiles left, the score was tied. You guessed it. The opponent didn’t extend me time!
I called them a poor sport and left the game. Then I started feeling like I was out of line for calling them names.
What do you think?
Thank you,
Reciprocate Please
| Dear Reciprocate Please, What do I think? Well, pour yourself a strong cup of tea, and don’t forget that you asked, because I’ll tell you! I think you should not have called them a “poor sport” and that you should have played out the game even if it meant losing. Your expectation that your opponent would extend the time was unrealistic, despite the fact that you had extended the same courtesy. While I recognize a pattern of extensions had been created, your opponent was acting within the rules of the game by choosing not to extend, and guess what? In the end, you ended up being the poor sport by letting your disappointment overtake your sense of reasoning. Furthermore, leaving the game midway simply because you don’t like the way that someone plays is impolite. I don’t care who set up the game. If you’re playing against a rule-abiding player, and he or she does something you don’t like, tough toenails. You’ve made a commitment to the game and you should play through. If you don’t want to have to worry about time extensions, then I recommend that when you set up a table, you choose “Advanced Options” and under the “Use Forfeit Timer” choose 10 minutes. That way, you and your opponent will have plenty of time to take your turns and you’ll likely not run into this issue. I also recommend that you read the rules of whatever game you’re playing so that you’re prepared when someone does something you don’t like. Games are competitive by nature, and if your opponent is playing by the rules, then you just have to gulp that bitter tea and drink it down. |
Dear Ms. Netiquette,
How am I supposed to handle players who play words that are not words in the game of SCRABBLE?
I do challenge the words but the computer allows them anyway. I normally quit the game because I feel that they are not playing the game fairly. Why does Pogo allow these words?
This is America and I only know English.
Check the Dictionary
| Dear Check the Dictionary, First off, I suggest you pour yourself a strong, steaming cup of strong tea as well because I’m afraid you won’t much like my answer, either. In Pogo’s SCRABBLE, you have a lot of options. You can play the Pogo House Rules, where automatic word verification is part of the game, or you can choose the Traditional Rules, where players may lay down a word, and others may challenge that word. It sounds like your games are played with the Traditional Rules. When you challenge the word your opponent creates, it’s verified by the Tournament Word List (TWL) dictionary, and if the word appears there, then the word is accepted. If not, then it’s rejected. So, your issue is with the dictionary, not your opponent. Yet, you’re taking it out on your opponent by leaving rather than being polite about it and accepting the fact your challenge didn’t go the way you wanted. Your opponent may be familiar with the words that he or she is playing, or may just be hoping for some good luck. Either way, the words are checked and accepted. Thus, the onus is on you to accept that fact and continue to play. Leaving midway through because you don’t like the outcome is childish and makes you appear to be a poor sport. I advise you to toughen up and accept the fact that games won’t always go your way. It’s better to be a good sport who loses a lot than someone who occasionally wins but rarely finishes a game. |
Dear Ms. Nettie,
I am writing because your recent column hit home (Ms. Netiquette, 8/20/2010).
I too once had a friend on Pogo send me many unwanted chain mails, and I was getting replies from her friends as well. It began to clutter my inbox. I, like Unchain Me Please, wrote to my friend and told her while I appreciate the letters from her regarding how she is doing in her life I did not like the chain mail as her friends were now sending it to me, and it was now cluttering the inbox.
I told her that I still wanted to hear from her, and I miss her, but to just not put me on the chain letters. She responded as sweet as can be, and took me off the chain.
We are still friends, and still chat. Please let everyone know if they are your friend they will understand that some just don’t like chains. To those that send them please take a moment, and think before you send it, and by all means do not click reply to all.
Thank you for hearing me out Ms. Nettie. You are greatly appreciated.
Signed,
Chain Mail? No Thank You
| Dear Chain Mail? No Thank You, Thank you so much for writing with your experience. It’s one thing for me to dish out the advice in hopes that people will take it. It’s quite another to have someone write and let us know that etiquette works! Kudos to you for finding the right tone and feeling in the letter you sent, and kudos to your friend for having the maturity to accept it so graciously. |
Have an etiquette question for Ms. Netiquette? Email msnetiquette@pogo.com
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