So since my first journal actually got some responses, I'll post more so I can build a soapbox, stand on it, and cry about the virtues of a weak machine gun and bunnyhopping :)

When I stopped playing Q3 back after Quakecon 2002, the NA scene was a bit abrasive, but not too terrible. Coming from a QW background where I played West almost exclusively, I started playing East as there just wasn't much West activity in Q3, so it was definitely a different type of community. However, coming back in 2005 casually, and being regularly active from mid-2006 through now, it's even further removed from the sort of friendly, intelligent, enjoyable community that still existed when I left. Sure, I had people I couldn't stand, and there are still people I won't talk to. But seriously, what the fuck happened? All I see now are the following things:

Lose a game? The other person HAD to be using a bot, wallhacks, steroids, and probably voodoo. I'm the best player in the world, and I could beat the genetically engineered offspring of cooller and czm.

Pickup CTF game not going well? Remove someone you don't like from the team, and let it disintegrate. Alternatively, after there are already enough people for the pickup, get your friends to come so that you can pick them over the people who were waiting because fuck them, they're newbs.

Frustrated with someone's rail on the other team? Eh, I'll just team s. Again with the roids.

Someone goes on a hot streak and hits a few nasty shots? Clearly a cheater. And gay. Time to post the demo on ESR!

Someone's not as good as you are? Let them know about it by calling them names and berating them, regardless of their actual abilities. Oh and then claim you weren't trying and you'd beat them even worse after the fact. Noob.

Someone does something you don't agree with? Don't listen to why they did it, tell them what to do and if they ask why, they must be an idiot and should NEVER question your infinite wisdom. Best player, etc.

Someone asks for some tips concerning one of your strengths? Fuck them, they suck and will never be better. Can't give away the secrets of my HGH treatments!

I just don't understand why these are the responses that are not just common, but prevalent. I've gotten some of them, seen the rest, and the antics in pickup games are more out of control every time I partake (or attempt to partake) in one. I haven't had the patience to sit through the 20-30 minute process of teams being picked which is then followed by a 45 minute game that includes 15 minutes of actual play time because more time is spent in timeout berating someone than actually playing, and then they either get removed, disconnect, or go team s.

Oddly enough, the oft-maligned Walter is one of the players to go out of his way and respond to me in a level-headed, intelligent way. I recognized that his rail is insane and mine is absolute shit, and asked him some questions, and didn't just answer them, but talked about why. Others responses, even from friends, have been much more...egotistical.

And when did variations on a theme of newbie become the only way to insult someone? At least be a LITTLE creative. And who started it? RA3 people? Insta people? Trickjumpers?