You all know who I'm talking about. This is that person in the lobby that through force of will alone, starts getting the party or party leader to do or vote things you would rather not do. They make parties feel awkward, and often cause parties to break up for odd reasons after one or two games (even solid wins).

I will now describe various types of party bullies:

The Party Bomb - asks for an invite, then proceeds to invite multiple people to the lobby
The Betrayer - asks for an invite, then leaves as soon as another party opens up
The Vanisher - asks for an invite, and then goes AFK every time you invite them
The Rogue - joins a lobby and starts voting for awful gametypes or awful playlists
The Destroyer - this person joins, others leave
The Elitist - joins and then bails on a weak party to search alone
The Thief - joins a party, doesn't like the playlist, then leaves and steals players from that party
The Whore - joins a lobby and then starts demanding certain weapons or vehicles
The Screamer - joins a formerly peaceful lobby and starts talking at the top of their lungs about everything
The Trashtalker - joins a lobby and then starts making fun of other players in the party
The Emo - joins a lobby, and rage quits after the first loss
The Officer - joins a lobby and starts telling everyone else how to play (aka "the Sarge")
The Griever - joins saying s/he has one more and makes you wait 5 minutes for no one


We all know these people, or have been these people. I, myself, am guilty of being the Officer, Emo, and Elitist. Let's try not to be these people. Also, let's not let these people break up parties. Call them out on their BS.

>> The Mudkip- Joins the party and prances around with plasma pistols, much to the distress of srsface players. Then proceeds to recruit a small army to terrorize matchmaking. hmmmmmm

Sarge wrote:

Also, let's not let these people break up parties.

I agree. We can't always stop the other people in a party from becoming one of the people Sarge listed. However we can always stop our reactions. One bad game shouldn't cause a party to collapse.

I'm sure I'm several of the types quoted, however I think no one can truly know how others perceive you unless you are told. So I'll let others pick my labels. However lately I've intentionally been this:

Sarge wrote:

The Rogue - joins a lobby and starts voting for awful gametypes or awful playlists

I know people hate Paradiso when you're a specific color, so I vote for it. I know people hate territories, so I vote for it. I know people don't like headhunter, so I vote for it. I know in the Noble Map Pack everyone wants the hog, so I vote Anchor 9.

I never bully others to vote the same way, I never complain if I don't get what I vote for, and I do say what I'm voting for so people know that the one vote for headhunter on Countdown is me. And if the voting is close and my party asks for the vote to go a certain way I will switch my vote to what the group wants. But if no one says anything, or the decision is split, I vote for the non-standard.

Why do I do it? Because variety is awesome. Because we will not get better at those games or maps if we never play them. Because sometimes we will HAVE to play them because the other team wants it. Because when trying new gametypes or playing a map you don't get to play often sometimes you find you really like something now that you're more familiar with it.

But most of all, to misquote RvB, "I like the bands you hate". Because "awful gametypes or awful playlists" is subjective.

you cant be a super happy smile friend if you tick any of these boxes

I AM THE PARTY BOMB! Tho, it is almost second nature to me. Guess I have to stop doing it....

I've been guilty of a few of these :p

The Stoner - Joins the party to play Halo and not much bothers them....

I pulled an Elitist the other day. Sry.

However, I never join people's parties even if they're open. I'll usually send an invite or message to someone in the party and wait for a reply. I hate to be the 7th person in a party sitting in a Noble Map Pack lobby.

I'm a betrayer sometimes. If I'm in a shenanigan party that isn't winning much, and I get an invite from a serious party, I'm going to leave and play with them. It's nothing personal, but some people play for fun, others play to win, and I find winning very fun.

Slightly related note, I fail at being part lead. It's not my fault the parties always open.

(inb4 Sarge says it is)

Yes, it is your fault. You're terrible at party lead.

Azn

By any chance, was this thread partly because of me, Sarge?

I suppose I am guilty of vanishing if you did send me invites after that message.

OMG, no, P3P5I. I got your message when we were full, and then I got offline about 2 games after that. This was about waaay different stuff.

I'm really bummed we didn't get you in the lobby, and I just sent you a friend request so I can get you in the next time we play.

this is starting to read like confessions

Sarge said:father forgive me for i have sinned, its been 12hrs since i was last a douche online

The silent type-Joins party and doesn't contribute much conversationally

I really don't feel like any of these options describe me, you should think of a super fun nice to other people one and maybe I'll succumb to voting.