Spit takes and their implications

I admit, I was wrong.

It’s hard to NOT feed the trolls. I let my perspective of right and wrong cloud my vision and I turn into an eighth grader shouting, “He started it!” I’m not proud, but that stupid brat in my head gets control quick.

Here’s what happened:

I’m playing World of Warcraft, roaming around when I happen to pass a couple of other characters. One makes a rude comment about my character’s name, “Wizbang”.

“Nice name. Sounds like what I did to your mom last night!”

“Yer Mom” jokes are the height of adolescent humor, so I should just let it go. But I can’t. Some delusional voice in my head thinks that if I let this person know that I’m offended, they’ll respond with “So sorry. Have a nice day.” I know, totally delusional.

“You know, I really find that kind of innuendo offensive”
“Good.”

Okay, he doesn’t care. Surprise. I let it go and go on my way, and in about 4 minutes I run into him again. Do I just ignore him? Nope, that eighth grader in me gets hold of the keyboard and types /spit.

For those of you unfamiliar with World of Warcraft, “/spit” makes your character spit. If you have another character selected when you type this, it will appear as “Wizbang spits on John Smith” for everyone in the area to see. This is usually reserved for enemies of the opposite faction that you kill in player versus player combat. It’s VERY rude. But I figured, if this guy likes being rude, he shouldn’t mind getting some rude back, nice logic for an eighth grader.

Of course, I get a response. Not from him, but from his wife. I’m chastised for being rude and childish and I shouldn’t let other people’s rude behavior get to me and I’m going to need a thicker skin if I’m going survive in this world when I grow up. The standard, “I don’t care who started it, you’re just as wrong” line you get in school.

Yes, I was wrong, but here is what I don’t understand. Why do some people feel justified being rude and then when they are retaliated against, tell others to “lighten up” or “don’t stoop to my level.” How can you retreat to the moral high ground when you’ve made your life in the gutter? If you are going to be rude, you have to expect that kind of behavior in return. It irks me that people think if everyone behaves, they can misbehave without reprisal. You can insult that guy all you want knowing that if he hits you, he’ll be prosecuted for assault. Small comfort if he puts you in a wheelchair.

The one thing I’ve learned from this game is when you give someone anonymity and an audience, you get their uncensored personality. I see a lot of ugly out there, and sadly, I see it in myself too.