Why people say gg?

[FrankJones]

When one of my game ends, what I usually wish to express to my opponent is:

"Thank you for the game, and for completing the game and making your moves within the allowed clock settings."

I have come to understand that "gg" can be interpreted in different ways, so I generally avoid using it. It's just shorthand for "good game", which doesn't exactly align with my above sentence. If I lost and my opponent played well and made some clever moves I might say, "Well played," or something to that effect.

[Exotic Dreams]

No matter how we perceive the statement "good game", it's important to realize that it's about the other players' perception. When a player says "good game", the other player has perceived that it that way. As in if the other player has said "good game", it doesn't mean it was a good game for all players involved and that's OK.

I've come to understand some players see it as a good sportsperson type statement and thus polite to say at the end of every game. While I don't agree with this, I don't mind if another player wants to perceive it this way.
I also don't understand what seems to implied as some kind of peer pressure to say "GG" to every game. I have never had anyone pressure me to say "GG" on BGA.

To add my own perception of saying good game at the end of a game in here, I see it as either an enjoyable game, a game that was well played or a game that players involved had a fair chance of winning. I do not say it at every game, because I don't think every game that I play has been a good game. I might even say "bad game" sometimes when I feel it applies. A bad game to me might be a good game to another player and that's OK.
Either way, if other players say "GG" to me, I see it as their interpretation of good game whatever that is.

[illy831]

You can let them do that without having to denigrate yourself. They won. That's already a good enough feeling. Why must you do more for them?

I don't feel it comes at my own expense in the least. As for doing something for others? What's the harm? We could all stand to do more for each other.

My point is if it happens that I accidentally messed something up, or totally had a genius plan ruined by the cruel fate of outrageously improbable dice rolls, or whatever else — hey, that happens. But I feel it would be bush league of me to try to take away from someone else's win, and no doubt I am the beneficiary of similar luck or circumstance on other occasions.

By the same token, if someone wants to vent about their bad luck I am happy to sympathize. That doesn't take away from my experience either and hopefully helps dissipates their bad feelings over the outcome. You are as welcome to say "bg" as "gg" — though I admit I do not understand the point of that — or nothing at all. To each their own.

I think I would speak for most people who do automatic gg's that there is not a smidge of ill intent — nor any demand for reciprocation.

There are people who do.

Damn, I'm sorry for whatever experiences you have had that have embittered you to this extent. You'll get all types online. Hopefully, you do see that it can also be without ill intent. I would still venture that most times you encounter a "gg" from someone, they are not trying to ruin your day, and have not earned such measure of hostility.

Why do meaningless and emotionless rituals and platitudes make you happy?

Haha, well it's not that deep! It is nice to exchange pleasantries with others. Games are meant to be a good time, and positive interactions help that along. Positive interactions do in general.

In the same way I will enjoy a cheerful exchange of "how are you"-s with a stranger on the street without reflecting that they may not, indeed, be deeply invested in how I am. You know?

[Manic Meeple]

I've started saying, "Thank you for playing =)"

[Archisian]

None of this is absolute fact.

Can you absolutely 100% know for sure that it’s all about appearances? The answer is no.

Can you absolutely 100% know for sure that saying "gg" in a blowout as the winner makes you arrogant? No.

Can you absolutely 100% know for sure that saying "gg" as the loser makes you look like an idiot prostrating in front of the winner like a weakling? No.

While I'm not an omniscient god, we are still able to make good determinations based on observations and previous experiences. For example, if we both agree that saying "gg" is some standard remark that people make without any meaning to it, we can then assess that we are dealing with an insincere (or worse, dishonest) person. What would a sincere person do then? Well, they would say more than just "gg". They would actually try to have a conversation with their opponent and build connection with them over a supposed shared experience.

Now, let's extrapolate this out and let's say the person winning the game by a large margin says "gg" first 3 turns before the game is over. The game isn't over. They haven't seen what potential plays their opponent has. What can we infer from this? What would be the reason to say "gg" before the game's end? True, while I can't absolutely know for certain what's in their mind, I can make an inference that the person winning is doing saying because they are enjoying how much they are winning, which is a sign of arrogance.

"GG" from the loser is outright recognition from the loser. You are saying "I'm the loser and you're the winner." The problem isn't in exactly saying it as the loser. The problem is where people feel it's a necessary compulsion to say "gg" as the loser. If one feels that they "must" do so because will frown at them if they don't or to make the winner feel even better about their victory, then that to me is someone willing to be subservient for basically no good reason. That is weakness to me. If a loser wants to "gg" me in a blowout... okay, I guess. But I find it kind of stupid because it's clear that it's just openly waving the white flag, when they could have just DCed and it would have had the same effect. I used to play StarCraft back in the day and this was the tradition of that community. But even then, I found it to be pretty sad when someone has to openly admit that they had lost.

So what if it’s all for appearances? People mean well and are trying to be nice. Even if you have a shadow side inside your mind and you have negative thoughts and negative feelings running around in your private mental-emotional space, you don’t necessarily act them all out for the sake of complete honesty. No. You meet these feelings and thoughts with complete awareness and you learn to process them with emotional intelligence..knowing and realizing that they actually don’t define who you are.

Because being nice doesn't necessarily make one a good person. I'm someone who values honesty, no matter how brutal. If someone doesn't like a meal I cook for them, telling me "It's alright." when it's clear that they didn't like it is just someone being a liar. But they do it because it's the "nice" and "polite" way of saying they didn't like it. It's just pointless. I know they didn't like it, so why not just say it? I see "gg" in a similar vein. If it truly was a good game, why not say how it actually was? I've heard arguments from people saying that they "don't have the time" for conversation when playing games on here. Okay, then why did you waste time messaging a spam word devoid of meaning?

I guess it's just what you value. I value honesty. Most people on here don't, I guess.

If a loser for a game doesn’t say “gg”, so what? It doesn’t automatically mean they are a terrible person. There could be many other reasons they didn’t say it.

That's not what I think, that's what others think. They think that if you don't perform the ritual with them, it makes you morally deficient. To put it simply: "I said 'gg' to you and you didn't say anything. What's your problem? What are you, a sore loser?"

People can have positive intentions and mean well when they say “gg”. Whether it’s a greeting or not makes no difference. They mean well. Your interpretation and perception of it and the personal meaning you give to it as dishonest does not make saying it “wrong” or “bad”. Even if it seems like a person said “gg” as an act of sarcasm after a blowout victory, they could still mean well. Your subjective interpretation of their decision and intent behind saying ‘gg” might be off kilter.

Long story short, treat ‘gg” as an attempt at good sportsmanship…If it does not seem to feel that way, learn to skillfully process your thoughts and emotions using introspective intelligence and emotional intelligence.

To reiterate an earlier point, if they mean well, why continue to use a word that is meaningless? Why not say more than that? If the person just left the game without saying anything, it would literally have not made any difference. But now since they said it, it demonstrates to me that it's "I have to say this because I have to.", basically because of "good sportsmanship".

If you believe that if someone saying "gg" in a blowout victory can have a positive connotation, that would that be?

[Archisian]

When one of my game ends, what I usually wish to express to my opponent is:

"Thank you for the game, and for completing the game and making your moves within the allowed clock settings."

Why don't you just say that? That adequately expresses what you actually think and feel.

[Archisian]

I don't feel it comes at my own expense in the least. As for doing something for others? What's the harm? We could all stand to do more for each other.

It depends on the situation. If you help an elderly person across the street, that's an act of kindness. That's doing something for others. A loser in a game further acknowledging their loss so a winner feels even better about it is just pathetic. You could also say "Hey, everyone! Look at me, I'm the loser! This guy here is the winner! He beat me so bad that I looked incompetent. Let's celebrate in his thrashing of me!" and it have a similar effect, minus the hyperbole.

My point is if it happens that I accidentally messed something up, or totally had a genius plan ruined by the cruel fate of outrageously improbable dice rolls, or whatever else — hey, that happens. But I feel it would be bush league of me to try to take away from someone else's win, and no doubt I am the beneficiary of similar luck or circumstance on other occasions.

Very interesting point, I'd like you to explain more. Earlier, you said that not saying "gg" to the winner was no big deal. Now here, you seem to suggest that it does some kind of harm to the winner if you don't, as it takes away from their win. Is that what you meant or am I misreading what you said here?

By the same token, if someone wants to vent about their bad luck I am happy to sympathize. That doesn't take away from my experience either and hopefully helps dissipates their bad feelings over the outcome. You are as welcome to say "bg" as "gg" — though I admit I do not understand the point of that — or nothing at all. To each their own.

So you'd have an honest discussion about how the game went, since their perception is vastly different from yours (assuming they are the loser and you are the winner)?

Damn, I'm sorry for whatever experiences you have had that have embittered you to this extent. You'll get all types online. Hopefully, you do see that it can also be without ill intent. I would still venture that most times you encounter a "gg" from someone, they are not trying to ruin your day, and have not earned such measure of hostility.

It can be with ill intent or with zero intent for anything. I believe that a winner just saying "gg" first and nothing else altogether can almost never have a positive connotation. It can either be devoid of meaning, which makes me question why say anything at all, or to say that the game was good for them without considering how it went for me, which is a sign of arrogance to me. The only except is in those rare games where a game was close and good have gone either way. And in games like that, you would say a lot more than just "gg". There are some people on these forums who believe literal art is being made when playing these board games (I don't, but just making that point). Why would they waste their time saying a nothing-word at best when describing a literal artistic experience?

Haha, well it's not that deep! It is nice to exchange pleasantries with others. Games are meant to be a good time, and positive interactions help that along. Positive interactions do in general.

In the same way I will enjoy a cheerful exchange of "how are you"-s with a stranger on the street without reflecting that they may not, indeed, be deeply invested in how I am. You know?

Games are meant to both be fun AND to accomplish something, usually by winning or progressing forward. People don't play DnD, for example, to just talk like an elf. They want combat, passing or failing a check to see how a situation changes, etc. There are stakes involved. Failing in combat and your character dying is not fun because you have to start all over again. Otherwise "walking simulators" would not be the niche genre that it is.

[FrankJones]

When one of my game ends, what I usually wish to express to my opponent is:

"Thank you for the game, and for completing the game and making your moves within the allowed clock settings."

Why don't you just say that? That adequately expresses what you actually think and feel.

Good idea. I'll get right on it.

[illy831]

A loser in a game further acknowledging their loss so a winner feels even better about it is just pathetic. You could also say "Hey, everyone! Look at me, I'm the loser! This guy here is the winner! He beat me so bad that I looked incompetent. Let's celebrate in his thrashing of me!" and it have a similar effect, minus the hyperbole.

Sheesh, lol. Agree to disagree.

This is where it's just like shaking hands after a sporting event.

A couple of my favorite post tournament game interactions have been like this. I lost a tough fight and my opponent remarked that it was a fantastic game (it really was, although not too close). I won a nail-biter with a strong finish and my opponent said wow, that was super well done. I came away with respect for both opponents and would enjoy playing them again. I'd be happy for others to feel the same way after a match with me but of course, cannot compel anyone to and wouldn't care to try. If someone doesn't enjoy how I interacted with them, that's their prerogative and they are welcome to their own preference of online experiences.

Very interesting point, I'd like you to explain more. Earlier, you said that not saying "gg" to the winner was no big deal. Now here, you seem to suggest that it does some kind of harm to the winner if you don't, as it takes away from their win. Is that what you meant or am I misreading what you said here?

Sure, it's like throw a good pass, catch a bad pass. I don't expect or demand anything from my opponent and don't spend any energy worrying about any range of possible reactions. But for myself, I believe in congratulating the winner and certainly in not taking a wizz in their cereal, so to speak. Like anyone I don't enjoy losing. It is, however, part of playing. It's neither healthy for me to wallow in it, nor to make sure my opponent receives a sour interaction after our game, no matter how bitter my disappointment. They are not responsible for managing my emotions, and I don't need to put that on them.

Now if someone wants to put it on me? To tell me that was a bad game I just enjoyed winning, or how (in disregard of my efforts) they were merely so, so unlucky to lose? Well, it is easy enough not to be bothered by it and also to say "yeah, that was really tough luck on you, sorry!" and hope they feel better. As it happens luck is often a strong factor in the game I play here (Wingspan). Who's to say what could have happened if both players had different draws all throughout...

Most people by the way don't show any inclination to have any conversation in my experience (and maybe this depends on the game). I'd be open to postgame analysis if requested but I do not presume interest in doing so. That's happened before actually, after a round of "ggs" — which obviously did not preclude that. Some people are not open to it and that's also perfectly fine, and understandable for an online game lobby.

[Ezahl Vinclair]

“Because being nice doesn't necessarily make one a good person. I'm someone who values honesty, no matter how brutal. If someone doesn't like a meal I cook for them, telling me "It's alright." when it's clear that they didn't like it is just someone being a liar. But they do it because it's the "nice" and "polite" way of saying they didn't like it. It's just pointless. I know they didn't like it, so why not just say it? I see "gg" in a similar vein. If it truly was a good game, why not say how it actually was? I've heard arguments from people saying that they "don't have the time" for conversation when playing games on here. Okay, then why did you waste time messaging a spam word devoid of meaning?

I guess it's just what you value. I value honesty. Most people on here don't, I guess.”

If you value honesty, you must realize that in the spirit of true transparency, everyone has a shadow side (consisting of ‘forbidden thoughts/feelings’)

If we were to honestly act out all of our negative thoughts and negative impulses, things would be really different.

People do not act them out ‘in the name of honesty’ not because they are terrible or bad… but because they still have some goodness inside of them.

On a deeper level, consciousness of the mental/emotional space helps a person see that their thoughts and feelings (positive/negative) do not fully define the full essence of who they are.

In the context of this conversation, while you might value an honest opinion from someone, the subjective nature of that opinion (negative/positive) means that it is not always true and it is subject to change.

People also have a public face and a private face.

The public face is who we are when everyone is watching.

The private face is who we are when no one is watching.

In many individuals, there will almost always be a discrepancy between the public face and private face.

Again, while you might value honesty, chances are you are not seeing it in full display because what you see online is just their public face…and you cannot even see their real face or emotional reactions…

Thus, any assumption or inference you make about a person is almost always a result of distortion…Because you can’t see the full picture of who they are.

That doesn’t automatically make a person terrible…just because you don’t see who they truly are…

People are complicated on so many levels.

It takes a deeper understanding of introspection, awareness, and emotional intelligence to reconcile any conflict between these two faces.