Blocking strong opponents... Fair?

[AndyChance]

Hi all, I've noticed in Connect 6 that some of the top ranked players block strong opponents, particularly it seems after they have lost to them! Perhaps some see this as a legitimate strategy? Personally I'd prefer to see the ranking determined by a player's ability rather than by players manipulating their match ups.

I've been blocked for no good reason a couple of times now, and other ranked players I've chatted with have confirmed the same players have blocked them too. In the interests of fair play, community and keeping things nice I'd like to suggest that those practicing unfair blocking remove any blocks that aren't legitimate.

If they don't I'm not sure how this can be resolved? Anyone have any ideas? Perhaps flagging someone as a vexatious blocker might work? Too many accumulated complaints about a player unreasonably blocking others could result in an ELO penalty? Or perhaps an end of season finals tournament to determine the strongest player? Chat could be switched off in the finals matches so that those with legitimate blocks in place needn't be affected by the more obnoxious amongst us?

Players using blocking to their advantage must surely realise their ranking means very little if it isn't achieved fairly? Instead of being admired and respected amongst their peers, these players are seen as sneaky and fearful of losing. Those that value their ranking are also faced with a choice: Continue to play at a disadvantage OR Employ the same blocking strategy OR Disregard the rankings altogether. I guess I'll go with the latter, but not before calling out those that care more about how things LOOK than how things ARE.

Thanks for reading!

Andy

[Ze Monstah]

As you probably already know, Red Thumbs (Blockings) are subjective... They can be Public (affecting Reputation of the one blocked, with a reason when blocking - and you need to give 5 green thumbs for each such red thumb), or Personal (unlimited, not affecting the reputation).

If a player's reason for blocking is DEFEAT, even if it might look juvenile... That decision needs respect. You are not to decide that is legitimate or not, because maybe for him/her, it is; maybe he/she is superstitious, and thinks he/she will always lose to the same player to which (s)he lost once, or who knows...
I understand that it might be hard in Arena, but blocking many players might also reduce their (by them i mean people who do what you complain about) chance or speed of getting players to play with (I have no idea how many players are in Connect 6 or whatever).

Still... Any reason to block needs respect IMO. I have been blocked for... anything: profile pic, not replying to "hi", replying with "no" to "good luck", winning a game, etc. Nothing you can do. I usually return the favor, and red thumb a lot, myself.

I disagree to punishing people who red thumb. And also, calling out players who have done nothing against BGA rules, publicly, based on a personal opinion of yours... people say that is disallowed.
Again, red thumbing is also a disadvantage towards the ones doing the red thumbing, if the number of RTs is big.
So if they red thumb too many people, they won't find people to play with so easily.

[Jest Phulin]

Players using blocking to their advantage must surely realise their ranking means very little if it isn't achieved fairly?

There are people who feel like BGA itself is a game, and to win they need a high ranking in a game. In any system with rules, there are people who will try to find loopholes.

Until an employer says, "Gee, I'd hire you, but you aren't ranked in the top 10% in Takenoko," I personally am going to put fairly low value on ranking, no matter how it is achieved. There are others that will place a higher value on it, and it will be achieved fairly since the same rules are applied to all participants.

[MoiMagnus]

Outside of Arena:

While I believe blocking strong opponents is an extreme case of being a sore loser, I don't think there should be any limit on personal red thumb.
The goal of red thumbs is to make the platform safer and more pleasant for everyone, and you should not judge when someone says "I don't have fun when I play with them, so I don't want to play with them any more". Additionally, this systems reduces the number of "cancel at launch" (because if this person don't want to play with you, they can just reject any game with you, which will be even more annoying for you as you would lose a lot of time).

Inside of Arena:

I believe red thumbs should be ignored, and you should be matched to whoever the Arena algorithm think is the fairest, disregarding whether of not you end up playing against the person you hate the most. This is a competitive mode, as long as your opponent stay within the rules (and penalties need to be harsh if they don't), you should have not right to pick and choose who to play against.
[I also believe Arena should be fully anonymous, and without any game chat or communication method (unless the game really needs it to function), but that's another debate.]

[FT3]

As you probably already know, Red Thumbs (Blockings) are subjective... They can be Public (affecting Reputation of the one blocked, with a reason when blocking - and you need to give 5 green thumbs for each such red thumb), or Personal (unlimited, not affecting the reputation).

If a player's reason for blocking is DEFEAT, even if it might look juvenile... That decision needs respect. You are not to decide that is legitimate or not, because maybe for him/her, it is; maybe he/she is superstitious, and thinks he/she will always lose to the same player to which (s)he lost once, or who knows...
I understand that it might be hard in Arena, but blocking many players might also reduce their (by them i mean people who do what you complain about) chance or speed of getting players to play with (I have no idea how many players are in Connect 6 or whatever).

Still... Any reason to block needs respect IMO. I have been blocked for... anything: profile pic, not replying to "hi", replying with "no" to "good luck", winning a game, etc. Nothing you can do. I usually return the favor, and red thumb a lot, myself.

I disagree to punishing people who red thumb. And also, calling out players who have done nothing against BGA rules, publicly, based on a personal opinion of yours... people say that is disallowed.
Again, red thumbing is also a disadvantage towards the ones doing the red thumbing, if the number of RTs is big.
So if they red thumb too many people, they won't find people to play with so easily.

Replying ‘no’ to ‘good luck’ does sound quite rude/hostile... and completely unnecessary.

[Ze Monstah]

As you probably already know, Red Thumbs (Blockings) are subjective... They can be Public (affecting Reputation of the one blocked, with a reason when blocking - and you need to give 5 green thumbs for each such red thumb), or Personal (unlimited, not affecting the reputation).

If a player's reason for blocking is DEFEAT, even if it might look juvenile... That decision needs respect. You are not to decide that is legitimate or not, because maybe for him/her, it is; maybe he/she is superstitious, and thinks he/she will always lose to the same player to which (s)he lost once, or who knows...
I understand that it might be hard in Arena, but blocking many players might also reduce their (by them i mean people who do what you complain about) chance or speed of getting players to play with (I have no idea how many players are in Connect 6 or whatever).

Still... Any reason to block needs respect IMO. I have been blocked for... anything: profile pic, not replying to "hi", replying with "no" to "good luck", winning a game, etc. Nothing you can do. I usually return the favor, and red thumb a lot, myself.

I disagree to punishing people who red thumb. And also, calling out players who have done nothing against BGA rules, publicly, based on a personal opinion of yours... people say that is disallowed.
Again, red thumbing is also a disadvantage towards the ones doing the red thumbing, if the number of RTs is big.
So if they red thumb too many people, they won't find people to play with so easily.

Replying ‘no’ to ‘good luck’ does sound quite rude/hostile... and completely unnecessary.

I think you didn't get the context of those arguments. I was trying to give the OP some examples of why RTs are subjective: from a really offensive "No" given to robotic messages, to "RT" after losing (the thing he mentioned).

Red thumbed you back, by the way. )))

See, OP (Original Poster - AndyChance), another reason to Red Thumb: people who don't like what you write on forums, red thumb you even if you never played anything together.

As for that example which offended you so (to the player above)... Yeah, I don't like "GL", "HF" and mostly "GG" after a player beat the life out of you ("good game, it was a really good game, you played very well, etc.").
And when I lose many games in a row, in 2-players luck-based game, and a player comes with "GL, HF", i say "NO", anticipating the unlucky events which are about to happen, and which most of times, happen; then the classic "good game" at the end.

Again, personal options... and other people presented displeasure towards "GG" as well; but again, this was not the subject of this thread; I don't even understand why you had to comment on that particular example; its "rudeness" has no connection to the idea that RTs are subjective.

[Ze Monstah]

Outside of Arena:

While I believe blocking strong opponents is an extreme case of being a sore loser, I don't think there should be any limit on personal red thumb.
The goal of red thumbs is to make the platform safer and more pleasant for everyone, and you should not judge when someone says "I don't have fun when I play with them, so I don't want to play with them any more". Additionally, this systems reduces the number of "cancel at launch" (because if this person don't want to play with you, they can just reject any game with you, which will be even more annoying for you as you would lose a lot of time).

Inside of Arena:

I believe red thumbs should be ignored, and you should be matched to whoever the Arena algorithm think is the fairest, disregarding whether of not you end up playing against the person you hate the most. This is a competitive mode, as long as your opponent stay within the rules (and penalties need to be harsh if they don't), you should have not right to pick and choose who to play against.
[I also believe Arena should be fully anonymous, and without any game chat or communication method (unless the game really needs it to function), but that's another debate.]

Oh, and I agree with everything from above.
If someone RTs an Arena Player, and players are anonymous... it will mean nothing for the RTer if his RT will be ignored for an Arena game with the player (s)he red thumbed.
But in the current format, this is impossible.
I don't care so much for the RT ignorance, as I do for the INCOGNITO idea.

[AndyChance]

I agree with the above posts in regard to RTs being respected, important and subjective, however I don't think a player should be able to exploit blocking simply to protect their ranking. That is the topic of this thread.

I do think the INCOGNITO Arena idea would put a stop to this practice and I would support it's implementation.

Thanks for your thoughts and replies.

[Ze Monstah]

I agree with the above posts in regard to RTs being respected, important and subjective, however I don't think a player should be able to exploit blocking simply to protect their ranking. That is the topic of this thread.

I do think the INCOGNITO Arena idea would put a stop to this practice and I would support it's implementation.

Thanks for your thoughts and replies.

That is what I was telling you... INCOGNITO ++++++++ DISEMPOWERMENT of RTs in Arena, not just incognito.

It is a decision the site will have to take, anyway. Until then... the situation will stay unchanged.

[Ze Monstah]

A thought just crossed my mind:

if 2 players (friends, not necessarily multiple accounts) block everyone except themselves, from ARENA top 200 in a game (let's say a game with 200 ELITE ARENA players)...
And start to join a game, do you think this could be used as a manner of cheating, of some sort?

I mean if i RT someone it is 'cause i'm a sore loser, or 'cause i was offended or whatever, but if RTing would be made as an actively way to cheat, like in the example i just gave... I think that would not be ok.

What do you think? Do you think people do this? :s