Board Game Arena

Hello, I am relatively new to BGA and I am still trying to figure out the proper way to interact with players via chat. When I play tabletop games in person, it's common to have a little respectful table talk ("nice move", "Hopefully I'll have better luck next time", etc). I don't expect a response, but on BGA, those small talk comments seem frowned upon. I've been told that "gg" is a micro aggression and worthy of a red thumb, regardless if you win or lose. Is the best practice to ignore the chat feature and act like you are playing a bot?

One issue is, not everyone speaks the same language.

It's not a majority view that "gg" is a micro-aggression, but there are some people who seemingly will get annoyed no matter what you say.

And some people do like to talk when playing. There's even a guild for it:
https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=1088438

I would say, don't be afraid of making friendly chat while playing. However, I can't guarantee that it will be well-received.

Strode wrote: ↑22 September 2025, 04:04 And some people do like to talk when playing. There's even a guild for it:
https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=1088438

Thank you for this link! I like the vibe, plus it seems like a welcoming group for people trying out a game for the first time.

Also, I am sympathetic to folks who speak a different language than me. I just wish there was a universally accepted positive way to show appreciation for the game. The equivalent to the handshake/fist bump I give my friends IRL.

Saying "gg" at game end is just being polite. Some people get wound up by it but if they do imo that's a problem at their end. Either they're sore losers or the type to object to strangers saying hello/nice day when they pass in the street. Either way it's on them.

Friendly chat if reciprocated is fine. Bombarding someone with chat when they are clearly not replying is annoying, and in that case take the hint. Treat it like any other interaction IRL. You can tell if someone wants to talk to you or not pretty fast usually.

Indeed not everyone around a virtual table wants to talk. Which is fine by me. What I do find unfortunate is that some people find offense in nearly everything, as the example given by Strode here that some people find something as simple as 'gg' offensive.

Anyway, +1 to his advice of starting a friendly conversation if you feel like it. Sometimes people will talk back. Sometimes they will remain silent. If the latter, I usually don't continue talking in chat. But to each their own of course.

Bughead wrote: ↑22 September 2025, 12:20 Also, I am sympathetic to folks who speak a different language than me. I just wish there was a universally accepted positive way to show appreciation for the game.

If you use the pre-written chat snippets they will be translated to the language of choice of the other players on their end.

Bughead wrote: ↑22 September 2025, 12:20The equivalent to the handshake/fist bump I give my friends IRL.

Are you under the mistaken impression that a fist bump is a universal human norm for expressing appreciation of playing a game that has applied worldwide throughout history?

If you are not, then perhaps consider that BGA is not the tiny extremely small social circle and that it should not be surprising if others misinterpret your chat. There is not much you can do about it, you just need a certain amount of acceptance that it will happen. Bear in mind it is impossible here to get universal agreement even on much more basic conventions such as it being okay for your opponent to win when the rules allow them to do so.

I chat and comment a lot and I don't usually have problems ( at least not that I know of). Maybe that's a few players that blocked me for unknown reasons.

I think it's a no win situation. If you don't send a GG after a game is it rude? If you receive a GG after a game and don't reply is that rude?

You can't win! Send or don't send or reply to GG's and it can be interpreted differently. I see GG as just being like a hand shake after a tennis match.

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑22 September 2025, 15:18 pre-written chat snippets

What are these and how do I use them?