Suicidal *****, on 12 August 2012 - 09:35 PM, said:
Because it's a group video game, with communication. And if there's communication, gender makes a bit of difference. Just as a quick example, if we were playing Halo and somebody were to teabag you, it would be even ruder than normal. And quite possibly illegal in some jurisdictions.
It would certainly be grounds for sexual harassment if it were on a workplace lan party during a break. Technically it would be the same for guy on guy, but in reality, nothing would happen.
More to the current circumstances, I would talk to you differently than I would a guy over teamspeak. The genders are different, and there are always the dominance/violence subconscious issues to deal with. I would use colorful language at a male teammate for PPC'ing me in the back accidentally. If I knew it was a female, I'd be much more gentle, and probably just say "ouch, please be more careful", because girl's skulls are somewhat less thick, and don't have to be whacked as hard to get a point across in an adrenaline fog.
Males and females are different, and ignoring that is perilous and can cause deeply hurt feelings.
If one of my guys friends PPC'ed me in the back I'd say, "Watch it you ******* ******" and proceed to laugh at him. If I accidentally fragged one of my friends in a fight I'd expect to hear, "God! You *****! More dangerous than the ******* enemy team!"
We'd laugh it off and keep playing. If I'm with strangers I try to be polite and if a stranger is going to be a complete jerk, then I generally assume they are wound up too tight and probably need a shower, some sunshine and a nap. That or they hate the fact they were born.
Behavioral protocol should be the same across the board. We should all be courteous to one another and historically, MechWarrior has been a game where each team has wished the other side luck. At least it was back in MW3.
Special considerations? I make special considerations for my guy friends all the time. I know that we both have adrenaline pumping, but that their testosterone is in overdrive and they don't always think clearly. I know they tend to be coarse and disgusting when they're comfortable around a female friend because they start to think of her as "one of us". Their egos are bruised when we suffer a losing streak and I try my best to encourage them so they don't want to quit playing and go brood. I know my guys have just as many insecurities and self-confidence issues as I do, even if they'd never admit it.
Overall though I think personality is the key to how you treat other people. Treat them as they want to be treated. Regardless of gender or any other label.