Don't play with strangers. Problem solved!

I also have this problem on PC games as well, random servers usually have a few smack talking retards.

When it comes to COD4 and the unwashed masses is that it's now the 'THING' to TK everyone just because you can on Hardcore. I have to leave 3 outta 5 rooms due to some moron doing nothing but TK's.

As for the voice i pretty much dont use my headset unless i'm playing with friends. Beyond that its pretty much a waste of time.

* Reminisces fondly of the time when 1Dgaf lectured a Shadowrun player on the negatives of racism *

I guess I must be either tolerant or lucky because I haven't had to mute someone more often than once every 4 maps. Does muting have any affect on future player selection? I'm wondering because I've yet to come across someone who I've muted previously.

I don't experience the waste, my headset rests on the desk. That is when I plug it in.

This breaks down, though, when all your friends are playing something you don't really care to play. Everyone moved to COD4 and that's that. I sold Halo 3, purchased Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed and I'll be flying solo or playing XBLA games with Goodjers (along with All Pro Football) until either Halo 3 gets popular again or a game I enjoy comes out. I don't blame my friends. It's just the nature of online play. If the pubbies weren't so ridiculous I could have toughed it out playing Halo 3 with them. But they ARE ridiculous, so I'm done playing Halo for now.

Indeed.

I hate random Live players. Hell, I'm pissed that they dropped Carcasonne for free the week of Thanksgiving because last time I tried playing multiplayer, it's typically with a bunch of idiotic teenage punks.

Though it did leave me unintentially amused. These kids were trying to exploit the multiplayer for achievements, building a giant city and trying to keep me out of it. Soon as I realized what they were doing, I sabotaged their attempts. Played a second game still in the room with them just to keep messing with them out of some oddly cruel sense of amusement, and wound up stealing the big city from all of them and getting most of the multiplayer achievements in one shot, as well as winning the game.

Generally, I avoid multiplayer online games with anyone other than people on my friends list. Almost every random experience has been a really bad one.

Two words-- FRIEND CODES!

Yeah, but there has to be a critical mass of people playing the game you want to play. There are like 7 or 8 Goodjers who (if you ask nicely and they aren't otherwise pre-occupied) will be happy to play Carcassonne, Catan, etc. I really cherish these times. But the big MP games like Halo 3 and COD4 seem to last only so long before they run out of steam and you're forced to move on, play pubbies or resign yourself to a dedicated INSERT GAME HERE night.

I've found that each game has it's own unique portion of the a-hole spectrum.

Nothing has ever been as bad as Mechassault was. Splinter Cell players are really antisocial, but not too vitriolic once you get them saying anything. Then you've got Halo, Call of Duty, and Gears type games in the middle.

The potential for competition, bragging rights, and other relatively immature interactions within the game will influence the masses playing it. The possibiliy for an excellent player to lone wolf a victory despite a subpar team would be the biggest agent fostering retardedness. It's not even the lone wolf doing the trash talking, it's the people that want to be that guy.

Yes, of course I've come across some really annoying players on Live. But, I've also had some really awesome experiences. Some night are better than others, for sure.

I tend to play shooters on-line, and there've been some great examples of teamwork from a whole team of random people in Gears, TF2, and CoD4.

I know, I know -- it doesn't sound possible, but it is! So, while there are some jerk-asses out there...plenty, really...I often don't mind testing my luck with the pubtards on occasion.

N.B. I don't play much Halo of any flavor online.

I've played several times in the late morning or early afternoon recently on weekdays and I've witnessed several confrontations over exactly that. None make me think favorable things about the people that happen to inhabit the same country I do.

When I go into public COD4 matches, I end up muting half the people in there.

The great part of this approach is that when you mute someone, you never have to mute that same person again.

Mute, submit review, rinse, repeat.

Ah, gotcha.

Even better, if everyone who has a bad experience playing with some jerk, Live should be taking that into account when matchmaking. In theory, that is why Live costs money to play with other people: it is supposed to be moderated to some level. With the high number of people, some automation is needed, and everyone leaving a negative comment on a player should be enough to eventually make that person have to either change their Zone to one that doesn't mind people being jerks, improve their behavior significantly, wait forever to be put into a game that tolerates them, or buy a new Gamertag.