“You are ****in trash”

“Clutch or kick”

“I ****ed your [insert female relative]”

“Please uninstall the game”

“Reported”

“My uncle works for Microsoft, he’ll get you banned”

For anyone that’s played any multiplayer game, these heartwarming phrases are a welcoming sign that you’ve returned to the toxic, sexist, and racist world of online gaming.

My evolution from Webkinz and Poptropica in elementary school to mainstream games like League of Legends and Counterstrike in high school has revealed to me why I love being hopelessly mediocre at gaming.

*disclaimer* If you’re actually good at video games, this post is not for you.

THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT

In middle school, all I wanted was to be good at video games, specifically League of Legends (LoL) and Counterstrike: Global Offensive (CSGO). As any preteen boy knows, being good at video games is a sure-fire way to climb the social ladder.

Everyday after school, I would hop off the bus, pop some Pizza Rolls in the toaster oven, and boot up my computer. Almost everyday I would brave the caustic online community to hone my skills and ascend the online leaderboards.

However, there was a simple problem. I sucked. Like really bad. No matter how many Youtube tutorials I watched, streamers I tried to emulate, or hours I poured into the game, I was just not good. After months of playing, I had barely moved a single division up the ladder. In CSGO, I actually dropped down to Silver 1, the lowest possible rank in the game.

Desperate, I looked for new games with less competitive player pools. Brawlhalla. Smite. Clash Royale. I tried them all. Still, I continued to lose game after game. Discouraged, I decided to pause my quest to be the best.

Entering high school, I took a break from gaming for a while. When I opened League of Legends again during summer break, I approached it with a new attitude. The fire inside me to win at all costs was gone. I was no longer desperate to grab ranking points; instead, I just wanted to have fun.

Like magic, my gaming experience went from night to day. Don’t get me wrong. I was still quite terrible. However, the stress evaporated because I was okay with being stuck at my skill level. My future in professional esports was gone (like I had a chance anyways), but I discovered a new appreciation for gaming, leading me to realize the main reasons why “being trash” is bliss.

WHY BEING BAD AT VIDEO GAMES IS SECRETLY AMAZING

1. It’s Stress-free

Not being under a constant self-imposed pressure to win definitely has its benefits. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a strong advocate for the growth mindset in general, but for the inconsequential skill of gaming, having a fixed mindset seems like the way to go. For most people, including myself, the whole point of playing video games is to escape the real world to relax for a moment. Trying so hard to win that you stress yourself out defeats the whole purpose of this activity. Think about it. That’s the difference between playing in the NBA and playing at the YMCA. One is all about having the skill to win. The other is just about having a good time with your friends or strangers you meet. Ultimately, for most people, your focus when playing games should be to have fun. Improving your button mashing skills is just a sidequest.

2. You get to goof around

Another great reason that you should be content with your current skill level is that it frees you up to play creatively. In League of Legends, you can play fun but non-meta characters. In Fortnite, you can play riskier. In Mario, you can explore secret dungeons. Playing with a mindset to have fun and to explore opens you up to an infinite array of possibilities that are sometimes more rewarding than winning. Take Minecraft for example. The final boss you defeat is the Ender Dragon. However, I’ve played in dozens of worlds where I ignore this ultimate objective. Instead I roam the map for hours, build castles, slaughter chickens, and fight my friends.

3. You get a boost of self confidence

Last but not least, if you’re satisfied with where you’re at, it gives you a huge boost in self-esteem. Why constantly berate yourself over misplays and mistakes when you can just laugh at them. Why get frustrated when you get flamed by your online teammates when you can just find the situation comedic; it’s literally a prepubescent child telling you that he had intercourse with your mother. If all else fails, just hit the mute button. Like most things in life, if you accept yourself for who you are, the way you interact with others and view yourself completely changes.

 

In the end, if you absolutely need to be good at video games, go for it. Grind your butt off for hours everyday for a marginally higher level of respect you’ll get from anonymous strangers online. However, I highly recommend taking a note from my playbook. Embrace mediocrity. Relish sucking. But most importantly, have fun.