User blog comment:Kashicorn/SURRENDERING/@comment-4131177-20130311184811/@comment-132.190.92.85-20130313052950

I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous.

I will always flame back when someone flames at me. What makes him think that he's so important that he can take out his stress on me? Aren't we all human beings? Where do I take the stress that he dumped on me to?

We all have shit we have to deal with. Is my "real life" not as real as his? Are my emotions somehow lesser than his? If I flame people, I expect that he/she/they will retaliate. Why should this theoretical person be cut any slack for treating me like dirt?

Perhaps I'll humor the person in question if I really want to win the game - kind of like flattering an asshole boss because you don't want to get fired. And if he has a reason, why doesn't he just say it? Heck, if my internet goes out because of my ISP, and I say it in game, I still get flamed for it - probably by this same theoretical person.

The sad truth is that you can elicit sympathy without empathy. So empathize with your players more rather then just being blindly sympathetic. Though guess that's rather hard to do with people you don't know over the internet.