Correct me if i'm wrong though but wouldn't you want to play Realism mode with friends?
Whenever i play online i always play with my friends no matter what.
If we're notorious for being silent then that's a good thing. Its better to be quiet and not share anything about yourself to others then to immediately show everyone that you're a divorced alcoholic that still lives with his/her parents...

I've been playing TF2 for about a year now and never once have I come across anyone who is offensive or racist. Still, getting a headset tomorrow so should be fun to actual speak myself.

Hmm, well given how speaking over XBL usually gets responses like 'shut up you British fag, go fuck your mom the Queen', I can understand why people choose silence over communication most of the time.

I even get this, and I'm Irish. How the hell do they confuse a Cork accent with an English one?

miracleofsound:
I even get this, and I'm Irish. How the hell do they confuse a Cork accent with an English one?

I had an American call me French when I spoke on CoD4. To this day, I've been hoping it was intentional, though I well and truly doubt it.

Ashbax:
Every brit I see gets shouted down in matches for his accent.

Luckily, im irish. Seriously, No country hates the irish at all. We are welcomed and loved everywhere :P if the americans hear an irish person talk in a match they cheer their fucking heads off.

I haven't found this. I need to Paddy up my accent a bit or something, because they always think I'm British.

One thing an Irish accent is definately good for... American women. You gals love our bogger accents!

Susan Arendt:
2. I'm just plain stunned by the amount of "they make fun of my accent" that I'm seeing here. British accents are hot, people.

I concur. I do find women with British accents to be alluring. (At least smooth-sounding ones. The more "clipped" type that Anne Robinson has sort of rubs me the wrong way.)

Anyway. I quite seriously apologize to our Britsh fellow gamers for the asshattery some of you experience from a selection of Americans. If it makes you feel better, they only feel the need to dump on you because they desperately need something to bolster an ego flattened by idiocy, mediocrity and sexual insecurity. Myself, I've grown up around people with accents- my best friend in high school was from South Africa- so many times I hardly even notice them, and I certainly don't consider them something worth insulting someone about. (Hell, hear me say words like "joystick" and you'll know just what a Jersey boy I am.)

My propensity to chatter on is inverse to the seriousness of the game being played. If I'm sitting out a round in Counter-Strike or whatnot and there's nothing else to do, sure, I'll chat about things. But if I'm part of a tight group stalking through Left 4 Dead, about all you'll hear out of me is stuff like "Contact, right" and "Hunter ahead". Sound is a big factor in gaming to me and I don't like to have it drowned out by idle chat, especially my own.

So, you know, if I ever start playing co-op games with voice again (as I might if I pick up L4D2), come play with me. I'm friendly, and I won't make fun of your accent! Although I do reserve the right to say "Jolly good, ol' chap" on occasion... which, of course, can be countered with a good "Yo, 'sup" in your best faux New Yawker accent.

Amnestic:
Every time I talked on CoD4 I got berated for not being from the US.
Same with Halo 3.

I'd talk more if it didn't distract my team.

This, this, a thousand times this.
Most of the times I have spoken over Xbox live or on the PC, I got abuse hurled at me specifically for being British. Why should I speak up when everyone is going to be a dick about it?

Camarilla:

miracleofsound:
I even get this, and I'm Irish. How the hell do they confuse a Cork accent with an English one?

I had an American call me French when I spoke on CoD4. To this day, I've been hoping it was intentional, though I well and truly doubt it.

Remember that scene in South Park the movie when the little French kid is giving Cartman instructions, to which he retorts 'I heard you the first time, you British piece of shit'

I think it says a lot about XBL, that scene.

Susan Arendt:
Two things:

1. Everyone should play Giants: Citizen Kabuto because not only is it a damn fine game, it's hilarious

2. I'm just plain stunned by the amount of "they make fun of my accent" that I'm seeing here. British accents are hot, people.

Only to American women. These are American teenagers and people who don't know the difference between England, England in the 16th century, France and Australia we're talking about...

Of course, I care a hell of a lot more what American women think about my accent than what an American teenage boy thinks, but that is another story for another time :P

miracleofsound:

Camarilla:

miracleofsound:
I even get this, and I'm Irish. How the hell do they confuse a Cork accent with an English one?

I had an American call me French when I spoke on CoD4. To this day, I've been hoping it was intentional, though I well and truly doubt it.

Remember that scene in South Park the movie when the little French kid is giving Cartman instructions, to which he retorts 'I heard you the first time, you British piece of shit'

I think it says a lot about XBL, that scene.

I think it says more that the kid is British, and that Cartman calls him a French piece of shit ;)

The Rogue Wolf:

So, you know, if I ever start playing co-op games with voice again (as I might if I pick up L4D2), come play with me. I'm friendly, and I won't make fun of your accent! Although I do reserve the right to say "Jolly good, ol' chap" on occasion... which, of course, can be countered with a good "Yo, 'sup" in your best faux New Yawker accent.

I actually say "Jolly good" during my normal speech. I started it as a joke and it just sort of became a habit. I don't often put on an "ol' chap" on the end, but there is the occasional 'milady' slipped in there.

Don't forget that Americans have the luxury of pretty much exclusivly speaking english whereas a european will have more trouble with english, french, spanish, russian, itailian as the primary languages voice chat doesn't work in a random group.

miracleofsound:
Remember that scene in South Park the movie when the little French kid is giving Cartman instructions, to which he retorts 'I heard yuo the first time, you British piece of shit'

I think it says a lot about XBL, that scene.

Indeed, in fact I will now try and track down a picture of the offender, just to check for the blue and yellow hat.

HobbesMkii:
You know, I played in a clan that was nearly half Europeans, and half of them were British, and I've got the say, the Brits are pretty talkative, minding that there are rules like "treat all gamers with respect."

Anyhow, the argument by the people posting in this thread seems to be that they don't talk because of the trouble they receive in terms of their accent. So here's some helpful pointers to help Brits get through the rough times:

1) Try a new accent. Obviously, doing an American one would be best, but if you can't do that, here's a list of countries known for speaking a form of English whose asses Americans don't believe they saved in WWII:

Canada
South Africa
Australia
Ireland
New Zealand

You could also try doing another European accent, as though you were from a non-English speaking country but could speak English (***WARNING*** DO NOT use French or German. You think you've got it bad? We actually DID save the French's ass in WWII, plus we equate Germans with Nazis, and we beat them. Other countries to consider avoiding are: Ethnically Slavic countries, like Russia and Ukraine, where you'll be considered a Russian, and thus a dirty commie, or Spain, where you'll sound vaguely Mexican)

2) Failing a complete change of accent, why not try to emulate American gaming speech patterns? This is very simple: Every time you say something, put down a minority group. For gamers, gays and blacks are the primary targets, but don't forget to work the Mexican and Asian angle. And if you're playing a military game, you can probably get away with bashing liberals (or, for bonus points, famous black liberals, like Obama or Al Sharpton. Triple score if you claim Obama is also gay). This way, Americans will know that while you have a strange accent, you share their rabidly offensive ideology.

3) Don't play with Americans. Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel and accept that the US often ruins everything. We put Disney World in Paris. I mean, it's f***ing Paris. The two most commonly known words worldwide? "Okay" and "Coca-Cola." Yah, that's right, the second most well known word is an American brand name. We did that. When you reach that point where you've given up trying, you'll have to take advantage of the few games that allow you to play with your friends, and not with just random strangers.

I hope this helps out my fellow gamers on the other, less American, side of the Atlantic.

/end of thread

best post on the thread
Its hilarious I am a American but I am a minority American so i don't share the same narrow minded mentality like the rest of them.

I like the sneaky stereotype the author put in that article. I'm sure that foreign journalists/game bloggers have to by law make a reference to the 'stiff upper lip'! What of course he doesn't know is that we are all just silently judging you.

I find it hard to concentrate properly on the game while holding down the mic talk button and spewing whatever comes to me dunno about you guys.

JugglerPanda:
A lot of Americans online have a habit of being stupid while talking. I'd be silent too if I was British :<

not funny and not actually 100% true

considering in our 2section of storming the beach went well since we were bright and manage to launch our "funnies" (modded tanks) in time so they didnt sink to the bottom

and yeah im scottish the amount of american pricks that say atleast we fought for independence and won is rediculous not forgetting their poor attempt at copying the accent ...i dont do it to you guys FUCK OFF!! i just wanna play a god damn game of l4d!!

Don't isolate Americans for our foul-mouthed douchebagery. I can name a few French-Canadain CS server admins who are real pricks.

I would also like to make a point that most Americans are not ignorant racists. It just so happens that the ones that ARE always seem to mange to get a headset. You would be suprised. The one thing Americans hate is other Americans. We hate eachother. And the French..but that goes without saying.

I've only ever been taunted once for being British, and i played COD4 and 5 a lot online. I even had my clan tag as [ENG] most of the time. Perhaps you get more retards on XBL than you do on the Playstation Network?

Anyways, usually i don't talk for a number of reasons. One, having a conversation over a crackly microphone is rather difficult, it's like listening to a badly tuned radio. Two, i would rather concentrate on the game itself, and three sometimes i like to sit and listen to the radio banter whilst i quietly go about sniping people.

Listening to other people talk can be quite amusing, not only can be banter often by funny, their accents can also make me smile, or make my ears burn. Some American accents for instance i think sound quite cool, calm, relaxed and confident. Some American accents sound dumb and whiny, like a mop-head engine. It's harder to judge British accent's because thats what i'm used to, however some regional accents do stand out, and can sound plain retarded.

As a general rule though, it's mostly American's you hear online. This could be down to what Valve say's, or in fact it could be because, quite simply, there are more Americans than Brit's, so your likely to hear Americans than any other nationality. American conversations can be quite amusing, and you can have a laugh by listening to them. However, most of it is all rather "macho" and highly competitive talk which implies "omg look how awsome i am".

I've heard people complain about all the little kids on Halo 3, but for the most part I enjoy talking to people.

ZombieGenesis:

Ammadessi:

Vanguard_Ex:

Ammadessi:

ZombieGenesis:

Ammadessi:
Replace "go drink some tea" with "get back in the kitchen where you belong" and maybe Valve would understand why female gamers aren't big on using mics either.

I think this deserves an honourable mention. I hadn't thought of that.

It's either that or "are you hot? Are you single?" Christ, I just want to shoot somebody in the head, not hook up.

Yeah but, are you?
I kid. Seriously though it can be a bit unnerving when you've got 3 people talking away and you just want to play, but at the same time know you're going to have to talk to them. Especially if they're those aggressive loud types who yell 'VETO VETO. VETO YOU FUCKIN FAGS'

I absolutely know you're joking, but I love the logic of asking a woman if she's hot. Like she's going to say no, or even be hot if she says yes.

Makes you wonder what the reaction would be if they just outright said "No."

Hell, I think I would hit the point where I would just yell, "NO, ALRIGHT??!! I'm 300+ pounds with a dog face and need to be crane lifted just to use the restroom. Now stop trying to chat my ugly ass up and play the game!"

Sulu:
I like the sneaky stereotype the author put in that article. I'm sure that foreign journalists/game bloggers have to by law make a reference to the 'stiff upper lip'! What of course he doesn't know is that we are all just silently judging you.

This^

Also, to any foregin journalists who think the British have stiff upper lips, i would like to invite to Liverpool on a friday night. I would then challenge them to find a single soul who has a "stiff upper lip" That old Victorian sterotype has long gone.

I've never really heard anyone make fun of my Welsh friends on Live. Oddly enough, after playing with them so long, Ive picked up a few interesting flourishes to mycalready strange mix of Southern and Philedelphia accents ( As I learned English in Florida, and live north of Philedelphia. Honestly, you should listen to me speak. Everyone alway looks at ke funny when I say bag( I pronounce it Bay-G). Wait, I was ripped on for saying that.

If you want more people to speak online: compress everyone's volume down to the same loudness (roughly). There's been a script to do it on Ventrilo for years now; and it's in game chat, there's no need for us to use the full range of our victim's speakers when we haven't spent 3 hours getting the volume just right so we're not quiet as a mouse or loud as a jet aircraft. It instantly removes the loud annoying people, and makes the quiet people just as loud. It's Win-Win for everyone.

I used to talk all the time on XBL but I got asked if I was an Irish Mexican, if I know the Queen and if I like crumpets and tea... I don't even know what a fucking crumpet. Also there's the whole stupid Brit we can't understand what you say... or you don't speak English and the best... Why don't you just speak American like the rest of the world you stupid crumpet eating, bad teeth, tea drinking British fuck.... So tell me why I don't talk on XBL unless I'm in a party of people I know.

I play TF2 with a lot of Brits. 80% of them are in love with the mic and won't shut up for a second.

No get it right

We don't speak to anyone but ourselves :)

For the most part, we only make an effort speaking when its with fellow Britons. And I'm glad, Why on earth would I care to speak to anyone else?!

Trust me, EVERY single game on Left 4 Dead I have been in which had all 4 players including me being British, we have had a good chat and communicated VERY well.

When you plonk a Brit in with, what is usually the case 3 Americans, then yeah, I don't want to speak to no idiot American thank you very much.

You make me sick to my stomach

Perfect example, about a month ago I was in a GTA IV online game

Two Americans where arguing, one was obviously Southern, the other obviously African-American

The southerner was being racist to the African-American, so I stepped in and told the Southerner to stop being racist etc. just tried to cool things down

And what happened? they both seemed to join together and attack me?! Seriously can china like nuke America or something? please?

AceDiamond:

JugglerPanda:
A lot of Americans online have a habit of being stupid while talking. I'd be silent too if I was British :<

So apparently Internet microphone dumbassery only applies to Americans? Are we absolutely sure about this? Cause if you are I can introduce you to some recordings of a few foul-mouthed Aussies during games of TF2 I've played.

Yes I admit a lot of my countrymen are idiots especially behind the anonymity shield of the Internet, but personally I like vocal communication no matter what accent is applied to it...as long as I can hear what you're saying that is.

Can I please see these?

Really?
Wow, I'm pretty noisy.

You can't make me :o
...

(Is fully aware of this problem among my fellow brits which is why me and the danish have a jolly old time on vent while the rest of them can do what they like, just listen then, see if I give a hoot)

I like to talk, even if it is about nonsense to fill the time, or something I need to alert my team/raid/party of quickly. It does help guys, use it. I don't particularly care if you sound like a doped up reject clown, if you can tell me somethings going down in .5 seconds without breaking your attack strategy to use the keyboard, I call that a very handy tool.

The US are much better at it, thats my first hand experience, you're very lucky if you find some chatty brits...who aren't drunk... and actually focused on the task at hand.

telepathy maybe?

I think Valve should look at this. Really I do.

Every single British gamer has this problem. I do to. Mind you I get round it with wit and sarcasm. I once had a whole yankee group shouting at me for a good 3 rounds, saying how much better they are army wise, country wise, all else wise. If you're not quick witted or don't want to go through insults every time you go online you shut up.

Me? Well I'm just looking for a fight.

Mrsnugglesworth:
I got made fun of for being american.

How many times? I'd say not more than once right?

What you're reading here is what we go through at least once every time we go on.

I'm American.... and the amount of prejudice in this thread makes me sad.

Yes, I know you don't want to get made fun of for your accent or even deal with that, but it gets very inconvenient to the group when you won't respond to any questions such as "You need that Medpack? Or can I take it" Or "You mind taking the outside, or should I?" on a finale.

Little Duck:

Mrsnugglesworth:
I got made fun of for being american.

How many times? I'd say not more than once right?

What you're reading here is what we go through at least once every time we go on.

It was once.

By a little british kid.

He was like "Like eating those Hamburgers, don't you, you fat american bitch"

I then proceeded to kick his ass at Halo.

Any one here play Garry's mod? If so you should know how many British kids talk on that game. All they do is yell and its really annoying.

Jzolr0708:
I'm American.... and the amount of prejudice in this thread makes me sad.

Yes, I know you don't want to get made fun of for your accent or even deal with that, but it gets very inconvenient to the group when you won't respond to any questions such as "You need that Medpack? Or can I take it" Or "You mind taking the outside, or should I?" on a finale.

Mate, tricks of the trade. Be friendly. Be chatty at first. Tell jokes and try to invite in. Most Brits have anti yank barriers up, so we just ignore the yank speak. If people see you're friendly then we're more likely to talk, give and accept advice.