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Shaping Destiny – Issue 3: Sportsmanship

It’s time for another issue of Shaping Destiny. In this one, we will be tackling sportsmanship. I know that some of you might be wondering why I am talking about this and not something more related to Destiny itself, but I assure you that it is an important subject in gaming and one I will be exploring in this issue. Before I do though, what is sportsmanship?

Sportsmanship is: fair play, respect for opponents, and polite behavior by someone who is competing in a sport or other competition.

What does this have to do with Destiny? Well Destiny is a game that requires you to play against another person. Whenever you do that, it can create a sense of competition against that person to do better than them, usually by winning against them. This can create emotions in a person where their success is important and when they sense that they are failing in that, they have the potential to react accordingly. This is perfectly natural, however, if not understood and handled well, it can cause adverse effects that are not good for anyone. Some people are able to handle this well, but some of us need to build this towards what is called good sportsmanship by not letting those negative reactions get out of control.

Usually the sense of competition on a casual game isn’t that high, but depending on the person, that may not be the case. It is in these casual spaces where a person can build their sportsmanship up to be able to conduct themselves appropriately at higher level events. There are times where people forget that it is just a game and they get serious about it and react negatively. I personally don’t believe that there is nothing wrong about getting into a game, as long as you do two things:
1:  Don’t Explode. You may get upset about how the game is going and while you may show it, at no point does it warrant violence, strong language, or extreme actions like slamming your hands on the table.
2: Leave it at the table. What happens in the game should stay in the game. No matter how you feel, you should move on after the game.

What can I do if games get to me?

Well, as someone who struggles with having good sportsmanship, I can tell you what I have learned. As someone who is competitive, I find that it is best to not put myself in high stress games where it will get to me most unless I have to. I can do this by taking my time and not entering stressful events until I am ready. It is unrealistic to expect success and building to it in a game takes time and experience. Playing in a more casual atmosphere and lower events can help you accept losing better, help you improve your skills, and lastly, it can help you train yourself in better sportsmanship acts. I have also learned that ,if a game gets to me, I need to breathe and move on. If I need to step away to do this, I do so calmly. Taking part in a casual conversation with nothing to about the game is something that  I find helps. Lastly, I’ve learned that having a good attitude, being humble, and being realistic about what you can do will go a long way in accepting loses.

What are some of the things that can be done to show good sportsmanship?

There are plenty of things you can do to show good sportsmanship and while some of these can be hard, there is no shame in doing these things, even if you feel sour. One of the most common things to do is to say “good game” and to shake your opponent’s hand. This is a great thing to do and I recommend doing it to show that there is no ill will. It is a great sign of respect and you will find that it will take you fair. Accept when you make mistakes and don’t blame others or the odds for something you did wrong. Learn from these experiences and move on. When these things happen and you react to it as a learning experience and accept them, it allows you to have a better approach in the treatment of your opponent. This is important in your sportsmanship because it allows you not to disrespect your opponent by blaming them for your own actions. Bottom line, respect your opponent and treating them right is the key to having good sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship is important to Destiny because it is a social game where the experience with another person is part of the experience of the game. There is always going to be back and forth and accepting and respecting this fact can go a long way in build good sportsmanship and will make the gaming experience a lot better. Focus on the thrill of the game and not the results. Yes, its competitive but keeping your head up will go a long way in making your experience with Destiny more enjoyable. There is no shame in losing or making mistakes and sometimes you need to fail to get to your Destiny. The key in success is your attitude and having good sportsmanship plays a huge part in that.

Thank you for checking out this piece I have written and if you have any comments or opinions to add, please comment below, or feel free to send me an email at amanda@thechancecube.com. Also Please check out my Star Wars: Destiny Facebook group Destiny Shapers here for all things Star Wars: Destiny related in one communal setting.


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