"Try hard..." why is that an insult again?

[Neverhoodian]

So I've been wondering about the phrase "try hard" in online gaming. I've seen it crop up with increasing regularity for a few years now. For those unfamiliar with the term, it's usually a derogatory term used to describe someone trying hard to win.

...

I'm sorry, but am I missing something here? Why is calling someone a "try hard" supposed to be an insult? Isn't winning the match the goal for most online games? At least the "try hard" is actually, y'know, TRYING instead of being a griefer and trolling.

Someone want to clarify for me why trying to win is apparently a bad thing now?

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

I use try hard differently from most. I use it to refer to people to whom losing is physically painful. Where winning is literally their everything and it isnt enough that they win. Everyone needs to know they won. And every mistake or loss needs to be blamed, or deflected or excused on someone else. Every victory MUST be gloated about and every mistake a team mate makes MUST be mocked to the enemy team. These people validate themselves on others "Knowing" they are the best and its never their fault they lose and they are perfect. I hate these people a lot. THESE are try hards to me. Whiny attention seekers who demand fealty for the victories and sympathy for their "plight" should they lose and its OBVIOUSLY something/someone elses fault.

 

[RomanceIsDead]

because people who say it want you to think they are naturally good without having "no life".

 

[Orange12345]

because people who say it want you to think they are naturally good without having "no life".

This, anyone who is worse then you is a try hard noob and anyone who is better then you is a loser with no life

 

[lRookiel]

Because those try hard scrubs in my LoL games are awful. :3

 

[Shpongled]

A try hard is someone who goes to extreme lengths to win, always using the latest over-powered build or character or class etc, rather than just playing what they like. Normally it wouldn't be an issue, but multiplayer games can be very unbalanced, and facing the same overpowered characters over and over can make multiplayer games very unenjoyable at times.

It is also kind of tongue-in-cheek, we all like to win.

 

[Reven]

Normally I get called that when I win my lane in league, I never gloat or even communicate to the enemy, So i imagine the reasoning behind people that use that term is to make them feel better, like convince themselves that they weren't really trying, but that's just my guess.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I use try hard differently from most. I use it to refer to people to whom losing is physically painful. Where winning is literally their everything and it isnt enough that they win. Everyone needs to know they won. And every mistake or loss needs to be blamed, or deflected or excused on someone else. Every victory MUST be gloated about and every mistake a team mate makes MUST be mocked to the enemy team. These people validate themselves on others "Knowing" they are the best and its never their fault they lose and they are perfect. I hate these people a lot. THESE are try hards to me. Whiny attention seekers who demand fealty for the victories and sympathy for their "plight" should they lose and its OBVIOUSLY something/someone elses fault.

So it's another way of saying they're an egocentric poor sport. I see where you're coming from.

A try hard is someone who goes to extreme lengths to win, always using the latest over-powered build or character or class etc, rather than just playing what they like. Normally it wouldn't be an issue, but multiplayer games can be very unbalanced, and facing the same overpowered characters over and over can make multiplayer games very unenjoyable at times.

It is also kind of tongue-in-cheek, we all like to win.

Okay, that makes sense. Speaking as a longtime TF2 player, there are definitely certain builds for classes that have been somewhat OP or plain annoying to fight.

Still though, sometimes it's good to "take one for the team" in a game like TF2. Nobody likes the player that fills the role of Spy/Sniper #4.

 

[MarlonBlazed]

IDK why it's being used in this context, to me try-hard is a way to call someone a poser that's trying so hard to be something they're not. i.e. Corey from the Pawn Stars is a try-hard because he tries his hardest to not be associated with things he calls "Nerdy". From his tattoos, motorcycles, claiming to have never seen Star Wars and outright shaming anyone who enjoys such things, he embodies the true nature of being a try-hard.

 

[lechat]

it's generally an insult in australia since it goes againsts our laid back attitude
basically if everyone isn't enjoying themselves and 1 guy is busting his ass to be awesome he is a try hard and is ruining it for everyone else

 

[Antari]

So I've been wondering about the phrase "try hard" in online gaming. I've seen it crop up with increasing regularity for a few years now. For those unfamiliar with the term, it's usually a derogatory term used to describe someone trying hard to win.

...

I'm sorry, but am I missing something here? Why is calling someone a "try hard" supposed to be an insult? Isn't winning the match the goal for most online games? At least the "try hard" is actually, y'know, TRYING instead of being a griefer and trolling.

Someone want to clarify for me why trying to win is apparently a bad thing now?

It is referencing to the point that the person is trying hard but always failing. Basically a long way of calling them stupid or incompetent. Also usually used by younger groups who haven't figured out that trying hard is what eventually gets you ahead and that failure isn't always perpetual.

 

[Weaver]

I sort of use it in terms of table top wargaming. I used to play warhammer 40k. These games were just me and my friends, some beer and spending a night laughing, playing the game, drinking and socializing.

But there is always that one guy (and it was always the same guy) who was a try hard. The game was his fucking everything. He tried his damnedest to win. He would specifically play off an old codex if there was something overpowered in it (and of course, we let him because none of us cared). The thing is, if he ended up losing his attitude would sour and he would just be a wet blanket on the whole night.

I guess "try hard" can mean a lot of things in a lot of situations. To me, it means someone who is putting in an overexertion of effort just to win a game that is, for all intents and purposes, just for fun.

In LoL, for instance, we all want to win. However, if you're not even playing ranked yet pour over item builds, what characters are the best, top tier pro-level rankings and, basically, expecting a professional level of play from people in the unranked, custom or, God help you (and this has happened to me once) bot games... you're simply trying too hard.

You're trying too hard compared to your peers.
Trying hard is not a bad thing, per say, but you'd do better to simply play a mode more suited to the seriousness of play you're expecting rather than expect everyone to take the game as seriously as you.

 

[Abomination]

It is a suitable insult for someone who doesn't seem to recognise how their effort:reward ratio is so out of whack for entertainment. It's like people who spend hours perfecting a rotation in World of Warcraft just to get an extra 5 DPS average.

Essentially it's for people who have turned entertainment into a job. They seem to be missing the point. They also are frequently terribly stressed out over the thing so the "try hard" insult has the benefit of cutting extra deep.

 

[Xdeser2]

Its Basically Gaming Doublethink, but its also dependent on the other person.

If your on someones team and you lose the game for them, you suck

If you're against them and win the game, your a try-hard noob ******
__________________________________________________________________________

So, its basically the person who's calling you that's way to make him/herself feel better

 

[FoolKiller]

I use try hard differently from most. I use it to refer to people to whom losing is physically painful. Where winning is literally their everything and it isnt enough that they win. Everyone needs to know they won. And every mistake or loss needs to be blamed, or deflected or excused on someone else. Every victory MUST be gloated about and every mistake a team mate makes MUST be mocked to the enemy team. These people validate themselves on others "Knowing" they are the best and its never their fault they lose and they are perfect. I hate these people a lot. THESE are try hards to me. Whiny attention seekers who demand fealty for the victories and sympathy for their "plight" should they lose and its OBVIOUSLY something/someone elses fault.

So it's another way of saying they're an egocentric poor sport. I see where you're coming from.

A try hard is someone who goes to extreme lengths to win, always using the latest over-powered build or character or class etc, rather than just playing what they like. Normally it wouldn't be an issue, but multiplayer games can be very unbalanced, and facing the same overpowered characters over and over can make multiplayer games very unenjoyable at times.

It is also kind of tongue-in-cheek, we all like to win.

Okay, that makes sense. Speaking as a longtime TF2 player, there are definitely certain builds for classes that have been somewhat OP or plain annoying to fight.

Still though, sometimes it's good to "take one for the team" in a game like TF2. Nobody likes the player that fills the role of Spy/Sniper #4.

Yes, but based on Shpongled's post, what if that is what you like to play as? I've always been on the side of winning is the goal. Of course, I take my winning attitude to the actual field and tend to play video games solo, but in the gaming world why should anyone feel bad for picking the over-powered character? If its a problem, then the game is at fault. Jim Sterling once called foul when the devs of Hydrophobia accused him of playing their game wrong. If I find a way to win with a higher success rate, then it is my choice to do so. I'm not playing it wrong or being a try hard, I'm using the system to my advantage.

 

[VladG]

Everything is used as an insult... If you're good, you're either a no-lifer or a tryhard. If you are bad you are a noob.

Simply put, insecure kids vent their rage at whomever they can, however they can.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

I was unfamiliar with the term until now, but even in that context it doesn't sound that insulting.

You can definitely be called worse things online.

 

[Dead Seerius]

Basically, there are people who would rather blame their opponent for their own losses rather than themselves, and decide the best way to do that is to insult them for doing so well.

ie, "it's your fault I can't kill you and you should be ashamed of yourself because of it."

However, there are people who repeatedly use OP tactics in games which can get pretty annoying, but I don't call those people try-hards. I call 'em "easy-moders" (but not to their faces, because that would be rude. I just 'try harder' to kill them).

 

[health-bar]

the only time I ever felt "try hard" was an actual insult is was when people actually try and win on plr_hightower
the people who take hightower seriously are just evil. its a silly map thats perfect for stupid loadouts. I want to trolldier for another half an hour, thank you very much.