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

[AVeryClassyCat]

There are games where I really get invested into strategy, and it's a big thrill to triumph when you've put work into winning. I also own MP games where it's all about fun. The only thing is, I usually don't have the kind of time to mess around with other people who are being dicks online for any reason, mostly because it never really goes anywhere (also I refuse to talk on mic in anon games because I'm gay, but that's another story). If someone gets mad that I'm taking things seriously, then I disconnect and find another team. If someone's upset that I'm jumping around and taking things more lightly, then I do the same. It's just a matter of finding players who share your goals, and great games can be had when that occurs (private servers are the best things ever btw).

 

[Strazdas]

To me a try hard is a person who concentrates on the win only and forgets that you can also have fun with a game.

Just putting this out there: Maybe that is their fun? Who is anyone else to judge?

Im not talknig about those people. im talknig about those that think games are made to win, all else be damned and wining is a default operation that must be obeyed at any cost. theres no fun in there. these type of people usually avoid open ended games because "i cant win it its not a game".

Obviously there must be some fun in there if they derive pleasure from that...
Again -- if that is what they think is fun, all the more power to them. Who is anyone else to judge them for it?

Not all obsessions result in fun and pleasure.

 

[electric method]

Depending on the game being played "try hard" has a couple of different meanings, all roughly the same. The one I am most familiar with is in FPS's. In most cases there Try Hards are those folks that are just trying so damned hard to be MLG and thinking they are better than every one else. Then they start name dropping pro's names, insulting everyone that cannot beat them, cursing out team mates if they go negative and never, ever, ever accepting anyone could possibly be better than them. Also in their "tryhardness" they will screw over their team mates to get kills etc not even realizing they are the ultimate cause for the loss of a game. Oh, and yeah... most think power weapon whoring is actually skillful.
Think that about covers it....

 

[Rol3x]

The term had meaning for me well before online gaming came into my life so my definition of it is a bit harsher than most, it is a pretty nasty insult to call someone a tryhard from my perspective.

In my definition it has a more damning connotation than trying to win at a game enthusiastically or playing well, it means a glaring weakness in personality where flash is more important than substance and being good natured, believing the quality of an experience isn't as important as the resulting score or performance evaluation.
A star player who scores constantly but takes unnecessary risks and doesn't play as a team is a try hard.