The worst thing about online games is verbal abuse. Kids and adults find a new freedom in turning shotgun shells into strangers, and it's easy for tensions to bleed off in competitive environments. But not anymore. Microsoft has updated its code of conduct for online gaming over Xbox Live, which contains some brilliant suggestions for harmless speech, complete with zingers like "getting destroyed", "I can't believe you thought you were on my level", and - our personal favorite - "it was a serious potato purpose." While it's easy to make fun of, it's also dangerous to overlook the toxic environment that can arise during online gaming, and it's reassuring that a console maker is the smart thing to do. explicit about what is not acceptable. Other "Going Too Far" guidelines call for sexual threats, profanity, and racial slurs (as they should be). You can see the full list of suggestions in the image below.
