In the spirit of the DOTA / Basketball comparisons from my first post.. I thought it would be fun to look at trash talk in both games.

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In both DOTA and basketball, for better or worse, there is a strong trash talking culture. In my games, I’ve never been much of a talker – until I’m talked to. Then depending on my own perception of my current “tiltability” I’ll engage. Generally though, I find it better to let my play speak for itself.

At the right level of intensity, some good back and forth can bring out the best in both teams. Sometimes, it can give one team or player an edge as they goad the opponent into foolishly aggressive moves. And other times, it can get completely out of hand.

Of course there are a couple of key differences. The trash talking stakes in basketball tend to be higher. There is no mute button, and if someone really “tilts”, talk can get physical quickly. That’s why the trash talking in DOTA can become MUCH more aggressive when out of hand. There is nothing like the barrier of internet anonymity to protect you from the opponent whose mother you claimed to have just dishonored.

Another major difference I’ve found is trash talking between teammates. That hardly exists in basketball, and is generally considered a faux pas. In DOTA, sometimes the majority of the trash talk occurs within the team. Often it starts due to conflict over roles, misplays, or just perceptions of skill in general. Unfortunately this is a knock against esports and frankly the internet in general. The lack of real accountability makes it easy to be toxic.

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Anyway in the spirit of comparing trash talk between the two:

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If DOTA’s All-Chat Existed in Basketball

I plan on writing some more serious posts down the line…