The Etiquette of Friends on Xbox LIVE

Friends on Xbox LIVE are important.  There are many reasons why you would want to have a friends list populated with non jerks.  Just like your friends in the real world, there is a certain etiquette that should be used when dealing with friends on Xbox LIVE.  Also, following a few simple rules will ensure your list will be full in no time.   

So how do you get friends?  The first and golden rule is to not be a jerk.  Treat people you meet on live like you would treat someone you meet at work or walking down the street. 

R.O.E. (Rules of Etiquette)

• If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it all.
• No singing into the mic.  No one wants to hear you plus you are a horrible singer.
• Try not to shout or swear at people.  At the end of the day the goal is to have fun.
• If someone is new at a game, maybe try to lend a hand and show them the ropes.  After all, a well trained friend is a good friend.
• Mute and avoid rather than confront a jerk.  This will save aggravation and it’s kind of funny to think of the member on the other end yelling at their T.V. only to be ignored by the rest of the world.

When you find someone on Xbox LIVE who you enjoy playing with, the next logical step is to send them a friend’s request.  In your request try to include a short text or voice message indicating why you want to be their friend or how you know them.  A lot of times, unexplained friends requests tend to be ignored.

Having a solid foundation of good friends to play with on Xbox LIVE will make your experience online significantly better.  These friends are in a sense your support network.  Treat them well and in turn they should return the favour.  If they don’t, follow this simple rule: Mute and boot.

Another good way to get friends on Xbox LIVE is to use the new “Friends of Friends” feature.  Chances are that if someone you really like playing with is a model citizen then they most likely have likeminded members on their friends list.  Maybe ask that person who they recommend adding and who they think would give you the best experience.

If things get too competitive or you get sick of losing, try playing a co-op game with friends.  Several games have co-op modes that foster cooperation and beating up on mindless A.I.

Follow these simple rules and you too can be enjoying your time on Xbox LIVE more than you ever thought possible.

-         Jaken Bear, Xbox.ca