First Foray Onto Xbox Live Voice Chat

Well due to some REALLY unfortunate health issues with people at work I've been at work the last two days. Which is good - I'm happy to help out while others heal, but still frustrating as I was really getting into the whole lethargy thing. Work is high tension at the moment and all of my relaxed state was surely tested. In the end I'm not super relaxed, just elated it's Friday.

The other night I was struck with insomnia so I cashed in some money for points and played Uno online. I used the headset successfully for the first time. As you may or may not know I LOVE Uno. I always have and likely always will. I first entered a room where I was sure people were talking but couldn't hear them. Silly me forgot to adjust the sound button. Then I entered a room and played with one guy who barely spoke and another who was SO wasted and belligerent I turned my Mic off because I thought he was hysterical. i entered a room and learned to adjust my mic as two guys kept trying to cheat (playing Kameo partners) and try as they may I kept winning even with revolving partners. My best move was when they took my 3 cards from me to give me a billion and in five minutes I had my hand down to four cards while the guy who took them had a billion. Oh yes...good times.

Then I entered another room playing partner Kameo Uno with a cool woman (generally speaking military women are so cool to talk with) and a guy who seemed decent enough to play. We had a grand time playing partners Uno, trash-talking and laughing friendly converation and as I am still learning some of the buttons I did occasionally make some pretty silly errors. The fourth partner spot for the most part was a revolving door of people...until HE arrived. New guy.

I probably should have taken the other female player's cue and dropped out shortly after his arrival, but the conversation was at points fascinating in it's blind rage and ambition. The new guy was either stoned (no wait... too angry for stoned actually) or drunk (more likely), but certain that his largely negative, angry views on everything were correct. New guy started asking our political views on the current administration and then proceeded to talk over anyone who might attempt to voice a contrary opinion with his, while yelling why his was the correct conclusion. The conversation went from politics, military, religion - new guy raged and decent enough guy tried to debate. While I can express my own opnions, I chose to remain quiet because frankly I was entertained and much more than that I just wanted to play. The conversation stopped short of anything else inflammatory when his connection dropped him out of the room. The absolute worst part of that whole exchange besides some outrageous words is that he did keep winning the Uno game while he yelled - very annoying. In my defense, I only had the computer as my partner at that point and it is not very intuitive.

As I laughed with the remaining "decent enough" fellow for a few minutes we really started cracking up when new guy sent us both friend requests. Decent enough and I spoke a little longer, he asked a few good natured questions and there was no flirty talk stuff happening and then...the tone and questions began to turn. Not indecent, but definitely down that road. Here is the funny part about this for me anyway: in offline life, while I believe myself to be a fairly "bright bulb," perceptive and intuitive about many things I freely admit I am one of the most oblivious women you will ever meet when it comes to people hitting on me. I always have been and it has greatly amused my friends and family alike for years - they love to trade stories about it which really you would think would get seriously old by now....but no, they laugh themselves to tears, dammit.

The thing is I can spot someone hitting on you almost without fail, but for myself - never. I believe this is because I am generally genuine and friendly, I don't mind if people are flirty or silly as I give what I get, but mostly...I just don't take flirty behavior seriously unless you are so direct or so obvious I really truly can't miss it. And please understand I'm very good at missing it....so if it's that obvious where I don't, you've probably made A LOT of effort. No, I will not share the stories. They will only amuse the daylights out of you and embarrass me. No.

Anyway, I'm pleased to think my intuition works better online due to the fact that I realized the tone of the questions were changing gears. The moment I realized it, I excused myself and wished him well - had to get rest for work anyway. You know he sent me a friend request too?

I'm not or don't mean to sound like a hater. Things happen organically online and elsewhere between people and I'm not throwing stones if you are one who indulges in fun like that. Flirting with people in the right situations can be fun. And it is almost always flattering when someone expresses interest in you.

But people....when I am onine to play Uno, I am online to play Uno. How can that ever be the right situation? Doesn't everyone who plays Uno play it to play it? :P