Smurfing (online gaming)

Smurfing, in the context of online gaming, refers to the practice of a well-known or highly-skilled player creating an unknown name, character or login, then using it to play against, defeat, and often humiliate low-skilled players.Fact|date=April 2007 The unknown character/login is necessary to fool the low-skilled players into entering the game, particularly if the high-skilled player is known to have done this before.Often, the player utilizing this "smurfing" technique will intentionally lower their "rank" or "record" by intentionally losing many matches, to further enhance the appearance of his apparent ineptitude to the game in which he/she is playing. Fact|date=April 2007 The oblivious opponent, seeing their low ranking, will see the match as an "easy win", which often leads to their further humiliation by being beaten by this apparent novice. In games with very small communities, in which the more skilled players have a hard time getting a game, they might go on a smurf account to get a game.

History and evolution

It is impossible to say for certain where and when the phrase was popularized. The phrase first gained popularity sometime between 1996 - 1998. It likely gained popularity when a small group of individuals whom started an online clan in a computer game gave themselves Smurf names. Likely, they lied about being new to the game, and used that to get easy wins against players that were new to the game, and/or used it to embarrass experienced players. It is likely the "Smurfs" continued to change names and pose as completely different individuals- then later brag about it. At some point in time, the "Smurfs" continued their practice of playing under new names and posing as different individuals, but quit using "Smurf" names as people caught on. The language probably propagated within the game's community as paranoid opponents who were aware of this asked players they were unfamiliar with: "Are you a smurf?". Gamers who played this game most likely brought the language to other online games they moved on to, which is how the term came to be what it is now. Because this behavior was mimicked by others who came across it, it is impossible to give credit to any particular individuals or say it started with any particular game.

Smurfing has also come to use in the online forum world. A smurf account is when you sign up on a forum with a new account other than your regular one. The smurf account is often used to get around a ban or use to post under a name that no one knows is you. They are usually used to flame other members or break rules and not suffer punishment.

See also

*Hustling
*Sandbagging
*Sockpuppet