What is Tea-bagging in Video Games?
Tea-bagging is a type of taunting in video games where a player crouches repeatedly and quickly over their defeated opponent. The term comes from the phrase “tea-bagging,” which is a sexual act in which one person places their genitals on another person’s face.
Tea-bagging has been around since the 1990s, when it first appeared in first-person shooter (FPS) games such as Quake. It is seen as a form of humiliation in gaming and as such is mostly done to express dominance or superiority over an opponent. It is seen as a juvenile and demeaning act and can be viewed as a form of trash-talking or trolling.
How is Tea-bagging Performed in Video Games?
In FPS games such as Call of Duty and Halo, tea-bagging is performed by pressing a button to make a character crouch and then quickly repeating that action multiple times. This is typically done over the corpse of a defeated enemy and may be accompanied by additional taunts, such as verbally bullying them.
The Social Impact of Tea-bagging
Tea-bagging can be seen as a form of harassment and is frowned upon by many video game communities. It has been banned in several online games and in some tournaments, with those found to be engaging in the behavior often being disqualified or punished.
Tea-bagging is also seen as a carry-over from the days of arcade gaming, and many gamers view it as a sign of immaturity or unsportsmanlike behavior. As such, it is generally discouraged, and those participating in it can be viewed negatively.
Conclusion
Tea-bagging is an infamous gaming taunting tactic which has been around since the ’90s. It involves quickly crouching over a defeated enemy and is seen as a demeaning act of trash-talking and humiliation.
Given its negative connotations, tea-bagging is largely frowned upon by gaming communities and tournaments. It has been banned by some online games and can be punished as an unsportsmanlike behavior.