Warning: Long post. Ranting. TLDR inc.

First I'd like to preface this discussion/rant stating that this is in no way a elitist bash at certain players, merely observations on what is an increasingly annoying trend, though it is something that has always existed in FPS games where a large majority of the playerbase are casual gamers.

First, it's an accepted fact, due to studies that most people think they're above average at many qualities, compared to others. Which is ironic, considering that most people are,. per-definition, average at most things. This is called Illusory Superiority, the Above Average Effect, and a host of others names. (Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority).

Hacking, in Call of Duty, on the PC has been a problem, which we're all aware off. In the most recent title, MW3, it was most rampant during the first months as cheats from MW2, which MW3 was built on, still worked, and MW2 is an abandoned hack-fest. However, due in part to the abundance of obvious hackers on MW2, and the cognitive bias of a lot of current players that overestimate their own level of skill at the game, I've found that any time you do anything above the norm in this game, be it a high score, a MOAB, or anything that's "better" than that of the person on the receiving end, you get accused of hacking. I could rant on how this has to do with the bad trend in upbringing due to some horrible "accepted" pedagogical studies that emerged during the late 90s, early 2000s, which caused parents to overly shower their children with praise and give them an unrealistic view of their abilities but.. let's just leave it at that.

I have a fairly good grasp of my skill at this game. I've gotten MOABs with many guns, playing aggressively.I have a great gaming setup, great headpones, good connection, all of that jazz. I can even multitask and watch my UAV and the rest of the screen at the same time (wow, good boy there). I've also faced players like TheIncredibleOrb, and played alongside players like TBNRFrags. I know and have seen that there are better people out there than me, be it through talent, time invested or whatever other factors. MW3 isn't a very competitive game, especially if you're played FPS shoooter games for many years. It's not hard to actually become decent at the game, since it's designed with casual gamers in mind. It's not CS, QL or -insert your own competitive FPS game- which is populated by people who played it for years end and the game is mostly based around player-skill.

I get called a hacker at least every other game, because someone who's vastly overestimated how good they are, thinks that it's impossible for someone to be better than them.

Everyone can spot an obvious aimbot. Someone that's using a godmode hack. Calling in UAVs at the start of the match. Etc.

But. Most people cannot spot the difference between a really good player, and someone who's decent or better at the game and using a wallhack without being totally obvious about it. I've talked to both VAC-employees and admins on highly competitive CS servers. Spotting someone with a wallhack is VERY HARD, and requires a lot of proof. It's not something most players can do. I'm talking about a non-obvious waller, not someone who's bad and simply keeps foolowing someone perfectly through a wall for 5 seconds straight.

A lot of people like to "blame" things outside of their control for why they die. Connection, lame tactics, overpowered guns. Random ****. And hacking. And some of those arguments might be valid, sometimes.

But take a step back and think for a second. Are you really a top-tier fps player? Is it impossible for someone to outclass you, by far? Actually watch killcams, replays in theater and think. Many people are totally oblivious to their surroundings in the game. Sound, UAV, predicting commonly used camper spots. When I round corners I pay attention to my UAV. Where people on my team died. I aim at places where people like to prone out or headglitch to either camp or cap dom spots. I've gotten kills on people who had the heads-up on me simply because I've played on a high-sensitivity for years and have a decent twitch-reflex and aim.

Take a look at the channels/streams of some of the most popular players. It's possible to be that good. It's possible to get a MOAB without hacking. It's possible to have a great score. And in most cases, unless you're part of the 0.01% elite, it's probably possible to be better than YOU (myself included).

Again, I'm not trying to be elitist, or bashing anyone. Statistically speaking, most players must be average. Law of averages. In the grand aspects of thing, how good you are at Call of Duty doesn't matter. It's a game. Play it to have fun. It's actually okay to not be the best at everything. No one can be. Your worth as a person isn't judged by a score on a scoreboard. It's just really annoying that being above average at this game gets you bitched at 24/7.

I was actually shocked when I got a MOAB the other day and people said good work. Only one guy bitched. It made me think there's still hope for the PC community, and humanity in general for a brief second.

Which brings me to my last point.

I'm really appreciative of Bancandy and IW/Activision's initative to clean out the PC platform, as I like fair play. I'm just afraid that he manual bans are issued by someone who, and I'm not trying to be disrespectful here, isn't that great of a player, on the PC. Spotting and banning the obvious stuff is very easy. I just hope that whoever is judging and administering the bans are qualified for it, and reserves a great deal of judgement for the less-than-obvious stuff. And again, I mean no offence, I'm just very curious as I'm not familiar with whoever it is IW/Activision has employed to monitor and administer these bans.

Oh yeah, and to the clever trolls. I'm not mad. Bro.