oh hi snowy! there you are. i have a nice new box of bon bons!!

I made them from this recipe:
http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2013/10/old-fashioned-bon-bons/

Muting players in a game and muting people on the forum are different functions, so neither will carry over to the other. Does that answer your question?

hi bo, want some bon bons?

dealt with that in a couple games - some people take this 'game' way too seriously

At one level we can say "it's only a game" but players can be very passionate and emotionally involved, and that needs to be understood. There are some generally accepted standards as to what is/is not acceptable.. eg racist abuse is unnaceptable. I think you have to take into account specific circumstances. For example, I never take kindly to a doublecross from another player who has given commitments to be an ally. I'm fine with being attacked by another player who has made no such commitments, made no such agreement to be an ally or have a peace arrangement with me. But anyone who thinks they can make an alliance deal with me that they then break without any warning and pull a backstab had better expect a "verbal" onslaught and more. Don't backstab me and think I will do and say nothing, or offer thanks. That's taking a most Pollyanna like view.
I don't think I abused Tom "Bombarding" in response to his backstabbing me in a game, but my response did cause some controversy and surprised the players in that game.
My response to a backstab is.. Abusive "in game" messages, and I'll probably put my country into Civil Disorder and leave the game
If you don't like that, then don't backstab me.

"Unprovoked" abuse in "in game" messages... Either ignore, or respond as Snowy suggests, return fire triplefold..Up the ante, increase the stakes..and stir the abuser right up...keep them in a wild, emotional frenzy..they are less likely to make the best decisions, play as well as they might, and most importantly, use diplomacy to isolate them within a game, and defeat them. Then crow in triumph.

i hear you Major Mitchell - I get emotionally involved in games too - and can't stand players that aren't committed / make stupid moves that kill a good alliance / etc. But at no time should diplomatic anger become abusive

This person barely spoke to me in the game. We just didn't mesh well chemistry wise during the game I ended up eliminated and wasn't really paying attention to the fact the game ended when I get this long message about how much this dude hates me, and crap like that. I wasn't even a dick like I usually am in games. He just started attacking lol.

I think he is offended by the smallpox inside joke from like 2 years ago. But I've honestly never even heard of this guy or even know how he knows about it.

@Bo- totally does, enevee have had to mute in game before and I'm highly opposed to muting people in the forum.

Maybe I'll give him a few days to cool off and post a link to the archives for the game. Let's just say I responded by calling him 26 different names; one for each letter of the alphabet.

lol xenophobe?

I couldn't disagree with MajorMitchell more. Carp all you want, but putting your country into CD over a stab is childish and cheapens the games for other players. Betrayals are part of the game. That approach to such events makes you an unworthy opponent.

To the original question, my response is good will and humor. Most everyone gives up really quickly when they can't break a target's good cheer. snowy's approach, by contrast, usually keeps them going. Even if you up the ante or feel like you're scoring points, the other person rarely feels that, but it feeds their fire. If you remain happy and unaffected, it is generally unsatisfying harping on you.

But Yoak, 'tis only a game, and I play for MY enjoyment. If some backstabbin' rat takes all possible pleasure for ME out of the game, then I'm not interested in further participation.

Well ridicule mixed with obviously false affection is another tactic. I think the best trick I came up with for dealing with James Yannick, before simply muting the blighter, was to start calling him "Sweet James", "sweetypie" etc

Bon bons anyone? I made them myself.

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=200276

There ya go.

I figured it out I apparently was critical of his poor press during SoW so now he's coming for me or something. Instead of learning from it. Truly a strange situation.