I think iSketch is a great pastime. I only discovered it a couple of weeks ago and I’ve played for at least 2 hours every day since then. So far I’ve only played in the Easy UK rooms. Whilst I’ve had some very enjoyable games in that time, there are far too many stupid kids playing who wreck the games. They can’t draw anything remotely identifiable, use letters frequently (and obscene drawings sometimes), their spelling is atrocious and their chat often offensive.

I’m not saying all kids who play are like that, but the ones who aren’t are probably hard to distinguish from the more sensible adults by their behaviour.

Even if you create a room and invite people, you seem to get trolls arriving who cheat or generally cause mayhem.

What is the solution? If I can’t find one I’ll have to find something else to do.

I expect you’ll tell me to go to the Advanced games, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet!

If you don't want to go to the Advanced rooms quite yet, I suggest going to the Special rooms. (Just click on the 'Special' tab above the list of rooms to play in.) There aren't as many trolls in there, though we sometimes get a bunch of idiots in Tandem that don't understand or care about the rules. (If you're going to play in Tandem, be aware that there are specialized rules for that room.)

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Go to 5 strokes, same US basic wordlist but the difference is that you have 5 clicks of the mouse to draw, so make long strokes.

If not there's plenty of specialty rooms that have basic wordlists, like movies,big pic, two word big pic etc. The game style varies but the lists are easy. Do read the rules before you draw in those.

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Created rooms can be set to invite only. This restricts your player base, by not allowing randoms in, but it also means you don't get any muppets in.

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If you do choose to create your own room please remember that as the op you can remove anyone you want and you don't even need a reason.

As BM said you can make the room invite only by setting the player limit to 1 when creating the room.

Personally I think you're over stating the problem. If they have bad drawing skills and/or spelling that's no big deal; there's a thing called practice. The other things can get irritating though. If you're going to go to "special" rooms, then as is said above, there's a lot of those with easy word lists - you might even find them more fun than UK/US easy. I'd stay away from Anything But though; as much as I like that room, it tends to be full of people who don't understand it.

If that's no good then the solution is just to leave the room you're in and go to a new one. At any given time on iSketch there's bound to be awful rooms and nice rooms. If you're not enjoying the room you're in, don't stay in it (especially if it's an easy room as there's generally 15-25 different ones open at once.)

Thanks to everyone who replied! Your advice was very helpful.

Usually when I play it’s mostly OK, but I think I was just unlucky last night – I tried about 6 rooms and they were all as bad as each other!

I’ll try some of the other games too ...

If you create a room and there're ppl who are impolite, rude in their draws, or others, you could type /kick (username). This will only work if your the owner of the room.
My opinion is identical to NH. Don't call those kids stupid, your exaggerating. As long as they play and follow the rules, it's fine.

I think stupid kids are a major problem. The only way to solve that problem is to karate chop them.

That room claims to be "Pleasant" - but half of the users are dishing out insults, and the other half are throwing out karate chops.

I question your judgement ;)

I agree with Horst_Radish on some points - some days every room you go to, it seems that people are there just itching for an e-fight with someone/anyone!

The drawing skills I have no issue with - it takes a while to control the mouse, and I know, even after a year (and a new tablet) that my pics seem to look much better in my head than on the canvas! It's also nice to see the reaction from a new player when they draw for the first time and a few people get their word - the 'OMG someone got it!" and "whoo" etc.

I do, however, get frustrated at players who are also new, making "you suck" comments to a new player.

With offensive chat - what is offensive to one person isn't necessarily offensive to another - you can ignore certain users by typing

/ignore USERNAME

and that way you won't be able to see anything they write in the chat box, guess in the guess box, or any emotes from them. If they are excessively rude, after you "lose your newbie dot", you can also vote to remove them from the room.

And the spelling - hehe - well, that isn't harming anyone but themselves as they don't get points for guessing the word if its spelt incorrectly.

As you play a little more, you will come across players who you like, who play fairly and by the rules, and you can put them on your buddy list so that you know when they are on and can choose to play in rooms they are in.

I feel like you do sometimes Horst_Radish - on days when I have been kicked out of rooms because I've warned someone for drawing porn, or when I've been selected by someone with a chip on their shoulder as the person to direct their anger at, or voted for 'cheating' because I got a word when no-one else did, or simply because someone didn't like my name (once I was kicked out of a room by a girl and her friends, and when I went back in and asked why she said it was 'because I sounded prettier than her'...).

So, yeh, some days are not particularly good, but, in the end, if you're not enjoying it, as you say, there are other games to play.



"Some days are diamondsssssss, some days are stone........
Sometimes the hard times.....won't leave me alone......
Sometimes the cold wind....puts a chill in my bones.......
Some days are diiiiaaaaamondssss......some days are stone......"
(with thanks and apologies to John Denver)

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Lmao...is this person for real? he/she sounds like a wrinkly old politician ha!
and the drawing up there...I believe its the work of the Great WooMooLooLoo...my hero!

May I ask... whom are you referring to when you suggest they sound like a wrinkly old politician

Blimey.. this place is turning into Spam Heaven.....

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AWww, you didn't like my singing

*spams a little more.....*

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Wasn't referring to your good self Saffron... your post was good

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Hah JoshuaCaleb's picture was hilarious.

And I'd just like to say stupid kids are a major problem everywhere :P

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Credits go to Demented for the pie!

So does it mean a person who is creating trouble is a kid?

You can't actually say it that way? It's of an insult to me. Kids are, sometimes ridiculous, but does it mean ALL kids do evil? I don't believe that because I don't.

Ok let's talk about the 'some' that do.

Sometimes, kids do do things that are against the rules, or bad mouthing people. Porn drawings, quarrels, fights... All you have to do is ignore them, carry on, and play the game! If porn is drawn once, warn. If it is done repeatly, boot to kick that player, or ask an admin to help you.

These 'meddlesome' kids won't let us stop carrying on with the game!

It's not uncommon that some young adults or older adults become troublemakers, but I hear from good authority that it's mostly in the 14-17 range that gives players the most trouble. Then again, does being that age qualify oneself to be a kid? I'd say stupid anybody can be a major problem.

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Well said, 2.0. It shouldn't be 'Stupid "KIDS" are a major problem'? It's not all our fault

And a very good point 2.0 - age doesn't really matter and it's always the minority regardless who could potentially spoil the game.

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some of your know i'm a kid but i'm not stupid. i understand every room, warn only if the word with letters (i would warn porn drawers if i ever saw one in a room i am in and i don't draw it) and never insult someone! but i know you wern't aiming at me.

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the reecer is racer
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The person didnt say "kids are stupid" which is what a lot of people have taken from it, nor have they said that anyone making trouble is a kid - although if we're being realistic then probably the majority of the time that statement would be true.

They also said "I’m not saying all kids who play are like that, but the ones who aren’t are probably hard to distinguish from the more sensible adults by their behaviour."

If they were to change it to say "stupid players", he/she wouldn't be saying that we're all stupid.

If you really don't think that the majority of rule breakers, trouble makers and porn drawers are younger players, I think you're being a bit naive...

i know teenagers and adults can be bad too!

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the reecer is racer
Grow my minycity, Kinnaberg!
http://kinnaberg.myminicity.com
http://kinnaberg.myminicity.com/ind
http://kinnaberg.myminicity.com/tra

Well teenagers are in fact kids if under 18 in most countries. Speaking purely from my own personal experience as an admin I would say I face a lot more trouble younger players than adults. That said, I do meet some great younger players who restore my faith that not all kids are a pain. I also come across some highly belligerent adults who do not take kindly to being reminded of the game rules.

All in all I try my best to judge each situation I encounter with an open mind and only act on the evidence I see.

To me, the kids are most of the time:

- LOUDLY PRESENT IN THE ROOM LOOKING FOR BORDERS, USING FOUL LANGUAGE, CAPS and ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU VOTE. ( VOTE!!! lol)
- Seeking attention by responding to everything you say.... to be solved with IGNORE!!! it works great!! (yes, it's annoying: you cant see what the brat has to say, but that isn't the point, the point is that you protect yourself from replying because the kids will try to /poke you, time after time.)
- Just playing, having fun ( make a compliment? wow you are 16 and playing this good?)
- sometimes:, but that is rare, you end up in a real good discussion, about game rules, about life or anything else. I think those are the most valuable moments.

I like the fact that kids are visiting iSketch.
Yes, they do take away a lot of time, but our own kids do that as well. I have seen many adults responding in different ways: same level as the kids ( its funny, but it doesn't solve anything) or talking to them, being interested, and that ALWAYS takes the need to be a PITA out of the way.
Changing the atmosphere in the room is the biggest thing you have control over, just by giving the right example, by enjoying the game.