Discord is becoming that overbearing friend that knows absolutely way too much about my life

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(Image credit: Discord)

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More and more, I find myself thinking about that New York Times article,We Should All Know Less About Each Other. Okay, yes, that was a far more serious insight into an increasingly interconnected world and one research paper’s (failed) attempt at breaking down political echo chambers. Discord’s all-seeing gamer eye isn’t quite so crucial to our society, but it sure is starting to feel like a lot.

Seeds of Discord

Now listen, I know the concept of online statuses is older than some of you reading this. I was insistent on making sure everyone knew which emo banger I was giving myself hearing damage with on MSN, and seeing my high school boyfriend in the trenches of Nuketown on the Xbox 360 was usually a pretty good indicator of why he wasn’t texting me back on BBM.

They’ve literally been around for as long as I can remember at this point, and the thing is Idolike them! I like seeing when my friends are playing a game I also want to play, almost like an unspoken invitation to dive in and say hello. It’s cool to see someone else playing something I like but haven’t seen too many others trying out, giving me the perfect conversation starter I may not have otherwise had without that knowledge.

But has anyone else noticed Discord is starting to act like a bit of an overbearing friend, keeping tabs on what we’re doing and what we have been doing like, all the freakin' time? Like okay Discord, I was cool with you telling everyone what I was playing. I didn’t even really mind your Rich Presence integration for some games, giving my friends a lil' extra info on what exactly I was getting up to within whatever game I was playing.

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Sure, I can just turn it off, but with it I have to go totally dark and entirely hide what I’m playing. If I’d rather not have everyone know I’m on my 20-day sicko-streak for my latest gacha game obsession, then nobody can know I’m playing it at all. I’m either forced to walk onto the stage stark naked for all to see, or I don’t get to perform Macbeth at all. And I at least want people toknowI’m performing Macbeth, you know?

I do wish I had a little more agency over how much of an oversharer I can be on Discord. I use it every single day, it’s where I talk to almost all of my friends and it’s even a good metric for figuring out what the Hot Game of the moment is, which unsurprisingly comes in handy for this ol' job. I don’t want to be a total recluse, but I don’t exactly want to be baring all, either. Just back off a little bit and give me some more personal space please, Discord, okay? Thanks.

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Seeds of Discord#

Oversharing is not caring#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Seeds of Discord

Oversharing is not caring

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals