The world of Trading Card Games (TCG) – think collectible, tradable, and battle-ready cards featuring anime characters or sports stars – is seeing a fascinating shift in Japan. Recent survey data reveals a growing number of female players, bringing a fresh perspective and, perhaps, a few new etiquette considerations to the scene.
Enter the internet's latest sensation: a fan-made guide titled "[Complete Strategy] Handbook for Interacting with Female TCG Players [Basic Edition]". This note article has blown up online, earning praise as the "ultimate social etiquette guide for otaku" and sparking a ton of conversation.
Penned by user "Mou Aonami Mawasenai Chiikawa," the author states their goal: "This guide was written to prevent uncomfortable pick-up attempts or stalking within the card game community, and I hope all male players will read it."
While framed as a "crime prevention" (i.e., preventing harm) manual, the article delves into crucial topics like "personal boundaries," "basic cleanliness," and "appropriate interaction methods" for all TCG players.
The guide cleverly uses "card game analogies" to teach male players how to avoid making female players uncomfortable.
For instance:
"Don't force conversation during a match; that's like interrupting someone's turn before they've finished their play."
"Basic hygiene is a starter deck, not a legendary rare."
"Avoid body odor. Please use various cleaning methods to keep yourself fresh so everyone can enjoy the game comfortably."
It also hammers home the point: "A TCG venue is for playing cards, not for dating." The author adds, "You don't need to be an idol. Just look clean and speak politely, and you won't be seen as a threat."
The author even throws in a scenario:
You see a guy and a girl happily playing at a card shop. What do you do?
1️⃣ "That deck's weak; I'll show you a stronger one."
2️⃣ "Hey, I play this too! Wanna chat about deck building?"
The answer: Both are wrong. The reason is simple – they're having fun together. Butting in will only disrupt them. It's like seeing a couple queuing at Disneyland and running up to say, "I love Winnie the Pooh too!" No matter how cool you think you are, it'll still be awkward. So the rule is: "Unless they initiate conversation, don't butt in."
Since its release, the article has been widely shared and cited across the Japanese internet. Many players commented, "It hit home," and "It hurts, but it's spot on." Numerous netizens also pointed out that while the guide focuses on TCGs, it's essentially an "introduction to human interaction." It's not just a harassment prevention manual; it's more like a "basic social skills class" – a guide on how to be a decent human being.
Some even argued that these guidelines are fundamentally about maintaining good social dynamics with people in general, not just card players. Many struggle with these seemingly basic, yet essential, behaviors. Another netizen quipped, "If you think, 'This is too much trouble,' then you're not ready to interact with people."
What started as a "handbook for interacting with female card players" to prevent inappropriate advances has now been widely embraced as an "otaku's guide to social etiquette."
It's not just for card players; it's about fundamental human interaction. If you're curious, you can check out the author's note article. This is just the first part, with more to come in the future.
via： togetter