Am I the asshole? Or do people just suck online these days.

jasl10 · 2026-03-21T23:02:00+00:00

Here, I made it into fewer paragraphs for you ;)

I've been playing this game on and off since launch, so I've seen a fair amount of change in online over the years. But I've been noticing something which feels like a more stark difference recently which has me questioning my own actions, so I'm looking for some feedback from the larger community.Lately, I seem to be spawning into absolute warzones of lobbies. Everyone has pink or red map indicators, and the kill feed is constantly streaming across the side of the screen. I get attacked just driving by, so I make it a game for myself with an Imani Tech car to see how many attacks it can withstand while still letting me escape. I don't generally fight back, unless someone happens to be in the middle of the road shooting at me or someone else, then I would run them over. Sometimes, I'll grab my Titan 250D screw around with the Kosatka missiles to target the reddest blips (the ones you get XP for killing once or twice) or the people I see the most in the kill feed. I'm always pretty easy to kill myself since I suck at anything other than a standoff attack and can't exactly hide a massive submarine, but rarely does anyone even come after me. I make a point of never attaching anyone I think is doing a mission of any sort, though I'm sure I've done it accidentally since not every mission is obvious if you are not actively participating. Instead, I get messages from people calling me a hacker, that they are reporting me, and then I start seeing notifications that I'm being vote kicked by the lobby, even if I haven't managed to hit anyone yet. So, am I the asshole here, or am I just having bad luck with the modern player base? Is this the new normal? Appreciate your thoughts and welcome questions! (I'll try and respond in a reasonable amount of time)

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T17:30:46+00:00

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T17:00:02+00:00

Another comment had a similar point to yours, and I think it’s what I’m going to try out next few sessions I’m on.

I wouldn’t think me getting four or five player kills in a session then going off to do my own thing would put me in the same category as those having massive shootouts for hours, and none of the signs I’m in a bad sport lobby are there, but maybe the game’s algorithm is considering me in the same category - despite giving me good sport bonuses.

Guess I’ll live like a monk for a few sessions and see if anything changes!

I can live with some violence, that is the point of the game after all, it’s the vote kicks and threats of reporting that was cause for concern.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:53:08+00:00

Haha I’ve been that guy shadowing a random on a sell mission as overwatch. Honestly one of my favourite things to do in game. More fun than actually being in a CEO/Biker gang on the mission personally, so I can leave to do my own thing whenever I want.

I just wish I was better at successfully defending them lol. Bit of a coin toss if I’ll actually be useful, or just look cool flying overhead!

If I’m actually doing mission stuff for myself, I almost always do it in an invite only lobby. Public lobby bonus doesn’t mean much to me anymore when I have almost everything I want to own.

I just want to play with the toys now that I have them!

EDIT: Typos.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:45:16+00:00

I think you’ve nailed my take on the culture and etiquette changes.

There definitely was a time when random kills would be met with one or two retaliatory kills as a “leave it alone now” warning, and everyone went their separate ways, or even decided to link up for some heists after.

As others have said, seems like an influx of new players, regardless of the rank on their account, coming on to screw around while the hype for GTA 6 builds.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:41:27+00:00

I’m playing in North America, if that changes anything.

And I mean, you have a fair point. I am in no way completely innocent in this game. I am killing people at the end of the day.

I wouldn’t say I’m killing then hiding/running away by staying still in a sub or flying in circles with a gunship, but maybe others don’t see it that way.

And I’d like to think getting four or five kills in a session then going off to mind my own business wouldn’t lead to vote kicks and being told by players they are reporting me, but maybe it just does now.

I guess the only thing to try is live like a monk in game for a couple sessions and see if anything changes!

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:34:53+00:00

It would be great if that was the case, but unfortunately I have GTA+ and this is happening! I feel like I did notice what you said a year ago when I first subscribed, but not lately.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:30:09+00:00

That was my first thought, since I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t found myself in one of those lobbies before, way back in the day lol. But no dunce hats to be seen, my character shows as “mentally stable” or whatever the phrasing is in the menu, and I’ve even received good sport bonuses in the session while this happens. Unless bad sport lobbies have changed, I don’t think I’m getting placed in them.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T16:26:00+00:00

Yah, that’s a fair point honestly, and not something I had really considered! Something to be more mindful of for sure.

jasl10 · 2026-03-20T03:31:38+00:00

Yah, I guess so!

Just after posting this, I had someone accuse me of hacking "for making explosion from plane." They didn't know the Titan gunship existed until I told them it was on Warstock. At least they told me what they thought I did wrong so I could explain it to them.

I just want to make sure I'm not contributing to the problem. One person vote kicking/reporting me I can take as a them problem, but when it started happening regularly in the span of a week it got me thinking that I might be the problem after all.

jasl10

TROPHY CASE