Xbox Live isn't always a nice place. Everyone has horror stories about some of the things they've heard (or, in rare cases, seen) coming from some of the more "unsavory" elements of the burgeoning online community. There's a good chance (especially if you play as much Halo 2 as I do) that you've heard more racist and homophobic comments than polite ones. Now, I'm certainly no prude, and there are plenty of moments when I'll spew a steady stream of profane invectives at whichever fool just blasted my avatar. Usually, it will be something along the lines of "Oh man, &%&$# you, you $^%#& %$@&#! I should %*#(@ tear off your $*^%@^% head and %#@#*& it!" As the old saying goes, never trust anyone who doesn't swear.

Still, I limit the content of my diatribes to the usual words you aren't supposed to say in front of your grandmother. It's one thing to call someone a name, but it's something else entirely to call them a name based on what their ethnic makeup may (or, in most case, may not) be. If I had a dollar for every time I was referred to with a racial epithet that doesn't even fit me, I'd be a rich man. It's not only misguided, it's just plain evil. Everyone loves some good old fashioned smack talking (after all, that's one of the best parts about playing against other people), but there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. With that in mind, let's take a brief look at some of the ways we can each do our part to make Live a more enjoyable place to play.

Note: Jerks generally wear blue. Watch out for them!

Try congratulating people for a job well done. We've all been killed by someone who does something amazing to get the job done (or maybe they're just plain better than you). Have you ever considered giving them kudos? A simple "Hey, man, that was a nice shot" or "Damn, I didn't even see you coming" will suffice. A lot of people won't even congratulate their own teammates for helping them to win the game, which amazes me. Instead, they'll spend the last few minutes chewing someone out for not letting them get the energy sword at the start of the match or something equally inane. It's ridiculous. Congratulating an opponent for a nice kill or mad skillz will invariably help to get the goodwill ball rolling.

Report or give negative feedback to racists or jerks. This one just doesn't get used enough, in my opinion. You can complain all you want about somebody dropping N-bombs or using homophobic terms, but nothing's going to come of it if you don't report them. Most Live games have a built-in feedback system that can be accessed by selecting a player, then choosing the option that best matches their alleged transgression against you. You can also choose to mute them (this will only affect what you can hear, not what everyone else does) if you don't want to hear what they have to say. These options are pretty limited, but it looks like we'll have more power when Xbox 360 comes our way.