I play games to enjoy myself, and that means actually playing — not performing rituals for strangers who may or may not even be sincere about it. When someone tells me I 'have to' dance at the start of a match or participate in some unwritten tradition, they're essentially trying to dictate my experience in a game I chose to relax with. The reality is that these 'fun' moments often fall apart anyway — someone always breaks the truce, someone always ruins the bit, and then I've wasted time and put myself at a disadvantage for nothing. I'm not being toxic, I'm not ruining anyone's game, I'm simply playing the game as it was designed. Casual doesn't mean I owe strangers a performance. My fun looks different from yours, and that's okay. I shouldn't have to justify skipping your version of fun just to avoid being lectured in chat. Play your game, I'll play mine — that's literally what a multiplayer casual mode is about.
Casual game modes exist precisely because not everything has to be hyper-competitive. When a community develops lighthearted traditions — like a pre-game dance or a gentleman's agreement to delay fighting — it's a genuine attempt to make the experience more human and enjoyable for everyone involved. Refusing to participate isn't just a personal choice; it actively signals to your teammates that you're not interested in the shared social experience, which affects the group's vibe. Gaming is inherently social, and in casual settings especially, a little goodwill goes a long way. Nobody is forcing you to have fun a certain way forever, but taking thirty seconds to engage with your teammates builds camaraderie and often makes the whole match more enjoyable — even for you. Dismissing these traditions as pointless or risky is a pretty cynical way to approach something that most people genuinely enjoy. Loosening up a little isn't losing your identity as a player; it's just being a decent teammate.