I'm Bad

[@atmnwntr]

Now I can officially say im michael jackson

[@vovabars1234]

Based

[@thejerrylarryshow1953]

Based

[@catsarecute7447]

Based, but same

[@zacharyjohnson9562]

Based and hehe.

[@EonTheAien]

What

[@killerrabbi]

I'm so angry because I'm a psychotherapist and this dang nerd explained Cognitive Behavioral Therapy better in 10 mins than I've been able to in my entire career.

[@lowlypowered3071]

So a clickbait title could be "Button mashing man explains CBT?"

[@killerrabbi]

@@lowlypowered3071 "passionate man on camera NAILS CBT practice!"

[@GameGod77]

@@lowlypowered3071 "1000's of hours spent playing fighting games led to ultimate CBT experience".

[@IAMSTRINDOM]

unfortunately a lot of your peers are very, very good at overcomplicating things

[@MimebladeGMail]

Speaking of which, is Fighting Game Psychotherapy a thing?

[@Teacat24]

This entire video is Leon Massey giving us a pep talk, and I’m all here for it.

[@Hopper_Arts]

It's basically him encouraging you and saying "you can do it, belive in yourself!"

[@Doktor_Jones]

@@Hopper_Arts But is he?

[@Hopper_Arts]

@@Doktor_Jones debatable

[@ludgerwillkresnik4871]

It's a cope, actually.

[@HaVaJawbreaker]

One that I needed

[@p.m.4993]

How did this video on fighting games provide better advice for self improvement than like 90% of self improvement videos I've seen.

[@Top10AnimeBetrayals]

Gurus. They mastered the art of saying what everyone already knows and making it seem fascinating Esports games actively test players on the life lesson of changing strategies when strategies fail It's theoretical textbook reciting vs speaking from real experiencing and applying lessons abstractly

[@coolcool5181]

Self-help youtubers lose money when you help yourself. They have a vested interest in making sure you feel like you're going somewhere while going nowhere. That's not to say there aren't some helpful ones here and there, but in general the whole "business" is pretty predatory.

[@ludgerwillkresnik4871]

It's not because it tries to make scrubs feel like they have a right to exist. It's a cope, period.

[@samuelevans738]

@@ludgerwillkresnik4871 as is your internet presence, from what i've seen so far.

[@ludgerwillkresnik4871]

@@samuelevans738 And a "I am rubber and you are glue" to you too, saltlord. Git gud.

[@romansrevengethethirdstrik8086]

“You’re not a machine, you’re a person.” If only others had that view.

[@mrlolzies101]

Owch

[@Ridicul0se]

I’m not a dish, I’m a man

[@numnum3316]

Im a biological machine

[@oonkymppa5923]

Is that nuuskamuikkunen/whatever he is in other languages

[@reboomer8369]

@@numnum3316 "I am not machine-" "Sticks and stooones"

[@toadythetoast]

I'm actually impressed that you manage to slander Jack-O in every video, regardless of the subject matter.

[@Omla33]

As they say, spite is the greatest motivator.

[@DrGandW]

It’s not slander if it’s true

[@samuelevans738]

I just hope strive's dlc redeems her.

[@SaiKisaragi]

@@samuelevans738 It won't.

[@Prince-pd2uf]

@@samuelevans738 i just hope that returning character isn't jack-o or aria or whatever the fuck that thing is now

[@hacooray525]

"i'm bad" -Ky, post-crusades and pre-Xrd

[@Hopper_Arts]

Underrated comment

[@StriderHoang]

I got out of the “I’m bad” mentality during the GG beta, when I stopped worrying about accomplishing the goal of using Pot Buster and settled on, “Jesus Christ why is Pots’ sweep so good?”

[@dyldragon1]

Literally me dude.

[@jackalvonstone250]

Hehehe Sweep into Mega Fisto

[@dyldragon1]

@@jackalvonstone250 Does sweep really combo in to Mega Fist meterless? I've just been doing 2k into sweep

[@PakuTheMagnificent]

playing a grappler is a good gateway to that. you start with "I wanna land the big bad kill grab" and when you get bodied trying to get in on an axl u shift to "how do I get this guy to fall into my hands" and that's how u learn the big-boy gameplan of fightin games babey!!

[@dyldragon1]

@@PakuTheMagnificent Had this experience with Giovanna. Realized how suffocating her offense is up close so I kinda just use my giant buttons to keep her out.

[@StrawberryMooosic]

"You're not a machine, you're a person." I am now, but when I pick up Yun and sacrifice emotion for sick Genei Jin combos, that will change.

[@TobyBNook]

beautiful

[@denshitenshi]

Damn I didn't know quality therapy was so cheap nowadays.

[@cobaltghost34]

I swear that Leon on KZbin and Leon on Twitch are two different people

[@deveshwarsudhakar8392]

I mean it makes sense, doesn't it? He spends lots of time and puts lots of effort into his analytical yt vids, which would obviously be way different from his live streams.

[@easygoingdude9990]

When you lose : "I'm bad!" When opponent plugs : "Just beat it!" When your buddy is talking smack : "You wanna be startin' somethin' " When the shmix works : "You been hit by.. You been struck by A Smooth Criminal!" When publishers do something that's a blatant cash grab : "They don't really care about us!"

[@CaptainHandsome]

When the rematch option shows up: "Don't stop 'til you get enough!" When you're getting pressured: "Just leave me alone!" When you take a break from fighting games and play CSGO instead but immediately get killed by someone: "Stranger in Moscow"

[@mokaza40]

MJ is life

[@jamierose9095]

This makes me wanna scream.

[@mrosskne]

plugs?

[@easygoingdude9990]

@@mrosskne as in disconnect their internet or turn off their device mid game

[@Taractis]

This hits me super hard. This started for me in the real world. Decades of no self esteem have left me incapable of recognizing when I'm good at something, or even when I do something well. So therefor, defaults to "I'm bad." But on the other hand I also find myself thinking "My opponent is just better than me" a lot. Feels like there should be some kind of middle ground there. It also hurts that I'm right at the level where I'm too good to play most of my friends, but too bad to play at my locals.

[@MarkoLomovic]

I don't know if there is middle ground but to me admitting that I am bad and that this player is better is fine as long my next thought is "what can I do about it". When I find out player is just better I ask my self how can I use this person to get better. For example yesterday I played strive against this milia player who is just turbo and on point with execution and I realised that I just can't beat that but what I can do is improve my defense. So only thing I did was focus on blocking/movement and defending against being thrown and this slowly helped me take my turn and provide constant adapting to him. I exposed some weaknesses in his offense and defense and he adapted. I ended up losing 22 matches while I won 3. So that middle ground has to be what you take away from experiences like these.

[@thomasecton9803]

Wwwwwwwwwwqq

[@DrunkenCoward1]

I played Leon on stream a while ago and I said that I'm "boring Leon", because I was the only one in the room and wanted to switch out, since I'm a beginner, and felt that Leon wasn't being challenged by me. Leon went into a speech about how I shouldn't call myself bad and such, referencing this video, then later said "I really want to learn not to flow chart, when I'm playing against badder players like you." And someone in chat pointed out "Leon, did you just go into a tirad saying "Don't call yourself bad!!" and then followed it up with "But you are"?"

[@HYDEinallcaps]

Get Leon a laxative, because he is full of shit!

[@trickjump19]

i feel like this is the entire paradox of self confidence honestly, like to get better you have to acknowledge what you're doing wrong, without having that somehow beat you down to the point that you want to give up. it's like admitting but not admitting at the same time.

[@-_--_-1253]

@@trickjump19 You’re right, but I also think that the reason he went into a tirade is probably because he is projecting his own feelings. He hates seeing people without self-confidence because he hates seeing it in himself too. Like being exposed to that mentality is something he wants to avoid.

[@ellagage1256]

@@-_--_-1253 Mmm I think we all want to avoid it really. It hurts to see other people feel down on themselves and their confidence because we know how much it hurts to think that way. We're all just pushing each other through the learning process together

[@dj_koen1265]

@@-_--_-1253 maybe, but i personally view it as a logical thing, accepting you are bad is fine but you shouldnt feel bad about being bad and you shouldnt assume your opponent has a problem with you being bad, and if someone felt like they didnt want to play with me because they felt like they werent challenging me then i would say that i dont mind playing with them as long as they are having fun

[@tslayer5793]

I was contemplating and having questions like “ am i a scrub? “ because i was constantly complaining and i was rewarded with this vid and the answer is yes i am a scrub and im working on that. I dont want to be a scrub

[@chenklazer2069]

it's a relative attitude thing to be a scrub. but it's a completely different behavioral set distinct from "i'm bad" category

[@SomeRandomDude821]

remember, it's not scrubby to ask if something is broken, but it is scrubby to declare it is and complain about it. good luck on your journey out of scrubdom and towards progress, o Tslayer

[@logandunlap9156]

then get good by analyzing situations when you lose and acting upon that analysis in the future.

[@gum8788]

Nice, a lot of people stay in that phase forever

[@t4d0W]

There is a difference with a scrub mindset and utilizing scrub strategies to your benefit. The latter is accepting the strategies have a place and time in helping you grow as a player in your pursuit of winning strategies. The former is overthinking/leaning on the strategy too much and when people DO adapt to it, instead of acknowledging it the player complains instead that the results have changed. Adaptation is one of the behaviors/instincts I see in fast improving players because they are active in changing up their gameplans to try get a better handle at the situation.

[@DrMario-]

Reminds me a ton of LowTierGod. He's not garbage by any means. Rather, he's well above average in some of the games he plays, notably Street Fighter 5. He's up there in rank and that's impressive on its own. Sure, he's not top 1000, but platinum, or wherever he's at rn is pretty cool. It's just unfortunate that he has such a terrible attitude towards the games he plays, the characters, the mechanics, his opponents, and even his own chat, to the point where you can obviously tell that it affects his personal life to an extent. He just never blames himself. He never sees a situation as, "Oh, I messed up, let me do this next time or figure it out." It's always, "You're garbage, who tf uses V-trigger? That's a scrub mechanic for people who could never be good. Look at this dude, he's a nobody." What makes this worse is that he calls the people who beat him trash. Like what? If I lose to him, I'd get called trash, but if I win, it's the same? Tf kinda busted mentality is that? In all honesty, I've been hoping he would clean up his act for the last 5 years, but it just hasn't happened yet, which is a shame because I think he would be a pretty entertaining streamer if he got rid of over 95% of his toxicity. LTG alone makes me realize that I can't have that kinda mentality, and I use him as a reminder to always learn from my mistakes and to never rage. Also, amazing video. I could listen to these for days, even if I'm not the largest fighting game buff.

[@DrMario-]

@@elegy8187 Forgot about the Michael Jackson analogy. It's almost like he took the unhealthy blame from that side and applied to the blame everyone mentality of a scrub.

[@PoboiDraws]

@@elegy8187 honestly, I’ve wanted to like him for so long but I honestly can’t enjoy him as much as I want to because of his attitude towards others.

[@shun-li8204]

Are you sure about that last part? Some streams he plays non fighting games and the salt is cut significantly due to night having to fight another person and he's just so painfully bland. It's gotten so bad that the vast majority, if not his entire personality IS his toxicity so much so that he literally isn't himself when he isn't being a shitlord. I don't know what he went through in life for him to reach this point, but I'm convinced at this point in time that he's simply toxicity personified.

[@mysticmonogatari]

LTG being used as a positive example of how to change your mentality?! This must be a first

[@blackpants7385]

I mean, yeah, if he became a completely different person he could be entertaining in a way that doesn't entail people pointing and laughing at him.

[@Robotta]

With a title like this, I'm in for a good time. EDIT: This is one of your best videos. Thank you for making this.

[@archangelwolf1661]

"We are here to make progress, not perfection!" - PeterYMao

[@t4d0W]

One of my favorite Tekken youtubers. instead of approaching the game like its on some 7D chess shit and complaining about putting intermediate/advanced game techniques on a pedestal, he puts the game on a simple components and players are better at playing to those concepts than others.

[@damnation6713]

Even progress is impossible for a shitlord like me. :)

[@yosha101]

Actually a mister funny man once taught me the only way to feel after a match, "We both played bad".

[@olaitanogunlaja9754]

M2K?

[@cronasan6931]

i actually really wanna know who said this now i feel like its someone ive watched before & just missed this

[@chrispo7610]

@@cronasan6931 alpharad

[@cronasan6931]

@@chrispo7610 I freakin knew it I think I remember that now thx

[@SquidGrilla]

Watching this video from start to finish was hard for me. At some point I was trying to hold back tears. Every point included here all hits the problem I have been facing. I have told myself so many times that I'm bad at fighting games to the point that I'm afraid to even open most of them. I want to be able to have fun playing these games with people yet, I'm so focused on all the losses that it affects my thinking and have caused me to stop playing with people online. (Yes, I stopped playing online with people because of this reason.) It also doesn't help that where I am currently situated, there are no players who I can find matches with easily to play with and communicate with. Going online is also bad as it would be very laggy and no one wants to play a laggy game. Back to the points of the video, Yes, I'm not confident in my own ability because of this mentality. Yes, I have bad habits. Yes, I'm desperate to find a solution. and I absolutely have my mood meter at a very low point. There are so many things I struggle with that I would love to find a solution to them, however I feel as though I know too little about everything that I end up not trying at all. I feel lost and confused. Setting goals sounds interesting but, what if I don't even know which goals I have to set? There are so many goals that can be set leading the the "Win game" goal. and most of them, I don't even know about. It's quite intimidating in all honesty. I've watched this video 4 times now and will continue to rewatch it again and again. Some points I can understand and some points I am still trying to understand. So, I can't really comment on all of them. When I got to the line "Stop saying you're bad. You've invested time. You've learned You've developed..." and onwards was when I was unable to hold back tears. I believed that I am truly bad. Except, I have invested time. and during that time, I've learned and developed a lot. I should acknowledge it and use that as a starting point rather than beating myself up for doing something wrong during a match. I want to thank you for making this video as hearing someone speak about this has really affected me a lot. I also can connect to the sentiment in the last segment as well. I will be trying to help better myself not just in game but in life as well. Currently I'm a "Michael Jackson" but hopefully, I'll be a player for fun in the future. and I'm not bad, I'm learning. and hopefully I'll be able to stick to that mentality. Thank you. Sorry if this whole thing is a mess and sorry if this was a unbearable to read through. I'm not exactly great at writing and my English isn't that great as well. But, hopefully for those who have read it, hopefully it was understandable. If there's anything you want me to elaborate on because it wasn't understandable, I'm more than happy to do so in the replies. Thank you person reading this. "Fun" fact: This video was recommended to me after I came to KZbin from a losing streak. So, yeah.

[@kotl7]

you're not bad, you learned how to get good, the opponent was just "more good", keep at it!

[@Permafrost1]

What a fucking chad, good shit bro

[@yeahsamweller8671]

Thanks for sharing and I hope you’re in a better place mentally now! As someone struggling with challenges and difficulties myself (outside of video games) I also found this video to be very emotional to watch. But contextualizing struggles with gameplay and the self helps me grapple with what I’m feeling inside in my day to day life. I’ve felt it was easier to chalk up losses by blaming other people or myself rather than allowing myself to see the bigger picture and context. It’s true that you should ‘enjoy’ the process, if you’re not, there are reasons you are not and that’s worth analyzing and working through over saying “I’m bad.” Best of luck to you!

[@superkc2557]

i still don’t understand how people can pour their heart out and at the end of it still be like “oh yeah and sorry this is probably completely grammatically incorrect i can’t speak english”

[@ghmasterjj]

thank u for sharing! I felt this way about smash ultimate and especially COD warzone. Watching all these streamers be godlike at these games made me feel bad because I would get online and just get frustrated at how much there is to learn. So that’s how I found out I don’t want to be sweaty or a try-hard, I just wanna enjoy myself lol I think gamers should consider if they play games mostly for fun and to be mindful when it’s not anymore

[@yungwill2383]

Truly a gem of a video. It's got it all, personality, a message and figthing games. Great work Leon!

[@BlueJayJames69]

ouch, that last segment really called me out on my own bad mental habits. i constantly put myself down in situations where i'm losing and only reinforce the feelings that i have. i know it's not good for my mental state but it's been so ingrained in my day to day life now that i struggle with changing that mentality. i'm working on it, slowly, and this little video does help with that. so thanks leon :) though i'm sure you didn't entirely intend for a comment like this to show up lol

[@christianvisan501]

Wow ngl this is strangely exactly what I needed to hear at the moment thank you funny fighting game man :)

[@Randomgalthe1st]

Even though this video is 2 years old, I still come back to it everytime I get salty, go on a losing streak, or generally am having a bad time in any competitive game and I always feel better afterwards, this is genuinely one of the best videos that you have made and I wish there was more videos like these, thank you!

[@sephytcd8349]

Leon I'm gonna be very honest with you, these themes actually hit... VERY home for me. For a few years now I've been dealing with these same things, not so much in game but going through stuff in life and I've never had this kind of thing explained to me like this, despite talking to people and therapist. I have a hard time and weird way of learning and understanding things, but you made this concept make so much sense to me in a way that I never got and honestly gave me a ton of relief. This was a very needed watch and I genuinely appreciate you made it. I'm definitely gonna come back to this video every once in a while for a bit of relief cause sometimes I can forget the things I need to understand.

[@macehest6000]

This comment will probably never be seen, but damn this video was the pep talk I needed. When playing strive today, I went on a horrible losing streak. I was starting to get super mad but once I cooled off, I got really depressed, breaking down into tears. I started thinking about a really toxic relationship I had just got out of were someone I was really close to ended up cheating on me for months. I saw all those losses as another example why I was worthless. I then saw this video show back up in my recommended. Thank you so much Leon. Your videos make me so happy and this one especially made me feel so much better.when I really needed it.

[@genricjohn]

heyyy I saw the comment (2 years later but still)

[@greedy9310]

That last bit you talked about applies so much to us as humans, going beyond even the medium of fighting games and joysticks. I actually had to stop for a bit and reconsider how I was thinking about my failures irl and how my attitude regarding them was seriously negative on me. Great video man

[@memento-9971]

8:25 this part onwards felt too much like a person staring into my soul for a video that started with a Micheal Jackson reference. Great video

[@mugizara]

i love this video so much i put it in my discord bio. ive never felt so seen like this without being undermined, especially being a woman who plays a lot of games i put a horrific amount of expectations on myself and sometimes have even gotten panic attacks over a single death. thanks for this video

[@latimixes]

Leon, did you make this video specifically for me, a complete stranger? Because I have never felt a video as personal as this

[@nol302]

nah man. people have a lot in common when it comes down to how we process things even if we dont want to believe it, so when someone isnt afraid to share their experiences and internal struggles on the journey of self-betterment it can be surprising how many people relate

[@noboty4168]

No, it was meant for me. Sorry to break it to you.

[@cronasan6931]

it was meant for all of us

[@Lucain24]

I'm gonna show this video to my friends. They need to hear this because I get this a lot

[@yeetkunedo]

> fixated on them and why they don’t see the results that they want Most people extend this label toward anyone making any sort of criticism, regardless of where that criticism is based or how that criticism is presented. Lots of good points of contention or simple misunderstandings get buried under torrents of “just adapt, scrub” until those same points of contention become stated by highly visible or highly competent players. I think this reinforces some of the FGC’s worst social practices, in which the community’s default response is to demonize and denigrate any potential source of ignorance at all times, no matter whether that ignorance is perceived or genuine. We tend to make laughingstocks out of people trying to grasp greater understanding, but only really guilty of trying their best to determine what’s isn’t filling the gap between where they are and what they failed to reach. This results in the community itself actively helping to create more of the “I’m bad” player type, the one with the highest chances of abandoning the genre altogether. I think it’s really important to consider how it is that we as a community view and address a lack of understanding from players that aren’t well versed in both good practices and healthy mindsets. I believe we, collectively speaking, tend to have a strong additive effect to the things that stifle this genre.

[@Sharkofspace]

The FGC is just fake as fuck. Their positivity and inclusiveness is all an act. Toxic elitism is what the real FGC is all about.

[@yeetkunedo]

@@Sharkofspace I honestly think this is a byproduct of fighting games rewarding individual achievement as part of their core design. We place lots on emphasis on getting good and adapting as individuals, but put far less credit on the collective, as if the knowledgebases individuals rely on to gain their competitive edge aren’t created, curated and tested by said collective. Rivalries, training partners, coaches, local scenes, Discords, guides, videos, commentary, match analysis, apps, sites, they’re all created by a individuals within a collective. They all require more than one person. This is why I think it’s vital that we recognize that this community is wholly reliant on people being welcoming to one another and forgiving of mistakes born out of a lack of understanding. Shame doesn’t change a mindset, it just drives people away from those that shame them, and we have no right to bitch about fighting games remaining niche if we punish thinking and feeling human beings for bad mindsets. By punishing them, you only reinforce it, and those people that feel ostracized will definitely find each other outside of the FGC, which is where “the FGC is toxic” narrative is not only born, but verified.

[@Sharkofspace]

@@yeetkunedoIt doesn't help that you don't need people to keep a fighting game alive. If you have a circle of five friends around your skill level, you can literally play any fighting game forever. People know this-that's why they have no problem driving new players away. Any fighting game with an official discord literally does not need more players. Because of this, there's no punishment for driving struggling beginners away. They don't really want you to join them-they just want someone to bully so they can feel superior.

[@povertyeditor4898]

That is very true. Fighting games have a big barrier for newbies, biggest one is actually learning the game. When they're not encouraged by players or given help it can almost feel like this barrier is just impossible to pass over and they end up dropping the game entirely (there can be exceptions). I also think the benefits of a fighting game needs to outweigh the bullshit, every fighting game has bullshit, the satisfaction of playing it will have people playing it constantly/returning to it despite all the fucking 400ping brazilian dp abusers. This is why having stuff like good online, good fighting game design and an interactive community is so important. If even one of these are bad, it adds massively to the workload a player will have to take in and endure and will probably leave them with a "fighting games bad" mindset instead of a "How can I improve as much as possible" mindset. Balance is important too, but it doesn't really matter too much until you reach an intermediate level.

[@yeetkunedo]

@@povertyeditor4898 I think the “we learn only through pain and failure” mentality creates a community where only masochists thrive and only sadists rise. This is precisely why the FGC is seen as abusive, and why the people able to endure and accept the abuse are the only ones that stick around. While it’s true that pain and failure are the chief learning tools of the community, I think it’s important to reduce the wall of gaining understanding - not necessarily ease of mechanical applications, but *cognitive* applications - in order to impart the mindset that turns the pain of failure into the opportunity for learning. Adopting a supportive, gym-spotter mentality helps that tremendously.

[@ltlu2875]

I hear the other side to the same coin "They're just cracked." in COD all the time (also Millia Rage best girl)

[@chronosanaki5174]

I absolutely agree with this statement

[@zachadsit5095]

But giovanna exists

[@Small_oats]

Giovanna is beter

[@Hopper_Arts]

No, Kum is best girl And Bedman is best boy

[@cronasan6931]

aw heeeeeeeeeell no Bridgette best boy Jack-O best girl yell at me all you want I ain't changing my mind

[@afriendlyfox]

This is actually kinda comforting. I'm putting so much stress on myself, but all I actually need to do is to enjoy the process. This makes me think, how many results that we consider "serious" in life are really serious enough to stress yourself out to the point of burnout or depression.

[@obeserob5027]

Thank you for making this video. I've been stuck in this "I'm bad" status for a long time now in regards to smash and this was just what I needed

[@damnation6713]

Rewatched this several times. Either I'm too dumb to understand or I'm just fucked.

[@optimisticlucio6124]

I know this's 3 years old, but I send this to every single one of my friends who gets into gear (or any fighting game realy) as a preemptive measure to stop them from becoming walking salt machines. Other than one dude, this has worked for all of them. 10/10 vid fr

[@lb3613]

You know, its always hard try to express meaning through relationships that are not irl, especially when they are not exactly a dialogue but as meaningful as this can be i want to thank you for the video bc i feel so out of place and worthless when i look at my life that it seems i only have either achievements on videogames or ones ppl dont care at all, so when i lose, especially in Tekken which is my fav game i felt like if that was life saying i am truly hopeless. I hope i can remember your words at those moments. To finish it off, i've made an article about Michael Jackson discography and general sense relations and "I'm bad" was both a way to say "I am who I am" and "I am awesome", i hope all the MJ players can discover the truth he sang behind the words "I'm bad".

[@InamorastraStardustLucille]

I'll do my best to match your honesty - I found everything you described incredibly relatable, down to the very end, and started to cry by the end of it. It''s easier said than done, but I have a lot of re-evaluating to do. Thank you very much for making this video.

[@happycamperds9917]

I feel like this thinking works for all 3 players. Once I was getting frustrated because “a masher” kept beating me, and I was getting salty. When I stepped back, I realize I just had a sloppy offense and he was pressing buttons in disadvantage and that is why I was salty.

[@supersnow17]

What hurts the most is when you enjoy a game, like Counter Strike for example. But no matter how hard you train, no matter how hard you try and improve yourself, you fail time and time again. Makes a game that you actually want to enjoy just feel awful to play, simply because you just are not good at it, no matter how hard you try.

[@Cringycoot]

this video was your best - you had a clear audience in mind, instead of trying to catch as many people's attention with entertaining content, which made your point a lot more coherent You used examples from a lot of different places and perspectives and even referred to a book?! You relate the problem to your experience, not only providing further support to your point, but also making the audience think you are more trustworthy You knew to not determine a definitive solution, but acknowledge and claim that it is a personal problem and thus requires personal answers. You know to follow the big image of you massage throughout the entire video: "the way you word your thoughts can affect the way you see things: be it yourself, a problem you encounter and the way situations make you act and feel" absolutely brilliant video, compared to your previous vids you have improved a whole fucking lot. You deserve to feel a bit good for yourslef

[@HappyLittleBoozer]

Instead of going "I'm bad" when you lose you could go "Damn, he's good."

[@SteffyCush]

great payoff for the mj joke -- didnt think there would be an explanation, let alone have it be the crux of the entire video

[@Nemmy72]

"You don't start the match and go from fine to fuming," LTG:

[@paratriad]

I was just thinking about you, great timing

[@zakureingn4760]

This video right here have made you one of my most favorite youtube channel. Good advice on fighting game and a gem of a self improvement advice.

[@michaelt3614]

This is very applicable. “What went wrong”. Thank you for this

[@sammcguire3798]

I'm bad, and that's good. I will never be good, and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me.

[@damnation6713]

Problem is I already hate me. Thanks, but try again...

[@THEBULLETPROOFKINGDOM]

So basically.......... How *not* to be *LOW TIER GOD*

[@imarock.7662]

True, but I think LTG falls into the "Scrub" category. Lmao

[@THEBULLETPROOFKINGDOM]

@@imarock.7662 Scrub? More like SCRUBLORD, am I right?

[@imarock.7662]

@@THEBULLETPROOFKINGDOM True. Lmaoooo

[@OZcomingFRoo]

This comment was inspirational XD

[@DX-mr7bl]

Really wasn't expecting myself to tear up by the time I got to the end of this video. Thanks for the pep talk.

[@elementalgaming5928]

Thanks man. I needed this. My friend has been telling me this for a while now, and I feel like shit for not listening and just constantly beating myself up. So, thank you for putting this truth in a much more analyzed light. Thank you Leon, honestly.

[@t4d0W]

Believe me layers even at low levels do this often to themselves. Back when Tekken came out to consoles I read such a huge reaction of new/novice players on rank who had the feeling of 'knowing' what to do in their minds but feeling frustrated that they were constantly making the wrong decision and losing matches. They beat themselves up so hard on that aspect and tried to build up their opponent like someone who was more skilled than they were. When they can't even pinpoint exactly why they lost (a mark of inexperienced player) and failed to consider that their opponent probably lucked/scrubbed out on those wins. It is this unhealthy mindset that won't allow them to enjoy the game and progress as players because they don't want to see what the game actually is.

[@Arkhavist_S]

I really appreciate the message in this video. Having been the worst of each category at some point or another, it did resonate with me. Not for nothing, the "I'm Bad" mentality can also make you miserable to be around. Having a friend or colleague constantly wallow in how "trash" they are, no matter how objectively untrue it is, gets exhausting quickly. It can even get roundabout insulting when they're measurably better than you are at something, but repeatedly insist that they're garbage. Most people can enjoy some good ol fashioned self-deprecation, but there's definitely a line between that and the genuine inward-facing toxicity discussed in the video.

[@Incinerateddd]

that monologue at the end of the video really hit home. well done assy melon.

[@Sam21856]

7:43 Dude, this is the first time I see someone put this into words

[@Kirgio]

Oh man, you totally got me at the end when you were talking about playing for validation. Made me reflect on why I'm playing and I definitely believe there are times where I am looking to win so I can prove that I am "good" or have "value." Anytime I've gotten into a competitive game in the past what has carried me before has been getting into the learning and growing. But with fighting games I think they came to me at a time where I don't feel quite valued in my personal life so now I'm looking for it elsewhere. Thank you for making this video

[@t4d0W]

Especially nowadays with Social media circles and people will magnify their whatever FG accomplishments among their peers to try give it some form of value. Especially if it was an online tourney they won at or something. Personally for me FGs weren't the first thing I wanted to be competitive at so I had a good idea of my value to whatever passion or hobby I put in. In the end it doesn't effect my ability to feel that way among people I care for in my circle of friends or family.

[@UmbreonMessiah]

*Thank you.* This video managed to put into words too many things I've felt over my lifetime. Being able to conceptualize it on this level has helped a lot.

[@cacodrippin5112]

I can relate to that last point a lot. Whenever I lose, no matter the circumstance, I always find some way to tie it into my failings in real life. This comes in especially strongly when I'm playing against my friends. sentiments like "I have no reason to lose that, I'm fighting the worst character" or "how stupid can I be, I'm playing the easiest character and I still mess stuff up" come up all the time. I always feel like my time spent is wasted because I'm such a slow learner that things I practice feel irrelevant because I never see nearly as much improvement as anybody else I play with. I feel like a worse person because I put in twice the investment for half the skill, and I'll often come out of long sessions or close matches feeling like garbage because that's the 20th time in a row I've failed the same braindead easy trick on the easiest character, and because of my shortcoming in the game I autonomously relate that to a shortcoming as a general human being.

[@bristlebrick]

This video helped me a lot after I'd been going through a really bad streak of beating myself up about life. I really appreciate the stuff you've made. Thanks.

[@scrublordesaka3678]

I could’ve taken first but I’d rather listen to what Leon Massey has to say

[@RandomGameClips27]

Weak excuse

[@glutamate5886]

Leon Massey ma BOI

[@Benpaste]

hi shrimp

[@fall1n1_yt]

I don't say "I'm bad." I am screaming "I'M TRYING" to that teammate that won't stop shit-talking.

[@Zaketh_]

I’ve struggled for a very long time with feelings of imposter syndrome and inferiority complex. I love playing games with my friends but I have a very bad habit of getting very salty in fighting games, and it hurts me a lot to not be able to enjoy things like that normally. A lot of what you said here in this video speaks to my experience. I’ve been really trying to make an effort to get better about judging my self worth based on video games, and really believe the things you said here are gonna help me with that. Thanks a lot for the video.

[@l4ur158]

this video hits so close to my heart to me, i literally got tears from it because the things he was talking about lack of self worth and how lack of achievements make you feel anxious and stressed and you only keep getting the low parts of "high-low cycle" it really makes you feel like any of your actions dont hold much meaning. This video is actually a therapy video that just so happens to be related to fighting games. This video and what i felt is way more than just "I feel called out" , it's something that emotionally resonated with me so much that it really made me feel like he knows exactly what i have and going through.

[@InfiniteRhinos]

Never have I ever felt more called out in a video than this one jeeeeeeeeeez

[@Zafiro_Regio]

man i feel like im gonna be visiting this video once or twice after having a loss streak in street fighter

[@Bakucryptid77]

Perfect timing I've been binging your content while hyperfixating on guilty gear!

[@BenAstridge]

Seen this vid when it came out, came back to it today. I say ‘i made a mistake’ out loud whenever i make a mistake. I verbally identify what went wrong immediately for my own sake and it does help prevent me from repeating it.

[@shortlittlezero1858]

I really like this vid and you having nice emotional talk at the end. I don't have that feeling of why I play video games like you do but I play video to get out of the real world be "in my own head " if you know what I mean. I just want to be in the moment just learning how to play and hanging out with new people along the way. whenever I get down from losing a ton in online matches I feel the same and blame myself on so many levels. Tho I have been doing it less and less over the months. Keep making these vid man they are great to listen while playing!!

[@HenryXLII]

This is easily one of my favorite video essays on KZbin, and I find myself coming back to it quite often. You can apply what's being said here to pretty much any goal, and it's helped me out a lot as a writer, a competitive game guy, and just with day to day existence. Thank you for making it.

[@nuclearsquidmusic7295]

Thank you so so much for making this video Leon. I'm actually stuggling a lot with self worth issues (whether it's when playing a game, doing a sport, school... basically all the time). And the advice you gave in this video seem to be really constructive and usefull, I'm definitively going to try them. Not because I want to be better at fighting games, not because I want to love my self (honestly I don't care about that) but because the mentality I am stuck in right now is bringing me down to the level of the expectation I have set for my self. And with this year being my final year of higschool, and will thus determine which school I can attend in the future and will litteraly decide if I will be successful in life or not, I fell like failure is a state that I am not alowed to be in, but keep getting in this very state because because I'm a freaking idiot. This is not helped by the fact that the school is trying to help me through these tough times mentally (which I am grateful for) but do it in a way that doesn't really fixes anything and sometimes actually stresses me out even more. Teachers would tell me (and me specifically) to relax before the vacations when I feel like I haven't done anything remarkable, would insist on telling them why I'm crying in the middle of the class and wouldn't take "sorry, I just cry for no reason when under the slightly bit of stress and it doesn't even mean anything, I'm just built this way. I'm am not sad or even that much stressed" for an answer and would keep pressuring me for an answer when I already gave it to them. I've had counseling with the school administration and the nurses where they would ask me if I wanted to kill myself because two years ago I messed up in a sport class and one of my class mate fell from his height of his fucking neck and couldn't move or feel the lower end of his body and had to be taken care of by the local fire fighters (he is fine now, the doctors said that he couldn't feel his legs because sometimes the brain will shut-down when there is too much pain, or something along those lines). Or if I was depressed because I never sociallised and always had earbuds on. And when I tell them that no, I just don't like social interactions, BUT THEY STILL DON'T BELIEVE ME!! I'm so fucking scared right now, because I feel like everyone I know (including myself) has unrealistic expectations of me (both way too good or way too bad) and don't know who I should even trust. Do I need to trust anyone? Do I need to trust me? I don't fucking know man.... Family would tell me that I can whatever I strive for, yet I am consistently in the bottom 5 of my math, physics, engeniering, german and philosophy classes. Friends would tell me I am mature, yet even I am just ashamed of how stupid what I say daily is. The school, I think you got the point for this one. I'm kind of lost, I don't know who's expectation I should strive to meet. I don't know if I'm going to get my highschool diplomma. I don't even know what my personnality should be, because a lot of people (especially online) tell me that who I am doesn't matter, that whatever my personality is I will always find people I can vibe with, but what do I do when I don't even vibe with myself? Being me is making me ashamed of who I am, but forcing another personnality makes me feel like I'm a fraud, just playing a role in some sort of meat suit. And what about stuff I can't change? Like my voice which sounds super anoying and is also super loud because it wouldn't be fun otherwise. Like the shape of my head, that is just... ugly. Or my intelligence. This last one has been very heavy on me recently. When I was a kid, I have been diagnosed as the very scientific term "really f-ing smart" by a proffessional when I was 6years old. Ever since that day, my mom kept using that to boost her pride, because she way less smart than her older brothers and doesn't want me to be in the same position. But now, when I see that I'm the only one in my class that is falling this hard in everything, I don't understand how incompetent do you have to be at your job to make such a mistake. Did he got mixed up between to patients?? I'm sorry for the mess this rant has become, and for the many english mistakes I made while writing this (I'm not a native english speaker and was never good with words). I know I wanted to say something with a constructive plan in the beginning, but I forgot everything, and kinda went with what I fell like I had to say, and since there's no plan any more, it kinda just ends here? If anyone is still here reading this, I don't really know what to say. Thank you for taking time in reading this absolute mess of a youtube comment? I'm very sorry for how long this post is, but to add a last thing before I go, I mentioned earlier that I cried a lot for no reason (or at least I think I have), and while writing this, and listening to the bit where Mr.Leon talked about his feelings I cried like a little bitch. But it felt different this time. I don't know why, but when he talked about his feelings, I felt like I was finally understood, and when I was writing my post I don't remember what I was feeling, but it definitively felt a lot different than usuall, in a good way. I wouldn't be able to describe what it was, so I'm just gonna leave you to it. I don't really know what to add, so I think I'm just gonna stop here. I just hope there is no limit on the length to the comments you can post.

[@thatoneneeko2131]

when the "life changing" tag youtube gives actually makes sense

[@RyanRamlethal]

"It's entirely natural to STRIVE for progress." I see what you did there.

[@neveroutofhope]

I’m late on the draw, but came here from Super Eyepatch Wolf and I couldn’t be more grateful for the recc. I used to play competitively daunting games (or games in competitively daunting ways) as an opportunity to become a hero, to prove that people can work from bottom-to-top without being adept from the get-go. However, I always found myself stuck at the bottom and quitting when there were just dots I couldn’t connect. I became hard on myself and harsher as every counterplay I attempted to learn wasn’t executed with desired results. Nowadays, I play to improve with no particular end goal in mind and I think that’s done waves for my mental. Just wanting to improve and get better, even if it means just winning individual interactions more often, has been much more rewarding than trying to place high or win events.

[@NolanWC]

The idea of dropping goals is almost similar to daigo's philosophy of "doing what you can" very cool video

[@BigBlackBrony]

This felt like such a personal video. I felt this in my heart. Thank you for this one

[@Josh-Yu]

Leon Massey got the reads down to the psychoanalysis

[@migueljaramillo5252]

My god, this just helped me with dealing with ocd. Thank you very much. Didn't think this would happen when watching a fg video lmao

[@mewbusi]

"Try as you might removing that (emotion) is impossible" *Me, already setting up a full frontal lobotomy to prove a stranger on the internet wrong*

[@HYDEinallcaps]

No need, because this is just him trying to make sure the scrubs keep in line. If they always think they have emotions, then they'll always be submissive.

[@platinum_mad4380]

Thank you for making this, it really put on paper the problems I feel like I struggle with but had a hard time putting words too.

[@rashot0m782]

I love you, man. You write so carefully and you really consider what you want to say and how you say it. Lucid, concise and endlessly entertaining. Thank you for your videos Leon, you're the best.

[@fernweh123]

The ol classic way of learning things: be a baby. No expectations, no fear or feelings of shame. You just suck in the learning process till you get it right.

[@RealJalf]

Dude, this is such a great presentation! So many messages here, 10/10. Reminds me of the PBS Idea Channel.

[@papaphoenix7533]

I've needed to hear this not just for fighting games, just in general. Thank you.

[@breaka666]

I like how this isn't just a Video Game video but also a general Critical Thinking video. good stuff

[@Gender_Ascender]

So, I was all for this video and was making comparisons (recently friends of mine have commented on me calling myself bad frequently when playing Valorant and reminding me that I'm not as awful as I say) so I was enjoying it and nodding along with the thought of "Yeah, I can use this as a way to work on myself, the way I look at games and play them." Salt is one thing, but this mentality of constantly going "I'm bad" and failing to put into context the actual reason a goal wasn't achieved is a different thing entirely, and I think it's so much more important than anyone would give it credit for. It hit especially hard when you mentioned "I go from acknowledging failure to using that failure as an example of how I am worthless." and I had to pause to come to terms with the fact that other people experience this too, and more importantly, someone managed to word it perfectly to explain to *myself* that I am better than how I feel about myself. Then the next line: "If you connect with the sentiment that I just laid out before you, you might want to... kind of reconsider why you're playing these games." Thank you. I don't intend to quit games that might infuriate me at times, but I can look at things a little differently and try to remember this video as a bit of encouragement. "You're not bad. You're learning."

[@flyinglater]

4:30 My favorite advice I've ever been given for a fighting game has been "You may not win the situation outright, but you aren't getting hit either"

[@simboyc100]

You see, your isse in Halo 3 is that you're playing BR starts. Jokes aside, I struggle alot with the "im bad" mentality. Great video.

[@neojackwastaken]

Wtf, this is school of life disguised as a video game talk, and I'm all for it

[@mike_rowave7621]

literally right away i could tell this is easily your best video with the most amount of useful meaningful thought and information, this is actually reaching a near core a gaming level of good writing, its the kind of actually intelligent ideas i wish could come out of those "hard reads" videos which are absolute drivel, one of the worst points you can reach with the "im bad mentality" is once it becomes self fulfilling prophecy.. thats one of the reasons that the opening line of every granblue match is so amazing to me it says "believe in victory" i REALLY REALLY like this line and i try to take it into every fighting game i play where i need to believe that no matter what i can pull through, saying "im bad" is a sort've excuse you use for your failures even before you fail

[@Kanelel]

Big facts in this video. I think culturally, we have a tendency to dismiss it, but mindset stuff like this is incredibly impactful. It's essential both for long term growth and ability to function well as a person, and for being able to actually perform to the best of your abilities in the short term.

[@yeetkunedo]

Mindset is everything.

[@Feedbackking13]

Thank you, this is so helpful and genuinely has guided me to a more thoughtful space.

[@GameOSaurusChaosC]

I think the best thing I ever did for myself was picking up a character I had little experience (Zato) with in the GGST beta instead of one that I'd played a lot in Xrd training mode. I had no expectations for how he should be played or what combo opportunities I had, and I felt so much better for it.

[@t4d0W]

Exactly. You aren't playing with any sort of expectation set upon yourself and having to react whether you reached it or not. You just try vibe with the character and understand how their 'new' and unique playstyle (to you) interacts with other chars. This feeling of discovery gives you a feeling of great satisfaction.

[@sigurdtheblue]

Dang, this is one of the best videos I have seen. Not only do you break down one of the things that annoys me most with skilled people, but you do not give them any direct advice, you just give them some ideas to digest. Even though I can feel pretty confident in my mentality, this video still feels inspiring and allows me to feel where I could further improve in mentality as well as digesting my mistakes. I feel like the last part was a little bad because of what I explained. Maybe you should have said that you have to examine the worth of what you are being motivated by against the worth of the antagonism you feel.

[@MrSleepyweezul]

As someone who has been riding the "I'm trash at fighters" wave for the better part of 15 years, this video hit me hard. The real truth is, as much as I love fighters aesthetically and technically, I really haven't sat down and gave them the consistent effort I could have, and I either gave up right away or gravitated towards easy win options until I hit a wall. I've kinda had that problem with most things in my life, and I'm only recently trying hard to break out of that mentality. I only hope it's not too late for me to do that here, because as poorly as I've performed, I still have fun just watching, and I desperately want to get good. Maybe not pro, but just good.

[@knowledgeistheremedy5400]

I really love this video and watch periodically to keep myself focused. Thank you very much. It really helps me keep a healthy relationship with fighting games.

[@portal650]

Wake up babe, new Leon Massey video

[@makogp747]

Thank you for this talk. I really needed this in my life. MIght apply the things I've learned.

[@spidums]

Part of my problem is that I HAVEN'T invested time. I suffer from ADHD, and a common symptom that I suffer from is rejecting anything skill-based if I'm not immediately good at it. This is objectively a bad decision from any perspective, including my own when I'm thinking clearly and not in the middle of the situation, but it's what happens. Don't I have the right to say "I'm bad" because I can't even find the motivation to practice? Like, of course I could fix this problem and get better at the game, but it's in my nature to get frustrated too quickly and give up on practicing. What is there to inject logic into? How can I possibly reframe this as something that isn't inherent to my personal worth, considering it's inherent to my mind? When it's simply a part of who I am, how can I avoid the fact that "I'm bad"? I might need actual therapy, but any advice from internet strangers is welcome in the meantime.

[@Randomgalthe1st]

This is honestly one of the best videos on KZbin, I already commented on this but I keep rewatching it whenever I perform badly in a game and feel down because this video so good, I honestly wish there was more videos like this

[@300IQPrower]

“This mindset is destructive to your ability to improve” Me, certifiably garbage at fighting games: *You know it*

[@damnation6713]

Fucking same. 2k hours on Smash and I'm still the worst out of everyone I know.

[@marcusa2252]

@@damnation6713 I feel the same. I've always thought I've been garbage at everything I do and that mindset seeps into everything. Spent so much time playing video games and it's done nothing for me. But I don't have much else in life or know what else to do.

[@Eidlones]

I'm bad because I don't know how to improve the things I need to, and all attempts at trying to figure it out, results in failure.