Online Sleepy Head (4 Viewers)

[shorticus]

So, there's been an online game that's running weekly for quite some time now. It's more of a friendly game, but the game can get deep at times. For context, it's usually 6-handed mixed games with relatively small buy-ins. One guy who plays with us regularly falls asleep in the game. Almost weekly. In fact he celebrates when he is able to stay awake an entire session.

Here's what we know:
Said person 100% falls asleep, it's not any type of angling or pretending. Happens if he's ahead or behind in the game.
It's not purposeful or ill willed. The guy genuinely is playing and conversing in the text window, and before you know it, he's sitting out (sleeping).

How should this be handled?

Tagging friends of mine who play online that I think may contribute to this conversation:
@MrCatPants @Beakertwang @BamaT8ter @Hornet @CraigT78 @detroitdad @Rieguy

 

[Rieguy]

Tagging friends of mine who play online that I think may contribute to this conversation:

@Rieguy

Here's what we know:
Said person 100% falls asleep, it's not any type of angling or pretending. Happens if he's ahead or behind in the game.
It's not purposeful or ill willed. The guy genuinely is playing and conversing in the text window, and before you know it, he's sitting out (sleeping).

How should this be handled?

I have a question first. Is player just claiming they are falling asleep? Could they be doing something else like nutting? Regardless, I reach through the screen and punch them in the face. That, or see if there's a designated admin that can boot them and then they can rejoin via wait-list when they wake up.

Other alternative is to ask them to put on an alarm when they join and hit snooze when awake (so they get buzzed every ~10 minutes), but if they catch themselves having dozed off 2-3 times they simply excuse themselves from the game.

 

[Josh Kifer]

I've played with you too and boy, can I agree it makes me wanna take a nap ....

 

[shorticus]

I have a question first. Is player just claiming they are falling asleep?

Genuinely falling asleep. I'm pretty sure said player potted pre in a game last night and was sleeping by the time action came back around.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Genuinely falling asleep. I'm pretty sure said player potted pre in a game last night and was sleeping by the time action came back around.

Maybe someone needs to play online while walking on a treadmill.....

 

[BarrieJ3]

 

[Beakertwang]

 

[Huskerchipper]

Boy, he seriously should consider doing a sleep study. He sounds like someone with bad sleep apnea which causes constant extreme fatigue and can be terribly hard on your heart. Potentially serious enough that if he was someone I consider a friend I would have a conversation with. You all must be blessed with an insane amount of patience as well. Best wishes on figuring this out.

 

[FestiveKnight]

Might have more thoughts tomorrow cause I play a lot online but just checking, do what platform are you playing on? No turn timers and eventual auto-away??

 

[Thomacetti]

@MrCatPants @Beakertwang @BamaT8ter @Hornet @CraigT78 @detroitdad @Rieguy

OMC VIP club, naps are expected...

 

[shorticus]

Might have more thoughts tomorrow cause I play a lot online but just checking, do what platform are you playing on? No turn timers and eventual auto-away??

Always a time out and sit out. It not, said player would probably have blinded out all of his money by now.

 

[buffalojim]

After an orbit or two of no communication or actions I'd just kick him, if he wakes up then he can join back in. Easy.

 

[mdt11]

You just need strict timing rules (that apply to everyone) and enforce them.

I’ve experienced a player like this, but in a tournament league, and the club eventually temporarily suspended him. He’s since returned with no issue.

 

[detroitdad]

After an orbit or two of no communication or actions I'd just kick him, if he wakes up then he can join back in. Easy.

This is how I would handle it. If he doesn't like it.

 

[krafticus]

@Highli99 @arch3r
I don’t play online anymore, but sounds like a player or two from your game

 

[arch3r]

I play in an almost nightly online game and people have fallen asleep from time to time. I don't know the exact timings built into the app ( pokerrrrr2 ), but after a few hands of no action from someone, then are automatically sat out. Then after 10 minutes of sitting out, they are then automatically kick out of their seat. Usually the individual wakes up and rejoins if a seat is still available. It works for us since we don't have any habitual dozers. If we did, we'd probably just kick them sooner than the 10 minutes.

Unless you have a waiting list of people to join that your narcoleptic friend is keeping from playing, and he's not angling locking up when ahead, not sure there is anything you need to do?

 

[ekricket]

I think it’s pretty cool that he gets so relaxed playing with you guys that he forgets about everything going on in his world and just dozes peacefully off. Why take that away from him? It’s hard enough anymore to get that relaxed and comfortable.