About
Skill Issue is a slang expression used in video game trash-talk, usually as a soft way of telling the opponent they are bad at the game. Starting in 2020, the expression spawned a series of reaction memes and GIF captions with the phrase also seeing ironic use as a comment on situations when skill has nothing to do with one's loss. Sounds Like a Skill Issue and Simply a Difference in Skill are common variations of the phrase.
Origin
While the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, its origin is presumed to be the streaming platform Twitch, where it was used by professional and highly skilled players to dismissively comment on other, less-skilled players in situations when they dominated them. The phrase saw the initial influx of use on social media in early September 2020, when it was used by Twitter[1][2] and Reddit[3] users to mockingly respond to people who complained about losing in video games (example posts shown below), with the most prevalent form of the phrase being, "sounds like a player skill issue."
The phrase likely achieved initial popularization among Roblox players and among Rogue Lineage players in particular, as several posts made in November 2020 in /r/RogueLineage and other Roblox-related subreddits,[4][5][6] were titled "skill issue," with at least one post inquiring about the origin of the phrase.[7]
On November 2nd, 2020, YouTuber[8] swieg posted the earliest found meme using the phrase, a video of a person dancing captioned "skill issue." The upload received over 24,000 views in one and a half years (shown below, left). On December 2nd, 2020, Tenor[9] user SirSauce posted a GIF based on the video, likely for further use on Discord (shown below, right).
Spread
In memes, the phrase saw an initial spread in late 2020 and early 2021 in the form of GIF and video captions uploaded to Tenor[10][11] to be shared on Discord servers. For example, on November 20th, 2020, YouTuber[12] Monk-ey uploaded a video caption based on the CGI Monkeys Dancing video (shown below, left).
On November 27th, 2020, Urban Dictionary[13] user Creator_of_Niat added a definition for the phrase, defining it as, "something you say when someone complains about a game aspect that is completely their fault and has nothing wrong with it." On January 2nd, 2021, Urban Dicttionary user rogue lineage sucks defined the phrase as "a word describing the lack of skill in ones performance in a game," with this definition receiving over 440 thumbs up and becoming the most popular one.
Through 2021, the phrase spread across several major gaming communities, including fighting games such as Super Smash Bros.[14] and Street Fighter,[15] rhythm games such as OSU![16] and Friday Night Funkin'[17] and hardcore singleplayer games such as The Binding of Isaac.[18]
Along with its spread, the phrase also saw increasing ironic usage, with players commenting "skill issue" when poor game balance or a bug is clearly at fault.
Git Gud
Git Gud, an intentional misspelling of the phrase "get good," is an expression used to heckle inexperienced players or newbies in online video games, similar to the use of the phrase "lurk more" on forums.
Diff
Diff is an abbreviated slang form of the word "difference" that has been used in the gaming communities for trash-talking purposes. The word, paired with an indication of a players role (such as "tank diff" "dps diff," "jungle diff" etc.), is used to convey that the player on the trash talker's team is performing worse than the player in the same role on the opposing team. The word gained particular prominence in the League of Legends and Overwatch communities, and also has been used as a part of powerscaling memes.
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
FAQs
Transferable skill issue
Examples include communication skills, leadership skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and teamwork, among others.
What is the skill issue saying? ›
“Skill issue” is a silly and sarcastic way to speak to someone who's losing (or having a bad time) in a video game. This playful phrase is typically used in a meme capacity rather than a serious one, but it can be used in various circ*mstances.
What is the skill issue syndrome? ›
Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that begins in childhood that makes it difficult to perform motor skills. It also causes issues with coordination.
What does "l take skill issue" mean? ›
skill issue (plural not attested) (video games, slang, sometimes ironic) A lack of skill at a game (suggesting that a player is just making excuses for a loss). quotations ▼ —Dude, they nerfed my main and now I can't win any games! — Sounds like a skill issue lol.
What is skill vs ability examples? ›
E.g. The ability to run - and the skill to run fast or a long distance. Ability simply refers to the potential of a person to do something. On the other hand, skill refers to the potential possessed by an individual to do something exceptionally well.
What is an example of a skill in a sentence? ›
The work is difficult and requires a lot of skill. Cooking is a useful skill. He has excellent social skills.
Why is everyone saying skill issue? ›
It's meant to be an insult. The term suggests that if a player was better at the game, they simply wouldn't have whatever problem they're having. Most people who do this are trying to troll the person who posted originally, especially when the person is looking for help to do something hard in a game.
What is skill in easy words? ›
1. a. : the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance. b. : dexterity or coordination especially in the execution of learned physical tasks.
How do you write a skill statement? ›
Follow these steps to make your own skill statements: First, identify what you accomplished or did well at work, school, volunteering, extracurricular activities, etc. Next, choose a verb that speaks to the skill you want to highlight. Refer to the List of Action Verbs for examples.
Who started saying skill issue? ›
Where did the 'skill issue' phrase come from? The origin of the phrase is not entirely clear. A 2021 Reddit thread claims that the phrase originated in 2020 from someone who said it during a “smash tourney.” Another 2022 Reddit thread claimed the phrase evolved from “actual trash talk” to its now more ironic meaning.
Where does skill issue come from? The term is believed to have originated on gaming platforms like Twitch and Reddit, along with variations “simply a difference in skill” and “sounds like a skill issue.” A Reddit post asking about the origin of the phrase suggests it came from someone saying it in a Smash Bros.
What is the skill issue set in Discord? ›
In order to successfully complete the Skill Issue Set Quest, players who meet the eligibility criteria must live stream their THE FINALS gameplay to a friend via a Discord voice channel for a minimum duration of 15 minutes on the desktop app.
Is skill issue a meme? ›
Somewhere between being used in the literal sense and now in a more ironic way, the phrase originally appeared in typical meme format before it evolved into today's TikTok video formats. TikTokers are now joking about “skill issues” in response to events or situations outside the gaming world.
What is will issue and skill issue? ›
Simply put, skill is how competent a worker is at a specific task or how effective they are in their role. Will is how motivated they are to complete their task or perform their role well.
What does taking L's mean in slang? ›
What does taking an L mean? When someone says they "took an L" or refers to a situation as an "L," it means that they did not succeed or achieve their desired outcome. It can refer to various contexts, such as losing a game, receiving criticism or negative feedback, or experiencing a personal or professional setback.
What is the skill issue on TikTok? ›
In essence, the comment tells the poster that the issues they're having with the game are related entirely to their lack of skills as a gamer. It's meant to be an insult. The term suggests that if a player was better at the game, they simply wouldn't have whatever problem they're having.
What is an example of skill based? ›
Examples of skill-based learning include preschool students developing their literacy and verbal abilities, as well as high school students using a disciplined approach to define and enhance their real-world and social skills.
What is an example of a skill test? ›
For example, a newspaper looking for an editor may need candidates to sit an English test with multiple choice questions on grammar, spelling, sentence constructions. The newspaper company may rank candidates based on the number of correct answers given by the candidates.
What is an example of a skill assessment? ›
Example: Team collaboration assessment. An organization might use group activities or case studies where candidates must work together to solve a problem. This assesses their communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills, crucial in collaborative work environments.
