Smurfing (online gaming)
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Smurfing, in the context of online gaming, refers to the practice of a well-known or highly-skilled player creating an unknown character or login, then using it to play against, defeat, and often humiliate low-skilled players.[citation needed] The unknown character/login is necessary to fool the low-skilled players into entering the game, particularly if the high-skilled player is known to have done this before. Often, the player utilizing this "smurfing" technique will intentionally lower their "rank" or "record" by intentionally losing many matches, to further enhance the appearance of his apparent ineptitude to the game in which he/she is playing.[citation needed] The oblivious opponent, seeing their low ranking, will see the match as an "easy win", which often leads to their further humiliation by being beaten by this apparent novice.
This term has been expanded to include the practice of taking on real-life challenges that fall below the level of accomplishment of which one is capable.[citation needed] For instance, someone who makes a very large salary but drives an inexpensive automobile or lives in an inexpensive home can be said to be "smurfing". A very attractive person who dates less desirable people would also fall into this category.
