Ok, I'll try to keep this short.

I recently started playing on a specific server of an online game. For the first time ever, I have been using a mic while playing. I am a woman and most of the other players are men. I've been able to talk to the regular players and I've added a few of them to my friends list on Steam, since they've been really nice and fun to play with.

I have known these people for maybe 2 weeks max. Today one of them sent me a game on Steam. It's not an expensive one, but he still probably paid money for it. (Unless he had it lying around. I don't know). Anyway, he was chatting with me when he gave it to me. I did the standard "Thank you, you didn't need to do that." and repeated the same sentiment a few times. I was trying to get the whole "I can't accept this" vibe going, but I didn't want to decline it outright because that would be rude and I do still really want to be friends with this person.

Would it be improper for a woman to accept a video game gift from a random guy on the Internet? And no, it's not like a romantic gift or anything. He just sent it like he would to any guy friend. I am just super obsessed with proprieties. I also don't want him getting any wrong ideas.

I am just not sure what to do. Should I accept it? If I do decline, how can I go about it now without hurting his feelings?

(After writing this, I feel a bit better about accepting it, but I am still unsure....)

How do you think that the situation is inappropriate?

He's your friend. He gave you a gift. That's it. As long as he isn't expecting anything in return, then it sounds like he was being genuinely friendly. He probably just wants you to enjoy the game and wants to hear your thoughts/opinions about it. Declining the game would have been a little bit rude (in my opinion) since you can easily hurt someone's feelings by turning down a gift. BUT he is basically a stranger so if the gift made you uncomfortable then you have every right to decline and do what you feel is best for your boundaries/health/safety and so on.

Personally I think you're reading into things far too much- I think he's just trying to build trust and be a good friend to you. Nothing more. I think accepting the gift was the right thing to do if you plan on creating a closer friendship with him.

Hmm, that's true. I a probably am reading too much into it, actually. (I do that a lot). I am just paranoid and the fact that I've only known him for 2 weeks and he decided to buy me something kind of weirds me out. But I am asking here because I am not sure how these things look to normal non-paranoid people. Haha. :)

Thanks for your advice!

I understand your concern, but as you say, it's only a small gift. A few of my Steam friends occasionally would buy (or give gift codes for) cheap games for one another, simply so they could play together - nothing was meant by it, be it male or female.

I would recommend you act naturally. Of course there's a reasonable possibility he's interested romantically in you, but by accepting a friendly gesture you are not leading him on. If it becomes more apparent that he's trying to 'court' you or something, perhaps mention you are not interested - if you are not.

I agree with the other people who have answered, I wouldn't read much into it unless he starts acting flirty. Especially on steam, there are always sales and Humble Bundles where people get games really cheap and he probably just had an extra copy sitting around or wanted to play something with you.

As for getting wrong ideas, if that does happen you'll just have to explain that you're not interested (if you're not), and then it's up to him to respond in an appropriate manner.

Thanks for the advice! It is good to hear that this has happened to you as well and that it is okay to accept. I was probably just overreacting (as I often do). :)