The Evolution of 'Inting': How Moba Slang Escaped Gaming Lobbies and Conquered Discord
By Marcus Vance
Long before Discord users typed it to mock terrible life choices, "inting" emerged as a specific crime inside multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs), most notably Riot Games’ flagship title *League of Legends*. In these games, killing an opposing player awards gold and experience points. Players who die repeatedly make the enemy team wealthier, stronger, and harder to kill. Gamers describe this cycle as "feeding" the other team.
Bad play is normal. Every competitor has off days where mechanical reflexes falter and reaction times slip. That is ordinary feeding. "Inting," however, represents a deliberate act of betrayal. An angry or frustrated teammate abandons defensive strategy, charges headfirst into enemy turrets, and hands free resources to the opposing squad out of spite. It is the tactical equivalent of scoring own-goals on purpose during a penalty shootout.
During the mid-2010s, Riot Games instituted automated text bans and behavioral tracking systems to punish intentional feeding. Players caught running down the mid lane faced immediate suspension. Because griefing behavior could ruin a 40-minute match for four innocent teammates, "inter" became the single most venomous insult in competitive gaming terminology. To call someone an inter was to accuse them of malicious sabotage.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
