There's nothing unusual about chatting about shuffle luck, though I wouldn't give my opponent any extra information about my hand.
I'm not concerned about the strategy of it. Yeah it's bad to tell him my 3 bishops collided, but that's not the point.
i've done a smiliar thing in the past. my opponent made a comment about his shuffles, and i happened to have lost a lot of points before the game so, uh, i kind of overreacted. later i apologized to him and no we're fine, but i can relate anyway.
that said, i (almost) never mention bad shuffles, unless i play with someone i know really well. i don't think it's bad manner, but I do think it's kind of whining.
He didn't overreact, he just didn't care at all. Instead of not responding he ask why it mattered. I explained it mattered because could affect the game, but despite this I wouldn't blame it if I lost. If I lose, he played better than me that's all.
I see how it can be interpreted as whining, that's fair I guess. But I explicitly told him I wasn't complaining about it, and that I just thought it something interesting worth mentioning. In the OP, and in the chat, I mentioned another game where I had a collision of every terminal in my deck in a 50+card deck. It probably lost me the game, its just not something you can take into account and I feel it worth mentioning. I mean, imagine playing IRL and not telling the person you're playing with that you just had every terminal in your deck in the same hand and no Villages. I was chatting with my opponent about the game we were playing. Is that wrong? Should I not try to be friendly? I always discuss in real life. I know the internet is faceless, but that should not mean chatting is whining or rude. Not to imply you mean it is, I don't think you think that.
Sometimes when I realize I missed a tactical opportunity that would have been pretty cool I mention it in the chat. I feel like I shouldn't really do it (what's the point?). I almost think I'm sort of trying to take credit for doing something I didn't. Anyone else done this?
Like I just said to silverspawn, you would mention the mistake IRL, why not online? The point is to have fun. Maybe you don't find discussion fun. Fine, don't reply. But I'll mention it because i enjoy talking to my opponents about the game. The most fun games are when theres a steady chat going about the turns, the shuffles, how things are balancing out. And after the game discussion about alternatives can happen. It's fun.
Think of it like this. You're hanging out with some friends and you see something strange, like a man eating a sausage with his feet while wearing a balloon crown. Do you not say anything? I mean, there's no real point. You say nothing, everyone lives, has a good time, you go home end of story. Or you could say something, and I'm guessing you would. Why not ask the guy why he's doing it? Maybe he's crazy. Maybe he has a reason. Why play dominion? Just sit at home and do nothing. The point it to enjoy the game more, and I find discussion is a part of that. have you ever posted or commented on a game report here? It's the same thing, only at the moment the game is taking place.