Can "Good Luck" and "Good Game" be taken as insults?

I play Pokemon simulators online, and I had a conversation that went something like this:

[Some name I can't remember]: Good luck

Me: Thanks!

[That guy]: You're gonna need it.

To state it simply,while they are mostly said to present good sportsmanship, Good Luck and Good Game can sometimes be counter-productive and instead make yourself look arrogant to your opponent, making them think that you will certainly win the match [Good luck] or that you deserved the loss and nothing more [Good game].

And who could forget the premature GG, when you say GG before the game is even over, essentially predicting your opponent is going to lose?

This is even more of a problem OTB, when you can actually convey tone in your speech, so you can actually make yourself sound arrogant or cocky or anything along those lines.

What is your opinion on this subject matter? Should we abolish pre- and post- game salutations and just resort to shaking hands? Or are these "salutations" just as bad as people make them?

Since in Online Chess, you cannot know in which tone or intention you just heard your opponent saying: 'Good Game' or 'Good Luck', it's the wisest to just assume the best. That guy in your example was just messing with you, though, and shouldn't deserve any further attention.

Yes it is insulting to say good game at a point where the game is not over or "thanks" as if the game were over.  Typically if the comment seems rude I simply let the time run out(days if correspondence or minutes if live).  I dont waste my time on rude people or self appointed arrogance.  I am very respectful if I believe I am winning because in order to play you need two people, and I am only half of that equation.

It sounded ok to me. If someone is being a jerk to you, then how you respond is completely optional.

yes. So can 'have a good day' and 'kiss me'. 

I played a non-sanctioned OTB game (just a little tournament at a local brewpub) where I said "Good luck" the the guy before the game.  He responded, "If you don't know this game ain't got no luck you shouldn't be playin'".  He then proceded to bounce a racketball off the wall above our table for the match while I was making my move.

The point is, it takes all kinds.  This happens in all sorts of competition (club level tennis ... yikes!).  Part of chess is also the head game, so just roll with it how you can.  

Wait, hold on... There is trash talking in a "Pokemon Simulator"? Oh how adorable! lol I guess little kids can be pretty mean sometimes... 

If they pull weird crap and it's their set, I usually just say 'Excuse me a minute' and wander off. I might go to the shop next door or start a conversation with someone else. I might even drive away.

But I wouldn't pay him the courtesy of telling him the game's over. He'll eventually figure it out.

He beat me like a depression era rug!  But no worse than what I've received playing on the street, both in smack-talk and chess beatings.

Those phrases can not and should not be taken as insults. The rest of what you guys are describing can, but are not related to those two objectively positive phrases.

You would be baffled how many adults are entrenched in the Pokemon fandom. 

Some people will find any excuse to be insulted.  Such people are leeches on society and of zero value.  Who cares if somebody gets offended by 'good luck' or 'good game.'  But seriously though, you're playing chess... not having a friendly game of tiddly wings.  Why wish your opponent luck?  Wish yourself luck and your opponent misfortune that manifests in a loss of connection, or perhaps a stroke in the heat of battle.

"Good luck", in my opinion, is unnecessarily condescending. Chess is not a game of luck. "Good game" should be used only if the opponent put up a real fight. Stallers, total patzers and the like don't deserve GG.

no

i think chatbox is better left blank or just "easy" at end if someone was arrogant

I usually say good luck at the start, and will say good game just before I either mate them (as in a forced mate)  or when I can see they will mate me on their next move, but won't resign on the slim hope they don't see it and I get to play on a bit longer lol. Have both left and received messages like mate in 3 sorry and on analysis have to agree so then I will resign and the other player usually will too.

Anyway back to topic, some people will take offence but the majority will take it in the spirit it was meant and reply with a good luck to you too etc.

If they take offence that's their problem, don't let it throw you off your game, just soldier on and play your own game regardless

It's just good sportsmanship to GG if he or she doesn't like the gesture of good will what can you do.

Win or lose, I like "thanks for the game" or nothing at all. There's no hidden b.s. that needs to be thought about. The trash talk idea seems to be in live chess. I pretty much only play online, and since I have the time to do it, I usually will say thanks for the game and introduce myself on move 1. Almost always, I get a nice reply back. I have never gotten an insult back. Seems like the more time you have, the nicer people are.

When in StarCraft 2 my opponent does this premature "gg", I sometimes stay in the game till he killed of all my buildings to show him that I don't like what he did.

I use "gg" to resign, not to say: "your position is lost, you should surrender!"