Player-run guilds emphasizing the gold-farming profession have become popular in some games. At least one guild, in World of Warcraft, has chosen to name themselves “Gold Farmers”, specifically to mock such operations. Another mock guild was set up on several European servers called “we farm gold u buy” [sic], a clear dig at the usually poor typing and grammar that Chinese gold farmers often have.

Much derision was poured on websites that advertise and sell in-game items and property when many of them closed briefly and could not carry out transactions over the Chinese New Year. Players took this to be incontestable truth as to the identity of those involved in the farming and selling of virtual items.