Toxicity in games

[JellyjamLu]

I completely quit online games like LoL, Deadlock and Marvel Rivals because of the toxicity,

God I love you.

 

[Lt. Gunther Welkin]

I try my absolute best to treat my opponents with martial artist bow-before-the-match levels of respect. I truly believe that everyone I fight against is worth a degree of respect and honor. I don't taunt, I don't t-bag, I don't flame in chat. It's ggs and then I'm out.
I know full-well what it's like to suck at video games. I'm a little brother, and when I was young, my brother and his friends would not pull their punches on me. I was a baby in the lion's den. I had to fight tooth and nail to survive those MW3 1v1s.

Even in the face of kicking my ass thoroughly, they never insulted me and always encouraged me that I could do it. I'm of the opinion that's how all fights should operate!
Now, this isn't to say I'm saintly. I've had my- moments. But as a standard, this is what I try to live up to!

 

[TallGrass]

In my opinion, I think the latter case is worse: the social aspect of online games is most of the reason you play them to begin with, and creating a space where assholes feed each other's bad behavior in a negative feedback loop won't create a tolerable community or playerbase. I also don't agree that "just ignore/block people" is as bulletproof as people make it out to be?

But this is demonstrably false. Almost anybody old enough to have been around for a while will tell you definitively that internet/gaming/etc. culture was leagues better back then. To pretend that some sort of "downward spiral" or slippery slope is going to happen is downright delusional. We were there in the days before censorship, and we all made it. If anything, constantly repressing and "tut-tutting" even the most banal expressions of anger/frustration makes the situation much worse overall, in both cyber- and meat-space.
Frankly, I am of the opinion that any calls for any form of censorship is the most egregious form of toxicity one could ever encounter online. This "toxic positivity" being mandated is infuriating. Anybody who believes it's actually for "safer" (lol) communities, or because they care about "cultivating a more pleasant environment" is a fool, it's simply a process of sterilization for mass market appeal.

 

[pinetreeneedle56]

But this is demonstrably false. Almost anybody old enough to have been around for a while will tell you definitively that internet/gaming/etc. culture was leagues better back then. To pretend that some sort of "downward spiral" or slippery slope is going to happen is downright delusional. We were there in the days before censorship, and we all made it. If anything, constantly repressing and "tut-tutting" even the most banal expressions of anger/frustration makes the situation much worse overall, in both cyber- and meat-space.
Frankly, I am of the opinion that any calls for any form of censorship is the most egregious form of toxicity one could ever encounter online. This "toxic positivity" being mandated is infuriating. Anybody who believes it's actually for "safer" (lol) communities, or because they care about "cultivating a more pleasant environment" is a fool, it's simply a process of sterilization for mass market appeal.

I think you skimmed over what I wrote. As I said, this is just my two cents.

I, personally (and purely anecdotally,) have seen communities fall apart because some bad apples interpret an ettiquette/courtesy based approach to moderation as a carte-blanche check to behave contrary to any sort of common sense, or basic decency. I think I did mention that it can be important to note what type of person expected behavior attracts, so you aren't just left with constantly angry people at each other throats. The point I was trying to get at was that there should be a line drawn at some point so that you don't end up with either extreme.

By the way, I don't appreciate the insinuation you are making about me.

 

[cjl8336]

people like to "show everyone online that they did" something, whether its social media or winning competitive online games
It becomes an extension of the person and any kind of slight against someone's playing style is seen as a personal attack, and thus the insults are thrown out

 

[shadowcat]

I play games to have fun, not to hear 15 year old internet addicts spew four letter words and epithets; so needless to say I don't play online games.

 

[Arkista]

I feel like there's a fine line between shit talking in online games and just being a toxic antisocial asshole and too many people don't know how to not cross that line. I only do voice chat in games with friends only because I simply don't want to deal with toxicity in voice chats talking to randoms.

Also if someone's sense of dark edgy humor is simply flashbanging unsuspecting people with nothing besides hate and/or slurs it's like grow up you're not 12 anymore get more creative lmao

 

[here4outbreak]

But this is demonstrably false. Almost anybody old enough to have been around for a while will tell you definitively that internet/gaming/etc. culture was leagues better back then. To pretend that some sort of "downward spiral" or slippery slope is going to happen is downright delusional. We were there in the days before censorship, and we all made it. If anything, constantly repressing and "tut-tutting" even the most banal expressions of anger/frustration makes the situation much worse overall, in both cyber- and meat-space.
Frankly, I am of the opinion that any calls for any form of censorship is the most egregious form of toxicity one could ever encounter online. This "toxic positivity" being mandated is infuriating. Anybody who believes it's actually for "safer" (lol) communities, or because they care about "cultivating a more pleasant environment" is a fool, it's simply a process of sterilization for mass market appeal.

i mean im not a fan of censorship either; you should be allowed to say things even in a fit of manbaby rage over a videogame, but like mentioned there should still be a line in the sand for that kind of behavior because it makes the game tiring to even be a part of after a while. once you run into enough chronically angry nerds it just takes away from the game yknow.

i would think once youre like making threats thats when its gone too far and likely what "safer" is supposed to mean.

 

[redux007]

You encountered it at one point all of us certainly had a toxic encounter with another player in a game we played online we all know how it looks like and how it feels.

However there is something to toxicity in games where trash talking each other and even sometimes throwing slurs at each other creates for memroable and even fun moments.....is toxicity that harmful? Did it ever made you reach a point where you quit a game because of it?

Did you engage in toxic behavior yourself? Did you rage at someone during a multi-player game? I certainly did i also done my fair share of trolling in games ruining games people in lobbies were waiting to fill up for 2 hours straight!


Whats your opinion on toxicity? I find it necessary to keep a certain balance into the game community if everyone was so nice it will become mundane and boring but if everyone was so agitated and toxic it would also become boring and will push away newcomers what do you think...

People have personal boundaries and social understanding of where and when something is acceptable/unacceptable. Between, all sexes, races, and creeds. Political agitators and criminals abused and weaponized the supposed consideration of others, which has become the element of contention for most people in regards to "toxicity" and "free speech." I would say in virtually any normal circumstance anybody can probably within reason say something highly derogative or polite sounding in the most harmful or playful manner possible. It's when people start talking about bringing in uniformed, armed soldiers or committing violence themselves against somebody or arranging for it to happen vicariously through others that things enter into "toxicity."

 

[WeirdxDude]

I only do it with friends for trolling, but like pure "Xxpro_gamer_69xX" level of toxicity? Can't remember doing that.

 

[BigTony]

I think its worse now than ever.
back in the day we talked shit and said slurs but it wasn't malicious it was just dudes shooting the shit.
The switch from server browsers to online matchmaking really destroyed the community aspect of online gaming.
People are more likely to be assholes now because they have no connection and will never see each other again.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

I think its worse now than ever.
back in the day we talked shit and said slurs but it wasn't malicious it was just dudes shooting the shit.
The switch from server browsers to online matchmaking really destroyed the community aspect of online gaming.
People are more likely to be assholes now because they have no connection and will never see each other again.

A well put thought really , having to play multiple games and enter servers with the same people over and over is a fun experience that matchmaking can't replicate , CS 1.6 has server browser along with most online valve games (Half life 1 deathmatch too) you get to know everyone in a server by the time sometime passes

 

[pinetreeneedle56]

I think its worse now than ever.
back in the day we talked shit and said slurs but it wasn't malicious it was just dudes shooting the shit.
The switch from server browsers to online matchmaking really destroyed the community aspect of online gaming.
People are more likely to be assholes now because they have no connection and will never see each other again.

That's a good point. It does feel like a lot of players now a days are spiteful and rude for the sake of it, as opposed to keeping it to just ribbing each other and having fun.