I think I know why toxicity is on the rise.

So I've been playing this game for..God knows how long (late 2010 I think?) And since I've been playing I've noticed that everyone's attitude, mine included has become somewhat...For lack of better words, toxic.

So I sat back and took a critical look at what I think the root cause of this problem is. But first we need a comparison of what the game used to be and what it is now.

Old League. -Games lasted much longer -Low champion pool so easier to balance -Games could be won or turned around from a 4v5 or after losing -Every champion had a counter or paid for their strengths with their weaknesses -Champions were simple but fun, some took alot of strategy despite them being relatively simple in design. -The game was still new so the community had yet to blow up -New players weren't treated as a hindrance or had vitriol thrown at them. -No enforced Meta

New League. -Games are much shorter when compared to it's earlier state -Larger champion pool and more variety (a good thing) -Games are much more "snowbally" and harder to win or have a comeback -Some champion mechanics have had their counters removed or nerfed (I.E point and click CC being phased out is increasing mobility creep) -Champions are much much more complex than they ever were (Again, also a good thing) -The community has exploded into such a super massive population that it's almost unreal -New players are treated as complete subhuman and garbage -The meta is 100% enforced by Riot even though they themselves have stated they would never do so in the past.

So taking a look at this I've considered a few things in my following analysis.

1.Games tend to be a stomp now, not all games, but most. -This causes frustration and dismay in alot of people on the losing side as comebacks are much harder. -Losing in this manner will cause a toxicity rise in both teams, winning teams feel as though they are completely better by miles and losing teams growing angry at each other because of the flow of the game. -Having a man down in this current season will be weighed against them even more.

2.Champions having their counters nerfed or removed. -This really sucks considering it phases out alot of picks because of their rising unreliability and being just plain outclassed. -Point and click hard CC is a necessary evil that is slowly but surely being taken out of the game in trade for skill shot based CC

3.Enforced Meta means if you pick an off pick you will be punished...By your own team. -Most of the time your own teammates will tear you a new one for picking something they deem useless. -The meta was slowly made a thing by Riot rather they know it or not. originally Dragon was just used as a gold pot for your team and nothing more. But now if you do not take dragons you will have a much higher chance of losing the game. Basically making smite a requirement, ergo making jungle a requirement. -Riot has repeatedly nerfed champions for being played off meta or in a place that they don't want them to be played. -The jungle was made accessible by only a handful of champions that can harsh the increasing buffed monsters and punish those who cannot, pigeonholing you into certain picks for certain areas. (How ever I give Riot praise for trying to break this with Morde)

Honestly in my opinion, this is why the game has seen an increase in toxicity and anger, it doesn't take a fancy PHD in cognitive neuroscience or psychology to see why people are getting so upset at this game. All it takes is a simple read on the forums and putting 2 and 2 together are realizing that it makes 4.

Again this is all just my speculation but I think it's pretty solid, I'm pretty excited to see what everyone else has to bring into this conversation. Also forgive any mistakes I have made making this as it's late and my brain is functioning very very slowly.