Can the community get better while our ω (likelihood of meeting the same player again) is low?

Xael v2·Sep 30, 2013·5 votes·352 views

After doing a bit of my own research on the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Evolution of Cooperation, how can the league of legends community ever become non-toxic if after each game there's an incredibly small likelihood of interacting with the same players again?

For those new to the topic, here's a good quick paragraph summary from Wikipedia that details why exploiting our teammates is default for so many players: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evolution_of_Cooperation#Foundation_of_reciprocal_cooperation

If you think of "cooperation" as being supportive of everyone on the team, and "exploitation" or "defection" as flaming a team member, I find this analogy fits pretty perfectly with the issue that the League community has.

TL;DR: The only incentive to co-operate with your team is to win the game. If the game can't be won (or so you think), then there is no more incentive to be cooperative and supportive.

4 Comments

AlfirinestelSep 30, 20132 votes

That's interesting you bring that up Xael v2! I was just sharing my thoughts about that based on someone's question about Myer-Briggs Personality. It is hard to believe that the LoL community in game will ever got "non-toxic". Especially with anonymity and consistent changing team dynamics within the game. However, I think amongst the community board there is a LACK of that. I think what the Tribunal and the Behavior Specialist Team has been working with (honor system, reformation of Tribunal, reform cards, banning an eProfessional player for his toxicity and his reformation, Teamwork OP campaign) is leading the way for all MOBAs in creating a gaming environment and community that values team work and community. I believe Riot has done a great job in that area, and it is not safe to expect "toxicity" to ever go away but to realize a person who's toxic can be reformed! It does start with each person and education and I am super excited ESPECIALLY with the Teamwork OP campaigns. They are EDUCATING our players about that and personally for me, I have experienced much less "trolling" then I did before. These are all efforts happening OUTSIDE of the game so that the next time when you do play a game, you might find someone a team that is much better.

I think in light of Evolution of Cooperation, even if a game is not "winnable" an easy solution is simply to surrender. If the team realizes they can't win, it is natural to surrender and move on. If the team can't surrender and someone believes there's a chance, it is natural to keep going. This is all said ideally however. When we are not winnable, it is easy to exploit (flame) your team members. I usually try to educate flamers, that it's a game and their actions are inappropriate. I usually try to make it fun if our team knows we can't win. I agree with my team first, in a surrender to defend as best as we can for another 10 minutes, and we /all the enemy team to try to take our base before we surrender in 10 minutes. It becomes fun for everyone! So in someways, when we are able to fend off our base before they destroy it we surrender, we "win" in some way and we blow up our base. LOL and the enemy team screams NOOOO even though they won. It's fun. Try it.

I think there does need to more integration with the honor system so people can see they are playing with someone that will not be toxic but positive. I also think what needs to change is the idea of the common goal of the game is simply winning vs. Leaguing/TeamworkOP. I think whether win or lose, (though losing sucks) I ENJOY myself and have an AMAZING time when I am in a TEAM that's GREAT even though we lose. And what happens is we recognize the other team is better and what we as a team can work on. It's rare but it's happened before and my team and the opposing team has a GREAT discussion about what happened and our play style. It was a great experience and great feeling even though my team lost. Someone even commented that this was the best "loss" ever. So, if we can "re-educate" a gaming culture that "winning" is NOT the identity and "spirit" of League I think this helps make a progressive step towards a better community. The Goal is having Fun, getting better in our respective roles for our team's sake, Creating a Community and having an OP Team Work, then I believe that creates a better community. I believe RiotCo. and the team involved is working on just that if you haven't noticed with the videos and a community board like this! :)

TL:DR; We will never be rid of toxicity but it is getting better because Riot and their Behavior Specialist Team has been working with (honor system, reformation of Tribunal, reform cards, banning an eProfessional player for his toxicity and his reformation, Teamwork OP campaign) is leading the way for all MOBAs in creating a gaming environment and community that values team work and community. With a community board and those TeamWORK OP Campaign I believe they are making an effort to reorientate what the "common" goal is and it's not all about winning (for yourself).

Xael v2Sep 30, 20132 votes

This is a fantastic reply! I think the key point that I was trying to make (which you seem to agree on) is Riot is really trying to address the issue - utmost respect and a shoutout to the Riot BST for working hard on this.

Having said that, one of the main obstacles that needs to be overcame is the fact that after a game has ended, there's no record of what transpired other than the IP gain or the win/loss on your record. How can we overcome the urge to exploit those around us for our own gain when the likelihood of that action following us throughout our League career is slim at best?

Edit: I acknowledge that the honor system is an attempt to address this issue - it doesn't cut it though.

AlfirinestelOct 1, 20131 votes

To clarify, if your question in regards to overcoming the urge to "exploit" and if you are suggesting that "exploiting" = "flaming" our team members, I think the simple answer is that exploiting your team mates doesn't help you win.

If your question, is how can we overcome "not" exploiting our team members because of the "lack" of role modeling of that in our League career is very slim... then I believe in some way you kind of answer that yourself. Time to get some role modeling in. Again, I don't believe "toxicity" will end. It's almost human nature to "flame" via internet especially in a culture that is about being "entitled." The best way tot end exploiting is being that model yourself. Like Michael Jackson's song Man in the Mirror, "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change". (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps)

Xael v2Oct 3, 20131 votes

Exploiting/flaming team members does in fact feel good to some people though - that's the problem. In situations where a win looks impossible, one of the easiest ways to come out feeling good is to put others down... Obviously I'm not saying that's a good thing, just the way it is.