Is trash talking the other team toxic in a way that could get me in trouble?

Kulahan·1/8/2015, 5:27:09 PM·1 votes·1,539 views

I've always thought that saying something to get under your opponent's skin was a kind of strategy (they fail when ganking you, so you say something like "Lol try harder pleb. Looks like you should've saved the money on that skin!"). The general idea is that you get under their skin, get them flustered, and they play a little worse, resulting in a small advantage for your team.

Ideally, I'd like to hear a riot rep answer this - the last thing I wanna do is get in trouble, but I always assumed toxicity was mainly reserved for being mean to your own team.

11 Comments

Jamaree1/8/2015, 5:28:21 PM3 votes

Yes, it is toxic, and yes, it will get you in trouble.

EndlessSorcerer1/8/2015, 5:39:33 PM3 votes

I typically stick to stuff that could bother them but isn't actually rude.

Recently, I had a Nasus game where I killed Zed (my lane opponent), proxy farmed and killed Zed again, then killed their jungler without backing. I just said "Go away, I'm farming" in all chat. Typing "+6" after killing an enemy champion with your Q is another option.

Occasionally, after the enemy fails a gank or tries to all-in me and dies, i just type "pls" or "huh" in all-chat.

Timed appropriately, it can really bother people but it can also be pretty funny. I wouldn't really consider it toxic if you avoid personal insults and make an observation or one-to-two word statement.

BlazinHot61/8/2015, 5:47:10 PM3 votes

Anything you say to these Participation Trophy babies that isnt kissing their ass is considered toxic around here. I completely agree with you though. I think getting under your opponent's skin is a very viable strategy.
The way to get around that is to be way more passive agressive. For instance, if you successfully gank a lane. Say something along the lines of: "wow, this is going well for my first time with X champ" Piss people off while saying something in a positive manner that is not directed at anyone specific.

GekkoST1/8/2015, 7:21:56 PM3 votes

When I started league that was a legitimate strategy and I saw it work over and over and over again. If you could get the enemy team to start arguing with each other it was almost a guaranteed win. Sure people got reported but as long as you weren't cursing at them or using racist language or things of that nature you wouldn't get in trouble. After all you were just taunting them and that was OK because taunting wasn't toxic. However....

Now-a-days Riot has taken it upon themselves to be our therapists and seeks to reform our 'bad behavior' and anything and everything you say can be considered 'toxic'.... for example I just finished a 3s game where we were winning, I was 4/1/2 and had been chatting in all chat with the enemy team all game long. Things like... "that chase was exciting" As I chased their skarner who nearly gave me the slip three or four times. "Why did MF build a last whisper? None of us have armor..." "(replying to a shen who asked who fed me) Well I have 85 farmz and I have killed you all a few times so... I fed me?"

Nothing 'toxic' there just friendly conversation. The jayce on my team was pretty silent, he said ty when I came to save him from being killed after he had nuked the MF in a 1v2 and was then being chased by skarner. The enemy Azir chatted back a little... MF was saying stuff like "wow" "are you srs?" "come on..." because she was cannon fodder.

But our shaco... he told me he hated me mid game. When I was doing really well. He muted me and said he was going to report me for verbal abuse. Not sure why. Did I say something offensive to him? not that I know... Did I insult him directly? nope not in the slightest. It made 0 sense to me and it still makes 0 sense to me. In his eyes I was toxic.

Every thing you say can be misconstrued as being toxic these days. It's dumb. No, you can't taunt the enemy team anymore. It's toxic and will get you chat restricted or banned. Even if you do it without swearing or being racist/sexist. No, you can't talk bad about your team to try and bait the enemy into a baron or dragon where your team will pounce on them. For one your team won't go along with the plan because you talked bad about them and they will report you at the end of the game. Doesn't matter if you tell them the plan before hand, they are 'toxic' crazed.

Everyone is 'toxic' crazed and it is Riot's fault. Yeah, there are some players who are actually toxic and previously Riot was doing a pretty poor job of banning them and so lots of people would be exposed to them. But then Riot started this report happy trend and now it's turned into a craze where everyone reports everyone else because we are all toxic. Chat restrictions for everyone, happy new year.

slippykitten1/8/2015, 7:19:47 PM2 votes

The fact that you have to ask this question makes me feel like this game is too immature for me. There is a feature to talk to the enemy team, do people think that is to try to pick up dates? In any competitive sport you say only two things to your opponent "good game" or you trash talk them. I would literally crap my pants if riot has an entire chat function in the game for the sole purpose of saying "gg" after the game is over, that would be insane.

Veraska1/8/2015, 6:12:04 PM2 votes

there pretty straight forward with their rules, basically "don't be a dick". saying toxic shit as a "strategic advantage" is a pretty dickish thing to do tbh.

i dunno i'd report ya, im pretty sure im not the only one

LuckyReden1/8/2015, 5:46:09 PM1 votes

I mean, if your joking and they understand that you should be fine. I like to trash talk jokingly after I get a 3 man gank on someone. In that case I might say something like "Lol, get outplayed ;)" But other than that the only trash tallking I do would be like a "GET REKL" after a tripple or something.

disregardable1/8/2015, 5:31:07 PM1 votes

Yeah, insulting them is toxic and chat-restriction worthy. I like to do it in the opposite way. "Omg my team is so bad, you guys should just baron and end".->bait teamfight at baron->I split push top and take both their nexus towers.

Personally I don't give a shit when the enemy team is toxic to me, but I still report.

Anomander1/8/2015, 5:31:58 PM1 votes

It would mostly depend on how and what you say. If you say "WOW you suck I have seen wood 5 gank better." That might be toxic. But if you say "Wow that was close maybe next time." I don't think most would consider that toxic.