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On the use of the words "toxic" versus "negative" in regards to punishable behavior

Deep Terror Nami·9/14/2016, 8:37:42 PM·13 votes·1,120 views

I think the word "toxic" is overused. Not because it's too often an inappropriate description where used, but because many players define "toxicity" as extreme negative behavior only. Some players think if you have to be "toxic" to get punished, that means you have to be extremely negative.

Simply using the word "negative" is more appropriate for describing all behavior that can result in punishment, as people see it as having a much broader definition and covering both minor and major offenses.

You can get punished for any negative behavior. While this is technically true, that doesn't mean calling someone a "doodoo head" is going to get you banned. It's about the consistency of the negative behavior; it typically takes many games before such minor negative behavior will get your case reviewed and result in punishment, plus there are 4 tiers of punishment to go through.

Basically, I believe using the word "negative" more aptly communicates to players what kind of behavior is punishable, while "toxic" is viewed more typically as only extreme behavior.

#What do you think? Do you feel the word "negative" is more appropriate for describing all punishable behavior, or does the word "toxic" to you include even the most minor offenses?

20 Comments

MUSHROOM MIDGET9/14/2016, 9:05:04 PM3 votes

negative isnt right. behavior is toxic because it poisons your whole team. toxic is a much better description.

underscores2229/15/2016, 7:11:29 AM2 votes

I define negative as someone with a can't attitude - we can't win. This can also be displayed in a general pessimistic outlook, up to and including complaining about the team and what we should have done earlier (jungler ganks, etc) and generally not being a positive, trying to win player.

Toxic is when this behavior gets out of hand - either by flaming and badmouthing other players, engaging in poor behavior (base running, not helping in team fights, feeding), or by saying things that make the rest of the team lose motivation. It's like the next step after being negative, and is therefore that much worse.

SanKakU9/15/2016, 12:14:17 AM2 votes

Negativity shouldn't get punished at all. Warning your top/jungle/mid to come stop(a negative word) the enemy jungle from getting dragon for example can win your team the game.

Toxicity is what should be punished. Stubbornly refusing to help your team win because you all of a sudden aren't having fun anymore is the classic example of toxic behavior. Sure, it's negative because you are refusing to do what you're supposed to do. But it's because your will is toxic. Not because your will is negative. Someone can tell you to stop being that way, and they would be negative because they're trying to deny you the 'right to throw the game' but I don't see how someone asking for mercy from some temper tantrum should be punished.

RcGjWO640w9/14/2016, 8:47:15 PM2 votes

Toxicity refers to the action where your negativity adversely affects the behavior of your teammates. It poisons their behavior for the sole purpose of inflaming them and making them angrier.

Negativity on the other hand is just having a bad attitude. It's find if you rage behind your computer screen, Riot doesn't care about that, but the moment you bring that negativity to your team and make them deal with it, that's when they have a problem.

AraMoOse9/14/2016, 10:37:30 PM1 votes

Distance the trivial labeling of punctual brains.

scazzman9/15/2016, 12:10:55 AM1 votes

i personally feel that not ALL negatvity should be punished. for example i feel that if someone tells you kys starts spamming racial/homophobic slurs. or is actively trolling. you're well within your right to tell someone to fuck off. i feel in some instances. retaliation is okay. or at the very least forgivable.

also. if riot wants to have a zero tolerance policy on negativity. thats fine. but in order to do that. they need to completely eliminate trolling in ranked. and make sure that deliberatly trying to get people in trouble is in the same instaban category as homophobia and racial slurs

also. i feel like telling someone "shut up and play the game" isnt toxic

Qiy4na9/15/2016, 1:57:22 AM1 votes

Toxic negativity spreads like poison and makes more than one person angry but its still just a form of negativity, so negativity (being a downer n such) encompasses more*[zombie-nunu-bummed]*

OneMustFall9/15/2016, 10:07:45 PM1 votes

Being negative isn't an automatic cause for punishment. There are plenty of people who will say "WTF Team, you just let me die! We're gonna lose now..." <- That's negative but it doesn't mean they should be punished for expressing frustration in the game.

Being toxic is repeatedly spamming the /ff everytime it comes up and saying "GG just surrender, you guys all suck, we can't win". That's toxic and that should be punished. I think there's a big difference between expressing some frustration once because of a bad situation and being constantly negative regardless of your team's effort.

Morality Coach9/15/2016, 10:17:47 PM1 votes

This protest against the standard Riot toxic label seems passive aggressive.

Myrin Deez Gains9/16/2016, 6:07:08 AM1 votes

I think your opinion really doesn't matter on this because YOU WERE REMOVED FROM THE ARBITER SYSTEM for being TOXIC, even though you were Riot's #1 "YESMAN." You are literally the epitome of toxicity and then try to put on this "holier than thou" act every time you come on the boards. It makes me sick to my stomach to watch someone get away with such atrocities.

Get off your high horse and get over yourself!

And I have SEEN someone get banned for calling another player "poopoo head."

Zombiemaster9/14/2016, 8:47:25 PM1 votes

I do agree. I've never really liked the word "toxic" when describing punishable behavior. I use it from time to time if the person I'm discussing with tends to use it a lot, but even then I still prefer using something different, like "negative."

I don't know, I just don't really like the word in general to be honest. Unless of course we're talking about actual toxic stuff, like poison or chemicals, but I rarely find myself in the situation where I am talking about that kind of stuff.

As you pointed out, I feel like "toxic" carries much heavier connotation and that it refers more to extreme behavior rather than all punishable behavior. I personally feel that using "negative" or "unacceptable" is better when talking about punishable behavior.

1wolfpack9/14/2016, 8:49:49 PM1 votes

its easier to type toxic as opposed to negative, less letters. to make life easier we should use the letter "X" in place of the work Toxic or Negative. EZ, GG, GL HF

BlueThingamajig9/14/2016, 9:08:13 PM1 votes

I think the problem is that the word toxic has been misappropriated. In its first use by Riot, it was very clearly defined as "Behavior that causes other players to be more likely to be negative in their games"

Kinda like how "Netflix and Chill" used to literally mean "hang out and watch shows/movies on Netflix" before it became a euphemism.