Toxicity is ill-defined.

Inari Fox Orrion·2/8/2018, 5:25:02 PM·3 votes·787 views

Or, at the very least, it's not defined enough to prevent people from saying critique (NOT flaming, but actual critique; Exact words "Your job as the midlaner is to roam with the enemy midlaner or take their tower. They have no reason to roam unless YOU let them.") wound count as toxicity. Even, in a really extreme example, "I'll be AFK" isn't toxic, but acting upon it definitely is.

I feel like Riot needs to release a mass statement saying "Critique isn't toxic. Calling you an asshat is toxic."

21 Comments

Jo0o2/8/2018, 5:41:20 PM5 votes

Your exact quote is obviously just advice. I can't imagine any situation where Riot would identify it as toxic. Was that something you said, and were told was against the rules? I'd be interested to see those full chat logs, or support ticket exchange.

"I'll AFK" is toxic even if you don't act on it. Threatening your team with AFKing, which is a method of trolling, is detrimental to team morale, focus, and enjoyment. That's clear-cut toxicity. I'll be happy if you don't do it, but you're still a douche for saying it, especially as a threat to get me to do something for you in-game.

This Is Your Dad2/8/2018, 8:45:08 PM5 votes

There are players that spend the entire game typing critique instead of playing. This is also toxic. It depends as well on the DEGREE to which you do things.

Butt Ρlug2/8/2018, 5:38:05 PM3 votes

hm, i don't really think that people get banned just for a single sentence criticizing their midlaner, but if they keep arguing or keep criticizing teammates i guess it can be categorized as harassment.

Because I've seen a few cases where some players kept criticizing their teammates on those forums, they got punished for it even if they didn't use any insults. Having a teammate contently criticizing what you're doing is annoying and when someone gets annoyed the likelihood of victory is drastically diminished.

Personally i feel like giving an advice like "Hey lux ! next time she roams bot try to ping and follow, maybe we can collapse and get her ! I'll ward near drake :p ", is way more effective than "Your job as the midlaner is to roam with the enemy midlaner or take their tower..". To sum it up, nobody wants to listen to a complete stranger telling them what to do.

So yeah critique isn't that toxic, but it's often ineffective/useless, it can be annoying and considered as harassment if used a bunch of times or if said with CAPS LOCK on and things like that. ( This plus the fact that you'll often find critique and toxicity mixed together in the chat logs you can find on those forums ).

Kaioko2/8/2018, 7:46:52 PM3 votes

There's an easy way for you to define toxicity really. When the amount of enjoyment players get by playing with you goes below the amount of annoyance they get from being to forced to play with you -- you've become a toxic player. This can be from the way you play (like afking, refusing to play your role) to throwing insults in chat, to mass pinging.

When you cross that threshold you playing the game no longer is beneficial to Riot. You now cause more players to leave the game then bring in and therefore become a financial burden. In order for Riot to remain profitable, you need to be removed.

BritneyFear2/8/2018, 8:57:02 PM2 votes

The problem is entitlement. Players feel entitled to want someone else to be banned over petty things whenever crap doesn't go their way or someone's else's opinions/views differ from theirs.

Kei1432/8/2018, 7:59:07 PM1 votes

that statement won't get anyone punished.

Ph03n1xb1rd2/9/2018, 1:25:27 AM1 votes

Actually critique is considered toxic by rito, soo go on :D

Ex5p1rav1t2/9/2018, 10:11:54 AM1 votes

I want to leave a ticket about why I was banned! I feel it was unfair, and I have spent so much money on this game I feel a deserve a live chat trial! Help now please!!!!!