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When is bad behavior outside the game punished within the game? (Honest question)

Azernak0·3/31/2018, 9:54:58 AM·1 votes·479 views

So this is a question I had years and years ago, mostly with the idea of it being a YouTube video but now that all the kids love this 'live streaming' thing, it is actually fairly relevant. (Note: it is late and my humor is weird anyway)

If you are being a jerkass in game, Riot has a couple of different ways of slapping your hand. Let's move past harsh language or even "good" natured banter and go straight into toxicity. Less "you suck" and more "you as a human being" type hatred. You can earn less rewards that give you an opportunity to earn paid skins and can even have your ability to play stricken from you. These types of rules in games are commonplace; the game should still be a place to have fun. If you are a jerkass in chat or gameplay, Riot will usually do more than just give you a dirty look.

But what is Riot's feelings towards being a jerkass outside of game? Hypothetical: Steve McStreamer is well known, ultra popular for using full blown hate speech, the kind of stuff that would have made George Wallace say "pump your brakes", towards his teammates and opponents over Discord/Twitch/Youtube/CNN/etc but isn't utilizing the game to grief or attack his opponents. If anything, Steve is polite and calm in chat and acts exactly like the kind of teammates we would all want; friendly, admits mistakes, having fun.

How does Riot react to that kind of thing? Is there a policy for 'not being a jerkass' outside of the game?

10 Comments

Timethief493/31/2018, 10:35:55 AM2 votes

Its impossible for them to moderate it. Also its optional for the other players. They dont have to watch his stream or be on discord/skype with him.

Sp33d Zer03/31/2018, 10:39:37 AM1 votes

They don't.

/Thread

iitsdayday3/31/2018, 10:45:06 AM1 votes

They should not have to do anything about that either if you don't like what they are saying don't read/listen to what they say on discord and don't watch their stream or youtube. Who cares if someone flames or is mean to you... it's a game over the internet don't take it so seriously you get butthurt. Not specifically towards you but people should be a little tougher when it comes to someone saying you suck.

Imperial Pandaa3/31/2018, 11:10:32 AM1 votes

Currently, in game it would not be. That may change with the recent companies coming together to fight toxicity thing though.

Another note, out of game stuff may still be punished by Riot, out of game. An example being Pants R Dragon. Last season he earned a place to go to an event called Scouting Grounds. Riot denied an invite to him due to something he had said during a video/stream.

ModUlanopo3/31/2018, 2:08:11 PM1 votes

I'm pretty sure Wallace would have made a comment about Noxians needing to remain in Noxis, but kudos on the old-school reference nonetheless.

As to your hypothetical, Riot doesn't normally address anything external to the game client unless it crosses over into really serious territory like credible threats of violence. They would almost always leave that sort of thing to Twitch.

Dolyna3/31/2018, 2:17:12 PM1 votes

Riot polices in-game chat because it has a direct impact on quality of life for people playing the game. If players find the game unpleasant because of toxic chat, they can be motivated to leave the game. Stuff outside the game doesn't have that kind of impact.

Arammus3/31/2018, 10:09:07 AM1 votes

never. tl:dr in the client you can do whatever you want. pre and post game chat CAN be included in a punishement but besides that... names, clan tags, clan chat, private chat with friends. you can do whatever you want. when it comes to names you might eventually have to change it. but besides that, in the client, sadly, you can do whatever you want.

YerroFever3/31/2018, 3:04:13 PM1 votes

So long as your out of game doesn't affect other players, it doesn't matter. So if that streamer isn't toxic in game, then it's totally fine.

You can have a streamer have a verbal meltdown and break stuff in their room and say awful things so that their viewers can hear, but so long as that actions have no effect on other players in the game, Riot won't punish them because although it isn't the healthiest response, it's healthy in that their IRL toxic behavior isn't negatively affecting the game and other players online.

Basically, if they weren't streaming you would have never known the person was being toxic IRL, but since they're containing their toxicity to themselves, Riot won't do anything.

It's not Riot's duty to make sure everyone who plays their game is an upstanding member of the human race. If the streamer is a horrible person, it's their duty to seek out help and become a better person.