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Riot, if you really want to tackle the immense toxicity in this community, you need to take a stand

Scramrail·3/15/2016, 3:44:26 PM·4 votes·936 views

AGAINST SMURFING.

Smurfs are like abusive parents raising children. New players come into LoL, and are met with a near constant stream of abusive smurfs that eventually either force those players to just leave the game entirely, or adopt abusive attitudes themselves, thereby continuing the vicious cycle of negativity and toxicity that is so rampant in this community.

It doesn't even need to be over the top verbal abuse, or in fact verbal at all. Can you imagine anything more frustrating in a game like this than to be put up against an opponent that you literally have 0 chance against? An opponent so far beyond your skill level that no matter how well you think youre playing, you can never come close to beating? An opponent who single handedly carries his team to victory simply because he's lightyears better than everyone else in the game? Such a scenario can and will instill a negative attitude in a player that will fester and grow game after game until they finally reach level 30 and start bringing that negative attitude into ranked games. In all likelihood they themselves will just make a smurf account and go "beat up" on newbies thus continuing this vicious cycle.

But this issue goes even deeper than just creating a cycle of toxicity in this community; It also breeds bad players. Its immeasurably difficult to really glean any real knowledge from a defeat by an opponent so ridiculously better than you. Factor in the negative attitude the environment forces upon a player and you have a scenario in which it is HIGHLY LIKELY that a player will reach max level with very limited game knowledge or how to properly play the game because they are so used to just getting annihilated by better players. This creates an endless supply of low elo players who likely have an extremely toxic attitude and creates an "elo hell" in the lower tiers of the game. Sure, eventually some of these players will manage to climb higher after thousands upon thousands of games, but their attitudes remain the same except now they'll have an heir of entitlement on top of their negativity.

All of this could be avoided if Riot just took a firm stance against smurfing, ESPECIALLY against toxic smurfs.

If you want to try to fix the toxicity in the community, you need to start from the ground up, and stop the creation of new toxic members of the community from being created.

15 Comments

Sarutobi3/15/2016, 4:41:26 PM3 votes

While i do have a "Smurf" account, its usually only played in Bot games as a way to just relax when i still want to play just not as serious. But i will agree. The main reason people make smurf accounts is because anyone can make one, and continue to make one and have nothing done against them on their "main" account. So they can troll, be toxic, basically break any and all rules, with no real consequence because it doesnt matter on the smurf account.

TeemoJenkins3/15/2016, 3:50:18 PM2 votes

/slowclap

How do you propose they stop people from smurfing?

Phenyxs3/15/2016, 4:02:30 PM1 votes

Well you nailed it on the head. Riot needs to be held responsible just as the offenders. But how? I honestly believe money is there objective. Stats and consumer reports. But riot also aren't babysitters for the toxic players. It is a catch 22. Most groups would implement a system to troll the trolls. But that's money spent. Don't get me wrong I love the game. Great game. But it is a camping ground for cyber bullying. A 12 year old posted a question yesterday. Now is it ok for this kid or any other kid or adult even to be harassed? I had a player go crazy on me last game if the night in lobby. I was seeking top but git mid. So by the bans and current picks I went heim mid against lb. Well there was a party of 3 not just him and let it rain it did. But funny part even with current game changes u know how to get heim going and play him. So I muted them, shut lb down, there jg and bttm. We won fast and I led with most kills least deaths. End of game no comment and they bailed. I laughed. Playing this game is to me the champions as well as interactions. But now it's just playing a game.

MasterSomething3/15/2016, 4:06:44 PM1 votes

They can't stop smurfing because the new player experience can't be made worse.

Malhammers3/15/2016, 3:51:22 PM1 votes

...They encourage smurfing. They reduced the XP it takes to get to 30 by half. I feel sorry for new players now, because lvls 1-30 is literally 90% smurfs making a new account.

Magnum Mack3/15/2016, 5:03:56 PM1 votes

Pretty much quoting a response I gave someone already:

Smurfs who specifically go out to ruin new player experiences through purposefully flaming and degrading them should be popped, sure, but most of the smurfs I played with I could learn from. I literally got to the point where I had 3 diamonds and a plat bring me into THEIR matches to teach me how to support at a higher level on their main accounts. I learned a lot from the smurfs I've met so far, whether against or with me. I get to see higher level play to emulate in my other games or things I can exploit, especially in support role where I can see how they position and respond to threats. There's not always a lot to learn from those in your same level of play.

The smurfs aren't always such a bad thing. In fact, I generally don't mind it. I think a lot of these people complaining just don't like that they chose a champ that requires actually practicing with it.

MegaShroom90003/15/2016, 5:37:05 PM1 votes

Not to mention that the permanently banned accounts will start a new account, with their same toxic behavior. I see more toxicity on my new smurf games than my established account.

[I created a learning account for champions I totally suck at, so I can get better with people at my same skill level with NEW champions. I found it a horrible experience learning new champions at my silver+- normal games (judged strictly on my teammates borders.), because of all the complaints and raging when I failed to play a new champion competently.]

Smurf accounts have their purposes, and I read a RIOT post a long time ago, that said the matchmaking fairly quickly recognizes expert smurfs from beginners. I would suggest your friend keep playing, and hopefully after a dozen+ matches, he will have a better experience.

scazzman3/15/2016, 6:42:12 PM1 votes

riot also neeeds to crack down on the people baiting each other into becoming toxic trying to get them in trouble. i shouldnt have to mute everyone in chat just so i dont get punished

SmokedAlmonds3/15/2016, 6:50:14 PM1 votes

I imagine this is a big reason that the hextech crafting was created. Since league is free and IP bans are ineffective and have huge side effects there is nothing to stop someone from creating a new account. So any "stance" against smurfs is going to be blowing smoke. Hextech will discourage negative behavior since those punished will be ineligible and incentivise playing on your main to get the stuff. I have no idea how much the type of players you are talking about will actually be interested in it though.