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Is saying you're going to /mute all at the start "toxic behavior" that warrants a report?

Colonell·10/27/2017, 9:28:27 PM·2 votes·897 views

I actually /mute all all the time. I do it right when I get into the game and it helps me focus on my gameplay and to help avoid all non-essential communication. I did, however, get into an argument with a player in post-game chat who announced in champ select that she was going to /mute all right when she got into the game and emphasized on us all to communicate with pings. Is this considered as "promoting toxic behavior"? I'm okay with players /mute all, but when they say "I'm going to /mute all when I get into the game" I hear "I refuse to listen because I think I'm better and I don't need to communicate". Why say it? Just do it and be done with it. It's just like when players in the game say "muted" after they argue with someone. It's not helping, and it only pisses off the other person even more. (FYI chances are if you have to announce you're muting someone, you most likely won't because you crave the attention).

Anyways the player I was arguing with in post-game chat said she was going to report me for being toxic to her (even though the game is over now) and that she's right and there's nothing wrong with announcing that you're going to automatically mute your entire team at 0:01.

Is her behavior reportable? Players aren't required to use chat, but I feel like it's not the best way to go about it. Who is right?

6 Comments

ModThe Djinn10/27/2017, 9:30:20 PM2 votes

It's maybe not the best way to go about handling chat issues, but there isn't anything wrong with muting everyone, or giving them an alert that you're muting everyone.

You CAN use it as harassment ("That's it. You're too crazy to listen to. Muting you."), but a "Hey guys...I'm going to /mute all when this game starts. Just a heads up" seems perfectly fine to me.

OnlyYouCanHearMe10/27/2017, 9:55:49 PM2 votes

I don't actually see how what she did was any different from what you do. You say that you do it all the time to help avoid the non-essential communication and to help you focus on your gameplay. She let your team know before the match started that she was going to be muting all, and made a point to emphasize that you guys needed to use ping to communicate with her. Without being able to read what was actually said, it does sound like you may have misunderstood her. It doesn't sound like she was saying "I refuse to listen because I think I'm better and I don't need to communicate" as you said you tend to hear. It actually sounds like she was saying the exact same thing that YOU are thinking when you use /mute all. There's nothing wrong with using /mute all, nor is there anything reportable about telling your team in champ select that you are going to be using it. If you're going to be muting chat, it's the only way to let your team know that you won't be able to read any sort of comments, so that they don't think you are ignoring them when you don't reply to their questions.

It's an entirely different scenario from telling a single person that you have been arguing with that you are going to be muting them. That is trying to irritate or fight with that person, or even possibly using it as a threat. But to tell a team in advance, is actually ensuring that your team has the proper method of communication available and ready before the match begins. So, no, it's not promoting toxic behavior to simply say "Okay guys, I'll be muting all once the game starts so I can focus, be sure to use pings, and I'll be doing the same!"

Wife In Lantern10/27/2017, 9:34:53 PM1 votes

Hi,

Muting isn't really something to dwell upon, it's a choice that certain players to make to protect themselves from negative influences other players might induce upon them In terms of players announcing that they're going to "mute all" I do admit, i get a little bit irritated especially when this happens before the game even starts. Some players might not want to be rude and have their team typing to "no one" because they are muted. Thus, they announce their actions. This might not always be the case, but the important thing is to have a positive mindset and work towards helping your teammates so as to show the league community actually supports each other instead of the notorious "toxic" community. I don't really see this as a reportable offence, but of course; all cases are different. Good Luck! [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Colonell10/27/2017, 10:07:11 PM1 votes

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. It has made me see the topic in a different light. I tend to think the worst of people when they announce stuff like that before the game has even started. I don't announce it because I fear it will bring the worst out of my fellow teammates.