Boards›Player Behavior

"WHY I WILL NOT REPORT"

Dropsmack·12/15/2017, 6:46:08 AM·5 votes·647 views

I have decided not to report players for speech or behavior. I have done so in the past, and I will do so no longer.

I see such an action as an example of a dangerous attitude. I see it as wrong to seek or expect to punish others for disagreeable expressions. This includes so-called "hate-speech" and various "-isms" and whatever coincides.

I choose not to use rough language or harass other players. Some players do this frequently. I do not agree with it, but I choose not to object to free speech. League of Legends has mute buttons. They are great for ignoring something annoying just like in real life. All one has to do is ignore someone else rather than seeking official or personal counter action.

This is not to belittle things of a more serious nature like personal threats. I am pointedly considering what we call "offensive speech." I believe that this phrase is used too often and has lost its specific meaning.

If one does not agree with someone else, one can ignore them rather than try to silence or "correct" them. If Riot decides to control what is said or done in their game, then so be it. The game is their owned medium and that is their right. Everyone in the world has variations on what they think is normal and/or excessive. No one in this country has the right to silence an opinion.

This is my choice. Anyone else, as always, makes their own choices.

Edit:

Blanket response to and clarification for some comments:

This is my current opinion. I acknowledge that Riot, as a private company, owns the domain. If one chooses to report for the sake of the Summoner's Code, go for it.

I am not writing this to encourage rough language. I see this as an attitude issue (not a problem), specifically as I see some people exhibit similar or hypocritical behavior in real life as they do in game. By this, I mean calling on an authority when someone uses a word they do not like.

In my view, words are not weapons, especially with modern attitudes toward common vulgarities being what they are. I am not hoping for arguments or validations. I just have a thought that I think is worth sharing.

17 Comments

ModPrandine12/15/2017, 6:59:10 AM13 votes

With all due respect, I disagree with not reporting other players. Freedom of Speech only applies to the government, preventing them from making laws and regulations limiting what you can and can't say. This doesn't mean freedom of consequences though and doesn't apply to privately owned businesses such as Riot Games. While it's good to mute problem players by reporting them you help send the message that consistently poor behavior is not tolerated here and they can either shape up and continue playing with no fear of punishment or ship out if they continue to be a jerk to other players.

Zombie Gerbil12/15/2017, 6:53:08 AM7 votes

Then you're part of the problem. Turning a blind eye to hate and negativity because you believe in free speech doesn't make it right. Your view of free speech is extremely flawed.

zPOOPz12/15/2017, 9:34:29 AM6 votes

Whenever I see "free speech" or "freedom of expression" mentioned and some kind of government law(s) not accompany it, I downvote without reading anything else.

ModPeriscope12/15/2017, 6:56:32 AM6 votes

As is your right. You report whatever offends you, not what you think is "the norm" for reports.

Edit: I don't feel anyone other than yourself should dictate whether you report or not. That's the ugly cousin to calling for reports in game.

Woodakoodashooda12/15/2017, 1:40:06 PM4 votes

You claim that people use the term "offensive speech" too often.

I claim that people haven't used it enough until recent years in which people legitimately enjoy the right to free speech. The very thing you use to justify the very hurtful words people use against one another.

The freedom to actively speak out against offensive and negative behavior without fear of retaliation.

You say that everyone should just mute chat to avoid it/ I disagree.

Chat is a privilege in this game, not a right.

And, by the way, in real life, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, and psychological abuse are all punishable by law.

The fact that league's worst offenders receive nothing more than a permanent ban to their account is light by comparison.

And, finally, when others do wrong, it is only when those with the power to do something about it and choose not to that the bad prevail.

You can do your part and help or you may as well be contributing to the toxicity most of us actively combat to make our games enjoyable for us and others.

Arammus12/15/2017, 8:25:44 AM4 votes

https://puu.sh/wMbMc/886fcfe7e8.jpg

and let me just add: if any other person reports... thats enough. since 1 report does the same thing as 9 would do. so yea

DODGEORLOSE12/15/2017, 6:50:10 AM3 votes

You're like the exact opposite of that moron who got net neutrality appealed. I like you.

DariusDemiurge12/15/2017, 7:12:39 AM2 votes

+1. Kled in before the softies arrive in full force.

nerak2312/15/2017, 7:09:24 PM1 votes

I wasn't going to post on this thread because I don't want to promote false reports and I feel that each player has the right to their opinions. You do have that right OP.

I disagreed with the edit. Words can be weapons, whether or not it intended as such. I held a similar belief as you about reporting as I seldom did report and never in game over what was said to me.

After years of reading chat logs and threads about insults I have changed my opinion.

Words do hurt ! That I always knew. But in this age of the Internet and less real one- on- one relationships it makes it that much more important to combat ( still politely) online bullies.

Since league doesn't allow retaliation as they are 100% correct in doing, reporting becomes more important. IMHO.

Ninja Assassin12/15/2017, 10:07:59 PM1 votes

100% agree with you. I never report simply because I feel that the punishments riot sometimes dish out lack context. I don't think anyone should be banned for their language, so I sure as hell won't subject them to a punishment system as inappropriate as this one.