The Infinite Cycle of Toxicity: AKA The Circle of Life Sucks

This is how toxicity is perpetuated and creates toxic players out of well-meaning individuals.

1. Toxic Player 1 abuses his teammates
2. Good Samaritan decides the only way for Toxic Player 1 to learn his lesson is being toxic to him
3. Good Samaritan becomes Toxic Player 2
4. Justice Lord sees Toxic Player 2 being toxic, decides he needs to learn a lesson
5. Justice Lord becomes Toxic Player 3
6. Innocent Bystander has his games ruined by lots of Toxic Players
7. Innocent Bystander becomes toxic too, because it's the normal thing to do
8. Each player just looks like another Toxic Player, and none of them are actually helping

This is how you stop that cycle;

1. Toxic Player 1 abuses his teammates
2. Everybody mutes and reports Toxic Player 1 and doesn't respond to him
3. Only the original Toxic Player ruins the game until he gets punished or reforms

---

As much as you think you're helping by abusing a toxic player, you aren't. You just increase the number of bullies and victims, and sometimes that's exactly what the toxic player wants.

If you want to defend another player, just insist that they utilize the mute function. Do not tell anyone to report a player; it's up to each individual to decide what they want to report, and trying to influence their decision is harassment. You can inform them that the report option exists.

> THE OTHER PLAYER IN THE GAME I WAS REPORTED FOR WAS WAY MORE TOXIC THAN ME. HOW COME I WAS PUNISHED? > Simply speaking, retaliation is not an acceptable or justifiable behavior. An argument between two players can easily create a negative experience for the rest players in the game with you. Regardless of the other player’s actions, this does not justify your own behavior. You alone are responsible for your actions within the game. If you encounter a toxic player like this, the best option is to simply report their behavior and move on. > WHY IS VERBAL ABUSE PUNISHABLE IF THERE IS A MUTE BUTTON/LANGUAGE FILTER? > Players shouldn't need to rely on features like the mute button or language filter to engage with other players in positive ways. When a player verbally abuses another player and forces him to use the mute button, they have already created a negative experience for that player.

Please, break the cycle. Be the better person and let the system handle players you think are not good for the community. You do get a say in it because reports are a form of community voting. You aren't the judge, jury, and executioner; the community must "vote" that a player should be punished for his behavior by building a case against him with their reports. If you feel a situation needs more immediate action or personal attention, you can submit a Support Ticket.