Boards›Player Behavior

League is about freedom, not restriction.

JARmates·12/14/2015, 9:58:09 PM·1 votes·767 views

As a long time veteran of this game, I have seen everything that has happen to league since. For those off you who play in Season 1 and Season 2, you will agree with me that there was so much freedom back then in both how you express yourself in game and which champion you want to take to which lane. It didn't matter, it was all about player choice and freedom. There was no META and there was no such thing as "toxic". Is toxic even a bad word? The word we used to describe toxic people back then was griefer and those people are really bad but for the most part everyone talk trash and no one reported anyone because it part of the game.

But everything change after season 2 and League became more casualize and restricted. The jungle rework turned many pro off and it turn league from a hardcore game to a game where kids could be able to join. So as you see, I come to the conclusion that anyone that complain about "toxic" on this forum are people who started to play league in season 3 and later.

14 Comments

redniwediS12/14/2015, 10:16:07 PM11 votes

Freedom is about self restriction. All efforts that work to restrict freedom are done to keep those who cannot restrict themselves in line. In the end it always harms those with self control more than it harms those who are the real problem.

I've been playing since Season 1, and while I don't complain about toxicity I won't ignore it either. There is a real problem with the internet where people don't seem to understand how to show a stranger respect. They physically cannot figure out how to treat another human being like a human being simply because "it's just a game". Anonymity like we have here is a very powerful thing.

I remember "trash talk" from back then, and even years before. It's whole goal was to get in the head of an opponent and force them to lose their edge. It's a tactic used by lesser players to try and defeat a better player.

The thing is there are ways to get into an opponents head without acting like a child. Instead of throwing insults around you can focus on recognizing patterns in the behavior of your enemy. Instead of being a lesser player who has to rely on insults you can rely on skill and tactics. I'd rather have someone on my team who can think than someone who throws a temper tantrum when things go wrong any day.

Personally I would suggest taking off your rose colored glasses and take a real look at what you're talking about. Trash talking was not nearly as great as you think it was.

EvilDustMan12/14/2015, 10:00:12 PM6 votes

Rammus ok

PIMPSMOOTH12/14/2015, 11:46:34 PM5 votes

League is about having fun, and not doing it at the expense of others.

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Seriphym12/15/2015, 12:46:32 AM4 votes

I remember before they had "seasons" before ranked play was a gleam in your grandfather's eye.

Back then there was some /grief/toxicity but for the most part League "was about" having fun.

However... ranked play came out and it very quickly became about winning only (which to some is fun).

With the introduction of ranked a sharp increase in toxicity followed, and soon too the meta, upon which a majority of current toxicity is based. (Bad champ picks etc in bronze/silver play)

TrulyBland12/14/2015, 10:09:01 PM2 votes

I agree with what you say initially, there was more freedom... But the reason you no longer have that freedom about the champions you take is simply the meta that evolved. That's something that happens naturally; and happened long before Riot started working around it.

And more freedom in expressing yourself... well... if you mean by that the freedom to be a dick to others? Yes. Sure. But that doesn't mean that's a good thing. I doubt you'd want to live in a country where everybody has the right to steal things or kill others. Maximizing freedom is a nice concept... but it just doesn't work with large communties. Which is just the reason why toxicity started becoming an issue as the community grew larger and manual punishments (and discussions about it on the forums) were no longer sufficent.

tl;dr: The game and the community changed naturally; Riot just adapted to it. This has nothing to do with "hardcore" or "casual"; and it certainly has nothing to do with when people started to play the game.

Athenes Lulu12/15/2015, 12:21:30 AM2 votes

League is a privilege, not a right.

Meaning, your stuff can be taken away if you do something bad.

Hunts and Dips12/14/2015, 11:04:00 PM1 votes

People were "toxic" back then and got away with it because the player base was much smaller.

The fact you think it is fun to be toxic is laughable and shows your lack of maturity.

Another dickhead alert.

Shin Jae Hoon12/15/2015, 3:03:52 AM1 votes

I extremely agree with ur words. I can't understand why riot made this stupid reporting system. I think it's a time for different game.

Adalore12/15/2015, 8:45:12 AM1 votes

I am getting a serious case of "Back in my day, we had an ITEM to teleport back to base! BLASTED KIDS. Get off my lane!" from how you are presenting your argument. It's this "Perspective" from within the game that made everyone OUTSIDE the game look in and go "Look at those ass holes. Glad I am not playing with them." It's why Riot games looked at their own game and decided that they could be better even if it's not your dream land any more.