Implementing a Warning System +Plus a Poll

PikoNeeko·Oct 23, 2017·5 votes·623 views

Hey all,

I've recently become motivated to create a forum post about Riot implementing a warning system after one of my friends received a 2 week suspension, of which he became very upset and has grown remorseful towards, "Riot and their zero-tolerance policy, decision to ignore context and lack of empathy." I'll avoid talking specifically about what he said/did to avoid that being the topic of discussion.

But this is kind of a rough draft of something that I feel could easily be implemented:

Without even changing your policy, the addition of warnings, or even reminders, would significantly reduce the number of tickets submitted (less for you to deal with) and less suspended/punished players (happier community). A simple pop up card or email from Riot/LoL/staff saying something along the lines of this would accomplish that:

Hello [Summoner],

We've noticed you have used words or phrases that are potentially offensive or could be deemed harassment in one or more of your recent games. Please make sure you are conducting yourself in a sportsmanlike manner to avoid receiving any punitive action. Common problems often arise from:

Not utilizing the mute button when necessary (often saying nothing is better than saying something)
Using taboo or offensive words, regardless of context (some things are better left unsaid)
Being negative (never give up, even if that means you keep playing after a failed surrender vote)

You are responsible for everything that you type. Only you can control your actions, and remember to have fun. It is a game after all! GLHF!

[Rioter Staff or Riot Behavior Bot, whatever]

I'm sure Riot already has a way of running through the in game chat so I feel this would be a great and easy way to reach out to those players who use various taboo/offensive phrases or words but not enough for people to report them or trigger the automatic punishment. I think this would also help to build a better community and bring some fairness to the punitive system because sometimes people have bad days and unfortunately have a moment of weakness and get punished for it, often not knowing they've been accumulating a "record" or something of the like.

Let me know what you think and I welcome any and all suggestions! [katarina-love] [garen-swing]

18 Comments

ModiOct 23, 20172 votes

You already get a warning: a chat restriction, with the accompanying message about the restriction. When you use certain phrases that are considered hate speech, or telling another to inflict harm on themselves or others is subject to a zero tolerance policy. Even under that policy, if you have no history of negative behavior, you get a warning: a 14 day suspension, rather than an immediate permanent ban.

Adding a "warning" before these would not likely accomplish anything more than the current system. The vast majority of players that have been punished once have never been punished again. Adding the warning would only serve to keep negative players in a lower punishment tier for longer. The ones that are going to be negative, will be negative regardless whether they have 3 warnings (aligned to the 3 punishment tiers before permanent ban) or 10 warnings.

As much as it seems to be a good idea, in reality, I believe it would cause more harm than good.

PikoNeekoOct 25, 20171 votes

But for someone who is a first time offender, I really don't think it's necessary to flat out suspend/ban someone. Absolutely I believe people should be suspended/banned for using hate speech, but I think softer punishments like, 2-5 day ban or chat restriction or something in between is more fair to those who aren't aware of how strict Riot is with things like that.

If softer punishments "isn't good enough," then that's why I'm suggesting a warning/reminder system to give the player one last chance to change their attitude/way they type.

I made 2 other comments above that details and explains this better and didn't want to repeat myself for risk of spam. Check those out ^_^ (If you want... lol)

Ambient SnowOct 23, 20172 votes

Honestly no.. Riot actually used to have something like this that would pop up saying " You have recently been reported for negative behavior, We understand that people have bad days or games .. Blah blah blah" and riot learned that

people don't read it / Don't care so it was a waste of time

Jo0oOct 23, 20172 votes

"Zero-tolerance policy" loses its bite when you implement warnings before the hammer. "Zero-tolerance after 1-2 warnings policy" doesn't really carry the same weight.

Assuming your friend used some form of hate speech to escalate to an immediate 14-day ban, I don't think it's reasonable for Riot to show remorse or empathy. It's a free game, so play nice or not at all.

HalcyonDwellerOct 23, 20174 votes

I think perhaps they mean that right now the punishment system is used as a warning system. Which is unfair to people who don't know better. (I know, it's hard to believe)

Perhaps what they are suggesting is that some people were genuinely unaware that what they said was wrong, and would stop if they were reminded that it was unacceptable. So maybe after a first instance, saying hey that's unacceptable! Then any future instances of saying the phrases should still result in harsh punishment.

Alternatively it might work to 'broadcast' (through the client) a message to all players that such phrases are unacceptable and have a zero-tolerance policy.

Jo0oOct 23, 20171 votes

Okay, that makes sense to me, but I don't feel good about giving warnings in regards to hate speech.

It wouldn't have helped OP's friend, but I'd entertain the idea of at least letting the 10-game chat restriction not impact honor levels or season rewards.

HalcyonDwellerOct 23, 20171 votes

Fair points. I'm not sure what the best solution would be, I was simply aiming to help make connections and promote understanding.

Jo0oOct 23, 20172 votes

There's already frequent hints+tips that hate speech is treated with zero tolerance within the game.

MAYBE they could make it more clear, but what form would that take? A pop-up window stating "Remember, kids! When you're frustrated at this video game, don't resort to verbally eviscerating your fellow players' race or sexual orientation!"

HalcyonDwellerOct 23, 20172 votes

Indeed. Clearer reminders would be good, I'm not sure how though.

Perhaps it would take more the form of guidance, perhaps a new tier of punishment, like a 24 or 48 hour temporary ban that does not affect honor levels the first time. Just something to remove somebody from the game when they get tilted before they can lash out enough to get themselves actually punished.

PikoNeekoOct 24, 20172 votes

Thanks for your thoughts!

I definitely meant this as in to help those who do not realize what they are saying is "hate speech," and also to help those who use those words/phrases out-side of an aggressive context.

Riot plainly and admits to ignoring context. Which (I think) often results in people being punished with hate speech penalties, not realizing what they said is hate speech. People also don't realize that Riot ignores context so the system would give them one chance to help them learn, rather than straight up banning someone for a single bad-joke.

HalcyonDwellerOct 24, 20172 votes

Happy to help.

[slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

PikoNeekoOct 25, 20171 votes

I don't personally remembering ever seeing any tips or hints (though that may be because I'm not toxic) so I'm not sure what you mean, but I mean having a sort of reminder system would make it clear that even jokes can be taken as harassment.

I just think that people, like my friend, are unaware how even a bad joke can get you insta-banned because he never got any warnings prior to being instantly 2-week suspended and I nor him believe it requires a 2 week ban to let someone know what they're doing is toxic.

For example, since Riot has a zero-tolerance policy and disregards context, imagine yourself in a 3 man queue with 2 randoms. You 3 are typing in chat occasionally and one of you cracks a joke that includes "kay-why-ess" (which Riot regards as hate speech). Of course, your friend is being sarcastic in their use of the acronym and doesn't wish harm upon you; however, one or both of the randoms took offense and reports your friend for using it, even though they weren't part of the conversation or referred to when the joke was made.

Do you think this situation warrants an instant 2 week or permanent ban? Is it fair?

If a warning system were in place (for example), a pop up would appear and let your friend know of what words/phrase triggered the pop-up and remind them of Riot's policy. The pop up would have an "I understand" and offer a link to a resource with additional information.

Again, I really don't think it's absolutely necessary to flat out suspend/ban someone for one bad joke or one bad game -- granted they are given a warning.

MindspeakerOct 23, 20172 votes

Nope warning just give them extra time to be toxic ... i think harsher quicker penalties no one should need a warning not to be a verbally abusive or other wise negative toxic troll

FeederCricketOct 24, 20171 votes

A warning system should be in the game, just like the old one. If you trash talked and got reported, you would receive one of those negative attitude notifications to remind you to keep a cool head. Just mercilessly banning people for saying one bad word is a little insane, but it has reduced to amount of toxic players in game for sure.

Having something like this would be helpful, considering that most of the times one game isn't enough to get someone banned. Some people will put effort into staying non-toxic if they would get this warning, and those who don't will get dealt with via bans.

Liquid Poro Oct 24, 20171 votes

I'll take itm

nerak23Oct 24, 20171 votes

I'm not sure how a Pre-warning could be effective here is why.

If it is just a pop-up warning and doesn't flag the system or punish the player immediately, the said player may just ignore the said pop-up and while still tilted and upset continue to ruin game after game until they are punished. Most people don't have to be reminded not to use Hate Speech sentiment.

Now, if there is a flagging of some sort for the 'pop-up' or a small punishment,

You have now added a terr of punishment (more players could suffer more toxicness (we don't need or want that)
Also as this warning gets recognized for what it is, Toxic players starting new accounts will learn where the Line is and how long it takes to trigger a warning and punishment using it to be nasty as they can w/o getting caught.

Do I sound pessimistic and harsh? Yes, I hope I do, I am neither yet what I have seen work over the years here is swift punishments. I like to see a better way to fix the problem so I hope everyone keeps trying, this method just seems like 'been there, done that' doesn't work.

P.S. I could go on and break down the specific of your ideal but won't bore anymore :) Be happy to talk to you about it, as anything that helps negatives in the game are worth the time, and sorry I don't agree it just my opinion.

nerak23Oct 25, 20171 votes

If a warning system were in place (for example), a pop up would appear and let your friend know of what words/phrase triggered the pop-up and remind them of Riot's policy. The pop up would have an "I understand" and offer a link to a resource with additional information.

The 1st warning system about such as the above is called the "TOS" we all agreed to it when we started our accounts.

Does the punishment system still include a "Warning" ??? Real question.

Icy Hot ShotoOct 25, 20171 votes

Rule of thumb for any multiplayer game: If it can be offensive, it usually is. So don't say it.

Of course I can understand being upset over a 14 day ban for saying kys just one little time with no other restrictions, or for joking with your 3 pre-made friends. But there are people who will take that literally. A lot of people with mental disorders, mainly depression, can easily be put into a state they can't get out of without help.

There's also those people, who are homosexual, that do take offense to a certain word. Sure, it means a cigarette in the UK but if the person is from a country where that word is used offensively, they will take offense to it. Mostly because it's used to berate them, to treat them terribly and put them down for liking their own gender.

Yes, this is the internet. No, it's not just people from your country you're talking to. Everyone from all over plays League. Some will take offense, some wont. As bad as it is, it's better to assume what you're saying will be offense to the 5-9 other people in the game and not say it.

However, I do somewhat agree that maybe a few day ban, 2-4 days at most, for using hate speech. But only if the next punishment is a perma if they use hate speech again. I say that because some people who used hate speech, and came to the boards, believed there was nothing wrong with what they said and that it's fine, even defending why they said it. So I can only believe even with a few day ban it would still happen again for those who truly believe it wasn't wrong.

~~Also hello, fellow Vocaloid person~~