Is it toxic to say someone is useless not because they are bad ...

Śovereign·2/21/2017, 7:54:45 PM·8 votes·1,381 views

But because the champion they are playing is completely nullified by the opposing teams comp?

For instance, last game we had a Zed mid (cool right?). Except the enemy team had a Janna, Fiora, Urgot, Lissandra, Ivern. He legit couldn't get ANYTHING done because whenever he'd ult Urgot he'd get ulted in retaliation, whenever he'd ult Lissandra she'd either ult herself or zhonyas, and whenever he ulted Fiora she'd just kill him (and ivern is simply to tanky and not a target worth ulting).

So i said "Zed you're useless against that comp, no offense. Just split push." and I guess he took it the wrong way.

But back to the main question, was what I said toxic?

15 Comments

o0O Madoka O0o2/21/2017, 8:53:04 PM5 votes

I think you took it pretty nicely, Zed was probably tilting real hard and frustrated.

If you want to try real hard, you could try to isolate him(the player) from the champion Zed, and avoid saying "useless" in the sentence. Like "Their team is really nasty for zed, maybe you can try split pushing while we distract them".

But I don't think it will do much if he's frustrated.

DrCyanide2/21/2017, 8:49:07 PM3 votes

Suggesting he split push instead would mark it as fine (if not helpful) in my book. You could have maybe worded it better, such as "Zed, they're just hard countering you. Split pushing would probably be better than diving in"

EndlessSorcerer2/21/2017, 8:47:33 PM3 votes

I'd probably reword it to avoid misunderstandings.

"Zed, you can't teamfight against that composition, too many of them counter you. You'd probably be more effective splitpushing."

SrbLud2/21/2017, 8:15:18 PM2 votes

If it stays at that it's fine. If they reciprocate and you end up flaming back and forth, it will be.

I allways go by one rule. If it's generally likely to provoke them, don't say it.

Chozer2/22/2017, 2:36:32 PM2 votes

actually it is toxic because. toxic also goes under the category of being negative thus it can be considered toxic in the way that you're words still have a negative impact on your team. remember if you flame somone you will make them play worse even if its just telling them they are useless. and why do you even need to share to him hes useless when i think everyone knew that anyway. what was the purpose of calling him useless anyways

Kaioko2/21/2017, 7:56:51 PM1 votes

It's not toxic nor would you get punished for that. It might make Zed mad because he's already probably really hating the match and your comment doesn't do anything to help with that. Your advice is fine but probably not the best way to say it to avoid angering the Zed.

Telephone Booth2/22/2017, 11:10:19 PM1 votes

If that's what you said, I'd say it's fine. But knowing this community, you probably should've worded it differently. Like hey zed, can you just split push cuz their team counters you so hard?

I've been called useless before in the same kind of situation and I just agreed, but I don't have the ego and insecurity that a lot of players have.

Elohaven2/21/2017, 7:57:36 PM1 votes

No - and you phrased it nicely.

MacDaddyBerto2/21/2017, 8:35:15 PM1 votes

It's not toxic but it's not really helping him either. I'm pretty sure he's aware that he can't do anything against the enemy composition more than anyone.

Shubham Sharma2/21/2017, 8:46:21 PM1 votes

saying "useless" in any form will tilt people, if you're trying to win games, Pad people's ego, it goes a long way trust me on that, even if they suck. sometimes it makes them motivated. i cant tell you how many tense games i've made comebacks in by telling my "usless" player "hey man, lets get together and smash this guy, you're better than him, you just got unlucky" it doesnt have to be true, but! it works haha the win is for you. not for him. GL!

you did say it nicely tho, btu the word useless triggers people.

Danjeng2/22/2017, 4:31:01 AM1 votes

Zed is already having a bad time in that game. Your intentions were not bad, but the phrasing was. A good way to suggest things to an ally without dragging down their morale is by showing empathy. Try something like this:

they have a pretty tough team comp for you zed i dont blame you just go split push