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League's ban system is geared to coddle whiners. It's costing them money, and their new player base.

420inPortland·1/13/2019, 5:35:56 PM·1 votes·2,742 views

Please take the poll at the botton of this post. TY on advance...

(In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am on day 2 of a 14-day suspension. I think I was suspended for calling some troll a F*****. I am, or was Honor lvl 5, Silver IV rank, and have never had any infractions before. No chat warning, or restriction. No nothing.)

[zombie-brand-mindblown]

Let me start by giving a little background on myself as a gamer. I have been gaming for 35yrs. My first gaming console came with wood grain paneling. ( Love u 2600 <3 ) I had been gaming for almost 20 yrs before "internet gaming" was even a thing. I am fairly new to online multiplayer COMPETITIVE gaming. ( I have been busy with raising a child and getting my degree in computer science since internet gaming has been around and had no time, lol.) So this is all fairly new to me. Although I have played many online, non-competitive games.

I started playing LOL on April 1, 2018. In almost every game I have ever played, even in the BOTS matches, there is at LEAST 1 person stating they are "Reporting so-and-so for xyz." "Please report so-and-so." "You're Reported!!!" It had been said so many times, for so many stupid and varied reasons, whilst I had never had so much as a warning, that I honestly thought RIOT had a pretty good handle on the situation. Lots of whining from people but no action on the part of RIOT unless it was grievous. (For example, my friend got suspended for telling someone to kill themselves. Another for using the word n*****.)

If you look at the reporting form, the categories seem reasonable. Trolling, Inting, etc. Basically, if your being an asshole and trying to scuttle your team, then there are, and need to be, consequences. This is reasonable. Using some 3rd party app or scripting to cheat the system? Report them so RIOT can get rid of these cheating assholes as fast as you can. Ban them, after issuing a warning, in case there is a genuine misunderstanding of what IS allowed. (There are a lot of apps out there especially if you are a streamer etc... and sometimes they do things you didn't even know they did that violate the rules. Or maybe this is just my age and lack of experience with competitive gaming, where ppl would even use such apps, showing itself.)

My issue comes in when people are jammed up for the chat, no matter what they say. I didn't even get a warning or chat suspension, I got my whole acct suspended 1st time out. In a game where everyone has the ability to MUTE any other person's chat, pings, and even emotes, it seems there are plenty of protections for those with feelers that might get bent. There is no reason that a player should be disciplined for what they say in the chat. PERIOD. I think there is a box for Racist/Sexist comments on the form, but even that should not be covered by the disciplinary process.

If some racist troll is harassing you, you have the ability to mute them. Problem solved.

There seems to be a general attitude of whining and need for retribution in this community though. It's not good enough that they don't have to see the racist communications, for example. They want that player suspended, or banned. They want that person PUNISHED by god!!! From where I'm sitting, it looks to me like RIOT panders to these pussies.

In a competitive environment, people are gonna get pissed and talk shit. ALWAYS. This is not like traditional sports setting either, where the ref will eject you for unsportsmanlike conduct for being racist or whatever. The unique anonymity provided by the internet, and because the constraint that your opponent whom you made the racist comment punching you in the mouth is not present, LOL matches more resemble a game of pickup basketball than an organized sport. Everyone loosely agrees to the rules and attempts to follow them. When something not expected by all occurs though, or some chump who sucks at ball wanders onto the court, tempers will flare. Sometimes from differing opinions about the same event, and mouths will tend to run. Usually spewing things that would not be tolerated in the NBA.

This is street ball though, and you need to tighten up and shake off the shit they are spewing. You knew going in you might catch an elbow, or hear some shit talked about your mom, so quit being a li'l bitch. RIOT already let you be more coddled than in real life. Out there people will say off the wall shit to you and you can't hit the mute button.

Being a college educated man, I went through the forums for the last couple yrs looking for examples of what got others banned. I wanted to see if the reasons, in general, seemed to be due to grievous chat comments, or just the usual shit talking. I think the one that sealed it for me was when the tribunal system was still active and someone was disciplined for calling another person a "NOOB." The moderator told the player that it was intended to make the opponent "feel bad."

Firstly, DUH!!! Secondly, I would say this shows the general attitude of RIOT. They don't want you to say anything to anyone that they might not like. Well that's not how life works.

I have spent roughly $100 on my acct. To some, this might not be a lot. To me, it is a significant investment for something that isn't a bill. Now I risk losing it because some people think this is their safe space, where all the chat they are exposed to should be positive? Give me a fuckin break. I can tell you right now that I will not sink another dime into this game. If I can be banned for things other than cheating or trying to throw a game, etc, I'll save my money for buying new smurf accts as mine are banned.

I started several of my friends playing, but now recommend they do not spend money on this game since they can have it ripped away just for hurting some little kids, or other pussies, feelings. I have also told anyone else who asks not to even start playing the game. Why would they want to play a game where general chatter, including the shit-talking most ppl who play competitive games of any kind expect, and even enjoy, isn't just discouraged, it can get your actual investment snatched from you at any time?

I don't know where RIOT expects any new player-base to come from with this attitude either. Maybe it is an age thing, but everyone I know that I have told about the situation is completely dumbfounded. We just cannot believe that RIOT is actually screwing people out of money for hurting someone's feelings.

It also creates an environment even worse than the "toxicity" they want to stop because everyone is ALWAYS gonna report you for something. I almost quit Day 1 because I had so many people THREATENING that they were "Reporting" me, while I had absolutely no idea what in the flying fuck they were even talking about. This even after announcing in the pre-game chat that I was a noob. If I was a soft as the rest of the pussies in LOL, all of the THREATS of being "Reported" would have made me quit.

I play LOL for the competition, not for the reward of skins or whatever. So basically, if I invest no money and you ban my acct, I don't care. I will buy a smurf and be back on the rift before the next match. But you will be losing the money I would have otherwise spent on things, losing the money of all my friends who won't be buying things now, and further driving the smurf market. I will also dissuade anyone I can from starting LOL, or spending any money, for the reasons already mentioned. None of which are things I want to do. That said, people should know they can be screwed out of their money for nothing before they start playing LOL though. Frankly, if I had known what RIOT's attitude was regarding the chat specifically, I might not have started playing LOL, and I damn sure wouldn't have spent any of my hard earned money on it. I wouldn't pay to play competitive anything with a bunch of whiny pussies.

On the whole, the idea of trying to ban people for chat violations is impractical and seems shortsighted on the part of RIOT to me. Someone is always going to be butthurt by something, and it seems the better approach would be to steer those people to the MUTE button and leave the rest of us alone.

I am very interested what others think, so please take the poll, and let me know if I'm alone in this ...

60 Comments

ModThe Djinn1/13/2019, 5:45:13 PM21 votes

A starting recommendation: if what you're seeking is an actual conversation, it helps not to so obviously bias yourself against discourse with poll options like those you've provided.

That said, it's important to note that Riot doesn't ban everything that upsets people: I get reports here and there from what my data request showed, but I've never been banned -- and I'm often snarky, sarcastic, or teasing in chat. There's a lot of stuff you are allowed to say. Insults, harassment, and hate speech just aren't allowed. Some good-natured ribbing or even a bit of friendly trash talk is allowed, but it dependent on the tone, context, and game environment.

The other catch here is that internet gaming is evolving. What passed as "gamer culture" 10-15 years ago doesn't necessarily equate to the culture of today. Surprisingly, a lot of us simply don't want to be harassed. It's not that I can't take it, or that I need a "safe space" -- it's simply that I prefer to spend my leisure time not having people insult me, and not having to take steps to avoid it. Just like I'll choose a bar that doesn't make me simply find my own ways to avoid people screaming insults in my face but instead employs a bouncer to handle problematic patrons, I'll choose a game that doesn't invite that sort of behavior and deem it acceptable.

If you don't like that, that's fine -- League may not be the game for you. You may want the more confrontational environment, but, in that case, I would encourage you to find games that already foster that. League doesn't have to change simply because you're not comfortable with behavioral rules, especially when there are other games do cater to the sort of environment you prefer.

Cetri1/13/2019, 5:46:13 PM12 votes

Sounds like you're offended that LoL isn't a safe space for you to call others slurs.

CharDeeMcDenniz1/13/2019, 5:51:59 PM9 votes

nice poll...

way to completely invalidate everything you said above it

Upgrades1/13/2019, 5:46:01 PM8 votes

I came here to play a game, not deal with douchebags. Sure I can mute you, but that's not going to stop you from doing that shit in other games. And in terms of the money issue, you don't have to spend money on the game if you don't want to. That's your choice. And it's also your choice to violate the ToS to lose your account and all money invested. I can tell you're salty about the ban with how aggressive you're portraying this post. It's not that they're soft or they're "pussies", it's the fact that people didn't come here for that shit. It's a game dude. If you can't control yourself then don't play. Enjoy the ban

Imperial Pandaa1/13/2019, 6:32:35 PM6 votes

I choose option 3 in the poll:

.3. Improve trolling and griefing detection while also leaving the verbal parts in place.

GatekeeperTDS1/13/2019, 6:04:29 PM4 votes

"It's costing them money, and their new player base."

Please provide some non-anecdotal sources for this and people will be much more willing and able to have a discussion with you. Your entire explanation is based on confirmation bias, that you feel they're focusing more on chat-based offenses than gameplay offenses. I assure you, there's pretty good focus on both, but one is much easier to handle automatically than the other.

"Trolling" is subjective, not objective. They can't punish someone because you feel they were trolling. Did they actually, intentionally feed? Did they sit AFK in base, but moved around enough to not get booted? Did a Tahm Kench spit you into the enemy fountain? There's a report option for those, because they're quantifiable, and it's called griefing.

Being bad at the game is not against the rules. Taking risks in an attempt to win the game is not against the rules. Picking the champions they want is not against the rules. Building the items they want is not against the rules. Refusing to listen to your orders or shotcalling, not against the rules.

As I say in many of my posts, if this game is causing you such consternation, you might want to consider looking for another entertainment outlet. Nobody should be aggravated in their free time, but you're choosing to be.

Frontline Fury1/13/2019, 6:21:37 PM2 votes

While you do make good points, i’d rather keep my safe space. Real life is harsh enough as it is - i’d like to be able to lower my shoulders, take a deep breath and relax while my jungler goes 0/6 from trying to 1v1 the enemy Yasuo.

Like seriously - i am definitely a toxic player - but i still appreciate the ban system forcing me to reign my competitive nature in. We’re all here to play the game. The chat can be an asset but is in no way necessary to play or succeed in the game.

EvilDustMan1/13/2019, 9:57:36 PM2 votes

You are trying to use the equivalent of u mad. If someone gets angry at the poll, clearly it means the poll is right. If they vote no, they are saying they want a safe space.

People are trying to inform you of this. You aren't clever, you are trying to be smug.

420inPortland1/13/2019, 5:53:06 PM1 votes

[deleted]

ARandomRedneck1/13/2019, 11:58:35 PM1 votes

{quoted} I think I was suspended for calling some troll a F*****.

Ban deserved.