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Proof Words Can Have Ruinous Consequences

y0r1ck·4/14/2019, 2:59:30 PM·5 votes·2,693 views

These studies help prove words have a real effect on people, especially developing children like many playing this game. This should finally put a stop to the "snowflake argument."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20634370/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16741199/

The studies talk about increased risk of life changing choices and events correlated with verbal abuse. Yeah correlation isn't causation, but nobody's ever going to do an experiment to prove this.

Riot can't give out bans for every offensive word or phrase, but to act like they should allow full freedom of speech is potentially damaging to several million young people. We're left with no choice, but to accept words have lasting consequences. How much does that carry over to LOL? And how can Riot counter the effects?

Full on censor everything that hurts? I don't like it, but maybe it's right to protect youth. It'll protect kids, but Riot is going to have a royal pain in the ass, and adults might not appreciate it.

Censor nothing? Maybe? It's possible going down this road will be better in the end? Though certainly it'll fuck up some kids.

Let users decide what to censor? I like this, it lets people protect themselves as much as they feel they need to. I don't trust children to use this properly.

Let Riot decide what to censor? I don't like this, but it's definitely an option. Puts the responsibility entirely on Riot.

What other options do you guys see here? Which one and why would you choose it? What would be best for children, adults, parents, and Riot?

Edit - maybe riot could inject good vibes to counter verbal abuse?

I'd say Riot is doing the right thing by focusing on chat bans rather than focusing on behavioral and trolling bans.

10 Comments

TheXXXorcist4/14/2019, 9:42:22 PM3 votes

I think this is garbage. Sorry. Put an age restriction on the game if children are too sensitive or not taught to turn the other cheek when they encounter adversity in society. :\ (PS there's already a block and mute button so they have the choice to just...ya know...not read it if it's so damaging)

Troll behavior is worse because it's a huge waste of everyone's time, and undermines the purpose of playing the game at all. Additionally, if the troll behavior was properly punished, there'd be less toxic verbal raging in the chat to begin with. Two birds, one stone my friend.

(also don't misjudge me as being insensitive to the issue of verbal abuse and bullying. I have experienced it, and I retain my current opinion)

ionst0rm4/14/2019, 9:50:26 PM1 votes

If one person finds something offensive while another person does not, that therefor proves that offense is subjective. It is not riots job to determine who to cater too. Violating one persons rights because someone is not emotionally stable is a double edged sword and vice versa. Like the person above me said, if riot wanted to kill two birds with one stone, fix the matchmaking and trolling. That is the key reason for the toxic community but it'll hit their bottom dollar if it's corrected. Best to turn a blind eye in this business model.

Midg3t4/15/2019, 2:38:06 PM1 votes

This study never mentioned "verbal abuse" on the internet, only IRL. So how is that relevant to the game?