Ranked Flex Qs | Common Player Attitudes

It has been interesting to observe how Ranked Flex system and player attitudes differ greatly from the Solo/Duo matches. First of all, the matchups in Flex often have a team that plays as if they are up against a team that plays like bots on easy mode. You do find matchups where the teams seem very equally matched, but the blowouts are real and extreme. The common attitude I see in Flex is:

1. Players don't care about the match, or care less than they would if it were a Solo/Duo Q.
2. Players are more willing to experiment with non-normative picks which either work out really well, or work out really badly. Just depends on the player's skill, and the team matchup.
3. Players in chat have said: "Why would anyone solo Q into Flex?"
4. Players have referred to Flex as: "This is just like norms, the ranking does not matter."
5. Players go duo top support + adc. No Jungle. They go duo tank bot. None of this really matters, but certainly the teams that have higher player skill coupled with the more mainstream meta tend to still outplay and win more of those matches.
6. Throwing on purpose.

I wonder what the purpose of Ranked Flex is all about then? I have determined to main support in Flex, with Top as a second choice. I go into these solo most of the time, however, I see the player behaviors reflect upon the gameplay and strategy so differently from the Solo/Duo Q that it doesn't make sense me to have a Ranked Flex Q. Just leave it at Blind Pick or Draft Pick if people really want to play as friends. After all, parties of 4 are disabled for Ranked Flex, so that means you have to have a Duo go in with the other 3, or you will end up with solo players. It is obvious, often, who the other solo is in the match when I go solo. The other 3 all have similar skill sets, and then the me the support with either the mid, jung, or top are leading, while the other 3 positions are suffering. Makes for a heavy game.

The in game negative comments are higher in Ranked Flex. I see microaggressions. For example: A play doesn't go as it should, and the group that Q'd together become toxic toward everyone else except for themselves, or they begin to throw. Even in the chat there is microaggressions, which really wouldn't result in banning, but create a negative tainting of the entire match.

Of course, I love those matches where the player skill seems more in keeping with a cohesive and coordinated match, which generally results in crushing wins, close wins, nice comebacks, or marginal losses. These matchups are the most fun of all, crushing wins included. I cringe when I am on the team that just stomps over another team, because I have been on those team. I have supported an ADC that has 32 CS at min 14, and I have 16 CS as support, because that ADC was gone from lane, I am trying to get gold from the minions at the tower. Whatever the case is, it is sad the overall disposition that may players of Ranked Flex have. The Ranked Flex is not meant to be serious. It is okay to pick a Nami jungle if you want, and it okay to throw.

Reporting behavior is difficult. The only selection is, "Negative Attitude", because how can "Intentionally Feeding" be reported if someone is 5-7-3 and the game is over in 20-25 minutes? Or, if they are 32 kills to 12 kills? It just can't work.

Lastly, I have Q'd into the selection screen as support, and I may occasionally get asked to switch with another position so they can play bot lane together. I usually do so as a courtesy even if it may mean I mid or jungle. Sometimes I say, "Oh, I'm sorry, I really want to support this match." Then the flaming I get. It even goes on in the match, where I've been told by the ADC, "No way in hell I'm going to let you support me." And then the ADC proceeds to play mid with his buddy. Perhaps in the loading screen with our splash art, Riot can add a small little icon representing the role that the player Q'd into... kind of like the honor badges. Because, what happens is 3 of the Flex players then say, "Report Leona for locking support." which is a total lie, and no way for opposing team or other teammates to have a check+balance on this.

Anyway, these are my thoughts. Been with Riot for all these years. This is the only game I go to when I want to game. I'm not the good at this game, I just enjoy it very much. It hits all the things that keeps me coming back. I don't read the boards or post to the boards often at all, but, I finally had to say something about this.

Thanks!