Boards gave me cancer

Michael C137·Jan 29, 2015·14 votes·1,255 views

I have played this game for about 2 years now, I love it. The constant updates, additions, and support keep the game fresh, innovative and fun. I figured, why not log onto a forum/board community filled with other people who share a passion for this game like me? I ended up here. Seems like a logical step, right? Then I started reading some posts. Why do you people even play this game or come to these boards? Everyone here seems to hate these boards, hate Riot, hate the balance team, hate the ranking system, and hate everyone else! I started a thread trying to talk about what cool ideas people are going to try without DFG and basically nothing happened in 48 hours. I DID see a bunch of new posts about how horrible the 5.2 changes are and how Riot hates us all. Seriously guys, what's the deal? This is a great game, worked on by great people with a passion for the esports community. This game has done so much to bring online multiplayer gaming and esports as a whole into a more popular light.

As far as criticizing the balance team goes, all I can say is quit crying. They are constantly working on this game and if something goes out of line, they try to bring it back in check. It is not an exact science. In my experience, pretty much EVERY CHAMPION in this game is viable if you learn how to play it and what makes it strong/weak. If there are instances where a champion has no counterplay, they do what they can to fix it. QUIT CRYING

13 Comments

TsundayJan 29, 20158 votes

Statistically speaking people who have strong negative views on a subject are more vocal.

Hyrum GraffJan 29, 20154 votes

Not everybody here is the way you describe, it's just sometimes harder to find constructive discussion because of the volume and popularity of QQ.

PyrocerebusJan 30, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Hyrum Graff,realm=NA,application-id=bzRrPGQO,discussion-id=cj67Ytg8,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2015-01-29T20:34:23.648+0000)

Not everybody here is the way you describe, it's just sometimes harder to find constructive discussion because of the volume and popularity of QQ.

thats totally true man

Michael C137Jan 29, 20153 votes

You are Teemo in the flesh. Embodiment of all that is evil and unholy? Actually I like Teemo. Super cheese pick, but so much fun to pick up a kill out of nowhere because someone ran on some shrooms!!!

TsundayJan 29, 20152 votes

If you don't click reply then they won't get a notification you responded and you probably won't get a response jsyk

TrylobyteJan 29, 20153 votes

Take it from someone who moderated gaming community forums semi-professionally for 5-6 years - Every game forum is this way. From the earliest days of Ultima Online to the hottest new releases, from the smallest indie MMO to World of Warcraft, the forums are predominantly the domain of people who have some sort of problem. This is rooted in basic human nature - When things go well people don't say anything, but the minute you inconvenience them or remove something they like they become very vocal very quickly. The larger the community, the more this effect is amplified and the forums become an echo chamber for negative opinions, with people who have a problem being reinforced by people who have similar grievances. And with League having the biggest community of any game in the world, it's rather remarkable that the forums here are as civil as they are. This doesn't make it any more justified or any better, of course, but there it is.

Michael C137Jan 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Take it from someone who moderated gaming community forums semi-professionally for 5-6 years - Every game forum is this way. From the earliest days of Ultima Online to the hottest new releases, from the smallest indie MMO to World of Warcraft, the forums are predominantly the domain of people who have some sort of problem. This is rooted in basic human nature - When things go well people don't say anything, but the minute you inconvenience them or remove something they like they become very vocal very quickly. The larger the community, the more this effect is amplified and the forums become an echo chamber for negative opinions, with people who have a problem being reinforced by people who have similar grievances. And with League having the biggest community of any game in the world, it's rather remarkable that the forums here are as civil as they are. This doesn't make it any more justified or any better, of course, but there it is.

That makes sense. I mean, I had something not so positive to say and that's what made me want to post. I guess I just have to filter through more carefully. I really like the community creations page and some of the tips and tricks!

DaenJan 29, 20153 votes

From a psychological perspective, this isn't necessarily true. It's not about the fact that negativity and problems are brought out in discussion, it's that emotions are brought out. The strongest prevailing emotional state is generally what comes across on the forums, and in many cases negative emotions can eclipse positive ones in this regard.

Ideally, the positive experiences outweigh the negative ones to the extent a forum becomes a more globally positive environment. Think about it this way: I stepped in some gum on my way to work, but found a $100 bill on the ground. Which part do you think I'm going to feel more strongly about? In the reverse, I found a quarter but got splashed with muddy water from a passing car. Which will I want to talk about more?

Basically, I don't subscribe to the idea that the vocal minority of negativity and basic human nature are the sole cause of forum negativity/echo chamber/whatever. Yes, people with a problem will be reinforced by other people with similar problems, but this should also be the case in the opposite direction.

I do see what you mean about how things going well isn't notable whereas things going poorly definitely is, however. I just wonder if this is an inherent construct of humanity or if it's something that can be sidestepped with tools such as effective communication and aligned goals. As an example, I don't think I would really react negatively towards a malfunction in a piece of software if the following two factors were true:

The software is generally extremely reliable
The developer is extremely receptive to the needs of its consumers

With these in hand, it makes negative outcomes significantly less of a mental burden. I have a preconceived notion of trust in the product due to its reliability, and the developer maintains that trust through efficient redesign and communication.

TrylobyteJan 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Stuff

I was referring more to the point that most people, when everything is going well for them, tend to not say anything at all. I go out on two walks. On one walk, a guy walks up to me and gives me $100. Nice! On the other, I get pickpocketed for $100. Sucks!

Which one of these is more likely to wind up in the opinion section of the local paper?

DaenJan 29, 20151 votes

That depends on what the media thinks would make a more interesting headline, "Good Samaritan Gives Free Money" or "Notorious Pickpocket Prowling the Streets".

Negative emotions do tend to be stronger, so I would agree that getting pickpocketed would feel like a more significant consideration. You also have to keep in mind, however, that this particular example includes other social constructs such as ownership and trust.

I didn't own the money the guy walked up and gave to me. I didn't have any particular attachment to it, it just appeared for me. When I'm pickpocketed, however, that money is something I earned and something I carry with me. I have developed an emotional attachment to the $100, and when it's taken from me I feel like part of myself has also been taken with it. Not only that, but stealing is a breach of social etiquette and trust. I'm likely now more wary of other passers-by, which is not an emotion I'd like to have.