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Best way to avoid toxicity: Play during school hours!

Maestro80·1/25/2015, 9:15:32 PM·63 votes·8,103 views

I started playing ranked very late in Season 4, and the placement matches were the worst experience I have had in my year of playing League. I intentionally waited until I had a good 250 wins under my belt before I started playing ranked, but all the people in my placements seemed to be newly minted level 30's. Most of them were also in their placements. Multiple times I had teammate top-laners buying jungle items because they didn't know any better. I also had people intentionally throwing games to tank their placements so they could start in Bronze V. (If any of you decide to do that, please just dodge 10 games in a row and spare the rest of us!) And the afk's.... More than once I had kids afk because their mom was yelling at them to go to bed. One evening I had two brothers afk for 20 minutes because their dad made them take out the trash. I ended up winning 4 out of my 10 placements, which felt like a miracle given some of the teams I had. I swear I practically had PTSD for a while after the experience.

This year, I have been dreading my placements to the point that I considered not even playing ranked this season. Then it occurred to me... I can't do much about people who play badly, but I certainly can reduce the number of toxic/afking children who get off on making the rest of us miserable. How? By playing my placements at a time of day when those kids are in school.

I've played two matches this way. So far, the experience couldn't be more different. The first game was awesome. In champ select, I explained that I was hoping to avoid the kiddies by playing during the day, and somebody else said, "college/adults ftw!" They were a solid team, responded to pings, grouped, etc. Lots of "gj" comments when somebody did something well, and no flaming when somebody screwed up. When the game was over, the enemy team all said "gg" and left promptly... there was none of the salty whining I'm used to seeing in the post-game chat. That implies to me that the other team was pretty non-toxic, too.

The second game was REALLY awesome, starting right from champ select. It went something like this:

Team Captain Me: Aw, too bad, I was hoping to jg as Vi. S'alright, I can do amumu/sej Cap'n: Oh! If you want VI, it's fine with me. Can you pick a champ for me, then we can switch? Me: ....Sure, who do you want? Cap'n: Do you have Nasus? Me: Yup! (I lock in Nasus and we switch) Me: Wow, that was really nice. Thanks for being so flexible! Most people would say "Stfu noob fgt" and I'd just pick another jungler. Cap'n: Lol... np, I just want my teammates to succeed.

At the last comment, I almost fell out of my chair. Once we got into the game, I successfully ganked top and bot a few times. I left mid alone, since he was doing pretty well by himself and the opportunity to gank usually didn't come up when I was close. However, the enemy jungler ganked mid and they got a kill. My mid asked for my help:

Mid: Hey Vi, could I get a gank? Mid: Was doing ok until I got ganked, now I'm struggling a bit. Me: Sure thing, brt Mid: ty (I gank and we get a kill) Mid: gj, ty Me: Top and Bot are doing great so I'll camp for a bit after I get buffs again. Want blue? Mid: sweet

Nowhere was there the usual tired of "OMG noob jg, gg, never ganks" after feeding 3 kills in 5 minutes. Just a polite request, since he was having some trouble in lane after dying and hadn't gotten any help from me yet. As for the rest of the match, everybody grouped well, responded to pings, helped ward, aided me when my jg got invaded, etc. At the end of the match, none of the enemy team complained, and one player even complimented us for our teamwork.

Now, I'm sure that some of this is luck. I'm sure there are plenty of cranky college students and working adults out there who can be as toxic as kiddies. More so, really, since their definition of the ultimate insult probably goes beyond homophobic slurs. My two games may have been better because there were more experienced people on both teams. I understand that Riot is using MMR to influence placements more heavily, and maybe that also influences matchmaking. All I know is my first 10 placement matches were little slices of hell, each and every one. And this time around, both of the games I've played have had awesome people in them on both teams.

I'm fortunate enough that I own and run my own business from home. I don't have a LOT of time to play during the day, but I can certainly send my calls to voicemail long enough to squeeze in a match once in a while. I will certainly be playing my next several placements during the day, and if this wonderful trend continues, that may be the only time of day I play ANY ranked games. Could this be League of Legends' best kept secret to avoiding toxic teammates?

112 Comments

FiniteApple1/25/2015, 11:22:57 PM52 votes

Mom: Why aren't you at school?

Me: Avoiding noobs that wish deadly diseases on me.

Sirin Gioro1/25/2015, 10:01:42 PM21 votes

+1

Well TBH I'm a high school student (no hate :< ), and I can only play at night when all the toxic brats are playing. I usually encounter toxic players with low IQ and EQ at night who spams surrender votes, and it is really frustrating. But when I stay home when everyone is having school, my solo queue teammates are usually friendly/non-toxic. So yeah. Thanks for the friendly reminder, I think I'll stop playing ranked games at night, since it's always a gamble, like if I'm going to get toxic teammates...

EDIT: I came home from school early, at about 11 AM and I've been having a pretty good experience in Solo Q. YES JUST PLAY SOLO QUEUE AT AFTERNOON

ItsCalledALance1/25/2015, 9:56:49 PM12 votes

I envy the hell out of you for being able to work from home....just saying.

Pinker 101/26/2015, 2:51:36 AM7 votes

You realize that school hours are generally 8-330 right? 5 and a half hours. There are 5 (and a half, if you count newfoundland) time zones in north america. There's maybe 30 minutes in a day if timed perfectly with no school age kids online.

exiledFromBadmen1/26/2015, 8:55:33 AM6 votes

I live in Turkey, it's mid--term atm. And the amount of toxicity in TR server is increased by 250%

You're absolutely right.

2 much sauuuce1/26/2015, 9:28:27 AM4 votes

This is my general experience in the middle of the night (2 am to 5 am) but then it starts to become "toxic central" about 6 am. If I play league once I get home from work (post 6 am) I get the most impossibly toxic folks. I'm usually asleep during the typical school hours. I'd love to try that out.

On the other hand, when I was doing ranked before for this last season I was playing at the time between 7 pm and midnight and OH MY! Never repeating that experience again. (I'm on Leona, my ADC last pick Vayne while enemy team first picked Cait. Get's bullied constantly and complains about it. I annoy Cait some and drop her down a bit then go ward. Ward is down in river, enemy jungle is coming to gank, I ping Vayne FIVE times to fall back [and type it in chat], she chases after Cait, dies in 1v3 in less than 2 seconds. Next thing you know "/all GG this leona don't do shat!")

xGvPx1/26/2015, 3:56:43 AM4 votes

The worst people are usually the pot smokers, who are of any age. The people who go AFK to smoke, AFK to pee, etc. That's the only label I believe in. I've played with students who have treated the game in a mature way, so it's not the students.

RoyaiChaos1/25/2015, 11:23:01 PM3 votes

'Some of my worst experiences in League was with adults" who think that everything they do is right because they're older than you.

xXSomeoneElse1/26/2015, 12:28:25 AM3 votes

I joined league in early s4 but got to lvl 30 in around mid s4 went right to ranked my first game as lvl 30 was my first placement match and I couldn't agree with your post more, we had feeders, flamers, and spam surrenders. I managed to (barely) win 4 games and got lucky to get placed into Silver V, this season though my work schedule had changed so I really could only play in the morning time and the difference was huge! My team mates were respectful and had common sense they warded pinged called mias (got upset when things didn't go well but never flamed) and I won 6 ot of 10 games but unluckily of me I got placed into Bronze IV and discovered that all the stories about Bronze are true...

CheckMyDoubles1/26/2015, 8:32:28 PM3 votes

I hate playing with kids. I wish there was a was an adults only queue that required age verification and was limited to players who are 21 and older.

There are plenty of toxic college students too, but playing with kids still in High School is unbearable. I do the same thing and avoid ranked queues during prime time hours specifically because of this.

Weekends are just as bad, especially Sunday.

Saixos1/26/2015, 10:50:41 AM3 votes

You. I've read this thing and your comments on the replies. I like you. Can I give you a virtual cookie?

ReportThisRiven1/26/2015, 3:00:19 PM3 votes

Corect! My firs 5 placements were played during the week and went well, 4/1 then this past Sunday I decided to finish out my placements MISTAKE! Every lane feeding before level 3 almost every game, and then "ff @20 plz" I mean wtf my first 2 placements were 55 minute games where we came back and won! There is just no hope in these kids/potatoes. I mean not saying I'm good or deserve high silver/ gold but I was always the only lane that won and went positive every game! Check my match history :/ anyway bronze IV-V here I come now im 4/5!!!! Looking for a duo that is mature and respectable and that can either win lane or at least play from behind and deny enemy kills :D reply to this comment and add me so we can climb back out of hell. Together! lol league schedule is 730-12 est I'm also off Sundays and Wednesday. Main top and jungle but can also adc if I have someone dependable bot :D top always pref in ranked

Fresh Lemonade1/26/2015, 11:40:33 PM2 votes

I've been doing this ages now, but I keep forgetting and getting locked into playing late at night and not getting anywhere in ranked. One week early last season I decided to only play ranked during the day while on a break from college and I climbed from S1 - P5 in about 8 days.

It's outrageous.

Truly outrageous.

GundayMonday1/26/2015, 11:01:54 PM2 votes

Charted my win rate against time of day a couple years back and came to the same conclusion. I play at night and early morning for the same reason.

Galewings1/27/2015, 12:26:30 AM2 votes

I couldn't agree more with what the op is saying. I'm usually awake at around 7pm to 9am because I work a part time graveyard shift and have most of the week free.

I honestly thought all the stories about the toxicity in this game were being blown way out of proportion. Occasionally, I would have a rager or an afker. Rarely more than once a week however and from the stories I would read one would think this happens every single game. Everyone in my late night games were relatively friendly and actually sought to work together. I learned the horrible truth one day when I had to adjust my sleep schedule for some family duties. I started playing games at around 1 pm (Pacific time) and I have never in my entire league days found so many petty, toxic, rude, impatient and just generally idiotic people in consecutive games. Over and over it was just toxic player after toxic player who would rage in all caps at their support or at the jungler blaming them for their own mistakes (like pushing the enemy too far in without proper warding and getting sweeped by ganks).

It only took a couple of days for me to resolve to never play around these hours ever again. Really, guys. If you ever get a lucky chance to try playing games when the bad kiddies are at sleep or at school, take it. You won't regret it. Your experience with the game will be a lot better and just generally more enjoyable. I'm not saying you'll be completely free of toxicity nor do I want to imply that every student age player is a problem. There's still going to be a chance of finding an idiot in your team regardless of how old they are or what time it is you are playing. But the chances are so much lower that there's going to be problem players and that both teams will have groups of people actually willing to work together.

I Main Swain1/25/2015, 11:10:14 PM2 votes

While playing during school hours can help some, the toxicity is definitely still there unfortunately. The internet username mask is just too easy to hide behind, for those both old and young. I too had this same thought some time back and implemented the same strategy, noticing a small decrease in toxic behavior, but it wasn't a huge discrepancy.

Mahautsukai1/26/2015, 2:02:32 AM2 votes

It could just as likely be toxic any age. The majority of College classes and adult work are also during the day.

Auryiel1/26/2015, 4:47:33 AM2 votes

Best kept secret? More like worst kept secret tbh XD

I'm in college and I usually always have at least a day off, so I pretty much only play non-bot/ARAM games during that day My ranked experience is not very extensive (I've only played ranked since S3 and only to get the gold reward, so in total I've played maybe 120-150 ranked games across 2 seasons) but I don't really think I've met a real troll and the flaming is pretty damn uncommon

Orangesilk1/26/2015, 10:08:33 AM2 votes

I wholeheartedly agree but there's nothing I can do about it, office hours are basically school hours and then some.

EverTokki1/26/2015, 12:00:34 PM2 votes

I guess playing during approximate exam dates would also be a good idea.

N00BC8K31/25/2015, 10:10:21 PM2 votes

I myself am home during the day (laid off) and i have also noticed that up until later in the afternoon the games are much more friendly. All the toxic "kids" must be at school annoying there teachers getting ready for when they get home.

I'm not Level 30 yet but when i do i'm going to try my placements during school hours. With my luck though all the "Toxic" kids will be calling in sick that day :)

Silverthane1/26/2015, 6:34:48 PM2 votes

this is very true. also playing late at night on school days is a good option.

DONT PLAY ON WEEKENDS

ESeTyRC1/26/2015, 7:01:19 PM2 votes

I've personally found that 9am - 2pm or so is a good time to play. It's honestly the only time I feel like I'm playing with people that belong in my matches.

Now, I stayed in Silver last season, but even then, the commonly seen pushing without wards, the immature redirection of responsibility, and unwarranted tantrum throwing is scarce.

The toxicity spikes after 2pm (PST) so.. From this, I'd say it's reasonable to deduce that the toxicity is from the school age players.

Would be nice to be able to separate them out. I'd rather wait 5 min for teams that are looking to play as a team and win or lose as a team than deal with the children that delusionally believe they single handedly carry to win and become prophets of doom as soon as things take a poor turn.

Nagirah1/26/2015, 7:36:20 PM2 votes

Good point here. Now... how am I supposed to play during this time as I got work too? Better start working during night so I can play league during the day.

SnackieCakes1/26/2015, 10:57:06 PM2 votes

I've never understood why major multiplayer games like League or WoW or anything else don't offer queues/servers gated by age (requiring either a credit card or license or w/e).

I'd love to jump into normal (draft, 25+).

xLegendary Troll2/16/2015, 9:10:27 PM1 votes

What if you work during "school hours"?

Unreal11/26/2015, 10:11:27 AM1 votes

None of this would be an issue if the game wasn't marketed and geared towards children.

YoungFishFillet1/26/2015, 3:04:54 PM1 votes

"One evening I had two brothers afk for 20 minutes because their dad made them take out the trash." It took 20 minutes to take out the trash? SMH