Dealing With Toxicity

[@erin_rose0]

my favorite is how people (especially at lower ranks like I'm at [b3]) think "throwing" is the same thing as "not being good at the game." I'll get games where people are like "reported for throwing" to someone who is very clearly trying and just isn't in the right lobby or isn't having a good day.

[@Dred-Rivals]

Like if you’re just a much worse player in the lobby, it’s def annoying, but I dunno why flaming is such a thing, I’ve never flamed someone unless they did it first. If you’re actually throwing in a comp game I’m mad tho, cuz you’re actively trying to ruin the experience for everyone

[@Rank1PeakJerkmateChampion]

If you get flamed for being bad just start flaming yourself in chat. Don’t even argue with them, just agree with everything they say. It tilts them so much. If they start being like “report our tank, they’re throwing” just also type “fr, our tank is so bad pls report this guy”. It takes away all of the punch and impact from their words and you can have a laugh about it

[@Dred-Rivals]

@@Rank1PeakJerkmateChampionwait that’s so good, I gotta try that

[@japanesecurry01]

Bronze 3 ? 😨😭

[@josephreynolds2401]

​@@Rank1PeakJerkmateChampion goated

[@gracefulcharity8412]

Honestly, man, one of the main reasons for toxic people that upset me is when there's people very clearly new or learning. It doesnt hurt to be supportive or helpful or at lesst not say anything at all. Your videos are always great !!!!

[@shineyydesigns7696]

One sentence that helps me alot is "How is this helpful?" To toxic people on my team. If your goal is to win, insulting your teammates wont help. If your goal isnt to win, than I have no reason to listen to you and I'll mute you in vc.

[@vergilsgamingchair8772]

It's a good way to cope I guess

[@shineyydesigns7696]

@@vergilsgamingchair8772 Wdym?

[@vergilsgamingchair8772]

@@shineyydesigns7696 Trash talking, it might be a good way to cope with a loss or a bad teammate. Sure it doesn't win you the game, but I see why people do this.

[@shineyydesigns7696]

@@vergilsgamingchair8772 I guess? But theres healthier and better alternatives. Hence why I ask "How is this helping?" because in reality it doesn't. It just makes your teammates feel worse and less likely to work with you or distract them from actually winning the game

[@thestranger1164]

But...that gets you banned if reported lol

[@obamna225]

as an egotistical, mean person. I found your "narcissistic people like meaningless confrontation because it gives them a chance to demonstrate their superiority" thing very validating, thanks

[@littlefella8530]

Well said bro, and eloquently thought out. I always appreciate the way you explain things. It not only helps keep a positive mentality in-game, but also in the universe. Keep doing what ur doing!!

[@leoncca]

Toxic behavior is distracting, especially if you have adhd like me, and makes you play worse. I just disable comms, written or voice, 95% of the time people aren't very good at communicating, not even at the higher ranks, and I find the modern ping systems in games already cover the vast, vaaaast majority of information you need to relay anyway.

[@spacecowboygrim]

I have autism and I agree with you! It honestly starts giving me sensory overload due to my vision being focused on the game and my hearing being assaulted by the insults and the gunshots of the game. I then start having a meltdown and basically throw. The game itself is fine but the yelling by other people is just too much for me. I’m glad to see other neurodivergents struggling with similar issues with video game toxicity

[@LotusTheWise]

The spicy food bit had to be personal

[@beorangecrush]

As for toxicity in Overwatch, or just gaming in general, I find that turning off in-game chat and limiting the people I play with in competitive setting really helps. You'd be surprised just how much better you feel and perform when you arent trying to win while somebody is nonstop complaining

[@Ninetailsmaster16]

I do this too. I started doing it back when I ran a lot of battlegrounds in WoW and had way more negative chat experiences than positive ones and carried over that sentiment to OW2 and FF14. I just turn it off as default. I used to play with someone who would complain about how nasty chat would get in OW2 or something really dumb someone was saying and flat out would tell them "don't read it to me, I have chat turned off for a reason. If it bothers you, you should turn it off too but if you don't it's not my problem". I'm really not interested in the arguments going on in these games I play for fun.

[@josephlouis9]

I started doing this since the beginning of OW2, and everything got better in general (my enjoyment, my performance, I increased my heroes pool, etc). I really would have loved to do it waaayyy before in OW1.

[@josephreynolds2401]

Game tries to kick me off the game for trying to communicate too. Chat off, in game language only. Every time I defend a person flamed first from a first flamer, the guy I defend teams up with the first and only flamer and flames ME! So 2 or more reports get put on me every time it happens. I'm so tired of sticking my neck out for the pipe dream of having a synergistic or semi-socialized team. Social responsibility isn't on the ladder and preaching it to people who don't listen is insanity. There aren't enough socially responsible people to make that kind of change. Not even in places like these comments. Casual makes a good point. The more people that do this, the better.

[@starbutter2730]

Thanks for the advice, Casual. Your channel is a huge help to my newbie butt❤❤

[@TuneSaint]

I don't understand toxic people... like I shouldn't be sorry for not performing to your unrealistic expectations. The toxicity would even take place in quick play sessions... like go play competitive if you're soooo good? It's funny that they have nothing better to whine about.

[@megallossauro8681]

I am a ball main and the simple fact i play with this character have people saying "no please". Or even when i the only doing something, the team say "tank diff" because i dont play like the want: just a shield and nothing more. I just serve to everybody shot me and to the dps can play in the open, even when have a widow agaist us. Play tank in general is this. One small error and boom, evertbody poting the blame in me. But to i stop the toxicty for basically i pic ball, i show how good i am. I dont speak, i prove with action for them. And the majority of time work.

[@Chinesetakeout382]

I recently got back in the game, tried one game of competitive on tank, admittedly didn’t preform well, then received a lot of toxicity from my team. Usually I have pretty thick skin, but something about people getting really toxic about a game really got under my skin in that one moment. In a lot of ways, it’s worse in overwatch than it is in any other games considering how team based it is. Even worse if your on tank or support. I receive way more toxicity in tank than any other role. It’s really easy to point blame at other people. Where as in other games, it’s a little harder to single out a single person. I genuinely think you should just turn off chat or voice chat if you’re bothered by it, there’s nothing to be gained on chat. If you care about super specific team work with a lot communication, play with friends, or find a group that is trying to play that way. But if you’re gonna queue with randoms, you shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t hear you.

[@insanitynears]

Questioning my mental faculties to an unreasonable degree is probably the only insult I'm completely ok with.

[@JoshSaysStuff]

Something big that helped me was the mute button. Like yeah, it sounds obvious, but getting past the impulse to fight toxic players is easier said than done. Remember: what matters is that you play well, and arguing will only distract you. If you’re the kind of person who needs to get the last word in, then just say “alright, I’m muting you,” and follow through with it. It forces the conversation to shut down AND you get to be a little petty at the same time! You’ll immediately play better. Trust me.

[@Shakabrah44]

You're always so on point, it's nuts.

[@CreamSodaCrush]

Always love your way of engaging with gamer discourse. Level-headed, kind, and personally I find it cute

[@theanonymousmrgrape5911]

The problem for me with just getting exposure to it is that when other people are being toxic, I start being toxic as well. If somebody is flaming me, I flame back. I’m a Christian and I don’t want that for myself, so what I do, typically is just turn chats off so the opportunity doesn’t arise.

[@dreamstar3857]

I've never had issues with getting frustrated with games until I got really into the overwatch community. Back before ow2 the negative mentality everyone had just made it hard to enjoy this great game. I simply stopped watching and turned off game comms its been great ever since

[@ufoDanceParty]

Yeup. This game made me, and at least a few people I met in OW early on, increasingly poor at maintaining positive mindsets and in-game communication. I know one turned completely toxic as they became more invested.

[@dkir5933]

One comment I specifcly tend to use as a tank player if 2+ people on my team tend to be really toxic is. (in 'all' chat) "Sorry peeps, looks like I'm having to take care of especially young team members today." Like im a Kindergarten teacher. Fighting Toxicity with condencending kindness is mad effective ^^ . Most either shut up or outright leave, both outcomes in my favor.

[@melisprewor840]

That’s being toxic in itself and adding fuel to the fire to make yourself feel better. How is being passive aggressive with a quip better than someone being aggressive saying other folks suck.

[@dkir5933]

@@melisprewor840 Ah that, yes. It's more of a last resort thing tbf when I can't get em to calm down normally. And as i said already, the vast majority at that point shut up or leave, instead of continuing to scream at each other, killing tge fuel of the fire. Its still much better than activly saying they suck like you asked. Especially since at that point, everyone that isn't actually toxic in the lobby, including the enemy team, can have a good laugh.

[@shayes.x]

2:43 cool transition bro!

[@Bluemansonic]

I finally got into Final fantasy XXIV, best 5 day OW2 break ever

[@KlayGoods123]

Typically with toxic players I just like to try and piss em off, they often take the bait. Not here to babysit adults who have no self control when I know I’m just gonna queue up, avoid them, and never see them again on my team.

[@dkir5933]

Same here, most I do is some silly oneliner I thouhgt of before that makes em feel stupid and then just not talk anymore.

[@Dred-Rivals]

This is what I do: whenever I’m playing a game and I can tell I’m not doing well, I just leave vc and text chat, and focus on my own gameplay. Whether I was gonna get flamed or not, it doesn’t really matter. Even the anticipation of getting flamed is bad for your mental mid game, so I feel like leaving the chat just removes that stress. And if you’re not even doing bad, but are still getting flamed, I would still just leave the chat. Counter flaming would just make your other teammate likely to throw the game, and I’m assuming you still want to win the game. And if someone is being toxic, just avoid them once the game is done or between rounds. Then next game, I rejoin chat and see how it goes, as I usually will be making lots of callouts on what cooldowns the enemy has used The only thing I’m unsure about is what to do when your teammate is getting flamed, do you defend them? Or just keep yourself out of the situation

[@NotGedas]

I just hard comm with vc chat volume at zero so i don’t hear nobody back because only my voice matters and im better at the game anyways :3

[@kja1217]

ego is one hell of a drug

[@Omnicron800]

6:14 that slam was huge

[@jingping5948]

I miss you, are you coming back?

[@dotiichu979]

Someone called me Dotiipoopdik once My friends still call me that

[@AntiCommunist]

The left handed mouse is awesome btw

[@robbyg2490]

The music sounds like an AI generates version of The Stylistics "You are everything"

[@CptCheekz]

Wanna learn how to deal with toxicity? One Trick Wrecking Ball.

[@JosiesCloset]

The way if I had chat on dbd I’d just say “have a blessed day and I hope your life is good or getting better.” And just leave the lobby.

[@RobertPazurek]

OW being my first online fps (and I'm a bit older) at first I was disturbed about the tone in the chat. I learned to deal with it though and here's what helped me: 1) realizing that people that are with me in Silver don't know shit about the game so flaming me for performance just doesn't phase me anymore (especially when I play Tracer and another Moira brags with their damage stats 😂). 2) realizing, that they have a problem on their side and I don't need to go there. 3) having fun to tilt them when they are toxic by just sending xx whenever they write something. Minimal effort, maximum giggles. I also know, that my ability to cope highly depends on my own current state. If I'm tired and in a bad mood I tilt easy. So that's not a good time to engage there (prbly not even to play at all).

[@silkysmoothaudios]

Hey man, I've seen what you've been doing with your videos and I think they break down all the soft aspects of gaming so accurately. Everything going okay in your life though?

[@Garry-y7b]

What I do when people give me shit is just act like a complete dumbass. It’s a game, I’m not here to win, I’m just having fun.

[@TheMakki]

How to deal with toxicity? Don't take it personally. Then, talk shit back and stand your ground. It's just a game. Boys talk shit to each other all the time.

[@greensky5328]

People are so often to confuse competitive and toxic mindsets when toxicity is, in my opinion, very harmful to have consistent high performance and enjoying the games you play. I'd wager most people probably care more about improving longterm than a single win or loss so don't get so caught up on a single win or loss since the road to mastery is a long one. All that said if I have a opponent or teammate being especially nasty I go out of my way to not say anything except "gg" at the end of a match to show them it's not that serious.

[@Arr0wzWii]

I expose toxic morons on Overwatch for a living, and it's so amazing~

[@rexoverwatch]

unlimited avoid as teammate slots, public ladder

[@SDK248]

most of the overwatch community needs to take a shower and a walk if they want to continue to play the game effectively.

[@Wishbone9]

I find that toxic shit so funny like people getting so angry over qp is fuckin hilarious. I had a game with a friend where he picked widdow and like 15 seconds in the team was bitching and moaning that he was throwing. We had a great laugh about it

[@scumknight6074]

I endorse toxicity because it’s funny.

[@Aw3someOpZ]

Yesterday I had a freelo game where the sombra was getting flamed hard and the whole team gave up. I suspect that a healer man was larping as a dps main and heavily underperformed as sombra. 4-6. There’s no way you suck that bad on a bs hero. Point being that it was a rage fest and we all just stood on defense on numbani enjoying the text show. XD

[@mattfk_kbraapratata8996]

Lol it’s always numbani where teams can just utterly collapse, been on both ends of it.

[@ufoufo2788]

I keep chat off 💪

[@Rygabo]

Turn off chat. Makes the game a lot better.

[@legenxd2063]

Or just turn off chat and don't be in voice

[@rayman964]

i've been getting lots of "thank you for reporting" notifications because of toxic yappers using profanity all time or creative insults. Although I do not support being punished for harmless profanity even though it is not used against another person, I find little satisfaction. 😈 It's like blizzard came very late to fight toxicity where somewhere in 2017 in devolopers update video they announcent to do smt about it. Well gratz.. after 7 years its happening sort of.

[@joshb2008]

I deal with toxicity by avoiding Mauga players ; )

[@lakepod577]

watching this video when i'm the toxic one 💀

[@iPhenomenal27]

Why is this video 11 mins lol? When you can literally just say in context of any online fps, "it's not that deep and it's internet".

[@jingping5948]

To be clear I do NOT endorse being toxic! I firmly disagree with the statement "toxicity is useless" as in it does nothing but be negative. I think this argument stands on a moral high ground while ignoring actual results that have appeared as a result of someone being toxic. The fact is sometimes when you tell someone they suck they start playing a lot better. For example someone who doesn't take the game very seriously and is under performing being told "dude you're 4 and 8 swap bastion" very possibly might start taking it more seriously to prove the toxic guy wrong. Of course this isn't the only result, there are people who will go afk as soon as any toxic comment faces their way. Still, I'd wager most responses to toxicity are either positive, neutral, or only slightly negative performance wise. When you consider that a truly bad reaction, performance wise, is rather low and that toxicity most often appears in already losing scenarios it becomes increasingly reasonable to be toxic from a sweaty, try-hard perspective. Again I do not think being toxic is acceptable, morally its still wrong obviously. From a performance perspective hard comming is a more useful, consistent, and enjoyable way to win a game. Still I think representing toxicity as "useless" is refusing to understand the root of the problem. Being toxic is a low barrier of entry method of turning a lost game to a winning one. Compare that to hard comming which requires at least a fundamental understanding of the game's theory and you, the player, to take on the extra mental burden of communicating. For the final time I don't condone being toxic. I simply believe there is more to the discussion about toxicity than both sides being a bitch to one another.

[@defaultdan7923]

well, on the surface, sure toxicity helps to push people to play better. and we see that in sports where you can actually put that into your playing and get tangible results. but in overwatch? the idea doesn't hold up. toxicity tends to tilt people, and unfortunately, frustration, while being great for sports, is actually one of the worst emotions you can feel while playing ow and similar fps games. it doesn't push you to be better, it actually clouds your judgement because your mind is busy processing being upset instead of being at peak performance and focused, which again, in a game like overwatch, can be disastrous. is it true that there are edge cases? yeah definitely. but in my experience, and what i've seen from the few livestreams i've watched, when someone is flamed, it almost always leads to worse performance.

[@utk8718]

I never understood why people complain so much when the game has everything you need to isolate yourself. You can avoid, report, block, mute, individually mute text and/or voice chat for each player. Like you got the tools, use them. No need to cry over the fact that someone was mean to you in a video game.

[@whoaman45]

It could be for many reasons. They could just not know those options existed. Some people are lazy, and even if they do know they exist, they do nothing about it and continue to complain. Others just don't want to do it because they like seeing chat. List goes on. If you don't wanna deal with toxicity, then you'd be right. All of those things do get rid of the problem both quickly and efficiently, but the point of the video was how to deal with it and build a tolerance to it if you don't want to block, avoid, mute, etc.

[@youtuberobbedmeofmyname]

I stopped dealing with toxic ow players a long time ago. I only play with muted text chat and no voice chat. There is no other way.

[@youtuberobbedmeofmyname]

wtf rank is this, why are you not following up on low health players when you have full health and every cooldown