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So any thoughts on Blizzard's attempt to combat toxicity by looking into players social media? Are they overstepping their bounds? Or is it a good course of action? What are your opinions on the matter? (Please keep it clean everyone.)
Comments
I haven't played the game myself, so truly there could be a big problem with toxicity, I wouldn't know.
However the policy raises some concerns from my perspective.
1. Is it right to ban players for actions outside the game? Example: let's say you're a Mercy main, you only play Mercy for some reason or another. You play properly and act fine within the game. Blizzard announces more Mercy nerfs. You fueled by emotion go to social media and express you're disapproval of such changes, maybe you use strong language. Would your comments be considered toxic? This can lead to point two.
2. Do you consider the company administering the policy trustworthy in such matters? If this practice becomes the new normal procedure for the gaming industry, I could see some companies abusing this, especially when their toxicity guidelines are loosely defined. Have harsh criticisms about the game or company? Ban for you.
3. Is fun subjective? Is playing only one character toxic behavior? Is taking the game a little less serious and using emotes during competitive matches toxic? Are you just starting out, get matched with pros and can't keep up, is that toxic? Is having fun in the game in your own way toxic? Well perhaps to those around you in a competitive match. I guess the best way to combat toxicity is to stop making competitive games. Because players will get competitive and act accordingly, even if it is unsavory.
4. Can this system be weaponized by the players? All it will take is one salty player who knows his target's social media to go mining through it for anything to take out of context for a ban. This can also be worrisome for popular streamers/youtubers.
5. Is this against privacy? I dunno, I'm not a lawyer.
6. Is this against free speech? It could be, depends on the companies interpretation of toxicity I guess.
7. Is it good for the game/gaming community? I guess we'll find out. Maybe Overwatch does have a huge issue with toxicity and these policies will help.
To long didn't read section: While this could be done in the most noble of intentions, if not properly defined the toxicity policies could be disastrous. I assume these policies were made to combat hateful speech and the like, which I agree should not be used.
But hey, these are just some of my thoughts, maybe I'm just over-analyzing things. I'd like to hear some more opinions on the matter though. Am I correct or incorrect with my diagnoses?
There are plenty of ways to combat toxicity within the game itself as there's a lot of crap talking going in in chat in Overwatch and in what actions you take during a match itself with players able to report others for toxic behavior. Of course you can't really monitor toxic voice chatting. Sure you could record it and come up with some software to analyze it and what not. There's also the right to privacy and other legal issues involved in that.
Either way banning based on social media is a very dangerous precedent to set and should only be taken into account if it starts heading in the direction of criminal at which point it's better to alert the authorities if it's that bad.
Like you said there are plenty of ways they could combat toxicity in the game. Like for instance if emote spamming is a big problem put a limit on emotes you can perform per match.
Yeah, I see it as a dangerous precedent also. I hope other companies don't follow suit on this.