Flaming, sexism, trolls: The toxic side of online gaming and how to deal with it
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Flaming, sexism, trolls: The toxic side of online gaming and how to bargain with information technology
If you lot idea social media trolling was bad, wait till y'all dive into competitive online gaming. How bad does information technology get and how does 1 deal with it?
(Fine art: Jasper Loh, Pexels)
01 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 13 Aug 2022 11:18AM)
When the COVID-nineteen situation became worse and "excursion billow" measures went into effect, many of united states would have turned to video games – online or otherwise – to while abroad the time at home.
A 2022 report from Limelight Networks on the state of online gaming fifty-fifty showed that Singaporeans seem to spend an virtually inordinate corporeality of fourth dimension playing, with an boilerplate of v.85 hours per week spent on gaming (and actually topped the list for those who skipped slumber in social club to do so, with 60 per cent of respondents).
READ: Game (withal) on: Why east-sports is surviving in the age of quarantine
But imagine this scenario: Later work is washed for the mean solar day, you hop into a game or two. You're looking frontward to some "me time", having fun and overall only being entertained.
And then the flaming begins.
You lot're into your kickoff game of the day, your squad is downwardly 3 kills to 20, and you're trying to salvage a win on League Of Legends – and before you know it, yous're witnessing a avalanche of exact insults every bit your virtual teammates (total strangers in real life) start to berate each other.
"Impale yourself useless mid laner," one types. Another one launches into a tirade of racist insults and then promptly leaves the game, leaving the remainder in a iv versus five situation in which winning is now impossible.
In an action where people are supposed to have fun and work together, many games have become places where toxic behaviour rears its ugly caput, and what is supposed to exist an enjoyable experience becomes filled with aggression instead.
Then what'southward it similar to be a gamer on the receiving end of such toxicity? What causes such destructive flaming behaviour? And how can one deal with it?
'I Interruption OUT INTO COLD SWEAT'
For many who play online games, a toxic environment may be something that they take become accustomed to and learnt to ignore – even if the behaviour still seems baffling to some.
Jeremy, a 23-year-old financial adviser, shared that when someone flames him in-game, he would naturally feel dislocated.
"Nosotros are playing a squad game and need to work together to win," he said. "I commonly don't reply to unnecessary flaming or toxicity. If I feel that information technology is also much and I'm getting tilted, I will mute them to focus on the game."
I usually keep quiet and not respond because I'm wary that they will throw the game if I respond.
"Tilt" originates from a poker term, which basically means you're getting angry or frustrated.
His reaction to getting flamed isn't unusual either. Just like with communication given to people getting bullied, sometimes the best matter you tin can do is to ignore them.
"I usually keep quiet and not respond because I'k wary that they volition throw the game if I answer," said Jade, a 22-yr-onetime student.
READ: Watched enough TV? Try these video games for every mood while staying habitation
Like Jeremy, she besides said that experiencing toxicity tin atomic number 82 to a bad performance. "When someone flames me in-game, I e'er suspension out into cold sweat get-go, and then my performance starts to become worse at that match because I'm nervous," she added.
Sometimes, the flaming gets extremely out of hand. Jeremy said that he's had games where other players told him to kill himself or that they "hope your family dies because you suck".
'SHE'S A Girl, OF Form LOSE'
And for female gamers like Jade, the problem extends beyond just online insults towards them equally players. Getting targeted simply for being a woman is also an issue.
"Guys usually like to include sexual things whenever they find out that in that location's a girl on their team. That's why I merely keep quiet or just pretend I'm a young teen playing the game," said Jade.
They called me trash and retard, and that information technology was because I'g a daughter that's why we lost.
She recalled one incident where her team lost a game and she got blamed by two other male person players on her own team.
"They called me trash and retard, and that information technology was considering I'yard a daughter that'southward why we lost. I quote them: 'She'due south a girl mah of class lose lah. Confirm utilize the boyfriend account play ane haha young man carry nia'. I still remember their in-game names," she said.
In another incident, some players on her team purposely played badly in order to lose the game every bit they did not want to play with a girl on their team.
She said: "There's a special bunch of them who think females can't play games and should just stay in the kitchen."
Defending yourself might as well not be the best form of activity, as it could sometimes make matters worse.
"Trying to justify or defend myself normally wouldn't turn out well every bit it adds fuel to the fire. Then both parties would but be flaming each other or they might decide to throw the entire game," said Brenda, a 22-year-onetime student.
Trying to justify or defend myself usually wouldn't turn out well as information technology adds fuel to the fire.
On the other paw, one actor, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they would sometimes debate dorsum because they felt a need to defend themselves.
"I felt that I should defend or stand up for myself, as at that place's no reason to flame someone similar this. And maybe it'south too to vent some of the anger," this person said.
Fierce GAMES, Aggression, LACK OF EMPATHY
What causes some gamers to blow their summit and be awfully hateful? According to Tham Yuen Han, executive manager and clinical director of We Care Community Services, one of the possible factors is the type of games being played – specifically those with a competitive attribute and violent content.
According to her, research into the area of vehement video games has shown that there is an increment in aggressive behaviour among gamers who play such games, which leads to aggressive thinking or a greater lack of empathy.
Some of those who've been exposed to such games for a long fourth dimension might as well adopt the view that the violence is normal and may endorse real-life violence.
Anonymity is a huge factor in this inhibition, as it gives people the bravado to exist more aggressive than they would in real life.
Another large factor at play could be the fact that people who flame are already addicted to the game they play, which can manifest in unhealthy behaviour.
READ: How a Singaporean spent 3 years to create a horror video game all by himself
"If someone is beginning to prove signs of assailment, information technology'due south hard to do the self-control to pull out. What nosotros do know for a fact is, regardless of game content, if someone is addicted, the attitude and behaviour of aggression and hostility may be present already," said Tham.
She also brought upward the fact that the anonymity that comes with online gaming is another reason why people flame others in-game.
"Anonymity is a huge cistron in this inhibition, every bit it gives people the bravado to be more aggressive than they would in real life," she said. "They are less given to consider social norms and politeness." In "extreme cases", this behaviour may even carry over into real life, she warned.
And for victims, the toxic environment tin can sometimes result in a vicious bicycle likewise. Tham said that people who feel flaming may ruminate on it, which tin fifty-fifty plough them aggressive.
HOW TO DEAL WITH Hateful GAMERS
When faced with flamers or toxic behaviour, it's all-time to ignore it and stop playing the game if information technology is starting to affect y'all, said Tham.
"The likelihood that someone is feeling distress is already a sign of concern. If y'all experience distress and keep to engage, that'south a sign of business concern."
And while the gamers whom CNA Lifestyle talked to are adults, it's a world with a lot of younger people – who might even be the ones doing the flaming.
READ: Is your child a dandy? How parents can spot the signs and what they should do
For parents who find hints of aggression in their child, 1 of the first things to do is to brand sure that they've plenty information about online content to ensure that gaming world is a prophylactic environment, Tham said. Parents should also know how to curate the types of games their child engages in.
Sometimes the child has problems at school but online he's doing well and he feels similar a winner.
Information technology also helps to have a softer approach when talking to them. "When people engage in a certain amount of activeness, they obviously see certain benefits that they leave of it. One of the start things is not to say that it's wrong. The moment you lot say: 'Information technology'south wrong don't exercise this.' Y'all shut them out of discussion. Endeavour to empathize what they practice and what they leave of it," she said.
"Sometimes the kid has problems at school but online he'southward doing well and he feels like a winner. Start from the position of not judging and understanding what the depict is for your child," she added.
"What is then fun nearly it? Sometimes it could be that the kid has a real sense of achievement and feel they may be really skillful at it even if they're not sporty or athletic in real life. The other thing is, once you understand, you know what the options are. Rather than 'don't do this', you tin can innovate them to more than alternatives. It becomes a trouble when information technology'south excessive and the simply class of entertainment and escape."
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/online-gaming-flaming-sexism-trolls-255616
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