How to Deal With Abusive Online Gamers?

Online gaming is one of the best pastimes these days. However, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns; many players experience hostility from abusive online gamers.

This can be upsetting and spoil their time spent playing. Abusive online gamers must be dealt with if everyone wants to have a positive gaming experience. In online gaming, harassment, bullying, and other forms of verbal and online abuse are only a few examples. It may take place in a variety of forms, including text chats, voice chats, and in-game methods. A player’s mental health and well-being might take a hit from abusive behaviour, which can increase the risk of issues including stress, anxiety, and depression.

In this article, we’ll discuss ways to handle hostile players and toxicity in gaming. We’ll go through several preventative measures you can take.

Don’t Be a Jerk

This advice sounds self-evident: being cruel to others will almost always result in the same behaviour from the other person. However, who among us wouldn’t think that not being a jerk may deter other jerks from being jerks? Jerk, to be precise. Because we want to ensure that the golden rule still applies to online games, we’ll mention it again. And that includes Hanzo mains.

Don’t Engage

Abusive players are mostly motivated by the attention they want to garner from their dealings with other players. As a result, the one thing you should never do when hounded is reply. This is a lot more difficult than it appears. An urge to quip back and shame someone into silence is normal when they are being annoyed or foolish and flinging racist or sexist trash at you. Don’t make the mistake of doing that.

Keep in mind that this individual derives some joy from assaulting people, and there’s very little you can say to stop them or change their opinion, no matter how correct or reasonable you are. Any response, on the other hand, will encourage them to continue their abusive behaviour.

Also, remember that everyone currently participating in the game is doing so voluntarily. You own the ultimate trump card in this exchange: the ability to walk away at any point.

Block and Mute

Individual players can be muted in most online multiplayer games featuring text or voice chat. You may ban players from being paired with you in any game or turn off text and voice chat for everyone by default, limiting communication to in-game character messages like “group up” or “great job,” depending on your preference.

It’s better to block or mute a single player than to block everyone because communication and collaboration are huge assets in most multiplayer games. However, if communicating with other players by voice or text is interfering with your enjoyment of the game, don’t be afraid to stop doing so.

Use the Report Option

If you’re dealing with an abusive online gamer, reporting them should always be your top priority. Reporting players who are engaging in harmful behaviour is important because it’s the best way to protect yourself and other players from their toxic influence.

When you report a player, game moderators can investigate their behaviour and take appropriate action if necessary. Depending on the severity of the situation, this could mean suspending or even permanently banning the offending player.

To report a player in most games, look for an option in the options menu that says something like “Report Player” or “File a Complaint.” In some cases, you may need to go through customer support channels to report abusive behaviour. Be sure to provide as much information as possible when filing your report, including any screenshots or recordings of the abuse, if available.

Remember that reporting players can help make online gaming communities safer and more enjoyable for everyone involved. It’s up to all of us to do our part by holding each other accountable for our actions and setting boundaries against unacceptable behaviour.

Try to Play with People You Already Know

Playing games with friends or a group can be an excellent way to avoid abusive online gamers. When you play with people you know, a sense of trust and camaraderie makes the experience more enjoyable. You also can communicate using voice chat or messaging systems, which can help prevent misunderstandings that lead to abusive behaviour.

Another great advantage of playing with friends is the ability to create custom game modes or rulesets that cater to your group’s preferences. This can help keep things fresh and exciting, and it also provides an opportunity for everyone in the group to contribute their ideas and creativity.

If your friends do not play the game that you play you can try finding friends from online gaming communities and groups. These groups often have strict codes of conduct that discourage abusive behaviour, and they offer a supportive environment where players can learn from each other and improve their skills together.

Choose the Right Game Mode

This is a vital element that many players overlook: you should select the game mode that best suits the mood you’re trying to create. Avoid the more competitive game servers or sections if you wish to play a game leisurely. This is especially true for “Pro” or “Ranked” modes, where the incentives are permanent status modifications or global leaderboard positions. Many shooters and MOBAs, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), are known for their frantic, high-stress communication styles.

A game mode that pits players against computer opponents or other non-player challenges is preferable whenever possible. The modes in question are known as PvE (player versus environment). They’re not in every game, but when they do exist, they’re significantly less stressful and competitive than other types of multiplayer games, including ranked ones.

The Nuclear Option: Try Another Game

Remember to stop a game if the social aspect bothers you. That’s probably what you should do if your interactions with other players are making the game less enjoyable. What’s the point of playing a game if you’re not having fun?

Keep in mind that every year, hundreds of new games are released for each system, as well as thousands for PCs. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a better game to spend your time with, one with a better community of gamers.