I’m sure you’ve had your share of terrible gamers in CSGO. How about those people who curse like sailors and rage at their teammates? Often gamers rationalise their behaviour by equating it to the gaming culture and try to normalise reactions that aren’t justified. 

While games may be violent and intense, studies have shown that taking these behaviours outside the gaming realm may cause harmful long-term effects. 

While your patience for aggressive gamers may be wearing thin, there are ways to deal with these toxic players. First, it’ll be helpful to understand why gamers can be harmful, and then we’ll take a look at ways you combat the toxicity and stand up for yourself and others. 

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Why are gamers so toxic?

In the non-gaming world, there is a huge misconception that all gamers are toxic. But this isn’t the case; many studies show how gamers actually help each other and are usually more supportive than people who don’t play video games. It’s important to note that there is a difference between toxic behaviour in-game and what happens outside it. 

Part of the reason why some gamers can come across as toxic is because of the element of anonymity. If you’re anonymous, there are no repercussions for your behaviour, which often leads people to disassociate from their actions. 

More often than not, toxic gamers lean towards being younger males experiencing high emotional levels, reactivity, and impulsivity. 

Toxic gaming behaviours to take note of:

  • Sexual harassment
  • Threats of violence
  • Hate speech
  • Spamming
  • Homophobic comments
  • Online trolling 

 

How to stand up & deal with toxic gamers

It seems like everywhere you look on social media or forums such as Reddit, someone is complaining about something that another player said or did in a multiplayer match. 

If you find yourself in a position where you’re tempted to give up with gaming, live streaming or to leave an entire gaming community, you’ve got to remember that there are ways to deal with toxic gamers. 

  •  Don’t take it personally

Gaming is often an outlet for those feeling trapped, stressed, angry or lonely in the outside world – it’s not uncommon that those negative emotions affect the way a gamer interacts online. A lot of the anguish that accompanies interactions with toxic gamers is that victims believe that they’re in the wrong when it’s someone else who is causing issues.

You also can’t let other people’s opinions dictate how you interact in the gaming community or how you feel about yourself.

  • Be confident in yourself

Even though it can be tough with a toxic gamer constantly bringing you down, it’s important to remain confident in yourself and your abilities. In moments where you begin to lose faith in yourself, remember that you’re a valuable person who has many great qualities. 

A great way to combat bullying in the gaming community is to surround yourself with like-minded gamers; this’ll provide you with an environment where you can express your feelings and find solutions to toxicity.

  • Don’t react

Ignore all insults and continue playing your game without reacting, don’t give any attention to these people, and they’ll hopefully go away eventually. It sounds tough, but it’s just one of those tactics you’ve got to give a go. If you choose to react to the gamer, there’s a chance you’ll be acting irrationally out of impulsivity and anger, which just leads to a more toxic situation. 

  • Mute or block them

One way is to mute the player if they’re being too aggressive or abusive for your liking. You can always unmute them later if their behaviour improves, so it’s worth a shot before banning them altogether. 

  • If all else fails, report them

Another option is to report the person as spamming or verbally harassing other players on the team, which will suspend someone’s account if enough reports have been made against that player. It may seem drastic, but remember that this type of behaviour has no place in any online gaming community.