An idea that could improve civility in multiplayer games

[JRslinger]

I just thought of an idea that if implemented could address an issue that bothers some gamers. I despise when people use sexist or racial slurs in online multiplayer games. My idea is that game companies(or players hosting a server) could designate certain servers as "polite" Meaning that anyone who types or voices a slur would receive a warning and then get kicked/banned if they keep doing it. I'm assuming that voice recognition technology exists that could detect certain words or frequent loud outbursts.

This way, those who don't mind this behavior can go on servers that allow it and those who hate it don't have to deal with it. I know that right now in many games players have the option of muting anyone else, but I think this solution is better.

Does this idea sound good to you? Are there any flaws I haven't thought of?

 

[Barbas]

How is that better than the current system of muting? Putting in a mute button is so much easier and costs significantly less, I would have thought. Plus, you could have "false positive" situations...the accents, the colloquialisms, developing slang...it'd have to be frequently updated...then people'd just find a way around it...like screaming really bobba-ing loud into the mic.

 

[Elfgore]

Like Barbas said, that sounds expensive. Servers cost money and the detecting technology probably cost a pretty penny too, even if it exist. It all comes down to money. Have a few people complain or spend however much money to make them happy? I think we all know which they'll pick.

I like the idea, but I don't think it will ever be put into use.

 

[Keoul]

No thanks.
People use swears instinctively and not always to hurt people's feelings, sometimes you might play a game and mess up and type "fucking hell" in the chat, now you are banned. This applies even moreso in voicechat.

Mute all the way, that and more Mods.

 

[JRslinger]

How is that better than the current system of muting? Putting in a mute button is so much easier and costs significantly less, I would have thought. Plus, you could have "false positive" situations...the accents, the colloquialisms, developing slang...it'd have to be frequently updated...then people'd just find a way around it...like screaming really bobba-ing loud into the mic.

The idea is that "polite" servers would deter rude people effectively so players would be less likely to encounter a douchebag in the first place. If that worked then it would be interesting to see what percentage of players prefer which type of server.

The false positives issue sounds like it would be a problem. I suppose the necessary technology isn't ready/affordable yet.

 

[Smooth Operator]

I mean it would be an idea for people who want that extra automation and filtering, but voice recognition requires calibration per users voice (unless they are extremely good at annunciating) so you would get complete misses most of the time. Could work for loud outbursts however, but the response should be to lower their volume not to just ban them.
And in any case rude people should be silenced not kicked, let them play but they don't need to talk if the only thing they do is cause trouble.

For the most part I say you really only need solid community tools so everyone can manage interactions themselves, because you might find something offensive but other people could be enjoying some trash talk between friends.
And a mute/ignore feature is a good start but we need more then that (basic word filters, time-out ignore, opt-out ignore, message logs, karma threshold - so people who have been silenced X times just automatically go into your ignore list, vote kick,...)

 

[Happiness Assassin]

My recommendation is this: The mute button.

People are generally trying to troll to get some kind of reaction and no amount of tech will ever discourage assholerly to an effective degree. As someone who hates dealing with fuckers online, the multiplayer scene has gotten infinitely better since I only talk to my friends. While I would love for something like that to be in place, I just don't see it as feasible as of yet.

 

[Flayer6669]

only problem with the mute button is it is a real pain to try and do during combat sometimes, xbox is fairly quick and easy, but playstation is a bit more of pain as it isn't as quickly accessed and sometimes when there are a lot of people talking it's hard to discern which name is actually saying what since the playstation (ps4 atleast don't know about 3) doesn't always have good timing or with the annotations next to the name when speaking, and the name's pop up and go away so fast on the screen. so you can sit there slowly muting one person at a time and waiting for someone to speak to see if you got the right guy . i have wasted so much combat time and died so many times in cod trying to deal with this. not saying that JRslinger's idea is the best solution, especially since there are a ton of trolls who would join those rooms just to piss people off and get kicked anyway, making the room a target at that point, just like how before ricochet people would just join rooms and team kill for the hell of it. but all in all a better option than the mute button would be welcome especially since i don't really like muting people since even though i don't like what they are saying they could still offer helpful information and a team still needs to communicate.

 

[Nix33]

Polite servers is just asking for trouble. Every douchebag with a destructive mentality would jump on the opportunity to mess with everyone within a five-mile radius.

People will be buttcanoes either way. You can't stop them. Muting and mods are the best way to go about it. That's one reason why I prefer hotseating and splitscreen over proper online multiplayer. If the other player isn't sitting within punching range, it's not worth it.

But maybe I'm just mad.

 

[Something Amyss]

Polite servers is just asking for trouble. Every douchebag with a destructive mentality would jump on the opportunity to mess with everyone within a five-mile radius.

Basically, that. The minute this idea comes into reality, trolls and asshats will pretty much literally queue up. There might even be some literal lines to get in.

Hell, I'm betting a bunch of people would put it on YouTube.

 

[Nix33]

Polite servers is just asking for trouble. Every douchebag with a destructive mentality would jump on the opportunity to mess with everyone within a five-mile radius.

Hell, I'm betting a bunch of people would put it on YouTube.

Internet gaming is about blowing off steam, and being a sweary idiot is part of that. Take that away from people, and you'll get a backlash that's impressive in both magnitude and severity.

Hell, if someone took away my right to swear at strangers on the internet, damn right I'd put it up on youtube.

 

[Something Amyss]

Hell, if someone took away my right to swear at strangers on the internet, damn right I'd put it up on youtube.

I was thinking specifically trolling videos. Lost in Place, for example, trolls Gary's Mod RP servers.

I can't think of a better place to get a reaction than a "polite" server if that's what you're looking to do.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

My suggestion would be impose actual physical consequences upon those who act like anuses with legs.
For example: The Xbox One Kinect should be armed with a low caliber machine gun which can murder unsuspecting nimrods when they act like the aforementioned anuses.

On the other hand, GTA's method of lumping all the rejects into one pile and making them defecate on each other is also a good idea.

 

[Colin Bagley]

My issue would be what words different people consider "Rude".

I'm fairly sure that most people agree that N-word is usually bad. But then you've got strange social rules which means you can say it, if you're black, but no other racial demographic.
Trying to detect when that word is acceptable, would be a right nightmare to program.

But then you've got the whole thing with Australia, and their usage of the word **** being different to Britain and USA.

Then you've got the "Euphemism Treadmill", which is basically a linguistic arms race, around certain words like Retarded.
Once our cultures decided that Retard isn't the official word for people with Legit Mental issues any more, we used "Special" instead. And then after a really short time, "Special", "Spe-Shull", and "Spesh" all moved in to fill that linguistic insult Gap.
But in that case, you can't have it detect "Special" as a banned word. Because it's also a normal word. Or even might be part of the game. "Special Weapons Team".
But also, anybody who's played WoW will know what Kek means. Players can find ways of circumventing (or understanding scrambled messages)any feature designed to censor.
So what's to stop players from simply inventing new insults with the same definitions of the banned words (And obviously having them understood)
After all, it's the Insulting Definition which is the problem.

 

[GrimSoup]

The mute button is the easiest method because the problem with abusive players is far to complicated an issue. The need or reasons to troll or be abusive would vary from person to person. It can't be stopped as you're trying to fix an individual problem with a single response across an entire community. Its similar to drug laws or aggressive behaviour in any sport. Looking at it as a collective issue rather then seeking out the reasons for it on an individual basis. Everyone has their own reasons for what they do and need to be addressed on a personal level rather then finding a blanket solution.

People will find ways around it as you're coming at them saying "we don't like the behaviour you are displaying so we are setting up this system to stop you". It automatically creates a negative feeling between you and them, which will always create adversity within the community. When people feel their being attacked they feel slighted, wronged and that you don't understand them. This in turn creates an avenue to attack and focus on rather then addressing their own anger, negatively reacting to competitive situations or the need to try and ruin things for others.

Every facet of society, every community has people who are cruel, indifferent, self centred and hide their insecurities by attacking and putting down others. The gaming community is no different. And some people are just oxygen thieves who thrive on ruining fun for others. Mute them and continue being a gamer with civility and respect. The more people like that means the chances of finding yourself in a game full of cunts will decrease, even if its only slightly.

 

[Pink Gregory]

You'd just be better off finding a friendly server with a dedicated moderator.

I'm fairly sure people can run such servers with that intention; you're never really going to stop abusive people, because they always have that first chance before they highlight themselves as such.