tamaster92
Member
I don't think I can could quit gaming fully but I've certainly quit communities or specific games due to it
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Who here has quit gaming because of the rise in toxicity?
- Thread starter DieAntwoord
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SuperBudgie1582
Neo Member
Playing video games is a form of entertainment first and foremost. Your personally making it into a hobby by viewing it as anything more than that.
interactivemonodrama
Banned
Most of the time, these toxic people are children, who tends to read the internet dictionary in order to come up with witty comebacks. Why would you let them ruin something as fun as gaming?
DroneBrother
Banned
I think disconnecting from the online space of twitch/Facebook etc is what you really should be doing
That's why, unless I already know you, I've had all of my games on mute for the past 8 or so years I've been gaming online. Ain't got time for that shit anymore. I'd also be lying if I said it didn't somewhat diminish my love of gaming. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE it, but the past couple of years have really made me rethink if I want to be apart of this hobby. I play games to get away from that shit. It's not even so much the fans really. It's really more the fact that the industry at large secretly condones this shit as GamerGate showed. To the "You shouldn't let it get to you crowd", when someone constantly hurls insults at you because you were born a certain way come back and see me.
Chaos2Frozen
Member
I would understand quitting multiplayer only games, but quitting gaming as a whole seems unnecessary.
For what reason would you need to quit playing single player games?
For what reason would you need to quit playing single player games?
GhostTrick
Banned
Eh, you're mixing gaming and gaming community.
I get it for multiplayer games, but single player ones ?
Heck, even for MP, just play with people you like.
I get it for multiplayer games, but single player ones ?
Heck, even for MP, just play with people you like.
Then dont go to football matches anymore (soccer for you Americans) because of the hoolingans. You support that indirectly. Dont go to supermarkets because you support the destroyment of local bakers and butchers.
I dont understand you. There are millions of gamers. The majority are normal people wether you want to believe that or not. Same like the majority of football supporters are normal people. Just the 2000 hooligans have a louder voice in the stadium and the camera's are on them.
SolidChamp
Banned
I just quit competitive MP. Single player and co-op with friends are far too relaxing for me to quit.
Well I am mostly Nintendo exclusive, but I'm not going to pretend I'm not aware of some of the negative aspects that can occur in some gaming communities.
However, I don't recall that behaviour from Nintendo GAF. Personally I didn't even read most BotW reviews. I just played it and enjoyed it on my own terms.
What kind of way is this to live your life?
Athlete doping scandal? Never watch sports again
Film director commits an awful crime? Never watch films again
Idiot is elected president/prime minister? Never engage with politics again
Musician says something shitty? Never listen to music again
Athlete doping scandal? Never watch sports again
Film director commits an awful crime? Never watch films again
Idiot is elected president/prime minister? Never engage with politics again
Musician says something shitty? Never listen to music again
This is how I feel.
Everything today has too much 'toxicity'. Look at the election last year even. You'll still find it other places even if you walk away from gaming.
Stay away from multiplayer games for a while or play them only very casually. No one is going to interfere with your single player experience.
Stay away from multiplayer games for a while or play them only very casually. No one is going to interfere with your single player experience.
Reason why i quit talking with randoms in open voice chat if people need me invite me to a party but ingame chat? Never again shit is toxic AF. Especially in cod and gta but that does not surprise me at all.
And yeah twitch and yt comments even social media ones have been garbage at times. It's sad tbh how some gamers ruin it for the decent ones.
And yeah twitch and yt comments even social media ones have been garbage at times. It's sad tbh how some gamers ruin it for the decent ones.
I started gaming on the NES when I was 3 years old way before the internet became what it is. So I never really associated myself as part of a community. It was always this thing I did out of pure enjoyment.
Even though I'm on NeoGAF, I more consider this as just a place to discuss my hobby more than an aspect of my "identity" as part of a gaming community.
Videogames are honestly way too prolific at this point to have their own "culture" which needs to be applied to every person who plays.
Even though I'm on NeoGAF, I more consider this as just a place to discuss my hobby more than an aspect of my "identity" as part of a gaming community.
Videogames are honestly way too prolific at this point to have their own "culture" which needs to be applied to every person who plays.
Renna Hazel
Member
This is one of the main reasons I don't bother with online games, though I feel sexism in online gaming and the gaming community in general is not a new thing and it's something I noticed since I was a little kid. This is one of the main reasons I never bothered with online gaming, since one of it's main draws is meeting and playing with new people. When most of those new people are really lame, the allure is gone.
With that said, I rarely encounter this stuff while playing Nintendo, so I feel pretty comfortable doing that for now.
With that said, I rarely encounter this stuff while playing Nintendo, so I feel pretty comfortable doing that for now.
Agree. I'm 49 and still love videogames but It's mainly single player and some multiplayer with no voice chat unless with my close friends.
omgwtfbentime
Member
It's definitely got harder for me to feel good about gaming as a hobby and deterred me from a lot of community driven stuff in gaming, whether it be online or in person. Altogether quit though? Not really. I'm definitely playing less than I used to (although that's also a side effect of having more on my plate) and tend to focus on games that remind me of why gaming is a fun hobby in the first place vs super immersive big games.
I don't blame you for not being able to tune out on the bullshit. Find other things to focus on, there's a plethora of great media out there without an internet hate mob.
I don't blame you for not being able to tune out on the bullshit. Find other things to focus on, there's a plethora of great media out there without an internet hate mob.
spindoctor
Member
This seems unnecessarily dramatic. Video games are played to have fun. In some cases, as escapism from the trials of regular life. To let external factors influence that seems a little silly. Just ignore it and enjoy yourself.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Quitting gaming isn't going to make the garbage go away. It's on the news. It's on Twitter. Facebook. It's right outside your front door.
No, I enjoy gaming way to much to walk away. It's an escape. I don't follow gaming personalities on Twitter. I don't watch Twitch. I don't communicate online unless it's with personal friends. I'm pretty far removed from any of the crap, unless I read about it here.
No, I enjoy gaming way to much to walk away. It's an escape. I don't follow gaming personalities on Twitter. I don't watch Twitch. I don't communicate online unless it's with personal friends. I'm pretty far removed from any of the crap, unless I read about it here.
Fix-It Felix. Jr.
Member
I don't pay attention to negatively charged news articles or site threads, especially if they are of personal basis and don't directly effect me or anyone else. I don't even know what nonsense from a couple years ago you're referring to, honestly. But as long as I keep enjoying playing video games, I'll continue to indulge in the hobby.
We live in an age where everyone has an opinion on everything, and everyone has a platform to announce said opinion to the world. Just swerve the negativity, and focus on what makes you happy.
We live in an age where everyone has an opinion on everything, and everyone has a platform to announce said opinion to the world. Just swerve the negativity, and focus on what makes you happy.
What I haven't noticed, is a rise
Icedburden
Member
So... you're quitting gaming because of events happening that don't directly affect you at all?
If everyone else's ideals and opinions bother you that much, you should reflect on your own life. Seriously, who cares what other people think about something you enjoy?
HelloNewman
Member
I quit playing mmos because of toxic people I pretty much only play fighting games now because there's no chat and everyone I've met in the FGC has been super chill.
zenspider
Member
Quit games, but gaming?
I've stop reading reviews and most news sites as I find review culture (journalists, "journalists", the commentariat, hype cycles, hot takes, backlash, etc.) to be detrimental to my enjoyment of games.
Even at my most dispassionate, I've still found solace in retro games.
I've stop reading reviews and most news sites as I find review culture (journalists, "journalists", the commentariat, hype cycles, hot takes, backlash, etc.) to be detrimental to my enjoyment of games.
Even at my most dispassionate, I've still found solace in retro games.
McMoneyman
Member
I don't blame you for feeling like this OP. I miss the simplier times when gaming wasn't such serious business.
Thebonehead
Banned
There is a pervasive rise in anti-intellectualism across many areas. Gaming is just the latest.
Take a look at the craven, imbecilic comments that are tolerated on other sites such as gamefaqs and n4g.
I wonder if they sustain it for the clicks?
It's worse than it's ever been.
Take a look at the craven, imbecilic comments that are tolerated on other sites such as gamefaqs and n4g.
I wonder if they sustain it for the clicks?
It's worse than it's ever been.
Icedburden
Member
Spot on. It's so unnecessarily dramatic. No matter where you go there's going to be shitheads. Brush em off and keep on truckin'.
Imagine if someone bumps into OP at a grocery store and doesn't say, "excuse me." NOPE, never buying groceries again.
Unaha-Closp
Member
It's like that Bill Hicks bit about watching the TV News and its Death, Bombs, War, Famine, Death, Misery etc and then he looks outside his window and its Birds chirping and the mailman walking past.
So no I don't see me quitting games because there are horrible horrible people who also play games who project their inadequacies online with hate speech and misogyny. I am not seeing it as I hit start on a game. That said I only play single player so I can't talk to what MP gaming is like. I imagine it's a shitshow. But again it wouldn't stop me doing something I enjoy. If you are straight up not enjoying playing games then by all means give it up. I for one am looking forward to Red Dead Redemption 2 something fierce.
So no I don't see me quitting games because there are horrible horrible people who also play games who project their inadequacies online with hate speech and misogyny. I am not seeing it as I hit start on a game. That said I only play single player so I can't talk to what MP gaming is like. I imagine it's a shitshow. But again it wouldn't stop me doing something I enjoy. If you are straight up not enjoying playing games then by all means give it up. I for one am looking forward to Red Dead Redemption 2 something fierce.
FlutterPuffs
Member
Well... no, and I've racked up 2 thousand hours of Dota.
Simply moved on to console multiplayer gaming, where the lack of people with keyboards and headsets makes casual MP gaming fun.
Used to be Overwatch, now Splatoon.
edit: OH, gamergate?
Nope. They aren't the ones developing the games. but I do make it a principle not to buy games from bigoted devs.
Simply moved on to console multiplayer gaming, where the lack of people with keyboards and headsets makes casual MP gaming fun.
Used to be Overwatch, now Splatoon.
edit: OH, gamergate?
Nope. They aren't the ones developing the games. but I do make it a principle not to buy games from bigoted devs.
family_guy
Member
You sure something else isn't going on in your life OP to make you want to do this?
There have been a few online gaming communities... or at least little pockets of them which have been v welcoming and great to play with over the years personally speaking, made many friends and played many hours of RE5 mercs, Blur, Wipeout, Souls etc etc etc
My theory is that people tend towards people who are like them. So if you're positive, not a dick, up for just having some good times with the game then hopefully you'll find a crew of like minded individuals over time. And conversely, if you're a prick then guess what.
Overwatch recently has intrigued me - obv I've read a lot about the community and the negative aspects, and experienced them to a small extent. I may have been very lucky but over time I've grown my friends list with similar-ish mentality players and usually can find someone not inhuman to play with. Any toxicity and we mute, drop from the group if necessary, report and leave. No engagement necessary, they're not worth the time and we're there to play...not bicker. But this has been mercifully rare (in the shit tiers of EU PS4 if you must know).
My theory is that people tend towards people who are like them. So if you're positive, not a dick, up for just having some good times with the game then hopefully you'll find a crew of like minded individuals over time. And conversely, if you're a prick then guess what.
Overwatch recently has intrigued me - obv I've read a lot about the community and the negative aspects, and experienced them to a small extent. I may have been very lucky but over time I've grown my friends list with similar-ish mentality players and usually can find someone not inhuman to play with. Any toxicity and we mute, drop from the group if necessary, report and leave. No engagement necessary, they're not worth the time and we're there to play...not bicker. But this has been mercifully rare (in the shit tiers of EU PS4 if you must know).
eXistor
Member
Do what I do: ignore all the industry bullshit (and there's a lot of it admittedly, this very forum is becoming a scary place) and focus on playing actual games. It's what it's all about anyway: having fun with a hobby. Don't let all this bullshit taint the best hobby in the world.
Shake Appeal
Member
The best thing you can do for gaming is stay involved with it and dilute toxic culture by being a positive, thoughtful presence.
CaptainofIndustry
Member
I understand what you are saying, OP. I was like this a couple of years ago, but what I noticed after some self reflection is that I was spending too much time reading gaming news, browsing gaming forums, listening to gaming podcasts, etc. Everything was about gaming. So, I made sure my free time was spent doing other things like exercising, reading, etc. and I cut back on my gaming media intake. I have more of a surface knowledge when it comes to gaming now instead of knowing every single detail in the gaming industry. I also started to focus more on single player games. My experiences with gaming have been better since making this change.
I have to admit, the OP's post is kind of a head scratcher to me.
For that same reason I never cared about politics related to gaming. I want my hobby to be just for fun. I feel lucky that when there's a " famous person said/did something bad" I'm like who the fuck is this guy. There have been countless times where I almost replied to a thread but the last moment I'm thinking that it isn't worth it ruining my mood over some dude's words on the internet. I probably would have quit as well if I could find something better to do on my free time.
The main reason gaming is becoming so toxic is that people started using their positions (devs,"authors", etc.) to express political views. Go thank those guys.
The main reason gaming is becoming so toxic is that people started using their positions (devs,"authors", etc.) to express political views. Go thank those guys.
Ceadeus
Gold Member
You should try giving up Internet instead.
Truth. I've been into videogames since before people used the term "gamer". There were jackasses in arcades, and there have been jackasses online since minute one.
I never play online, and the only gaming media I engage with is GAF; so aside from an awareness that GG happened, and a kind of weird misogynist terrorist cell coalesced out of the worst elements to harass women who have been critical of aspects of games, I don't view people who play games in a generally negative light.
I'm lucky. If I mostly cared about online play with randoms, I could see myself bailing on games; although I'd have done so long before GG. But your feelings are valid, OP. I'm sorry the dirtbags have killed the fun for you.
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