Don't Let Trolls Wreck Your Gaming
Online gaming is meant to be fun, exciting, competitive, and social. However, trolls can quickly drain the enjoyment if you don't know how to deal with them. They might aim to provoke teammates, sabotage matches, or spam chats. Whatever they're up to, these trolls thrive on attention and want to get a reaction out of you. Here are 20 ways to deal with trolls during online play.
1. Don't Feed the Troll
All trolls want is a reaction, so don't give it to them. When you respond with anger, insults, or sarcasm, you're giving them what they want. Ignore their comments, and you remove their incentive to keep trolling. It can be difficult to stay silent, but it's the most effective way to shut down a troll.
2. Use the Mute Function
Don't be shy about using the mute function early and often. The moment someone tries to disrupt your game, you should mute them to prevent further distractions. This allows you to stay focused on your game and not allow for emotional interference.
3. Report When Appropriate
Reporting is an option to help maintain fair and respectful gaming environments and situations. If a troll is harassing players or intentionally sabotaging a match, use the report feature. This is about accountability, not revenge.
4. Focus on the Objective
The best defense against a troll is to focus on the game and stay locked into your objective. Keep your attention on winning rounds, completing missions, or beating an opponent. It's a simple way to force a troll to fade into the background.
5. Keep Your Responses Neutral
If you choose to respond, keep it brief, neutral, and respectful. Try to redirect the conversation and attention back to the game. Calm responses deny trolls the payoff they seek. Most importantly, don't be sarcastic and don't waste your time belittling them.
6. Play With Friends When Possible
One way to not run into a troll is to mostly play with your friends. A trusted group provides the support you need and can elbow out any disruptions or distractions.
7. Don't Take Anything Personally
Most trolls aren't targeting you as an individual. They're most likely reacting to boredom, frustration, or are looking for attention. Keep reminding yourself of this to maintain your sense of self-worth and not be affected by their behavior.
8. Avoid Public Arguments
Public arguments quickly escalate and interfere with team focus. Trolls want nothing more than to create chaos and conflicts for an audience. Engaging publicly will only make the disruption more pronounced. If you have to address an issue, do so quickly and privately.
9. Lead by Example
Positive behavior is the best way to influence the tone of a gaming session. Be respectful and encouraging to set a standard that others can adhere to.
10. Use Humor Carefully
Light humor not directed at anyone specific can add to the vibe or even defuse tension. The key is to use it cautiously and never joke at anyone else's expense.
11. Stick to Game-Related Communication
Keep all communication dedicated to strategy and objectives about the game to ensure a troll doesn't have the chance to disrupt the gaming. Trolls are known to exploit casual chatter to derail the entire experience.
12. Adjust Chat Settings
Many games let players customize the chat settings. This means that you can limit messaging, disable all-chat, or filter language. Adjust these settings as you see fit, and to get ahead of a troll. These tools exist to improve your experience and restrict players with hidden agendas.
13. Take Breaks Between Matches
If you are encountering trolls repeatedly, it's best to step away from the game to give your mind a quick reset. Even a few minutes away from the monitor can reduce your stress and frustration. This way, you can return to the game with clear eyes and your patience restored.
14. Remember Why You Game
By remembering why you play video games, you can keep the actions of trolls in perspective. Whether you play for fun, relaxation, challenge, or social connection, you should keep it at the forefront of your mind to dismiss the negativity of a troll.
Gabriel Dias Pimenta on Unsplash
15. Don't Retaliate
Retaliating will only escalate a troll's behavior and cause you more frustration. Even if you're justified, responding can lead to more arguing and fighting, and you risk getting muted by other players. Stay calm at all times to protect your account and reputation, and try to get the most out of the session.
16. Be Supportive
If a troll sets their sights on another player, offering that player some support can make a world of difference. A simple "ignore them" can be helpful and persuasive.
17. Recognize Bait
Trolls are predictable. They typically use a rotation of provocation, exaggeration, blame-shifting, or spamming to get what they want. Recognize these patterns and act as soon as you spot them. By learning how to recognize bait, you can choose not to react.
18. Improve Your Own Game Confidence
Showing confidence can make you less vulnerable to trolling. When you play confidently, trolls lose their power and know that their insults won't impact you.
19. Use Block Features
Blocking trolls who keep popping up prevents future interactions from occurring. Many platforms let you block a user across matches, reducing the likelihood that you'll run into them.
20. Accept That Trolls Will Always Exist
No online game will ever be totally free of trolls. Accept this and keep strategies handy for when you run into one. Just because you accept the presence of trolls doesn't mean you approve of the behavior.
