Toxicity Guidelines

[Unpoke]

Staff Against Toxicity

As a staff member, how are you able to deal with toxicity? It's a subjective matter that tends to be common on the internet, so what draws the line between trolling and actual harm? How do you punish it in a fair-seeming way and when's the appropriate time to do so?
I'm cutting down to three subjects to deal with these events:

1.) Toxicity in Reports
2.) Direct Toxicity
3.) Indirect Toxicity

These three areas can only be enforced within an official Garry's Mod FRG server.

1.) Toxicity in Reports

Toxicity in Reports

As you know, we have a direct rule against this form of toxicity:
» No Toxicity in RDM Reports.
Being toxic in a RDM report (insulting the other player, or anything like that), will usually end up in the report being closed, or ruled in favor of the other party. If both parties are toxic, both may be punished. (via slays, kicks, or bans)

This absolutely must be enforced. Even if the victim is justified in their rage, whether it be a clear RDM or a t-buddy killed him or whatever the case, talking to people in a malicious way can not be tolerated.

A first offense should be a clear verbal warning, a second offense should void the report, a third offense should slay the perpetrator, and a fourth leads to an official toxicity warning*. If it continues, contact an administrator..

Administrative Task

As an administrator, it's your duty to find the cause of the dispute and diffuse it. A verbal administrative warning** should suffice. If it continues past that, they will be banned for a week as well as given another toxicity warning*.

**Administrative warnings come after the three-step regular warning process if you are the one giving it. It helps to clarify that it is now an administrative warning.

2.)Direct Toxicity

Direct Toxicity

Direct toxicity is the most commonly seen type of toxicity and comes in many forms: Harassment, arguing, peeving and general malicious targeting (i.e following a player around after a dispute). There will be disputes among players throughout the course of the game - that's simply what comes with a game of lying and deception, and that's okay to do. What's not okay is when players escalate the argument to where it becomes personal.
You are picked as staff because your judgement is trusted; use that judgement to determine what's malicious.

On first offense, a verbal warning should be given. Depending on the situation, the next warning should either be another verbal warning or a round-long mute/gag. Nobody likes not being able to talk, so that should get their attention. After that, you're free to kick them and give them a toxicity warning*. If the dispute continues, contact an administrator.

Administrative Task

As an administrator, it's your duty to find the cause of the dispute and diffuse it. A verbal administrative warning** should suffice. If it continues past that, they will be banned for a week as well as given another toxicity warning*.

**Administrative warnings come after the three-step regular warning process if you are the one giving it. It helps to clarify that it is now an administrative warning.

3.) Indirect Toxicity

Indirect Toxicity

Talking maliciously behind people's back on the servers is just as bad as saying it while they're on. Any shit talking players should not be tolerated. It's okay to have opinions of someone, but keep it in your brain or your privacy.

On first offense, a warning should be given. The next warning should be a round-long mute/gag. Nobody likes not being able to talk, so that should get their attention. After that, you're free to kick them and give them a toxicity warning*. If the dispute continues, contact an administrator.

Administrative Task

As an administrator, it's your duty to find the cause of the dispute and diffuse it. A verbal administrative warning** should suffice. If it continues past that, they will be banned for a week as well as given another toxicity warning*.

**Administrative warnings come after the three-step regular warning process if you are the one giving it. It helps to clarify that it is now an administrative warning.

Warning System:

• All regular warnings should stay in effect for 1 week.
• Administrative warnings are to be kept for 2 weeks and count as a regular warning during that time. Try to keep track of those and communicate them if possible.
• Toxicity warnings should be logged in the Problematic Players thread. They will last 1 month. Please mark them - communication is the key to success.
• Toxicity warning bans are permanently on a players record. 3 Toxicity warnings will result in a 2 month ban and a demotion/removal of rank. 2 toxicity warning bans will result in a permanent ban.
  

This is being posted publicly to hopefully tell you what NOT to do and to go into depth of what is considered toxicity.