Hey all,
As many of you know gathers are a big part of OB and being part of them is among one of the easiest ways to play with and integrate with players from the community. It allows for us to play CS:GO in its competitive mode without the same competitive pressures you get from playing matchmaking or ladders. This means gathers can potentially have a variety of abilities, personalities and levels of seriousness within them.
We are aware that people enjoy gathers in different ways and so to an extent people should be allowed to play how they want. However it has come to our attention that recently behaviour in gathers, both in gameplay and attitude, has become unacceptable. From flat out mindless team killing to continually harassing individuals to getting excessively angry over extremely petty in-game events; the list can go on from the number of things which add up to make a large portion of gathers toxic as of late. Due to this we will be enforcing the poor behaviour which has become the norm from now on, this isn't done with the intention of 'safe spacing' and ruining fun but to prevent more gathers taking place where people are intentionally ruining other people's fun, finding it acceptable and in some cases boasting about it when they spark a reaction out of someone.
The first, and most significant point, is about the extents of 'baiting' in gathers. Baiting and mocking among friends is something which has always been part of OB and having a laugh is not something we want to stop but recently, especially in gathers, 'baiting' and 'joking' has become a disguise for what is frankly flat out harassment and toxic treatment towards individuals. It becomes worse in gathers because everyone groups up on individuals and makes them feel awful; that isn't having a joke or mocking someone, that is bullying. This sort of continuous beratement of people which leads onto more personal jibes has been getting out of hand and has been completely ruining the atmosphere of what could be enjoyable, pleasant games. Do not be surprised if a mod warns you and ends up banning you, not only from gathers but from OB full stop, if you are found being toxic.
Next is about gameplay and the line between trolling and having fun. People enjoy the game in different ways and enjoy playing with different weapons, however purposely ignoring team mates and stubbornly acting for your own gain when a team mate has asked you to do something is just as much toxic behaviour as the way they might be reacting to it (which I'll get to in a moment). These cases are situational but you know when you are trolling and it is obvious to others when you are intentionally doing something in-game to annoy others. Extreme cases such as intentional constant team killing just won't be tolerated full stop, it ruins the game for everyone.
Finally, the levels of competitiveness and seriousness of players in gathers can be a large cause for issue. Being competitive is absolutely fine and so is wanting to win, but allowing this drive to make you angry and take it out on the people you are playing with is both petty and unnecessary. Treating people as if they are inferior to you as a person because they don't do what you want in a game is simply pathetic. Even if they are provoking you with the way they act, resorting to toxicity will never help the situation and will only make it harder for us to believe you and deal with the people infuriating you in the first place.
To summarise; behaviour causing gathers to become toxic is going to be enforced upon. This is a last warning for everyone. A list of rules will be put into the gather gallery channels in due course. Sorry it is has had to come to a set structure of rules but hopefully this will lead to an improvement in the atmosphere and attitude in gathers.
The OB Staff
Hey Four20,
Congratulations, you've been placed on a one week trial. Message an admin to be invited to the trial group. We encourage the usual activity on our platforms.
Good luck,
The OB Staff
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