Bullying in Dota: what you can do and how to help a teammate
Losing a match feels bad. So does making a mistake. Neither gives anyone the right to humiliate another person. I want us to hold that line together.
Ruslan · OOPS DOTA author
Original OOPS DOTA AI illustration
Discuss the action without putting the person down
“Let’s back off” helps someone make a decision. An insult about gender, voice, age or background explains nothing. Threats, harassment and sharing personal information are violations, not a required part of learning. Steam’s rules also prohibit this behaviour.
Mute, report, limit contact
Muting in Dota removes the unpleasant channel. An in-game report flags behaviour in a match. Blocking on Steam limits contact through Steam’s tools. These are different actions: blocking doesn’t promise you won’t end up in the same match, and a report doesn’t guarantee immediate punishment. Report what actually happened.
Dota is for everyone and welcomes everyone.
Ruslan · OOPS DOTA author
That’s my view as the author. We still follow Steam’s age requirements and the rules in your country.
The person being targeted doesn’t have to win the argument
You can end the conversation and turn to someone you trust. A minor should tell a trusted adult. If there are threats of real harm or personal information is exposed, save the context so you can ask for help. Bullying back and trying to track the person down yourself won’t solve the problem.
Advice about an action
Let’s back off and wait for the team.
Personal attack
You shouldn’t be allowed to play because of your gender.
If someone else is being bullied, don’t join in
Don’t add laughter or more insults. If it fits the situation, say, “Let’s talk about the game without putting anyone down.” Offer help without pressure and make a truthful report if you saw a violation. I’m against bullying, sexism and racism. At OOPS DOTA, you can ask questions, make mistakes and gradually get better at the game.
Don’t encourage it
Don’t turn someone else’s pain into entertainment.
Help
Ask whether they want support. Don’t push.
Report
Report a real violation, without organising mass revenge reports.
Quick answers to common questions
If someone played badly, is that already griefing?
A mistake and poor stats don’t prove an intentional violation. You need context to draw conclusions; don’t make random accusations.
Does OOPS DOTA handle in-game reports?
No. Reports go through Valve’s and Steam’s tools. Here, I explain the actions you can take and my own stance.