Addressing Negativity in chat

 Addressing Negativity in chat

In a previous post about viewer engagement titled "Why are people watching?" we dived into the diverse reasons motivating people to tune into your stream. Over time, as your streaming journey unfolds, you're bound to encounter a variety of viewers who introduce challenges to your stream. While some may unintentionally misunderstand your community rules, others might purposefully disrupt the good atmosphere for others. As previously explored and in similar instances, we have emphasized the potential for transforming disruptive individuals into constructive community members through patience and empathy. It's essential to maintain a holistic perspective – the ultimate goal isn't always the immediate removal of minor disruptions but ensuring an enjoyable experience for all viewers of your streams.

In this article, we will go through practical approaches to prevent negative viewers from exerting control over your content. These insights are pertinent not only to streamers but also to moderators in larger channels. For those embarking on their streaming journey without the support of moderators, these principles become especially relevant. Keep them in mind to navigate challenging scenarios that may arise along the way.

Preventing Escalation and nurturing positivity

The cardinal rule when confronting negativity is one that many streamers inadvertently disregard: refrain from engaging in arguments on your stream regarding the legitimacy of any content. If you have a rule in place, it stands as a rule. Your responsibility lies in directing individuals to where they can locate your established rules and subsequently enforcing them. Your role isn't to educate them on ethical standards but to remind them of your channel's rules. Following this, the onus rests on the viewer in question: they must either adhere to your rules or face removal. Entangling yourself in a chat argument will inevitably draw other participants into the fray. Regardless, this snowball effect takes a toll regardless of whether other chatters aim to support or undermine you, as it prolongs the subject's importance.

Even if you eventually decide to eliminate the disruptive chatter from your stream, the challenge persists. The snowball continues to roll, demanding vigilance to ensure the suppressed topic doesn't resurface. A chat member might attempt to lighten the mood by making a joke related to the topic, another might comment on the newfound tranquility in chat since the individual’s removal or a third might voice frustration over stream disruptions. While well-intentioned, these interactions inadvertently resurrect the negative subject, perpetuating the discourse even after its resolution. Prevent this shadow from looming over your stream by seamlessly shifting the focus, abstaining from discussing the problematic incident, and if necessary, deleting comments. The mere absence of the individual responsible for initiating the "snowball" doesn't guarantee its discontinuance. Proactive intervention is imperative to halt its growth.

Dealing with blatant misconduct

In some cases, comments are not just misguided but deliberately offensive, with the chatter being fully aware of their actions and inappropriateness. Whether these remarks are racially insensitive, sexist, homophobic, excessively graphic, or fall far outside the boundaries of common decency, addressing such individuals goes well beyond rule enforcement – it necessitates silencing.

When faced with this scenario, employ a tactic I call "isolation protocol" This method involves swiftly deleting the offensive comment and immediately banning the user, all while continuing the ongoing dialogue. By doing so, you ensure that the individual seeking to disrupt your stream not only loses their platform but also witnesses your unwavering composure. It's particularly irritating to them that their attempts to unsettle you have failed.

Spontaneous outbursts of highly inappropriate comments in the midst of a stream often uncover an underlying wish of gratification in stirring up and watching the commotion within the chat, while also harboring a curiosity to measure their influence on the streamer. Since your face is in view on-screen, their attention hones in on provoking reactions from you. Becoming adept at employing the "Isolation Protocol" may present a challenge, yet the satisfaction that comes from skillfully implementing it stems from the realization that neither your chat community nor your own serenity has been disturbed by their behavior.

However, deploying this response warrants careful consideration. As I mentioned earlier, this strategy should be reserved as a last resort, meant for individuals who are beyond redemption. I advise implementing this only with users who are entirely new and whose continued presence you'd prefer to avoid and eliminate. When faced with the necessity of an "Isolation Protocol," take a moment after your stream to reflect on your channel's setup. Can you alter its structure to prevent such incidents in the future? In the previous entry titled "Establishing boundaries for your stream," we outlined techniques for creating commands and automated features to proactively forestall the use of hateful language and phrases in your chat.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the responsibility of stopping negativity rests with you. This responsibility encompasses not only what you say but, more importantly, your deliberate silences. Everything uttered during the stream and within the chat realm becomes potential material for conversation and will forever exist online. If your aim is to prevent a specific topic from spreading, refrain from discussing it entirely. Should an established rule be broken, kindly redirect the individual to that rule. In cases that surpass the effectiveness of your rules, swiftly eliminate the issue without granting undue attention to the person or their comment. By embracing these principles, you can effectively silence the majority of negative speech in the chat realm with minimal disturbance.