I fully expect this to be met with some hostility, I am posting this because I am tired of being quickly dismissed or even outright silenced whenever I try to discuss this topic, I do not doubt that I myself have said, and done rude things, during my time here. Even so I believe that I still deserve be heard, just this once.

What I am here to discuss is in no way specific only to Toribash, nor is it unusual in online communities, but this should not excuse it from criticism. Many behaviors that we now consider cruel were once considered acceptable, and it isn't right to suggest that because something is a certain way, that's the only way it can be. My claim is that Toribash, like many other games, has a serious problem with lack of respect, and before you assume I'm some soft liberal pansy who wants everything to be a safespace, I am not here to suggest that certain types of humor or discussion should not be allowed, simply because they are offensive by their very nature.

What I am here to discuss is the intent behind messages, I think there is an important distinction to be made between making a comment directed at no one in particular, and making a comment directed at an individual. What I claim has happened, is that the use of ironically offensive humor and speech has inspired people to actually directly insult others and harass them. I have no issue with the idea that we should be allowed to say things online that we would be persecuted for saying in the real world, but I'm not here to discuss what we say, I'm here to discuss how we treat other people.
It has become far too acceptable to treat people disrespectfully online, and justify it by calling it a 'meme' or a 'joke' or otherwise suggesting that they shouldn't take it seriously, even when in reality the comment made WAS intended to be an insult. And I will not deny that I can see how trolling someone can be humorous, but I don't think that it is any better than a malicious prank, It is only funny to the person doing the prank, and someone else suffers because of it. I also claim that certain online communities are the only place where it has become socially acceptable to treat someone disrespectfully, and have the blame placed on the victim instead of yourself.

The most common responses to the victim are usually something along the lines of get over it/grow thicker skin, or that they should "just leave then", when in any other circumstance it would be the opposite response, it would be the perpetrator that would be asked to leave and not the victim. For whatever reason everyone has decided that it is more important that they maintain this hostile environment to protect their right to free speech online, than to promote a more civil and welcoming environment, however restricting what words people can use is not what I am concerned with. In my own personal experience whenever I have attempted to discuss this, I have been met with extreme hostility, and told that I was somehow deserving of the hate, because I myself am 'toxic', despite the fact that no one has ever been able to tell me what it is I have done to deserve such hatred.

It seems as if my very existence is reason enough to treat me poorly. Maybe it really is that I am so insufferable, but even so it's still in poor character. I honestly think that we can do better as a community, as small as this community is we need to get along if we want it to survive. And the way it is right now is honestly very disappointing. You can either dismiss this or discuss it with me, it doesn't really matter much to me now. I just needed to say this.