Anybody else notice how the definition of “throwing” has been shifting? I’ve been seeing on these forums and in-game people are not using the term correctly.
There is an actual definition for the word if you were to google it.
Throw
informal
lose (a race or contest) intentionally, especially in return for a bribe.
Someone simply playing poorly or not making optimized choices is by definition not throwing so long as it isn’t done with the intention of losing. You have to be intentionally attempting to lose the match to be throwing the game. Even if you did everything wrong you still can’t be throwing as long as you play with the intent of winning.
Based on how people are using it I assume that the new definition of the term would look something like this:
Throw
informal
knowingly decreasing one’s chances of success
If we were to begin defining the term like this then a whole lot of stuff is suddenly considered throwing. Anything from picking a non-meta character to listening to music while you play can be called a throw if the subject does so knowing that it could decrease their chances of success.
What do you guys think about this?
Which definition is a better way to use the word?
The proper definition is the way it should be used, imo. I’ve noticed this too, though. Refusing to switch? Rude, but not throwing. Trying to win with DPS Moira? Dumb, but not throwing.
Thats why they literally tell you on the report screen before you hit confirm that throwing isn’t playing bad or making the wrong hero pick, it’s doing stuff like intentionally feeding or setting up tele near ledge
This is one of the problems with the “official” definition. It’s impossible to certainly know what another person’s intentions are.
What might appear as an obvious attempt to fail could just be exceptionally bad play. There’s no way to prove otherwise without the spoken word of that person.
Basically this tbh. If you play a healer it’s expected that you heal people. If you just do pure dps and not heal anyone then just know that my report button is ready
Throwing yourself off the map. Feeding, being inactive etc is all reportable. We can’t know their intentions, there is a flaw with what youre stating. Someone throwing themselves off the map could say “i’m not throwing though” and with your logic it would not be reportable.
As long as the person tries, obviously, sabotage the game or throw by doing something that gives the team a less chance of winning; is in fact reportable.
Don’t forgot to add Torbs who sit in spawn hammering their turret all game to that list lol. (I know it’s inactivity as well btw. Just salty i had this happen to me in a couple games XD)
I’m not trying to make the argument that one way of using the term is better than the other.
I think they’re both flawed in some way. I just want to see what people think about the way the word is changing. It’ll end up preventing a lot of misunderstanding in the future if we can agree and understand what is and isn’t throwing now.
Would you consider someone putting the team at a minor disadvantage throwing?
For example: One of your teammates spends a few extra seconds in spawn to type a message to someone on the enemy team. They’re playing a slow hero that takes longer to get to the objective. They take about 3-5 extra seconds to leave spawn every time.
Is this throwing?
Is it throwing if they were playing a very fast hero like tracer?
I think I’m starting to understand, but there are two more questions I’d like to ask.
Does it matter if the person throwing knows better?
(Is it not throwing if a new player makes sub-optimal decisions because they don’t know how to play?)
Assuming the answer to the previous question is “Yes”-
How do you assume that someone does or doesn’t know better?
(Would you use rank, hours, hero experience, or something else?)
