How do you define toxic culture in VR? What’s the best strategy to address it?

This question is at the heart of what VR Create|Connect is here to address and support humanity in transforming. Toxic for one person may be entertainment or even experienced as cathartic for another. And yet, even something we "enjoy" may ultimately become harmful if we are exposed to it long enough or if we are not diversifying how we get our needs met. 

Answers up to 3/11/21

• Toxic culture in VR is multi-pronged. Some behavior is single minded, or self centered, seeking to gain a response, e.g. greifing/trolling. Toxic attitudes and culture norms that are more chaotic, and hurtful can stymie an otherwise generative culture. Calling out inappropriate behavior and language, and calling in individuals to consider and reflect on the implications are strategies to correct this. Out-group individuals most likely won't have the patience for aligning to these above responses to toxic behaviors, so they may self-select, or self-identify as NOT a part of the culture. The above approach gives access to joining the community through their collective practice.
• Trolling, hate speech. Ignore or block
• Toxic culture is created by bringing negative behavior from our offline lives into our online lives. Education, respect, conflict resolution and modeling good behavior is needed to address it. Providing decent moderation tools to manage user experience is also helpful.
• ​Toxic culture to me is making others feel uncomfortable.
• Men treating women not as equals but as someone they could talk down to and control. People being treated differently because of the color skin of their avatar.
• ​It seems to generally stem from a sense of disconnection or wanting attention. I expect inclusion, positive engagement and giving people a sense of belonging and purpose would address it, but not sure how to go about that with the usual starting point (i.e. 12 year old dressed as a tank screaming nazi slogans).
• Misogyny. That’s a cultural thing that extends beyond VR it just happens to get amplified in VR. The best way to address it is by teaching men and [boys] how not to behave
  
• I haven't experienced anything beyond the occasional profanities spewed so cant offer a first-hand experience but I would think I would address it by blocking and reporting the offender.
  
• I have not really seen this, I’ve heard of it, but having not encountered this first hand I’m not sure. If someone was being toxic to me in VR, I would block them — and if they aren’t banned by admins, eventually they won’t have anyone left to talk to if everyone blocks them....
  
• I define it as any behavior that makes people on the outside feel attacked or uncomfortable, or want to leave. Right now I mostly address it by using male/non-gendered avatars, blocking when needed, turning on features like a safety bubble which hides people if they get too close, and leaving and trying again later if I'm uncomfortable..
  
• ​I think being proactive as well as reactive in identifying toxicity is important. Being able to block individuals is helpful and also letting people who may not be comfortable in groups in VR, have a way to enjoy the experiences in solitude.