Thoughts On Unwritten Twitch Rules

Thoughts on Unwritten Twitch Rules
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A few were posted recently on Twitch.  Here are my thoughts on what the image said; feel free to comment on this on Twitter or wherever else.

#1: Never say you're going to stream, or are currently streaming, in another broadcaster's channel.

I disagree with this unwritten rule under the following circumstances:
> If you're leaving to stream yourself and it isn't the same game, especially if you stream on a schedule or had some other pre-planned event you *need* to go do.  (However, I'd absolutely tell people not to say to go watch you instead of the streamer whose chat you're in; that's very, very rude.)  Personally, I think "It's time for me to go stream" is fine, as long as you aren't making an effort to steal viewers.
> If you're planning to play the SAME game as the streamer, then it becomes more acceptable to say so at the END of that person's stream, IF they aren't going to host someone playing the same game.  Depending on circumstance, this can be rude.  (However, it remains rude to ask them to host you; see my own rules below.)

#2: Never tell a streamer that they should switch games.

Agree with #2 wholeheartedly.  You don't tell a streamer what to play.  It's their channel, you don't tell them what to do.  You don't like it?  Go watch someone else.  I tell the occasional unhappy viewer this all the time.

#3: Don't put casters in competition with each other; other casters are our co-workers and friends.  (Don't say things like "[person] plays this game better", "[person] has better emotes", or "[person] gets more viewers/has more followers".)

I'd say #3 is mostly correct.  You generally should not bring up the matter of streamer vs. another streamer in any sort of competitive light.  If you want to talk numbers, it's better to talk about the streamer's general popularity, by themselves, than it is to directly compare them to another streamer's numbers, which, depending on the comparison, can be outright unfair.  There are streams where comparing numbers in a friendly, objective light is okay, as some streamers are humble, but it can be a touchy subject for many, or something they just don't like to bring up, so it's generally better to refrain from such talk unless the broadcaster brings it up themselves (showing that they clearly want to talk about it).

#4: If you see another broadcaster in someone's channel, refrain from saying things like "hey when are yous streaming."

The sentiment behind #4 is correct; you shouldn't pester streamers about when they're going to stream, especially if they use Twitter or other public social media regularly to say things about when they're planning to stream.  They're here to be a viewer right now, same as you - they just want to have fun watching the same person you are.  Most broadcasters who stream with any kind of regularity will generally keep their fanbase updated on some manner of social media (Twitter, Discord, and Facebook tend to be popular), so as long as you're following them on applicable social media (as you should be if you enjoy their content), there should not be a need to ask.

Skybilz added one:

#5: Don't make a big production of leaving someone's stream.

I agree with this.  If you gotta bounce, and people have been talking to you, sure, say you're headin' out (as in, on a base level), that you have other things to do that need attended to.  But don't make a huge deal of it, ESPECIALLY if you're leaving to watch someone else - that's rude.  "Hey, I'm gonna go watch [other streamer]" is never friendly to the person you were watching - it's seriously better to just leave people hanging than to announce to the streamer that you found someone better to watch.

I'll add some of my own though:

#6: Don't ask broadcasters to host or raid you.

This is REALLY rude.  Who to host or raid is the broadcaster's choice, not yours; it's part of how they choose to end their stream.  Also, even if you were to get them to do it, it'd mean nothing.  Hosts and raids only really mean something when you DIDN'T ask for them; it's an empty, meaningless "victory" if you request one and get it.

#7: Don't ask people in their chat to follow you, or outright promote your own stream in theirs.  Do not EVER outright ask them to come watch your stream while the other person is streaming.

This is also extremely rude, as well as unnecessary.  You're waltzing in and asking people who've never watched your stream, don't know your content, don't know if they even LIKE you, to come follow you or watch your stream?  Also, asking their chat to come watch your stream is LITERALLY ATTEMPTING TO STEAL THEIR VIEWERS, and is considered HIGHLY rude; this will often cause you to be kicked or banned from peoples' chats.

The thing is, you have no need for a follower base if you don't stream, and moreover, if you do stream, and use your game designation correctly, people will find you on their own through the game directory (or if you speedrun, you'll show up on SRL's front page) - you simply don't need to have existing followers in order to start streaming.

#8: Don't ask to be a mod.

This is pompous.  You waltz in and ask for the ability to kick and ban people when the broadcaster doesn't even KNOW you?  People like this tend to get kicked from the channels of those I know.

#9: As a broadcaster, do not call out your lurkers.  In any way, shape, or form.  DON'T DO IT.

I feel this is pretty absolute.

Lurkers don't want to be spoken to, and will break their silence by themselves if and when they become ready.  Lurker mentality is that they want to watch, but don't want to feel they have to stick around; they want to be able to feel free to leave whenever they like.  It's something like personal space in real life.  So if, for example, as a broadcaster, you welcome new chatters verbally or have a bot that does it for you, even though you're just trying to be friendly, what you're *actually* doing is making them uncomfortable, and making them feel that now they have to stay and converse with you.  To them, "hello [person], welcome to the stream!" sounds like "HA!  I FOUND YOU!  Now you have to stay!", no matter how friendly you are.  It's like hide-and-seek, and you're announcing you can see them, which puts them on the spot; it's uncomfortable.

This goes whether you've seen or spoken to them before or not (even if they've talked on your stream before, maybe today they're at work, in bed, not feeling well, whatever, and just can't / don't feel like talking today), and regardless of their popularity level (even if you get a super-popular broadcaster as a viewer, you still shouldn't call them out - their lurker mentality works the same as anyone else's, and they're trying to decide if they'll stick around; in fact, it becomes MORE important to respect their space, as you're showing said popular streamer how you treat your lurkers, which affects your PR).

Your lurkers are important; most of the chat population of *any* size channel is lurkers.  Some will break their silence and be okay with conversing once they decide they enjoy your content and follow you, others may never talk at all, but regardless, you don't want to scare your lurkers off by forcing them out of hiding.  Respect their right not to talk to you, and they'll stay comfortable - which means they'll end up just plain staying.