Quote:
"harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful"
This is part of the TOS you quoted. Notice how vague the way these terms are used are? This is done so that when soe disciplines someone or cancels their account they have a signed contract that is vague.
You think that threatening to gang rape someone (whether or not they could carry out the threat is irrelevent) does not fall under this category? That it could be considered "vague?"
Are you that self centered that only you matter?
I guess I shouldn't ask that, I may not like the answer, in most cases.
The only reason, I can imagine, you could suggest this falls under "freedom of speech" is because, on the net, you can do it with little chance of any come back on you and, afaik, there has been no legal precedant of anyone being charged with this sort of behavior online, yet.
If you did it in the real world, well...Just try it and see what happens. Make up some sick little gang rape rant and offer it verbally to a woman or send it via mail or email it...See what happens. There are laws against threatening behavior, especially if it includes sexual violence. Fancy putting them to the test?
We are not talking about someone's freedom to have a point of view and express it, we are talking about abusive behaviour that has no place in this game or the real world and for which there are rules and laws in both.
What is deemed Hateful and abusive is not up to the victim it is up to the CSR's to decide. In the real world it would be down to a Jury. It's not a case of "I was offended because he used the word Hell and I'm a Christian" or he called me a "moron" and so the accused is suspended or banned. Crying "CSR!" does not make you right and nothing is done without review, in this case if it was witnessed by the CSR I imagine he would have suspended them on the spot but I doubt he could ban them there an then.
I dispair that I have to share this game with people that can't see that rules apply to everyone, not just those who want to follow them.
What, you people think it's "cool" to consider yourself above all these rules because you're so "anti-establishment" or something?
Because it's a game you can do what you want "no one really gets hurt" perhaps we should apply that to all games.
Making more than one forward pass in (US) Football.
Picking the ball up and running it into goal in Soccer.
Kicking the living sh*t out of your opponent in Aussie Rules...wait that one might be in there.
That would make them all so much more fun, wouldn't it?
Maybe we should just apply it to life in general, I should be allowed to say what I like to whoever I want, with no repercussions...Wait, why stop with talking? I pay my taxes I should be able to do what I want, f*ck everyone else.
If they made a game where everyone could do or say what they like, call themselves anything. Grief anyone they wanted any amount of times. Total freedom of speech and action for all. Do you think people would play it? Not many and not for very long.
Why? Because there wouldn't be enough people there that are playing by the rules for griefers to abuse. That's all your freedom of speech rant boils down to
here freedom for antisocial behavior.
Before anyone comes back with the "you take it too seriously, it's just a game"
My retort to that is, yes I take my amusement seriously. I choose to play a game that has rules that I and most other people follow. If someone wants to ruin my enjoyment then I will take it just as seriously and follow whatever actions I can to make sure they don't/can't do it again.
This not about being called a noob or a moron or someone saying Hell. It's not about someone taking out your vehicle in PvP or being killed while overt and dancing in the cantina. It's not about meeting someone called "Flashya MeGash" or having someone attempt to train you with mobs, all of these things can sour a moment but only a moment and are easily moved on from, IMO.
Saying it's not real life will never justify threats of sexual violence, whether made against a character or a player and freedom of speech is not arguement to justify any amount of abuse.
For all your comments that I so vehemently disagree with, Varrus, I do agree that people need to do something about this themselves, as and when it happens. All that has resulted in this thread is we have agreed and disagreed about whether or not their actions are excusable. From the other posts added all that has happened is (seemingly decent)people have left the game and the people that caused all the grief are still playing, unhindered by CSR or player reputation. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll do this to a player that'll "bite" back. I don't mean mouth off back I mean /report CTRL-H for CS ticket and then /addignore <idiot's name>
After writing that last paragraph I am now wondering what the point of me posting this is. It's not going to do anything to the players who decided threatening sexual violence was fun. It's not going to bring back the players that left and it's unlikely to change anyone's point of view on this subject.
But, WTF, I have been typing this (on and off) all morning I might as well hit "post message" now.