Good News / Bad News (A Friendly Warning)

this one caught my eye

But is this a bannable offence?

With the chat filter around and the ability to close chat channels as well as an ignore list (little too short imo), it sure feels like some people are looking to get offended.

Most of the names that other consider offensive, I consider funny. Names like Bigass Bumcheeks (as someone posted earlier) or Hey Nice Rits or Show Me Your Hoohoo or U Farrghin Iceholes or Poopstain Ma Gain, etc.

You have options. You don't have to be around anything you find offensive.

Moreover, I would consider a name like Hitler Is My Idol to be more offensive than any of the above but it's not going to get touched by the ban stick.

I hope the banning is kept to only constant harrassment type stuff.

Also, can someone verify something for me: Is there less chance of a ban if you type out a swear word as it really is? Or is it worse to type it so it bypasses the chat filter, like "Fukkk this shiitt"?

According to their user agreement, its "inappropriate language and attempts to bypass the chat filter". No difference I suppose?

Also; my ignore list is usually full by the end of each day and I have to clear it by the next because of more idiots.

m3h...

I wonder how ANet will be able to tell what swearing is malicious and what is just silliness. I swore plenty of times in regards to the Mad King but never towards any players. I wanted to. People kept clicking him and I didn't want to wait an hour for my hat.

Anyways...I enjoyed the events tremendously and look forward to Christmas and maybe another Dragon Fest. I suspect that there will be an Elonian event this year. Lightbringerpalooza or something like that.

Thanks for the event it was lots of fun!

i bet there still a person with the name... "Hot S3x" out there somewhere and isn't banned yet.

Considering that you cant put numbers in your name, I think not.

The most offensive thing I saw at the celebration in Lion’s Arch was the Mad King’s heightism. Really hilarious to make fun of the vertically challenged. Maybe next year he can pick on Horace and the other mentally handicapped patients at the Sardelac Sanitarium.

For those whose detectors are either broken or set at the wrong sensitivity, that was sarcasm. Though, I find ANET’s stance on bad language in a game based on violence rather amusing. The sword is good, the text is evil.

For those talking about people being surprised to find out ANET can read their messages, when are people going to learn that nothing on the internets is private? The tubes have ears.

On a note about the chat filter, while it was there to try and preserve tasteful language, it doesn't protect against everything. The same way the trade filter doesnt protect against "W T S" in public channel. I see alot of people upset they can't speak how they want in the game, and explain that the game is rated "T" for Teen, but you must keep in mind that while you might be talking to someone and they are OK with that kind of language, the fact of the matter, is that public chat is...Well, PUBLIC. A person talking to a friend near the pumkin king can be "read" from a player talking to an NPC around the corner who isn't even participating in that conversation, and they might not want to see that kind of junk on their screen. If you are directly wanting to speak with someone in a manner that is less than tasteful maybe you should form a group or simply whisper. It is not hard and relieves others of having to read the garbage that plagues our public channels today.

It is out of respect for others than we gain respect for ourselves.

Keep that in mind.

~Tim

While I agree with the 'inappropraite behavior' blockages, I think foul language should be handled by the filter and not a bannage issue. Sorry if some had a bad experience in what was overall a fun event.

thats hot. XP

these stuff I've seen should be a permanent ban !!


I've been reading stuff this week that is just disgusting to read, I got to say (I know not many like to hear this) but european servers were alot nicer, alot friendlier, but almost ALL american servers I've been on, omg... ppl saying stuff about the Holocaust,... bah ...

I am just disgusted, what do they teach you guys there? (I rly don't want to generalise, I've got many american friends, but I am just in disbelief)

Maybe this is because I am from belgium and I rly know what happend in that time, but this wasn't 1 guy.

I just hope Anet takes drastic actions and not only ban them from this event, but give them something that rly hurts and give them a permanent ban with a clear message what they said.

I just couldn't believe my eyes.

Is this what halloween is about?

I'm glad that there is going to be more of a crackdown on the jerks. I have my local chat off unless I go to the guild hall. The teens are embarrassing and disgusting and I consider myself pretty open minded.

I have no problems with cussing. But more times than not, foul language is often accompanied by bad behaviour. So it's not really the foul language people have problems with, it's the harrassment and behaviour by the potty mouth kids.

Teenchi, your words show wisdom....your avatar on the other hand.....

Thank you , Gaile/Devs and everyone at ANET for another wonderful holiday event - I always look forward to them !!!
Thank you also for addressing this situation so swiftly much appreciated .
Like most gamers I just come for the event- to enjoy myself - listen to the lame jokes and games - but that is half the fun , and then to get great party hats and gifts - bonus.
But nothing is more annoying than listening to the childish taunts of the morons that go there (you know u can AFK yur char and just get the hat auto, right ?) - You suck , IM bored - this is so lame etc - but these are simply annoying. I'm glad to see u doing somthing about the more serious behaviour - thanx and keep up the good work !!
One last thing I just love Guildwars I have all 3 chapters, all linked, 12 chars most are lvl 20s-- but I must say you have outdone yourselves with Nightfall - I feel like Im on safari walking over the hills - what vistas !! I'm taking my time just enjoying the game I'm in no hurry to finish - love the new items/story etc.
Keep up the good work - your doing all the right things !! ( except need more storage for all the new items & more time to get hats, with 12 chars someone doesnt get a hat )

Thanks again for a wonderful game and Holiday event
from A Huge Fan

I am glad that A-Net is getting very serious about the use of language in the game. I have turned in several players myself but that is after they have totaly gone over the line and several others have started to complain about it. My morals are nor that high I will admit but there is a certian line that should not be crossed, and when that line is crossed the offender should suffer.
A-Net tries to keep the game as clean as they possibly can but some players slip through. I do not go around looking for players who abuse the system but the ones that I have turned in I pretty much happened upon. I am totaly in agreement with A-Nets policy on this matter due to the fact that I have a 14 year old that plays too (not too much mind you and only after his homework is done.) I monitor his behavior and help him ingame a lot but I trust him to not do anything wrong.

Five thumbs up A-Net and NC-Soft keep up the good job (now if they would just bef up account security more that would be great).

Mega Mouse

I doubt anyone will get banned for an occasional cuss in public (or rarely at least). It's just when it becomes blatently antagonizing others that it causes problems. Why? Because it aggrivates people, and it's not good business for anet's customers to get aggrivated while playing gw.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, ban lengths occur on a scale, from what I've heard, depending on the seriousness of the offense. And, I believe that ban lengths will increase as a single account has more violations. No, I don't know that firsthand... so I'm not sure on the specifics.

I had to turn off local chat last night when I was at the halloween event. I usually have no problem with a bit of swearing now and then but when it's in local chat and every line is either swearing at the king or abuse directed at the *%^**^* noobs who keep dying, it does affect my enjoyment of these events...

To be honest, I'm not sure what these people get out of swearing at a npc and people who don't know what they're doing. Swearing at the king doesn't make him go any faster, they may as well just go with the flow and enjoy the games or go afk and wait for a hat. Abusing people who don't know what they're doing won't teach anything either. It's kind of pointless to abuse them since them dying doesn't really have any impact on you...

Seems like I missed all the fun last night...I have never been offended by anything I've seen typed or any abuse aimed at me..I just sit back and laugh at the idiots.

i got banned :-(

i guess being called Mike Hunt is a burden...

If that is your char name then I doubt its down to that..

just wondering, seems like the team are able to check chat logs to find out what's been going on in public districts which is fair enough. However do they also keep a log of private messages? If so this could raise privacy concerns and i'd be interested to know where the line is drawn so to speak.

Of course Anet have access to your PM's. They'd have access to everything you do on their servers for X amount of time. It's all about accountability. Feel free to tell someone to **** off, but just be prepared to suffer the consequences.

Good job running the event guys. I got me a gazillion goodies to play with through out the year! *cough* increase storage space *cough*

Contrary to popular belief, the internet is not the sole domain of recalcitrant teenagers. There are mature people - and yes older people - out there looking for a good time too.

Every society - whether online or real life - has rules to make sure things run smoothly for the good of all. Just because you're not talking to someone face to face doesn't mean abandoning all good sense of behavior.

A log of private messages is hardly a privacy issue. It's part of the game, just another form of chat, only person to person. How is it possibly a privacy issue when you're choosing to send PMs (whispers) through the game's system?

Sadly, foul language use, for any reason, is the resort of the incompetent, and the inarticulate. In most cases, it's use is compensation for lack of any intelligent discourse.

just a big lol @ kraftymage

and gj anet on the bans

Veeeeeery depressing to see people acting like @holes on GW during the Mad King's visit. Do people assume it's ok to act like an @hole because of the "ha ha they'll never find me" nature of the internet? Oh well.

GG on the bans, Anet (and super nice event )

I remember once some idjit in RA was talking trash and I told him to shut the **** up and he said he was going to report me, I told him that's what the chat filter is for and I moved him to ignore. I never heard another word about it, so I figure that if he reported me they saw the full thing and decided I wasn't doing anything malicious.

When someone attempts to ruin other people's good time, that's just uncalled for, I'm glad that there's a penalty to complete idiocy like that.

Cry babies

Actually, it probably is. My boy had a warrior named Mike Rotch and he got banned for it, then was given the option to delete and remake or rename it.

People are..well don't allow them to bother you, they aren't worth it. I've seen many horrible things, said many horrible things myself (just ask anyone in Grotto, glad they don't check my chat logs :/). But I don't let it bother me, if I offend someone I apologize, usually when I'm being inappropriate it's to get laughs and yes it works usually.

I don't like authority or rules though, so that may be what causes most of my actions that are inappropriate to others. But if you take to heart what someone from the internet says to you, then you're living way way to seriously. Most of these people say these things because they know you can't harm them, you can't prevent it from happening, you can prevent people once they already do it, but it won't stop ever. So I don't let it bother me. My ignore list rarely see's people. I've run into many many offensive things said at me, since I take pride in my "leetness" (in my own mind) in the game I put myself above them and just laugh. Weird way to do it, but that's how I handle it.

...you made a mistake :P

shouldnt be a comma after incompetent.

Actually, Both are very popular offensive slangs especially for prank names or prank calls.

I did get annoyed by the imature rants/insults from some players.

That said i think ill have to rant a little..
Swearing does not bother me and as has been said that's what the Chat filter is for surely...I hate censorship and dislike the thought of Anet being strict conformists more than anything.

If i thought id have to be carefull everytime i write something incase it offend's, not swear ever and write sentences like a child at school then i would stop playing.

I think its important to remember that even though GW is set in a fantasy setting etc its being played by real people (not Gandalf or Harry potter) and so is a micro-representation of society..Some people are very friendly/kind others rude/abrasive etc ..
But to expect people to adjust their personality and always be kind and positive etc is absurd.

Diversity and realism is what draws me to the game...if everyone was polite and always said "TY so much i loved that last mission bye bye" or some such i'd get a slightly sick feeling inside and would stop playing pretty fast.

The diversity of personalities makes for a trully rounded and complete feel to public area's (IMO)
Since when has your average city buzzed with the sound of friendly approachable people...All being kind and happily sharing everything with each other.... Reality check please!.

IMO in a mature fantasy setting with massive muscle-bound warriors wandering around chatting to demonic looking necromancers etc the conversation would be more adult and definatly not all smiles and happy go lucky sentiment...So plz plz lets not try and make the game full of only "nice people".

Rant over....(oops)

I had no problems with this event ..Got 6 Gifts.

Enjoyed the festivities and games (well for the first 2-3 times i did :P )

I also witnessed many intense or imature plyers doing their thing (just like they would at any festive public occasion) and ignored them like you have to in real life..( is that so hard??)

My biggest irritation and spoiling factor were the supposedly L33T players...I dislike them more than most imature/ spammer/ type gamer's.

Before any/every event these people surface...This time around we had to get "DONT CLICK ON THE KING NOOB'S FFS OR HE LAGG'S" spammed repetativly not only 10-20 mins before he even arrived, but also during the whole event!!!..

I whispered a few of these people asking why they felt the need and got not just 1 but several "OMG NOOB/KIDDIE JUST DONT CLICK HIM OK???"

If there were spoilers it was these people IMO...telling us all what to do.(even though we know! ) and spamming instuctions along with "LOSER" or "NOOB" everytime a player gets a wrong answer or die's in a minigame.

Seriously i'd prefer to have "mum jokes" thrown at me all day than have that type of superior attitude forced down my neck.... Can we complain about that...? nope seems not yet i know it affects me far more than occasional imature/insulting outbursts.

Wake up you supposedly L33t Experienced players and realise your job is not to be the Police of GW! You cannot order players around you to do anything!!
Cap spamming commands does nothing but further fuel the imature people into argument's and certainly doesnt help create any form of atmosphere.

--------------------------rant over--------------------------
Main thing is IMO having fun

Thx Anet for a great event!! ...I had fun and iam sure most people did.

Forget the anal L33T players and the imature younger gamers who try to spoil!! They are the minority even though they shout the loudest

Seeya on the flipside

You choose to send emails and sms or make phone calls through your country's telecommunications systems. People are not allowed to monitor your communications without a court order in most western countries. A telephone company can't listen in on your calls just because you are using their system to make those calls. That is why it is a privacy concern, and why I originally asked a question about it.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying this is an issue unique to guild wars. Nor have I been nabbed for sending abusive pms to people or anything like that. I'm simply curious, is it really alright to monitor private communications just because the medium is the instant messaging system of a game as opposed to msn, an email, a phone call etc?

Just a point to ponder...

Hehe it's nice to see that you are preventing this guys to do whatever they like. I for example was told "go to your own country!" yesterday... O_O After I showed a guy the forgotten sword he said he can't see the skin. (some guy appears instead which is weird...) and after I said it looks like a long and sharp sword he stated to use bad language... Lots of hate today, that's it.

The key difference is that you did not agree to a code of behavior before being allowed to use that phone...
You can say whatever you want on that phone because you pay for the privelage of privacy and there is the understood privacy laws

In the game you agree to behave within certain general boundaries, and since they have to have prove of what happens in a virtual world(as there is no other recourse outside of screenies)...

But that's just my two cents

Gaile, completely agree- those who are verbally abusive and vulgar have no place in GW. Honestly, I'm certainly not the most proper player of the game, but the way some people get is just ridiculous. Those that get banned have a problem with it- go play WoW.