Last night, I was made aware of the blocking of a Guild Wars guild. The reason given was that the name was offensive. I scratched my head and wondered, for while the name was a double entendre, it wasn't something that would be likely truly to offend anyone. The fact that this guild had been active for a long period, the fact that they had placed well in the Celestial Tournament and had only recently received their silver cape trim made the incident even more hurtful, to the guild, and puzzling, to me.
I've spoken with our support team, and they confirm that yes, due to a communication issue, one of the team members did block the guild. The team lead was fully on board, as was the European team lead, that the name was acceptable. Suggestive does not equal offensive. But in all honesty, I can see that it's not an easy call to make at times. This decision was made months ago and the guild was not actioned early on because it was agreed that the name was ok. The problem was that this wasn't communicated to everyone.
We apologize for the block. We are going to reverse it immediately. We do not know how a reversal of a guild block will work -- we don't know if that has been done before. But we're hopeful that everything will be in order and all will be restored to the guild. If that is not the case, please write [email protected] and we will do our best to try to correct anything that we can correct.
Again, both ArenaNet and NCsoft are sorry for this situation. We reacted as quickly as we could once we were made aware of it. Please note that other guilds, recently pointed out to the team, will likely be blocked. We've not been as watchful as we should, and regrettably a few guilds have stepped far across the line on naming. They'll be blocked, and there will be no appeal. In this case, we are not reversing the action because of complaints; we are reversing the action because the team made an error, we were made aware of it, and we do our best to correct our errors and, as you can see, we do it publicly and with apology.
Error Made; Error Corrected
Gaile Gray
dr1zz one
question- What happens to the user accounts when the guild is blocked? Does that mean each account is banned?
What if the guild I currently am part of gets blocked for a potentially offensive guild name? Can you leave the guild and not suffer the consequences of the guild block?
What if the guild I currently am part of gets blocked for a potentially offensive guild name? Can you leave the guild and not suffer the consequences of the guild block?
Billiard
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by dr1zz one
question- What happens to the user accounts when the guild is blocked? Does that mean each account is banned?
What if the guild I currently am part of gets blocked for a potentially offensive guild name? Can you leave the guild and not suffer the consequences of the guild block? |
KamikazeChicken
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by dr1zz one
question- What happens to the user accounts when the guild is blocked? Does that mean each account is banned?
|
Feminist Terrorist
I'm glad the guild will be unblocked. Kudos to Arenanet for admitting a mistake was made and has now been corrected.
The circumstances of the block/ban were ridiculous to begin with.
The circumstances of the block/ban were ridiculous to begin with.
unknown_kaos
Yes, I am glad they are doing something about this. A few of the members (Including myself) were about to quit guildwars over this issue. The fact that we have been around for almost 2 years and we get banned 2 days after we get our silver trim. It is ridiculous.
I would also like to thank everybody that has supported us on this issue, It means a lot to know that people care ^.^
I would also like to thank everybody that has supported us on this issue, It means a lot to know that people care ^.^
Theus
Wait..Wait.
Battery Powered Best Friend [Vibe] was the reason the guild was blocked?
...Wow.
Battery Powered Best Friend [Vibe] was the reason the guild was blocked?
...Wow.
Darcy
Gaile, thank you for the information and ANet for the correction.
To the guild affected, glad to see things have been straightened out for you. Great job in the tournament (I picked you for one of the top 8).
And it's nice to know that ANet does enjoy some of the amusing names out there and can differentiate between amusing and offensive.
To the guild affected, glad to see things have been straightened out for you. Great job in the tournament (I picked you for one of the top 8).
And it's nice to know that ANet does enjoy some of the amusing names out there and can differentiate between amusing and offensive.
Zeph
And rightly so!
It was pretty sickening after they had just got their silver trim.
Well done on putting things right ANet, maybe now the guys at [Vibe] can celebrate properly.
It was pretty sickening after they had just got their silver trim.
Well done on putting things right ANet, maybe now the guys at [Vibe] can celebrate properly.
Legendary Shiz
Kind of odd that this happened NOW. The guilds been around for how many months now?
VitisVinifera
there have been plenty of false bans, now we have false guild bans. GG anet. You might want to institute some sort of peer review policy when it comes to the up-till-now very lightly taken method of banning people/guilds. Bit more professionalism, please.
seekjy
It's far worse in WoW. You can get your own name, or guild renamed if it even resembles a real-life name, or trademarked name (and somebody bothers to report it).
Guilds and players on RP-PvE realms can also get names reported if they do not fit within lore.
No other game would even let you get away with half the names we're allowed to use in Guild Wars.
Guilds and players on RP-PvE realms can also get names reported if they do not fit within lore.
No other game would even let you get away with half the names we're allowed to use in Guild Wars.
savage vapor 33
Anet deserves a big round-of-applause on this 1. Not sarcastically either. Last night the thread about (a certain guild) was about 4-5 pages long targeting Anet and other networks within GW. Gaile came on and admitted that the blocking of the guild looked strange but she would look into it.
They quickly acted on it, and now the situation looks to be almost resolved if the reversal can happen. Either way...
1. Anet has admitted a mistake.
2. When a problem was brought to their attention by the community, they listened to us right away.
3. Gaile saved the day once again.
*Claps*
They quickly acted on it, and now the situation looks to be almost resolved if the reversal can happen. Either way...
1. Anet has admitted a mistake.
2. When a problem was brought to their attention by the community, they listened to us right away.
3. Gaile saved the day once again.
*Claps*
unknown_kaos
Ok, I like the fact that people support us on this, but after reading the other post on this, it is ridiculous how much people are flaming Anet for this. Gaile Gray has done nothing but try to help us on this matter, and she is getting flamed and blamed for this. That kind of support is unacceptable, I'm just glad they are trying to revert the decision. Besides, we have never gotten this much publicity 
Ritual del Fuego
Gaile - it's nice to see that A/Net took action on this swiftly and professionally. It's good to hear that you guys have learned from this and are taking steps to make it better going forward.
To all the people last night that used the other thread as a reason to flame (I think some posts were even deleted from what I remember seeing last night before it was closed), take note and try not to be so over reactive next time. The OP in the other thread wasn't flaming a/net so why should the rest of you, you weren't even the ones that were affected.
Grats to [Vibe] on getting this resolved...
To all the people last night that used the other thread as a reason to flame (I think some posts were even deleted from what I remember seeing last night before it was closed), take note and try not to be so over reactive next time. The OP in the other thread wasn't flaming a/net so why should the rest of you, you weren't even the ones that were affected.
Grats to [Vibe] on getting this resolved...
Flowah
You haven't even SEEN anything. I got some screenshots, they are laugh out loud hilarious. Will show later.
sixdartbart
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by savage vapor 33
Anet deserves a big round-of-applause on this 1. Not sarcastically either. Last night the thread about (a certain guild) was about 4-5 pages long targeting Anet and other networks within GW. Gaile came on and admitted that the blocking of the guild looked strange but she would look into it.
They quickly acted on it, and now the situation looks to be almost resolved if the reversal can happen. Either way... 1. Anet has admitted a mistake. 2. When a problem was brought to their attention by the community, they listened to us right away. 3. Gaile saved the day once again. *Claps* |
I hope the people that were attacking Gaile last night will take note of this and perhaps even apologize
[I seriously doubt that will happen] so in the future perhaps you could simply grace us all with your silence before you fly off the handle and attack someone who says they are looking to resolve a problem!!!
savage vapor 33
Rofl, of course you have screenshots flowah, you were prob the most hilarious. lol!
I will apologize to Gaile, i flamed her, even though I had no reason to since im in no relation to Vibe. But i'm just glad this situation will soon be resolved, and Vibe can keep getting good rankings in ladder and in tourneys.
I will apologize to Gaile, i flamed her, even though I had no reason to since im in no relation to Vibe. But i'm just glad this situation will soon be resolved, and Vibe can keep getting good rankings in ladder and in tourneys.
Juicey Shake
thanks for all the support guys, the flaming was a bit excessive, but really, thanks for the support
and thanks gaile for resolving this problem so quickly, we appreciate it.
could it have been that because a member of the guild was banned, the guild also received a ban? seems most likely
whatever the case, thanks for the resolving the issue
and thanks gaile for resolving this problem so quickly, we appreciate it.
could it have been that because a member of the guild was banned, the guild also received a ban? seems most likely
whatever the case, thanks for the resolving the issue
Thomas.knbk
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Legendary Shiz
Kind of odd that this happened NOW. The guilds been around for how many months now?
|
And they used to win halls A LOT. Kind of odd indeed.
unknown_kaos
Well, its not "resolved" yet, because as of right now we are still banned:
I believe she said there was currently no way to undo the ban, so they have to program a completely new system to do it just for us. Thats enough to show they care.
I believe she said there was currently no way to undo the ban, so they have to program a completely new system to do it just for us. Thats enough to show they care.
elektra_lucia
Sounds like the issue is being resolved. Well one of them...To me, seems like the biggest issue here is your armour. Doesn't go well with your cape, get some silver dye or something >.>
unknown_kaos
I cannot currently afford anything but yellow and gray dye. And only 2 of either one.
arcanemacabre
It's nice to see this get resolved. Great job, guys!
Gaile Gray
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by unknown_kaos
Well, its not "resolved" yet, because as of right now we are still banned. I believe she said there was currently no way to undo the ban, so they have to program a completely new system to do it just for us. Thats enough to show they care.
|
The key question is: Is everything else ok?
unknown_kaos
I'm currently waiting for this new update to load, I'll test when I load in if I can member//guest anybody or enter a GvG.
unknown_kaos
Ok it looks like we can guest and member invite, and hopefully we can gvg (Party too small ftl). And our guild rank is still shown as N/A, will that change back the next time we GvG or will we have to be forced back onto the ladder?
Thanks again for the help Gaile. I guess we can live with [ban] as our tag for a bit, but I do hope you guys can get a program running to change the tag back.
Thanks again for the help Gaile. I guess we can live with [ban] as our tag for a bit, but I do hope you guys can get a program running to change the tag back.
Juhanah
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VitisVinifera
there have been plenty of false bans, now we have false guild bans. GG anet. You might want to institute some sort of peer review policy when it comes to the up-till-now very lightly taken method of banning people/guilds. Bit more professionalism, please.
|
Also. If such error happened in any other games than GW, the guild would have stay banned with no way to even know why the guild got banned and no way to recover it.
Most companies which we could say are very professional would never admit they made an error.
For the guild name.. I didn't even realize the suggestive meaning before it was noted yesterday. And i personally find it more funny than offensive.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by unknown_kaos
I guess we can live with [ban] as our tag for a bit, but I do hope you guys can get a program running to change the tag back.
|
Nemo the Capitalist
/bows to gaile and anet....dies in real life ^_^ looks forward to GW2 and GWEN :P
Avarre
Great to see action taken on this issue.
Psuedo Halgoen
Very good news.
Pity that this ban was done in the first place, but glad that it is being reversed.
Pity that this ban was done in the first place, but glad that it is being reversed.
Demilikos
Thanks Gaile.
Personette
Wow, I'm impressed.
This was the first thing I've read about GW admin that really irritated me. And I definitely admire people who aren't too proud to apologize.
This was the first thing I've read about GW admin that really irritated me. And I definitely admire people who aren't too proud to apologize.
FlameoutAlchemist
Not that it's offensive to me (which the name isn't), I was surprised to see that it was allowed for so long a time. It does make me laugh though, as I originally thought that the tag was [iPod].
I've worked for companies where we've had to flat-out lie to people when the company screwed up. Believe me, it's an outright blessing to see that Gaile and Anet are coming right out, right away, and admitting that there was a screwup, and are pledging to fix it, even though it will take them some time, effort, and money to do so. THAT'S the mark of a great company!
I've worked for companies where we've had to flat-out lie to people when the company screwed up. Believe me, it's an outright blessing to see that Gaile and Anet are coming right out, right away, and admitting that there was a screwup, and are pledging to fix it, even though it will take them some time, effort, and money to do so. THAT'S the mark of a great company!
Hockster
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by VitisVinifera
there have been plenty of false bans, now we have false guild bans. GG anet. You might want to institute some sort of peer review policy when it comes to the up-till-now very lightly taken method of banning people/guilds. Bit more professionalism, please.
|
Anyway, kudos to getting the issue sorted out in a timely fashion.
unienaule
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Hockster
Leave it to you to be a completely negative jerk when a mistake was corrected. If you had even read the thread at all about the banning you'd know that Anet does not ban anyone or anythig, it's the NC Soft support team. Next time at least to try to get your facts somewhat correct before posting yet another whine and bitchfest.
Anyway, kudos to getting the issue sorted out in a timely fashion. |
Edge Martinez
Awesome. Welcome back to [vibe] and great job to Gaile or Anet or the support team (whoever).
unknown_kaos
So Gaile, any word on getting our tag back, or how long it may take?
Ive sent emails to a few of the anet staff, including the one you posted above, and haven't gotten a single response back. They really busy up there getting these tournaments going?
Ive sent emails to a few of the anet staff, including the one you posted above, and haven't gotten a single response back. They really busy up there getting these tournaments going?
Kuldebar Valiturus
Battery Powered Best Friend [Vibe] = the Energizer Bunny Rabbit.
Anyone can be offended by anything if they try hard enough.
ANet is once again showing that's it's proactive and not scared to correct mistakes.
Anyone can be offended by anything if they try hard enough.
ANet is once again showing that's it's proactive and not scared to correct mistakes.
Renegade26
Id prefer the name Battery Powered Boy Friend [Vibe], but that probly wouldn't be unbanned. <_<