What Constitutes an "Inappropriate" Name?
Snype
Today, I attempted to log onto Guild Wars only to find out that I had been banned for "approximately 71 hours" due to an "inappropriate" name that breaches the Code of Conduct. The name that I believe the ban is referring to is "Snype Has A I D S". I have just read the code of conduct to refresh my memory on the rule about character names, and see no reason for this ban to be valid. With this being said, I would like to find out exactly what constitutes a name being "vulgar or inappropriate" for the Guild Wars community. Apparently the name of any disease is considered as such. I will make sure in the future not to create any names with the word "cold" or "flu" in it. Anet might deem it inappropriate.
Zinger314
Well, it's certainly not mature...
amish lifeguard
Common sense.
GloryFox
I remember when I had my Mesmer name banned. Her name was Honeysuckle Rose. The name had the term suck in it so they banned the name. I was not too upset because it was a PvP character. Just annoyed a bit.
LOL... I remade the Mesmer again for PvE this time named Honeylips Rose. I think it's sexier. What sounds worse Honeysuckle Rose or Honeylips Rose?
In your case A I D S is clearly an acronym so it obviously can be interpreted as a disease that can be spread by sexual or drug needle contact. I would have banned your name too.
NOTE: yes I realize that AIDS can be spread by other means other than sex and drug needle use so no flames please, or arguments over the affliction.
LOL... I remade the Mesmer again for PvE this time named Honeylips Rose. I think it's sexier. What sounds worse Honeysuckle Rose or Honeylips Rose?
In your case A I D S is clearly an acronym so it obviously can be interpreted as a disease that can be spread by sexual or drug needle contact. I would have banned your name too.
NOTE: yes I realize that AIDS can be spread by other means other than sex and drug needle use so no flames please, or arguments over the affliction.
Neo Nugget
Well....i remember i couldnt create the character with the last name earthburner....... so i went with earthcrasher. i was still able to use the same first name. Dont have the character anymore though. Wonder why i couldnt use it though.
TwinRaven
Who is Snype....Wesley? Probably because of the defamation of another person...maybe I Have A I D S would work better for you? Or maybe avoid AIDS altogether and Name your toon I Have A Butt Virus or I Have Warts On It...problem is, "taste"...you have none. Generally speaking, AIDS is about as funny as rectal cancer...on the surface it's all Ha ha...underneath, especially if someone you know has had it, it's a long and painful death with alot of suffering...just not funny. Because someone was offended by it (and why wouldn't they be) thay probably reported you for it....enough complaints and ZAP....bye-bye name. As for the EULA, probably offensive to someone...that's all it takes.
Mournblade
Aww, you're stung because you got your hand slapped by ANet? And you don't think your name wasn't asking for trouble? Get real.
If it weren't for people trying to push the boundaries of what is allowed, then we could have names like Honeysuckle or Jewel.
(By the way, I wonder if thats really your Guild name Amish, considering you just offered 'common sense' as a reply...)
If it weren't for people trying to push the boundaries of what is allowed, then we could have names like Honeysuckle or Jewel.
(By the way, I wonder if thats really your Guild name Amish, considering you just offered 'common sense' as a reply...)
lyra_song
Thats the problem with having a game from all across the world crossing many cultures and languages.
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DeBron
I would've reported you for coming up with such a stupid name and then having the nerve to complain about being banned.
Shuuda
AIDS and other STDs are not funny, clever, or mature, you ban seems just as far as I can see.
free_fall
I, too, was once banned for an inappropriate char name. Admittedly, it probably pushed the envelope a bit but what burns me is that I see so many names in the game that are far worse than the one which got me banned.
And the really funny thing is that when I buy armor for this (now renamed) char, it still says "customized for <banned name>". lol
And the really funny thing is that when I buy armor for this (now renamed) char, it still says "customized for <banned name>". lol
Neo Nugget
Kinda like ones in the funny names thread?:P
dargon
Of course, it doesn't exactly help your case that you broke it up with spaces in what looks like an attempt to avoid a preexisting name filter that ANet already had in place.
Series
To the politically-correct police: Get a life.
If a disease offends you so much, maybe we should rename the plague in Cantha "The Nondenominational Highly Contagious Illness", as plague still exists in countries like India and if an Indian man plays this game he may possibly be offended by a reference to a disease that exists.
Come on people.
Also, interesting tidbit: While words such as "negro" are banned, words such as "Cracker", "cracka", "whitey", "whity", "honky", "honkey", and etc. are all perfectly allowed. What's the deal with this Anet? A lil hypocrisy on your end? Any comment on this one Gaile?
Back on topic... should the topic creator's name have been deleted? Yes, he bypassed the censor apparently (although if he didn't bypass the censor, then that's a whole other story). Should he have been banned? I think a warning would have been more than sufficient.
If a disease offends you so much, maybe we should rename the plague in Cantha "The Nondenominational Highly Contagious Illness", as plague still exists in countries like India and if an Indian man plays this game he may possibly be offended by a reference to a disease that exists.
Come on people.
Also, interesting tidbit: While words such as "negro" are banned, words such as "Cracker", "cracka", "whitey", "whity", "honky", "honkey", and etc. are all perfectly allowed. What's the deal with this Anet? A lil hypocrisy on your end? Any comment on this one Gaile?
Back on topic... should the topic creator's name have been deleted? Yes, he bypassed the censor apparently (although if he didn't bypass the censor, then that's a whole other story). Should he have been banned? I think a warning would have been more than sufficient.
achilles ankle
I think all of you have to grow up and take a look at the real world. People arn't all polite and proper, and are especially not going to be on an online game where no one is ever going to know who they are. Snype has A I D S, why would they ban you for that. People in my old alliance had much worse names, ahhh....coathanger abortion to name one. Alot of people in my alliance went through a faze(sp?) about a year ago when we all did alliance battles together. We would make weird and offensive names and go into alliance battles and talk smack(much like it is today, wow no change
) and nothing ever happened to any of them. Some were even worse than the one mentioned above, but i really dont wanna post them because i know sumone will be all over me about it. I think that the only things that should be deemed offensive are swears, anything sexual, and anything religious. Anything else can be debatable so shouldnt be subject to banning, even if it is temporary.
theres my thoughts...flame away
guess series was posting while i was writing, and i gotta say wish there were more people like you.
) and nothing ever happened to any of them. Some were even worse than the one mentioned above, but i really dont wanna post them because i know sumone will be all over me about it. I think that the only things that should be deemed offensive are swears, anything sexual, and anything religious. Anything else can be debatable so shouldnt be subject to banning, even if it is temporary. theres my thoughts...flame away
guess series was posting while i was writing, and i gotta say wish there were more people like you.
MSecorsky
Whether or not anyone feels that others should "suck it up" or what have you, there are lines of decency that don't need to be crossed. Demonstrating your lack of maturity or compassion online benefits noone, least of all yourself.
Aids kills, and painfully. It has no place in GW.
Aids kills, and painfully. It has no place in GW.
Tachyon
I was informed by support that I wasn't allowed to call my pet Tiger 'Bagpuss' because, and I quote, "it's an offensive word"! Offensive to who? The millions of kids who enjoyed watching the well known, and very good, kids TV show?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagpuss
I even had full permission from the BBC to use the name, so go figure!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagpuss
I even had full permission from the BBC to use the name, so go figure!
majoho
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Originally Posted by achilles ankle
I think all of you have to grow up and take a look at the real world. People arn't all polite and proper, and are especially not going to be on an online game where no one is ever going to know who they are. Snype has A I D S, why would they ban you for that. People in my old alliance had much worse names, ahhh....coathanger abortion to name one. Alot of people in my alliance went through a faze(sp?) about a year ago when we all did alliance battles together. We would make weird and offensive names and go into alliance battles and talk smack(much like it is today, wow no change
) and nothing ever happened to any of them. Some were even worse than the one mentioned above, but i really dont wanna post them because i know sumone will be all over me about it. I think that the only things that should be deemed offensive are swears, anything sexual, and anything religious. Anything else can be debatable so shouldnt be subject to banning, even if it is temporary. theres my thoughts...flame away |
Basically you're way off here, and your first statement in your post contradicts the rest - you are the one that is immature and need to grow up.
Talking "smack" being offensive, swearing and whatnot might be ok if you're a kiddie, it's not mature.
MSecorsky
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Originally Posted by Azagoth
I was informed by support that I wasn't allowed to call my pet Tiger 'Bagpuss' because, and I quote, "it's an offensive word"! Offensive to who? The millions of kids who enjoyed watching the well known, and very good, kids TV show?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagpuss I even had full permission from the BBC to use the name, so go figure! |
Series
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Originally Posted by majoho
I'm taking your bait.
Basically you're way off here, and your first statement in your post contradicts the rest - you are the one that is immature and need to grow up. Talking "smack" being offensive, swearing and whatnot might be ok if you're a kiddie, it's not mature. |
MSecorsky
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Originally Posted by Series
I wasn't aware a sign of being "mature" is getting offended at the name of a disease.
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assassin_of_ni
im all about being as completely politically incorrect as possible and think everyone should have whatever name they want, but making a name which is very clearly bypassing a name filter, having it banned, then complaining about it cause a-net gave you a slap on the wirst. this is one of the reasons i almost never play anymore lol.
fog_of_redoubt
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Originally Posted by Series
I wasn't aware a sign of being "mature" is getting offended at the name of a disease.
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Influenza isn't going to get you banned. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that has killed millions of people. Do you think that is somehow funny or cute?
Grow up or quit trolling whichever fits.
Jack A Roe
Making light of a disease that has killed 25 million people? Yeah, that's funny stuff. What did you replace your char's name with? Snype Has Leukemia? The fact that you had the onions to post a complaint about a temp ban for this just shows how clueless you must be. Sit with a loved one who has a terminal disease and watch them suffer and then come back and tell me how inoffensive this is.
Melodramatic, but true.
On a less serious note, when I first started GW my 1st char had a name (which I will not mention here) that could be deemed offensive to some. At the time, I had no idea just how many real people I would be interacting with, as it was my first online gaming experience. This char quickly became my main title hunter, which led me to do some research on offensive names & actions taken against them. Fearing a perma-ban, I self-reported her name to support-saying essentially what I have mentioned here as well as adding that I expected a temp ban & forced name change, but asked that they please not delete the char & her acheivments. Their response was something along the lines of:
"Thank you for contacting support. While character name change is something that is being considered for the future of GW, currently the only way to change a character's name is after a temporary ban resulting from an offensive name."
Er.....yeah.
Melodramatic, but true.
On a less serious note, when I first started GW my 1st char had a name (which I will not mention here) that could be deemed offensive to some. At the time, I had no idea just how many real people I would be interacting with, as it was my first online gaming experience. This char quickly became my main title hunter, which led me to do some research on offensive names & actions taken against them. Fearing a perma-ban, I self-reported her name to support-saying essentially what I have mentioned here as well as adding that I expected a temp ban & forced name change, but asked that they please not delete the char & her acheivments. Their response was something along the lines of:
"Thank you for contacting support. While character name change is something that is being considered for the future of GW, currently the only way to change a character's name is after a temporary ban resulting from an offensive name."
Er.....yeah.
icymanipulator
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Originally Posted by Series
Also, interesting tidbit: While words such as "negro" are banned, words such as "Cracker", "cracka", "whitey", "whity", "honky", "honkey", and etc. are all perfectly allowed. What's the deal with this Anet? A lil hypocrisy on your end? Any comment on this one Gaile?
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If they were running a truly unbiased show then none of those terms would be acceptable period.
assassin_of_ni
automated responses ftw
cosyfiep
even anet has gotten the bad word ban....quimang is one of the npc's in factions, yet when his name appears in the chat the quim is ----out....good going anet, cant even name your own toons to get past the ban!
Series
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
This just proves Arena Net is as American as apple pie. Didn't you get the memo? Its ok in America to have double standards when being politically correct. You can say whatever you want about the racial majority and its A-OK according to any source of public media available so why not video games in a fictional universe? I am surprised no one has shown up with the name "Ofay" yet.
If they were running a truly unbiased show then none of those terms would be acceptable period. |
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Originally Posted by MSecorsky
No, it's recognizing that others might.
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Wait... there is no right to be unoffended? Is it possible that perhaps instead of getting offended over every little thing that may bother me in some way shape and form I... get over it? Nah, I think I'm gonna write a list of words I find offensive and get them banned. After all, you said it yourself, if someone finds something offensive, it is mature to take every step you can to avoid offending every single person in the world.
Or perhaps with maturity comes the ability to not be offended so easily.
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Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt
Are you really that dense? Or just trolling?
Influenza isn't going to get you banned. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that has killed millions of people. Do you think that is somehow funny or cute? Grow up or quit trolling whichever fits. |
Grow up or try again until you realize that I am right in this one
icymanipulator
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Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt
Are you really that dense? Or just trolling?
Influenza isn't going to get you banned. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that has killed millions of people. Do you think that is somehow funny or cute? Grow up or quit trolling whichever fits. |
-AIDS pandemic, has killed an est. 25 million worldwide since 1980 with an additional 40 million currently infected. Relative human population ~5.5-6 billion over the course of 1980-2007. Thats less than a half of a percent of the worlds population during this time period.
-Black Plague pandemic, killed an est. 75 million worldwide 20 million just in Europe during 1300's. The worlds population is estimated at 443 million during this time period. Roughly 17% of the worlds population died. The black plague is estimated as having killed between 1/3 and 2/3 of Europe's entire population.
-Spanish Flu pandemic, 1918-1920 killed an est. 40 million people worldwide. World population in 1918 was an est. 1.8 billion. Just over 2% of the worlds population died with up to 20% of the entire population infected (360 million).
How much you want to bet I can log on guild wars right now and make my name any variant of black plague or influenza and I will neither be banned nor complained to for my lack of maturity in name choice? Honestly you can take the politically correct banter and shove it.
Voltar
i couldn't use any variation on the name, "Gloria Gaynor," for my survivor character (she sang, "I Will Survive,") because it had, "gay," in it.
oh well...i named her, "Smoker Chick," instead and had to settle for weak irony.
it's a rough world i guess and we need to find a way to carry on. if you grew up in the 80's, you'd know that it was a hard decade for for trying to get laid. there's a lot of stigma attached to aids and you really have to be a writer for south park to be able to get away with making jokes about it.
you can apparently make jokes about mental illness though. i have a mesmer named Cloza Ril (which is an antipsychotic med...Zy Prexa and Risper Dal were already taken). it just takes a little awareness of your environment (which is the mark of, "maturity," others have mentioned).
oh well...i named her, "Smoker Chick," instead and had to settle for weak irony.
it's a rough world i guess and we need to find a way to carry on. if you grew up in the 80's, you'd know that it was a hard decade for for trying to get laid. there's a lot of stigma attached to aids and you really have to be a writer for south park to be able to get away with making jokes about it.
you can apparently make jokes about mental illness though. i have a mesmer named Cloza Ril (which is an antipsychotic med...Zy Prexa and Risper Dal were already taken). it just takes a little awareness of your environment (which is the mark of, "maturity," others have mentioned).
assassin_of_ni
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
This just proves Arena Net is as American as apple pie. Didn't you get the memo? Its ok in America to have double standards when being politically correct. You can say whatever you want about the racial majority and its A-OK according to any source of public media available so why not video games in a fictional universe? I am surprised no one has shown up with the name "Ofay" yet.
If they were running a truly unbiased show then none of those terms would be acceptable period. |
Voltar
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Originally Posted by MSecorsky
No, it's recognizing that others might.
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Series
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Originally Posted by assassin_of_ni
funny thing about MMO's is the fact that they are in themselves their own sovereign nation and can in fact enforce whatever laws upon them that they wish (with the exception of certain forms of abuse and stealing and what have you) then it becomes a national law thing. so if a-net decided that one day that everyone in game could no longer use the word afghanistan (for god knows what reason) then there is essentially nothing you can do about it as well as not allowing the word negro but allowing the word cracker or whatever else....its pretty much up to them. but my $.02 on the situation is i can see why negro or any other word similar to that one is not allowed. as for why cracker or cracka or honkey or what have you is allowed namely since cracker is a general word as well where as negro isnt. see my point? its the same sorta deal when Spike Lee attempted to sue Spike TV for using the word Spike in the name. It doesnt quite work since spike is a normal word in the dictionary and cannot be trademarked.
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Looks like aid is a general word too.
icymanipulator
Negro
Adjective
1. (archaic) Relating to the black ethnicity.
2. (archaic) Black or dark brown in colour.
"The word is considered acceptable only in a historical context. Black and if applicable (though to a lesser extent) African-American are the politically-correct alternatives."
Cracker
Noun
1. A piece of hard, salty bread; biscuit.
2. A short piece of twisted string tied to the end of a whip that creates the distinctive sound when the whip is thrown or cracked.
3. (usually plural) Fireworks.
4. (pejorative) Whites; persons who are considered white racially.
"When used to describe white people, it is often applied to financially disadvantaged American Southerners."
I see absolutely no difference here, both terms have a pejorative meaning and your entire argument has just collapsed.
Adjective
1. (archaic) Relating to the black ethnicity.
2. (archaic) Black or dark brown in colour.
"The word is considered acceptable only in a historical context. Black and if applicable (though to a lesser extent) African-American are the politically-correct alternatives."
Cracker
Noun
1. A piece of hard, salty bread; biscuit.
2. A short piece of twisted string tied to the end of a whip that creates the distinctive sound when the whip is thrown or cracked.
3. (usually plural) Fireworks.
4. (pejorative) Whites; persons who are considered white racially.
"When used to describe white people, it is often applied to financially disadvantaged American Southerners."
I see absolutely no difference here, both terms have a pejorative meaning and your entire argument has just collapsed.
explodemyheart
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Originally Posted by assassin_of_ni
im all about being as completely politically incorrect as possible and think everyone should have whatever name they want, but making a name which is very clearly bypassing a name filter, having it banned, then complaining about it cause a-net gave you a slap on the wirst. this is one of the reasons i almost never play anymore lol.
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
-Black Plague pandemic...
-Spanish Flu pandemic... How much you want to bet I can log on guild wars right now and make my name any variant of black plague or influenza and I will neither be banned nor complained to for my lack of maturity in name choice? Honestly you can take the politically correct banter and shove it. |
Series
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
Negro
Adjective 1. (archaic) Relating to the black ethnicity. 2. (archaic) Black or dark brown in colour. "The word is considered acceptable only in a historical context. Black and if applicable (though to a lesser extent) African-American are the politically-correct alternatives." Cracker Noun 1. A piece of hard, salty bread; biscuit. 2. A short piece of twisted string tied to the end of a whip that creates the distinctive sound when the whip is thrown or cracked. 3. (usually plural) Fireworks. 4. (pejorative) Whites; persons who are considered white racially. "When used to describe white people, it is often applied to financially disadvantaged American Southerners." I see absolutely no difference here, both terms have a pejorative meaning and your entire argument has just collapsed. |
"Hick"
Not blocked by Anet. Offensive word with no unoffensive meaning. GG
Series
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Originally Posted by explodemyheart
You might have a point if he was actually bypassing the filter but aids in not, in fact, an unusable word. Feel free to try it for yourself.
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This ban was unjustified.
Quantum Duck
It's a global game. Yes, inappropriate is going to be very subjective. I'd guess it's primarily a matter of what gets reported as inappropriate. On the other hand, there are fairly obvious catagories of things that are going to be a great deal more likely to get reported than others, and common sense could very easily prevent you from stumbling across that poorly defined line far more often than not.
Inger
u only suspect it is for the character with the name aids in it... could it potentially be a different character?
I remember when I created my very first guild wars character I wanted to name him I N G E R (simply beacuse I couldn't just put Inger... need 2 dang words)
Inge is my last name and having it Inger (pronounced Ing - Er) just sounded kinda cool to me. In any case they wouldn't allow me to use the name I N G E R, I couldn't figure out y... i suppose it might have a small connection to niger... but i dunno
I simply ended up creating a character with the name Inger and then adding a different letter afterwards for each of my characters. Come to think of it... if I N G E R is unnacceptable... could potentially any of my characters with Inger not be allowed?
if that is true thats TERRIBLE... because I have all my characters with Inger in some form and they've all been around for over a year now.
I remember when I created my very first guild wars character I wanted to name him I N G E R (simply beacuse I couldn't just put Inger... need 2 dang words)
Inge is my last name and having it Inger (pronounced Ing - Er) just sounded kinda cool to me. In any case they wouldn't allow me to use the name I N G E R, I couldn't figure out y... i suppose it might have a small connection to niger... but i dunno
I simply ended up creating a character with the name Inger and then adding a different letter afterwards for each of my characters. Come to think of it... if I N G E R is unnacceptable... could potentially any of my characters with Inger not be allowed?
if that is true thats TERRIBLE... because I have all my characters with Inger in some form and they've all been around for over a year now.
icymanipulator
I should make a character named Wolf Schicklgruber, thats a pretty obtuse reference I doubt is banned...though it probably should be.