Feedback Desired: The Report System

I am not exactly what you would say, a person who has all his stuff together. I suffer from certain bouts of paranoia frequently, I will admit that to reinforce my opinion on the report command. You may mock me for showing this weakness if you wish. However, because of certain issues with myself, I find the report command a very threatening encounter.

Aren't there many immature people out there that'll just abuse the report command to target players that they don't like or that they'll just attempt to ban because of a conversation gone wrong?

And I occasionally let loose a curse word here and there because it's part of my vocabulary, and in a non-formal social arena, I don't tend to watch my tongue. With the report command, my sense of freedom in speaking feels very censored. ArenaNet stated that people can report others for anti-social behavior, but this declaration makes me feel like I should now engage in non-social behavior, pretty much becoming a silent character moving in and out of outposts.

Of course, I'm not someone that'll spam something stupid or pointless, but whenever I had a heated and mature discussion with other players, someone always threatened to report me because they felt insulted! (Even if we weren't targeting that player or anyone he knows!) Now I feel like I need to shut my mouth or Anet will say "Thanks for all your money, now you've been a bad boy so go to your room and never play this game again."

I really think that the report command should only be used on leechers and RA leavers. This current testing period features a broad selection of options that quite frankly, make me feel very uneasy. I hope that after the testing period, they'll tone it down a little, because I can't help but think that there's always someone watching me now.

And this really detracts from the enjoyment of a game. On a final note, the manual report ticket on their support site should be enough. If someone did something so wrong then obviously the victim would take enough time out of their day to report them. This new and convenient way to report someone will attract people who wish to abuse the system.

Once again, I really hope Anet redesigns the new report system to a more limited scope of options.

Thank you,

From a long time GW player.

Reports in local chat are reviewed...not instantly applied to your account. It's the reports in PvP arenas that are instantly logged.

There is a chat filter, so swearing is not the issue, its swearing in a way that is beyond normal. I too first though of this as a way for people to report others just for 'fun'. However, you should have noticed that it requires multiple people on the same team to report someone, and reports that are 'bogus' go against the person making the report.

If you are told frequently that you are going to be reported for your activities/conversations, maybe you should consider changing the things you do/say. There are people who are report happy, and think anything can/should be reported, but if you are getting this a LOT, maybe its because you are not behaving appropriately.

there's still so many leavers and leechers in ab

I said this in the other post, but it deserves to be repeated. Maybe now with this new /report system for reporting bots, we can get our old LOOT scaling back like it used to be when I could make some decent cash while casually playing.

What does a PvP problem have to do with PvE?

^ because you can use /report on both sides.

I'm guessing they'll only look into someone if they get a certain amount of reports, and even then, if you've done nothing wrong and have just been the victim of abuse, I'm sure Anet will notice that.

Seems like a great update to me, but we'll see how it goes.

I have 2 questions about /report system:

1. What happen if a farmer (not bot) is reported several times about botting?

2. What happen if many people report someone as spammer, abuser or leecher just for fun?

I have never attacked a race with spews of hatred, I have never personally insulted someone in an exclusive and cruel manner, bringing unwanted attention to them. I have never personally sought out to create a conversation or situation that creates chaos or flaming.

I merely partake in some conversations a few people don't want to hear because of sensitive ears or something silly like that. I talk about news, other games, societal issues, whenever another person who wishes to talk about that surfaces somehow, we engage in a conversation. I rarely start them.

And I also rarely get the whole "You're going to be reported" phrase thrown at me, but it has happened from time to time...and this reporting feature makes me wary...

Just watch what you're saying and be civil about it. Remember it's not just you who play this game so if it sound offensive, it properly is. You wouldn't like it if you heard anyone saying stuff that grinds your gear, would you?

My local chat is off for the time being, though.

OP has a valid point I think (lots of us occasionally slip up in the heat of the moment, some more than others), but...

a) It's only a test so far.

b) It's already possible to report people, and A-net investigates reports before taking action against anyone. I doubt A-Net has changed this, and all they've done is to make it easier to send the reports now. If people are already reporting you often (or threatening to)... well, as others have said already - maybe you need to adjust your behavior. Because with this new and easier reporting mechanism, they're more likely to actually carry out their threat.

c) I'm sure A-Net is well aware that griefers may try to abuse the new facility and have planned for that... it could even be that A-net will take action against would-be griefers, and false reports will backfire on the sender. I hope so!

Personally I am hoping this test is successful, and it DOES make people more mindful of their behavior. I've never found it difficult to watch my manners... I just behave like I do in real life. But it seems to me, some people NEED the threat of a fast and easy report system like this, to curb their anti-social behavior.

I'm generally very civil and the thing is, some of the subjects I talk about could barely be considered offensive to a newborn kitten. But some people are just so beyond skittish or pissed off about something that they'll bare their teeth at you.

I know it's possible to report people, I mentioned that in my post. What I also mentioned is that the new report command will make it easier for false reports to be made. And whatever happened to freedom of speech? Adjust my behavior? I can't share my opinions on anything anymore in the game of Guild Wars?

I can't talk about the news or the weather or what I think should change in one aspect or another because that might insult someone? I think that society needs to stop covering themselves in a protective bubble. If we don't talk about things and learn from each other's experiences and opinions, we'll become hate mongers.

Sometimes, even during ingame, it's nice to step back and talk about something other than builds and how to take down Justicar Thommis and so forth and so on. And before some of you say "Wow, OP has no life", I tend to open up a little more online...

...And plus, I work a graveyard shift, so I rarely get to spend time with my girlfriend or friends. So I talk to people on GW in between questing and whatnot.

So please, no more of the "Watch your behavior" posts...I've done my best to remain civil and polite. But as human beings, we are prone to err, and with this new reporting feature, I feel that our leeway is far less now.

I might seem a bit paranoid, I know. But I couldn't help sharing my opinion on this new update.

Exactly, that's why you need to think twice about what you're saying these days. It's a PC (Political correct) world we're living in, there're so many different kind of people in this game. Most are just playing it for fun but some are just there looking for troble.

Exactly...I say leave it as is...if you get reported a lot it should be you who adjusts...not the game.

It's about friggin time they add in a report feature...I wish it would be extended to bugs as well so we could have an easy interface to use to report those.

Then you have nothing to worry about. I seriously doubt a-net is going to take action for an occasional slip-up, or things that are really, part of everyday speech.

Reports are investigated. You can't simply /report and cause an automatic ban. If reports are false, the sender is the one likely to be in trouble.

You have no "right" to freedom of speech in a game... A-net can decide that discussing the weather is a bannable offence, if they choose to.

But regardless, now you're verging on the ridiculous - you're imagining the problem to be bigger than it is, then building gigantic society-wide problems out of it. In reality, there's nothing to worry about - of course you can talk about whatever you like, as long as you are civil (and you said you were). It's usually apparent if you accidentally offended someone, in which case a simple "sorry, I didn't mean to cause offence" will be the end of it. Unless you did it on purpose, of course :-D

There will be griefers now and then, but nothing will change that, no matter how well-mannered you are. No point worrying about them

You can not be serious. Freedom of speech! Are you going to bring up that old horse now. Newsflash! Freedom of speech have never applied for what goes on in privately owned enterprises like the guildwars servers.
Freedom of speech on the internet is an illusion.

So the reporting abuse have gotten more userfriendly. This does not equal a change in the policies of what in PvE counts as abuse or review process.
A false report is a false report, no matter if it's been submitted via the cumbersome old way, or via /report.

What this does mean for PvE is that the ones that are banking on that the reporting abuse is so cumbersome that most users do not bother even when they see obvious examples of it. As a free-pass to feel immune to continue the behaviour they know damned well is against the EULA.

I remember Gaile saying something along the lines of "these are private servers" so your freedom of speech still applies, but you are playing on their servers and you have agreed to their rules. There's nothing stopping you from speaking your mind, but they do have the right to seize your account if you breach their EULA - which you agreed to when you made an account.

If you read the Developers update, you need more than one report to get someone investigated, and if you make a false report, it will just backfire on yourself.

You know the old sentence: Man+Anonymousity+Audience=Jerk.
Now it won't be possible to be a jerk as before. The community will /report you. But if you /report falsely you will be banned also.
A-net made a move to have a healthy community. You've still the freedom to do what you want. Scam, insult ingame. You will just have to suffer the consequences of such an act. It's still a game, that's not like if you 'll be put in jail or whatever for acting like a moron.
You speak about being "threatened". That's exactly the way to go. Most jerks are jerks because they have an immunity feeling. The old reporting way was already sucky enough not to bother about being reported. Now, without this immunity feeling, most jerk will start paying attention and respect to other people. Some will be jerks anyway, but this simple threat will cure a lot of the GW community diseases.
Just see how a single threat on the log panel about WTS spam provided a clean local chat.
That's really for the better, I think.

yay maybe they are preparing people for 7 heros. You know, they said that this was a "social" game, now you have to worry about immature brats. So, now noone will want to join a pug with the fear of some little shit using the /report command for using mending. Thanks anet...I really hope (since you destroyed the "community" which you thought was so sacred) that you implement 7 heros. You have made my dreams come true

I hear you...


Guild Wars is going 1984-style.
Having this Report system will end up akin to having thought police around... where none of us can act freely or naturally because our every movement is monitored to ensure we don't do anything they don't want us doing.

For folks like me who are genuinely "socially challenged" and have difficulty NOT offending people with our regular, day-to-day lives... this report feature is a total nightmare....
Not to mention that it is being left open to abuse by every braindead nub who ever sets foot in Guild Wars and feels that everything they dislike in the world should be attacked by the A-Net staff personally...

It needs to be removed... severely.


As it happens... most communities, while they seem rude and objectionable on the outside.... will usually end up policing themselves fairly well, as the only folks who end up actually being "rude" are those who don't care for social standing anyway... such as myself (though as noted, being "rude" isn't really an option for me).
If those that most folks oppose are actually removed from the game forcibly.... the entirety of Guild Wars is likely to go out of business.

While the report button concernes me slightly, because there is always the chance you'll come across those "I'm 12 years old and looking to report someone to feel big" type of people in game, such as the person who was insistant that I was using 16 in every attribute on my Mesmer in Fort Aspenwood...with clearly no proof, I think we need to just trust ANet on this one who should throw out reports which are clearly "out of place".

Mass bannings for petty reasons only anger people, I'm sure they'll use this feature wisely.

I sincerely hope you're right about that.

I think the report feature will ultimately be a good thing for the community and not bad.

Government Flu and Soti, I understand what you're saying, but right now it's premature. Sure, you will both probably be reported by 12 year olds wanting to cause trouble and also by folks passing thru town that happen to be offended by an off-hand comment you make.

So? Honestly, most of the time you will never even be aware that someone reported you. The only time you'll have an issue is if the Anet employee who gets the report decides that it's valid. If it truly is an overly-sensitive person or a griefer then the report will be thrown out. If they had a valid point then just "tone it down" a bit while in town and you'll be fine.

For example, I dislike the "WTF" abbreviation. I know what it stands for and it's a word I don't like in my vocabulary and would prefer my teammates not use. However if I started reporting everyone who uses it, I'd use up my 50 report limit in an hour and likely get my own account flagged for griefing. It may offend me, but it's not a reportable offense. Anet wouldn't do anything except toss my report in the trash. I'm sure the same will happen to all the reports the 12 year olds send in as well.

Like Beaver said, Anet doesn't really want to ban a paying customer. It's bad for business.

For now the report option is only in testing. Let's see how it goes. If you are banned as a result of this option or flagged as dishonorable then post the circumstances and we can better judge if this is a good or bad option.

I think at first there's gonna be a /report hype where many people utilize it, maybe even abuse it. It might be used widely at first and of course you're always going to have your typical asshole but I think eventually it will work as intended where it is used in cases where it's needed.

All the /report will do is (KILL LOCAL CHAT) due to the fact that their are a lotta little kids that play the game and well Dont get me Wrong Kids are great and all its just they ruin all forms of games due to Being Immature Im talking about 16 and younger over 16 and the maturity picks up a bit and they grow outa the stage where they do something over and over and over just to get attention.

No need to flame this or even get angry and if you do your in that category

/Report=Not 1 person talking in Local Due to Fear of People who think it is funny to /report 10+times in 1 min just because they Example: Paid too much for a item only to realize a hour later they paid to much OR see someone Spam LFG to much Etc...

The /Report is great for eliminating ALL BOTS IN A INSTANT, and Leachers, other than that it will be a Damper is Social Interaction in Local Chats or even PUGS.

Let me see if I understand how /report works...

• You can report people for anything, but more than one person needs to report someone before any support people will investigate. If you are the only person being harassed by someone, since you will be the sole person reporting the offender, nobody will even look at your report because there are not multiple reports against the offender.
• If you want to report someone for leeching, 1/3 of your team must also report that person, or the leech report is presumed false and everyone who reported the leeching gets 2 dishonor points. Therfore if you have so many leechers on your team that the leechers outnumber the actual players by more than 2/3, the real players can't report the leechers because they'll get penalized instead.

Am I missing something? It's nice that it'll be simpler to report someone, especially since most offensive or leeching players do the same stuff repeatedly and will get reported by many other players, but in the situations that I italicized are kind of a bummer, if I am interpereting the /report rules correctly.

The first situation could be avoided if there are ways to flag sole reports for support review based on certain report types, such as if one person reports racial insults or inappropriate sexual comments being targeted at them. That way if a weirdo decides to only bother one person, that one report against the weirdo will actually get looked at.

The second situation is a little more tricky, leechers leech for hours and should eventually end up teamed with enough real players to have 1/3 of the team active and able to report the leechers without getting penalized. It just sucks that if a couple players are trying to do the right thing and report a huge leecher group they got paired with, they would get penalized for reporting if the leechers outnumber them by more than 2/3. I have seen people with screenshots of a team with 6/8ths leechers or 7/8ths leechers, so I know it happens.

I cant get it to work^^. My /report command doesnt do anything.

It's not do /report on X = X becomes ban.
I doubt they change the same review procedure that's already in place.

I bet my account there not going to take action against people for someone reporting someone for having "bad" skill bar's, or saying you have to go / log out do something in RL, etc.

No, it's not. That's not what the book 1984 is about.

Look at how well the trade spam threat worked. It's not about ban, it's about fear of the ban.

Same in pvp. There's only a handful of griefers, but they have huge impact on the community. A single leecher in FA will annoy dozens, even hundreds of people each day.

It only takes 2 or 3 of them to make an arena unplayable. And since they had nothing to lose, they kept going at it.

There aren't thousands of griefers. And those that are will be very quickly weeded out by such system. You don't need to create absolute grief-free game. But such simple measures reduce the problem by 90%.

People who behave like those against whom the /report is targetted do not care about being customers.

Go look in subscription based MMOs what "going out with a ban" is used for. No, these people aren't a loss. And while mistakes happen, they are in huge minority.

There's also a life's lesson in there, since young folk were mentioned. They need, at one point, to learn the value of money. If you're over 14, this should be a non-issue already.

But for everyone else: if someone else buys you a game, and you squander it, they won't do it again. If you buy it yourself, and do something stupid, perhaps you won't do it next time.

But if one persists at doing something wrong, and then complains about bans, there is nothing more to be said.

Besides, there's lots of misinformation here. The report applies to PvP only (not spatial chat and such), and is used only for the match and team in question. It's just that nobody reads the posts and simply assumes things that don't even exist.

The only thing i dont like is getting dishonor points for reporting when no one else deos, so in RA one dc's one is afk and one is leeching, you report the leech and you get punished. well at least thats what it looks like

Remove that and GG ^^

Bout time something was done! I agree that you shouldn't get Dishonor points simply if you are only one reporting -- hopefully they can tell a legitimate report from a fake one.

Can someone "report" when this is actually working? I tried it earlier and no love...

I had a supposed adult and ex-parent levelling death-threats at me in Alliance Battle before because my Necro (PvE primarily, with 2 elite armours) is called "Ghost of Cot Death".
That is the worst of it, but not the whole of it. There have been at least three other occasions when someone has got up in arms over my Necro's name or told me that I'm a sick bastard and deserve to die...

I don't think I'd want to take my Necro into PvP while this report system is up for the simple reason that these are the sort of opinionated arseholes that would report first and ask questions later... and I'm honestly afraid that if there can be several of them amongst the general populace, that I might run into someone similarly opinionated working for A-Net .... and then BLAM... character gone.
Heck... one of the main reasons I came up with the name in the first place several years ago, for something entirely different, was BECAUSE of such opinionated arseholes thinking the whole world should cry for them because their baby died.


And if I'm afraid of such things.... what about the hoardes of characters out there with sexual innuendo in their names? Often quite strong ones. I find them humourous... and often quite witty. They shouldn't be denied their characters over something so entirely trivial as one crybaby getting the hump about it.

Go have a child and lose it, and then you maybe won't be so unsympathetic about it. Yes your necro's name is offensive and I would report it as well should I see it around.

If your that socially inept maybe you shouldn't be playing a social game to begin with.

Btw you don't lose the charactor they make you change the name!

LOL.

You have some growing up to do. Creating a name to be offensive then crying on a forum that someone might find it offensive and report you for it ... that is rich. Not trying to start a flame fest but seriously have you thought about what you are complaining about?

Ya...... SotiCoto.

Just to let you know.... Cot Death is another name for SIDS.
or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome......
There is no way you came up with that name without knowing what cots death is.... you should change your name.

Cot Death very wrong to include in a name but i just do the following I am not defending him at all just pointing out how to complely look past his name.

Haveing a offinseve name seems to be no problem if you dont read it. I mean soo many players with sooo many names with soo many guildies with sooo many guilds in alliance, Nicknames, Vent names, Ts names the list goes on and on. We really shouldnt make a big deal out it since their are too many players with 8 chars with 8 different names, with vent but use different vent name as well. Getting mad at player names really shouldnt be a big deal their is alot more to focus on in the game than the (YOUNG KIDS WHO WANT ATTENTION) As i stated in my first post. Just ingnore them and they will get bored LOL

Wasn't this thread about Dishonor system/points? Has anyone seen the reporting command work yet?

So you admit that you named your character because it offends people. Now you're upset that one of the offended folks might report you?

Its no pain no gain situation.
Putting /report to use will clean up the mess for less social interaction.

If /report system turn out to be bad Dev will just remove it ,not about who got a louder voice.