Have you been banned for your name?

The difference is that no one is subjected to polluting their food by ketchup if they don't want to, but allowing these names pollutes the gaming experience without a choice.

Im just gonna put this out on the table.

If you look at most other games single player and online they rate the game its self, if the game has killing,cursing,and other adult material they rate it M for mature.

But when you go to play online they state (blah blah company does not rate online play) or Online play is not rated by (EA) as a example

Then we have Guild wars and other similer mmos who think they can rate a online game...........THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN NOT DO. you can rate the game material but not the online expirience.

and even if they go of that Anet still F-uped with the rating
The game curses the game has offensive Npc names, it has killing, fighting, War, monsters etc... so with this in mind the "game" should be rated M and when you log on for the first time it should state very clear that this "game" is rated M for mature due to graphic violence, language, partial nudity. "Online play not rated by Ncsoft or Anet"

its seems to be what most other game makers do (why should anet be any different)

I don't think you know what you are talking about.

ANet does not rate their own games. Also, I don't see anything in GW that would parallel actual graphic violence. As for partial nudity, it's rated as suggestive themes.

Last time I checked, T games are allowed to have war, violence, killing...

Additionally, although you can not rate online experience, you can still police it. They're traditionally done by GM's and has been there since the beginning of time. GW uses different methods, but the purpose is the same.

So, even if the majority of players don't care if they see a necromancer named Bone Daddy, one person should be able to cry out "shun the polluter of the gaming world because I can see the potential for sexual reference!!" and target that player for a name that is perfectly acceptable in most circles as a hard rock cover band, character in Nightmare Before Christmas, restaurant, blues band, motorcycle shop, etc. (and, yes, it may be used as a sexual reference, but more often is not).

One person should have the power to say, I don't like Ketchup, therefor no one can have any? And don't mention ketchup or I'll have your mayo taken too! It really is a silly thing when it is NOT an obviously lurid, suggestive, offensive name and one person gets to say, nope, sorry, don't like it, you lose. If a person goes into a fast food restaurant, orders a burger and fries, they should probably expect condiments to be part of the experience. It really is like one person complaining about the food and the restaurant manager (ANet) taking items off of the menu because of one complaint....sure they have the right to do it, but at some point the patrons might stop coming in.

Well, the patrons are still coming in, and honestly, I couldn't care less about those that would stop coming in because their w/mo named "poop" was forced to have a name change. From this side of the fence: Give me a break. Can't you handle your character name without toilit humor?

Sure, patrons are coming in, but how many stay? Yeah, "Poop" is stupid, but so is I Pwnd U Suxorz, but none of those names get the stick. And poop is not necessarily fecal material "Im Pooped", great name for a monk. It can mean the back of the boat, being exhausted, or "info" as in "Give me the strait poop." Poop isn't all bad. And not all the names getting the stick are toilet humor...once again, the problem is there are no clear lines as to how far you can go. It comes down to the tastes of a few people who have issues with a little light humor that leans towards the inappropriate side.

I will always agree with you about profanity, racism, sexism and abuse...but I still think people have the right to be stupid. And that there are people making far to much of a few names that are a wee bit off. I'd rather see all the Legolas variants go than a few goofy names. I suppose you'd have someone report Rock N Roll because its name is a reference to the movements of bodies during sex?

We could go on and on...You on your side of the fence, me on mine. I guess good fences make good neighbors a lot of the time. I just wish ANet would be more specific, align their expectations with their general T rating and not give such a huge amount of power to such a small minority with the /report feature and their "sole discretion" which I see as "whatever gets /reported."

I will concede to the point that there are a lot of names that deserve the ban, but I wish more people could see that there are names that really don't deserve it getting whacked by the banstick. All I hear from your side of the fence is offensive names deserve it, but rarely addressed is the point that there are names with very little, or nothing obvious, wrong with them getting taken out or blocked...what about these people and their right to enjoy the game? Should their not be some means of addressing the issue with ANet, reviewing the name or having an opportunity to rebut/appeal within the process? As it stands, perfectly good names can be banned because someone just felt like typing /report...how is that even remotely fair?

Oh thx for the info Maca :P

I'm italian, I don't think I'd like to offend myself or something xD Dago...weird word :s

This has turned into Carebear/Fantasy Roleplayers vs. People Who Don't Care.

Personally, I take offense that ANet banned Blowjob Sandwich. I got me lots of famez on that character.

The bastards!
So they ban "sandwich" now?!??!

*faints*

I think alot of the problems that GW is experiencing would be solved if Anet had active GMs watching over the game. But of course this involves an expense that they do not want to have. So they come up with the /report function so that others can do the watching for them. That in turn makes players mad at other players for reporting them when Anet created it in the first place. I think Anet needs to take responsibility for their own policing without relying upon their player base to shoulder the majority of the responsibility.

I have only reported 2 people for names. One was a very lurid sexual reference (so bad that it wasn't even open for any other interpertation) and the other was a racial slur. All of the other names that I have seen that I really don't appreciate I just let pass with a shake of my head (sometimes even a chuckle). If most people took this kind of attitude then I don't think we would be having this discussion. If someone wants to name their character "big bewbs" then to me atleast this is a very minor thing.

I just wish that people would stop calling anyone who uses the /report feature a "carebear". There are some instances where a /report is entirely warranted. There has to be some kind of check and balance system or the system will simply degrade untill it's no fun for anyone.

The problem is that you are talking context. Your example of "Im Pooped" would probably not warrant a ban. It's contextual. "Poop licker" however would be inappropriate.

Give me one example of a name that was inappropriately banned. I have yet to see one. So far I have only seen a single post with someone who got banned and he gave a name list that didn't have anything that I would consider inappropriate. However he doesn't yet know what name was banned. Every single other "I got banned" post I have read has full well been inappropriate.

Ludicrous statement yet again. You know full well what Rock N Roll is. The origin of the words doesn't make the meaning of the words. Rock N Roll as everyone knows is a music genre. It has been that way for about 50 years.

I have yet to see a violation that didn't warrant the ban and name change. Then again. It's THEIR game and THEIR rules and THEIR discretion. You seem to believe that every /report of a name violation ends in a ban. I don't believe that for a second.

And again, you state that there are names that don't deserve a ban being banned. Give an example. You also keep with the thought that every /report is a ban which I don't concede.

Brawling Headbutt got banned
and yes it a name of a skill ingame. There is an example of PC going crazy.

Or the ever legendary, "Lets go out there and twat it."

Season 3, Episode 3.

Probably? Room for doubt?


Brawling Headbutt has been mentioned neumerous times, as well as the poor soul who listed some 6-7 names, none of which could be pin-pointed as offensive...that's a wait-and-see...of course that thread was closed The name "Wyrmtongue" is blocked....why?

How is it ludicrous? 50 years or 5 minutes...it describes the act of S-E-X and is, was and shall ever be a sexual reference. People who know this may be offended. Just as the term Sucked Dry has been a reference to oil wells for 100 years, describes vampire activity and the end of a milkshake, but we all know it can be understood as something else, so common is the phrase, however, most folks wouldn't bat an eye if it's spoken, but god forbid it becomes the name of your necro. Obviously, make it Suck Me Dry, and we have a problem.

No need to shout, we know whose game it is...I never said every /report and have mentioned several times that many names deserve it.


Wow! You just really want me to be wrong, huh? Quote for me one time where I made a blanket statement and said ALL /reports end up banned. I keep mentioning subtleties and nuances, but so many of you folks want it to be absolutes. The world is not black and white, no matter how much you might want it to be.


I am merely pointing out the potential for abuse and the reality that there are people who become offended over very little.

When dealing with humans there is always room for doubt. It doesn't change the facts. If they ban something then it's banned. Even if no one can see the reason.

I agree that Brawling Headbutt shouldn't deserve a ban per se, however it is a skill in Guild Wars. Verbatim. That falls under their "Proprietary Rights" clause and is probably why it was banned. I don't agree with the decision but it is their sole discretion.

Wyrmtongue wasn't banned. It was blocked from creation. We can only speculate as to why. It could be as simple as the name already taken or something in the filter.

Give me a break. Lets take the word "Fag" for example. Before it became a slur against someone's sexual preference, it's meaning was "cigarette" or wadding used to start a fire. In this day and age, a character named "Fag" would be inappropriate in every way/shape/form. If it was the past, it wouldn't be an issue.

You know full well what is and is not appropriate.

Even if the person behind the screen is well meaning it's still not appropriate. For example: The above person who did not realize the racial slur of Dago. He was well meaning and just made a name. It however deserved it's ban whether or not he meant it as the slur that it is.

Yet you still defend the indefensible. The pure fact is. It's their game. They can and will ban things under their sole discretion. The caps was for emphasis.

In this case. It is black and white. It's their sole discretion. Black and White. No matter what you or I think it keeps coming back to their sole discretion.

Here's your blanket statement: "I just wish ANet would be more specific, align their expectations with their general T rating and not give such a huge amount of power to such a small minority with the /report feature and their "sole discretion" which I see as "whatever gets /reported."

There you specifically state your opinion of /report in a blanket fashion.

There is no possibility of abuse. A /report does not mean a /ban. Yes, there are people who are offended at everything. They can /report all they want, but at the end of the day. It's only the person receiving the /report that can issue the /ban.

Here's a scary thought for you. Perhaps the person at ANET who is in charge of the name bans is one of those people...

You can't use the word Dot as part of your name either. It's my aunt Dorothy's nickname, but it's not allowed. Department of Transportation?

Kumu is 100% correct; It is entirely Anet's discretion.

One thing I have a problem with is the ban itself, not necessarily the reasons for banning. Why is it needed? I could maybe understand some kind of three strike system. Just freeze the account until the player changes the name in question. If they create another 'offensive' name two more times, then slap on a 72-hour (or however long) ban.

->Have you ever been banned for having an inappropriate name?
No, because I'm not as dumb as to go for potentially bannable names trying to look funny.
->What was it? Do you feel your ban was justified?
N/A

...and you have no problem with not knowing the reason? Blindly following whatever you're told? Sorry, just not within me to accept that lifestyle for myself. Might be OK for some, but not my preference.



"Sole discretion" is just a fancy way of saying, "You have no choice." I get that. Why do people keep hammering away that the rules are the rules, when the rules are not clearly defined? Sole discretion is just a way for ANet to cover its ass if anyone gripes. I am not arguing that they do not poses this power, nor am I arguing that they don't have the right to use it as they will...I'm saying that the /report feature as a means to trigger this power needs to be more carefully considered.

Never said it was banned. And NO it wasn't already taken. I just have an issue with the filter as well....probably shouldn't have brought it up.

In the past "Rock N Roll" was an issue and still may be for some people...though they may be an extreme minority. I imagine the same folks would feel the same way about games with killing and probably wouldn't play GUild Wars. But then, that might not keep them from seeing it if their grandchildren were playing during a visit. You sure you want to dismiss this group? After all, they are on your side.

No. I don't. That is to say, IRL I tend to push boundries and find where the line is drawn. We all do it, it's how we learn. For anyone to say they know full well what is and is not appropriate is arrogant or ignorant. And even more so to presume anything about what I know. Until my questions are answered, and the lines are clearly defined, I will NEVER know "full well".

Sure, ignorance has never been a defense against the law (or rules). I've said it before: racial slurs should be banned. In this case, a review of the name and a chance to change it without the ban would be more fair that assuming the person meant it as a slur, especially since it's a bit more obscure. I've always thought it to mean: Department of the Army General Officer as I have a lot of family in the military.

Repeating it over and over is not an argument. The discussion should be centered on what constitutes a bannable name...though we are only OT by the fringes. Repeating the rule without it being clearly understood or defined is not going to improve anyone's understanding of it.


It is NOT just what we think...It is what anyone who choses to use the /report feature thinks as well. ANet may not ban every report, but if the report instigates the investigation (assuming there is one), then those who use it have opinions that matter.

I suppose it could be read as "blanket statement" without using "every" or "all". Allow me to clarify: Every /report, no matter how ludicrous, gives power to the minority should ANet chose to exercise its "sole discretion".
I never meant to imply that all /reports get banned...hence my omission of the words "all" or "banned".



If there is no possibility of abuse, why does ANet have a policy on abusing the report feature: RULE #1 from Rules of conduct:

While playing Guild Wars, you must respect the rights of others and their rights to play and enjoy the game. To this end, you may not defraud, harass, threaten, or cause distress and/or unwanted attention to other players. You will not report players maliciously, or cause them to be investigated without reason. Perhaps you presume too much of people...like they might be offended at a rated T game that might contain rated T content.

It does frighten me when people of narrow opinions wield any kind of power...The narrow minded, with their blinders on to what is right and wrong, presuming that all rules, just because they are rules, are right and just...Precisely that kind of thinking has ended in tragedy throughout our collective history.

Having an opportunity to express your thoughts, no matter what others may think of them, like in this forum, is occasionally the catalyst for change. ANet does, from time-to-time, read our posts and from time-to-time act upon what we write. I may presume too much in assuming that reasonable people will be heard...or even that I am a reasonable person, but at least I'm open to possibilities instead of blindly accepting all that the world presents me because "rules are rules."

EDIT: Why do I bang my head agaisnt the wall? Because it feels good when I stop. After looking at yet another wall of text, I'm done. I see the discussion cannot go any further as the arguments remain the same and I have found myself repeatedly addressing the same, statements from the Department of Redundancy Department. Rather than agreeing to disagree...I'm stopping now.

"I feel good." - James Brown

I'm just going to take a stab in the dark, Glib you are one of the people who reports every little name/thing. It's a game and it's pixels, who cares if it's racist then I see a reason to do it otherwise who cares. Anet already nerfs themselves with the chat filter. Enough of the PC madness guys.

Department of Redundancy Department? Hey Pot? Meet Kettle...

lol @ Kumu not getting the joke. Priceless. I actually laughed at you out loud over this.

I miss "Nice Head Deek"

I am more offended by "Dude Wheres My Char"

Pot? No thanks, I don't smoke it...it's illegal. Ma or Pa Kettle?

Never been banned, never had a name that could get me there...though, I agree with Glib. Too easy to get hit with the stick for little reason.

Gifted Nihilist

^Yep. Banned. Anet is royally screwing themselves into oblivion. I wonder who the new schmucks in charge of this nonsense are.

I have to admit I have a couple of necros with some risque names. I created them as an inside joke for some of my guildies. Unfortunately I put alot of time and money into both of them and don't want to delete them even though I hardly play them anymore. I feel pretty stupid about it now and created another necro (with a proper name *I hope*) that can do everything they can do.

At one time I was hoping to get a request from Anet to change the names but no one ever reported and I don't really play them anymore. Still I think the first time offense banning is a bit much unless it's something blatantly nasty.

You guys think GW is bad you should see Runescape. Please refrain from the RS sucks comments. Yes, I actually like RS in spite of its primitive graphics and sound and play it but the chat filter is just outrageous to the point it often inhibits normal conversation.

"Well, I say let's get out there and twat it!"

Would be the quote.

Yes
The char name was I love nigs :P

whats wrong with that 0o?

I got the joke. I threw it back at him. He's repeating himself just as much as I was. Hence the whole "Pot/Kettle" response.

Actually, he was giving responses that were reasonably well thought out and you weren't addressing much other than saying "....uh....rules is rules, therefore you lose." At least he was making an effort to discuss it, rather than take on the role of parrot.

Friend says he got banned for Hardly Bald....wth? Someone read it as "balled" I guess.

His argument has been "What about this obscure possible reference?"

If you asked 1,000,000 people what "Rock N Roll" means. 999,999 would say that it is a music genre or other similar answer. If not the full 1,000,000.

You state your friend got banned for "Hardly Bald". I would state that is a silly ban and on par with "Brawling Headbutt".

Problem is that for every "Hardly Bald" there is 100 "Tigole Bitties".

Nihilists! Fcuk me. I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.

Walter Sobchak

I think you are not reading posts thoroughly before passing judgement. The whole Rock N Roll thing was one weak example in one post, plus one follow-up post where you were berating him for using it. I even know it's a reference to "the ol' in-out" but do I find it offensive? No. Do I think someone else might? Well maybe the Amish, but that IS someone.

So, you are saying it's OK if one of every 100 bans is unwarranted? I guess that's better than the American legal system and its rate of unjust convictions.<---a supposition I won't bother backing up with facts...I'd hate to think I'd make the same mistake as assuming .000001% of the population knows Rock N Roll means "boinking". I love saying it...boink....boink....boink...puts your panties in a bunch doesn't it? boink!!

Jeffery "Tigole" Kaplan, one of the lead designers for World of Warcraft might find it funny that ANet banned his nick-name. Or at least, the old ladies that belong in his fan club. Bitties is now, and has always been, an unkind term for women of ill repute. It used to mean older, but now younger women...Meaning is essentially the same as a milder form of "bitch". As for the obvious spoonerism Tig Ol' Bitties (actual spelling), while coming from the phrase Big Ol' Titties actually just means "a girl you'd like to boink"... Taken in any context, I don't find it at all offensive. I wonder if anyone has been banned for MILF? Tigole Bitties = Women with bad reputations that Jeffery Kaplan finds attractive :P

Never.

I was going to rename my new Dervish "Tyla Explodes" but I called him "Tyla Explodes You" instead because of ph33r of getting banned...

Sometimes I'm quite stupid...

i've not actually been banned for any of my names, but a guild mate of mine got a temp ban and had to change on of his names, stupid thing is he was able to get the exact same name again just a few weeks later and he hasn't been banned for it a second time. Guess Anet aren't very strict about locking banned names afterwards.

You seem to have been the one to pass judgment. I have said that I won't report names such as "Tigole Bitties". Instead I would only report names such as "***'s must die" where *'s are a race/religion or something similarly heinous.

You jumped to the conclusion that I must be a prude who would be offended at "Boink" without any basis whatsoever.

Also to refute you. There is no such thing as an unwarranted ban. They are all warranted if at their sole discretion they believe a name deserves a ban. Again I state it doesn't matter what you or I consider "Warranted". It's all at their sole discretion.

So if you are going to throw words like "Judgment" around. Perhaps you should research the actual discussion instead of just one or two posts in it.

See this is exactly like "Rock N Roll". You are stretching to find a "Reason" for a name that is an obvious innuendo.

I think you would be hard pressed for anyone to see "Tigole Bitties" and think "Wow, that must be Women with bad reputations that Jeffery Kaplan finds attractive!" including Jeffery Kaplan...

It's a straw man defense. Easily burned down.

Dude...switch to decaf...seriously.

Someone was offened by you not believing in an external truth? Bloody hell, this is turning into some nasty totalitarianism

Oh well, I'm sure in the coming years games like this will get banned anyway. Protecting the children indeed.

I have a Ele named GoToHell and i hope i don't get banned cause he is my money farmer right now.

i was never banned but early last year i made a char called Prince Abu Bu, i thought it was pretty funny, but half the guild thought it offensive whilst the other half lol'd, so in the end i deleted it. QQ