Curse

Tachyon · Dec 05, 2007, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divinus Stella

There are way too many carebears in guildwars, they all gather on GWO.

Words like ass and Hitler shouldnt be blocked at all.
AFAIK ass is just a donkey and hitler is a name, its only because of sad over PC people that they are blocked, the sort of people that are so anal about political correctness that they are afraid to refer to someone as being black incase they appear racist.

Great, now civilisation as we know it is about to crumble! I knew this day would arrive, but just not this soon. I find myself in full agreement with a Welshie.

Turtle222 · Dec 05, 2007, 07:18 PM // 19:18

i feel sorry for donkeys

A11Eur0 · Dec 05, 2007, 08:45 PM // 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by A11Eur0

I have a quick question about a name i tried making:

Lina Mindrender.

It told me it was offensive thus unacceptable. Strange...because I have 7 characters now with the first name Lina...and Mindrender is used in GW already for a Mergoyle boss in Kryta.

AuraofMana · Dec 05, 2007, 09:07 PM // 21:07

/WTB Offensive report from all of you so I can get a name change. Paying 1k each PM me :O

Inde · Dec 05, 2007, 09:26 PM // 21:26

I love cussing/swearing/inappropriate word threads and discussions. Please understand that it's all subjective and your own opinion. I've been through this discussion more times then I can count (shout out to all our IRC people!) and really it's common sense. The majority of times people get up in arms about a word or phrase being suddenly banned or action taken against them when the person knew all along that it was offensive. That it was questionable. That it would be frowned upon by others but choose to do it anyway. I'm not saying that anyone's opinion on this is wrong because again... being offended or finding a particular word bannable or not is just your opinion. But if you want to display something like that in public, than you stand that risk. You'll also have a hard time convincing a good number of people that you really didn't mean to offend or that you can't see why someone else might have a problem with it.

Gaile Gray · Dec 05, 2007, 09:31 PM // 21:31

One thing that I didn't see mentioned: Guild Wars is available in more than 100 countries; it is currently localized in more than ten languages. What may be fine in one language may be not-so-fine in another language, and I've seen a lot of blocked for names that at first brush seemed perfectly ok. (The name "Sega" comes to mind. A few people thought we were nervous about the mention of another game company. Nope, in fact, our localization specialists tell us that the name, or a derivation of the name, is offensive in Italian.) Some words are part of a word, or a form of a word, that's just not appropriate in a given language; with people travelling between regions or territories more easily than ever, we have to consider that.

Some real-world names are blocked. They should be. Who is really thinks that "Hitler" is a cool, clever, or even acceptable character name, anyway?

Obviously, "creative spelling" isn't a good idea. Because names cannot be blocked, it's not appropriate to look the other way for names like "Azz" that are "creative spelling" for a word generally used for a human's backside, even if that word also means donkey. I don't find the word terribly offensive; you may not find the word offensive at all, but assuredly some people do, and -- this is critical -- the people who find it offensive cannot block it. So, it's blocked. No one is being shown disrespect by the blocking, and some are being shown respect for their feelings through the blocking.

I know the arguments about this; in quite a few cases I've even voiced the arguments. But end of the day, name blocks need to happen. It's not hard to find an non-offensive name. It's not hard to be wild, over-the-top, and cutting-edge without being crude or offending someone -- just use some creativity. We're sorry to block names, and we do appreciate that for some players, the line of what is and is not acceptable is not exactly where they would like it to be. But in a game that has sold more than 4 million copies in dozens and dozens of countries around the world, it's only fair to go for a reasonable "common denominator" that allows a certain degree of freedom of expression and personal choice without trampling on the sensitivities or the expectations of other players.

Tachyon · Dec 05, 2007, 09:36 PM // 21:36

Then please explain why I was told by your very own support staff that I couldn't name my pet Tiger 'Bagpuss' due to it being a severely offensive term? If you can come up with a good enough explanation as to why 'Bagpuss' is offensive then I'll be OK with that and let it drop, but you won't as it isn't offensive at all, let alone severely offensive.

seut · Dec 05, 2007, 09:48 PM // 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

The name "Sega" comes to mind. A few people thought we were nervous about the mention of another game company. Nope, in fact, our localization specialists tell us that the name, or a derivation of the name, is offensive in Italian.

Better tell Segafredo espresso that their name is offensive in Italy... oh, wait they are Italian and still dare to use their clearly offensive name for a worldwide operating company (www.segafredo.it). Maybe "Sega" isn't viewed as offensive except by a minority abusing it?
Being overly sensitive and trying to ban every possible slang abuse will ultimately kill the fun for the majority of us. (Btw. there is a profession in GW with the word "ass" in it... twice!)

Gaile Gray · Dec 05, 2007, 10:47 PM // 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azagoth

Then please explain why I was told by your very own support staff that I couldn't name my pet Tiger 'Bagpuss' due to it being a severely offensive term? If you can come up with a good enough explanation as to why 'Bagpuss' is offensive then I'll be OK with that and let it drop, but you won't as it isn't offensive at all, let alone severely offensive.

It's the name of a television show -- I have no idea why it would be called offensive! Did you write back to ask for further details? And do you know if you heard from US or EU support?

Quote:

Originally Posted by seut

Better tell Segafredo espresso that their name is offensive in Italy... oh, wait they are Italian and still dare to use their clearly offensive name for a worldwide operating company (www.segafredo.it). Maybe "Sega" isn't viewed as offensive except by a minority abusing it? Being overly sensitive and trying to ban every possible slang abuse will ultimately kill the fun for the majority of us. (Btw. there is a profession in GW with the word "ass" in it... twice!)

I am not Italian. Nor do I speak Italian. I cannot speak to the reasons for the block, only relay what I was told. I'm sorry that I do not know more.

Obviously, using the word "ass" is not the same as using a word with the three-letter combination, like "assassin." Labeling actions as "overly sensitive," accusing the company of "trying to ban every possible slang abuse," and stating that what we're (not) doing "will ultimately kill the fun for the majority" is engaging in a string of hyperbole such as I've not seen since the last Shady's Used Car, Socket Wrench, and Internet Provider ad on the local access channel. Honestly!

We attempt to keep the sensitivity level as liberal as it can be in a global game that crosses national, age, political, religious, and social borders.
The instinct is to not ban, but to ban when it is perceived as needed.
People can appeal.
As I've said many times, without a name filter, the "bar" for blocking a name is going to be higher than it would be for acceptable chat.

I hope this is helpful information.

Amy Awien · Dec 05, 2007, 11:03 PM // 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief

LOL, just like Heil is apparently a bad word as well.... Alles Heil, Mein Gilde Lord. /epicfail society on making common place words somehow bad.

The typical anglo-centric arrogance, or is 'hail' a bad word too? The word 'heiland' is another word for Christ in my language, that would be 'bad' to according to the filter?

Gaile Gray · Dec 05, 2007, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

The typical anglo-centric arrogance, or is 'hail' a bad word too? The word 'heiland' is another word for Christ in my language, that would be 'bad' to according to the filter?

Before someone suggests that this was linguistic "arrogance," and before someone insults the international support team by calling them "Anglo-centric," when the very team lead is a native German-speaker, can we not consider whether this block was simply the result of a lack of understanding of the language? Or, consider that perhaps the German-language support team members felt that the uses of "heil" were generally of a negative nature?

I will try to find out how someone with with a partial name including "Heil" was blocked, but first, please tell me the full name so that I can do so.

makosi · Dec 05, 2007, 11:36 PM // 23:36

I've seen a name in-game which incorporates bestiality, prostitution and sleaze although this person remains an active player.

What exactly are the grounds for bannings? I can't decide whether the EULA's list is too specific or too vague.

Lady Lozza · Dec 06, 2007, 12:09 AM // 00:09

I too find the name bannings rules/guidelines to be a little vague.
For the most part, the people I hear about getting banned are using single (creatively spelt) words designed to (apparently) get around the filter. However, like makosi - I too have seen names ingame suggesting concepts which players under 18 years of age certainly shouldn't be subjected to (if only by ratings guidelines) yet they still seem to persist ingame simply because they are "just a collection of non-rude words".

Gaile Gray · Dec 06, 2007, 04:39 AM // 04:39

If you have name concerns, I urge you to type /report and express those concerns. I cannot give you chapter and verse on why this name was not banned or why that name was actioned. There are a million words in the dozen languages that we serve, and it would not be possible for me to try to address each potential use or misuse, nor to answer the all-too-common vague references to that sort of thing.

I would -- we would -- welcome your reports, after which someone with the training and the wisdom to make an assessment of the name can do so and determine if it needs to be changed. You can post names about which you have a concern here if you wish, or you can use /report.

yesitsrob · Dec 06, 2007, 06:44 AM // 06:44

Pretty much getting banned for this kind of thing almost seems as silly as getting banned for bumping one of your Ventari's Sell threads 4 minutes early.

As far as Sega goes, what kind of non-italian speaker is going to know that is a curse word in that language? I actually learned this when Arsenal were sponsored by Sega and would actually have Dreamcast on their shirt when playing in the Champions League... I can't imagine a lot of people will know this, it doesn't warrent a ban, it warrents a warning.

I would recommend people stop being gestapo dipshits and not report offensive names, the name filter covers anything genuinely offensive, hell you can't even have "suck" in your name - if you are offended by Azz you should probably /wrist or at the very least get off the internet

Pro-Monk · Dec 06, 2007, 06:53 AM // 06:53

Nothing wrong with Anet keeping a civil environment for the community. I've been reporting offensive names since I began playing the game and will continue to do so now that it is so much easier with the newer reporting format. Crude, rude, and plainly foul mouthed language is nothing more than a childish attempt to gain attention, and this applies to offensive names as well.

I also regularly report "abusive" language. Filter or not, there's no reason that people have to put up with someone spewing the most offensive comments they can in local chat just to stir things up. The same applies to these very forums, where offensive lanuage is unacceptable.

Three cheers for whomever reported the punk.....lol

jezz · Dec 06, 2007, 07:09 AM // 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chik N Nuggets

and im one of em

yes sometimes i farm for offensive names and report them

call me an ass if you will but guild wars needs cleaning

you seem to be a little odd to me..like you are looking for fault in players names...(FARM for offensive names) dont you have better things to do with your time? you do know there is no current titles or bounty for reporting..

Gaile..if AZZ is meant to be ASS and is regarded as offensive...yet ASSassin contains that same name..how is that any different..i mean the players that reported the OP must have a hard time in factions with all those assassins running around.

jezz

杀TanK杀 · Dec 06, 2007, 01:27 PM // 13:27

Because assassins are know everyone, when you see assasin, i think a little guy in tobes slicing people up.. not how funny it is that the name starts with the letters -ass-

jezz · Dec 06, 2007, 01:39 PM // 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by 杀TanK杀

Because assassins are know everyone, when you see assasin, i think a little guy in tobes slicing people up.. not how funny it is that the name starts with the letters -ass-

i agree with you but others seem hung up on minor issues like azz..that was my point...when you can say AZZ is offensive (not the actual word), yet to be looking at every word that exists in game that may offend..wouldnt those upset with AZZ also be offended by ASSasin..damn they need to get a life..because you can almost in every players name find someone that finds something in it that would be offensive. especially when you have players farming for names to report..sheesh

IslandHermet · Dec 06, 2007, 03:46 PM // 15:46

Just use your brains when making character names and talking in chat.

This game is rated T for Teen, thats 13+. I know I hate this as well it should be rated M for mature. but since it is not, any and all forms of curse words are not welcome.