Curse

Tall Dude · Apr 24, 2005, 10:12 PM // 22:12

Why ar you guys so offended if someone just wont stop talking to them? Just keep thinking they are 35 years old living with thier mom in the basement....with a girlfrien who actually in fact is a man

Silmor · Apr 24, 2005, 10:14 PM // 22:14

What I mean is, stalking starts somewhere. If someone you only know from in-game becomes obsessed with you to the point of stalking, there may be a long period before that where he expresses this obsession in-game only. Even though it may technically not be considered stalking, the nature is very much the same, so I don't think it's entirely accurate to call a premonition of what is happening paranoia, since there might very well be something more going on.

Borealis · Apr 24, 2005, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Reading some of these posts just re-affirms why I don't talk to ANY females in ANY games, say the wrong thing or talk to the wrong person and you're automatically thrown in the "stalker" "creep" "pervert" category when in fact maybe it's just a case of someone being friendly. I for one, am married, but is there something wrong with talking to women? Seems that way....at least in this game.

Some of these people out there are giving some guys such a bad rep it seems....I dunno if this is the right word....but taboo to talk to females/female characters in the game. Which is pretty sad/lame/1500 other words.

I think some people, sad to say but they should take notes from counterstrike players, if a girl/female/whatever enters a server not a single person will believe they're a chick regardless of what they do. So as far as I'm concerned from now on, all the "women" in here are fat, hairy bald ugly men. So there.

Scaphism · Apr 24, 2005, 11:54 PM // 23:54

I want to add that stalking online is a serious, criminal issue, and should not be taken lightly or mocked here.
If people feel like they are being harassed in game, they need to feel comfortable enough to report it. Making light of their problems causes more pain and doubt.

This topic has taken a serious turn. Please think carefully before you add a flippant remark to the thread, because what may seem like a non-issue to you may be a serious issue for a fellow community member.

Brungo · Apr 25, 2005, 12:04 AM // 00:04

I am a male and will be playing a female char as my main. I played a female monk over this past weekend and made her tiny as well. I had 0 problems with guy toons /tell me and the such. I, like the other males here, play a female toon due to the free hand outs

Manderlock · Apr 25, 2005, 12:20 AM // 00:20

I see no issue here. If you feel threatened follow these simple steps.

1. Change districts (they cant follow)

2. /ignore (they cant talk to you)

There is no way someone can *stalk* you in this game, unless you give out to much info. Which is a "no no" on the net anyway.

Just be smart, and there is nothing going to happen to you.

Borealis · Apr 25, 2005, 12:32 AM // 00:32

If someone is playing a game in which they are almost completely anonymous to the real world doesn't feel comfortable enough to report someone maybe they shouldn't be playing, along with the fact like Manterlock just said, it's not that hard to "be smart" about it.

Dalia · Apr 25, 2005, 12:35 AM // 00:35

It certainly can become an emotional issue for those of us who have experienced stalking in-game and out. I'm grateful for those here who seem to understand that.

Some sound suggestions have been offered here. We're lucky GW has these built-in methods to cope with offensive players.

What I don't understand are those who just keep returning to this thread and repeating "paranoia." Some players are young and inexperienced gamers. Telling them they're just paranoid not only diminishes and discounts their own experience but discourages them from speaking up to receive the good advice offered here.

Dalia

funbun · Apr 25, 2005, 01:03 AM // 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladimir Dragos

Point is, harrassment comes in many forms.

Probably a bunch of 12 year kids jerking off behind the screen. Ted Bundies in the making. It's sad.

Ivy · Apr 25, 2005, 01:08 AM // 01:08

Back when I started playing games online, guys could be a problem. During everquest I had several "stalkers" from my old guild (who had my email address because our leader required all members to give him their email addresses and put them on our guild website). Didn't go past annoying emails, but it was a pain.

I ended up leaving that guild, and since then have barely had any issues. In fact, I would say in comparison to a few years ago, guy/girl relations in games have gotten extremely better.

I'm sure the original poster just got stuck with a few of the jerks, and as it's been said, ignoring and changing districts is the best thing to do (if they're really bad you could report them too).

I am however tired of this "I will assume all girl characters are fat guys" thing (and Borealis, I really can't understand why you would not talk to any female character.. you're not going to allow yourself to speak with a large percentage of the players then). Someone has to post something like it anytime something like this comes up. If you're playing the game, you shouldn't be thinking about what gender the people around you really are anyway, right?

Aria · Apr 25, 2005, 01:14 AM // 01:14

Just to add my $.02 to this, my main character has been a monk for the last couple of BWEs, and I always make her the smallest size possible. That said, I've also never been harassed in game before.

To me, it's not so much what size character you are. If deranged individuals want to harass you, they'd do so no matter the size of the character. With that in mind, my advice is to find a nice guild and collect a good list of friends to team with. Pick up groups have never been my thing, and in my experience, leads to more aggravation than fun.

Instancing in this game is a beautiful thing.

DarkWasp · Apr 25, 2005, 01:21 AM // 01:21

This is about 1 level down, rather then all the way down.

If an average human male was the size of the middle character size. Then the average female would be one level lower.

Maybe its that.

Then again, I could be wrong.

Adaria · Apr 25, 2005, 01:30 AM // 01:30

Ok, there actually ARE 35 year olds that live with their parents playing GW, that have girlfriends... that AREN'T male o.o;

How do I know?

I know a few personally...

Not every guy thats over thirty is a creepy nerd stalker XD

Then again i'm just rambling...

The only thing my BF finds offensive about this game is lack of facial hair for warriors...

BUT thats beside the point...

Stalking in a game can be really annoying, but there IS such things as the ignore/block list...

Epinephrine · Apr 25, 2005, 01:37 AM // 01:37

I've had no issues. I happen to be male, but it's not like anybody can tell when you play a female character. I have an equal split of male and female characters (male monk and ranger, female necromancer and mesmer) and have noticed no differences in the way I am treated either way - excepting that my monk got a lot more invites - I am guessing that's a class thing though, not some bizarre association with "maleness". It is incomprehensible why anyone would bother following you around in the sea of female avatars out there without some form of encouragement; you allude to it happening a lot - I can't see how unless you either have the worst luck on the planet or make reference constantly to the fact that you are female in life. As has been mentioned, it's easy to escape from folks should you happen to meet one you dislike, and not revealing information about yourself is probably a good habit anyway online.

Quote:

Originally Posted by funbun

Probably a bunch of 12 year kids jerking off behind the screen. Ted Bundies in the making. It's sad.

Laughable. Guess that's your degree in criminal psychology coming to the fore? Bundy was so normal that nobody believed it could be him. He was educated, handsome, outgoing and charismatic. He worked at a rape crisis center, had no criminal record until 1976. He was not the typical sexually repressed stereotype but was comfortable around women, a scholarship winner and well thought of.

As for the 12 year old comment, 12 year olds masturbating is perfectly healthy. I can only think you are mentioning it because you somehow find it repugnant - I doubt any would use GW as a source for fantasies given how available sexual material is on the net.

DarkWasp · Apr 25, 2005, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Then again, did your character have a "sexy" name. That has influence too.

Borealis · Apr 25, 2005, 05:20 AM // 05:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy

Back when I started playing games online, guys could be a problem. During everquest I had several "stalkers" from my old guild (who had my email address because our leader required all members to give him their email addresses and put them on our guild website). Didn't go past annoying emails, but it was a pain.

I ended up leaving that guild, and since then have barely had any issues. In fact, I would say in comparison to a few years ago, guy/girl relations in games have gotten extremely better.

I'm sure the original poster just got stuck with a few of the jerks, and as it's been said, ignoring and changing districts is the best thing to do (if they're really bad you could report them too).

I am however tired of this "I will assume all girl characters are fat guys" thing (and Borealis, I really can't understand why you would not talk to any female character.. you're not going to allow yourself to speak with a large percentage of the players then). Someone has to post something like it anytime something like this comes up. If you're playing the game, you shouldn't be thinking about what gender the people around you really are anyway, right?

That was more of trying to prove a point more then anything, I'm sure I'll talk to females in the game, but I'm not going to go out of my way to do so, nor will I treat them differently then any other guy playing. It seems [b]TO ME[b/] in this thread a mountain is being made out of a mohill, every person in here obviously knows how to avoid such people and if they're unable to do so or put themselves in such a situation it's their fault. Yes stalkers are a serious issue.....in real life, this is a videogame...nothing more.

By the way, how can you be tired of the comment I made.......if every guy thought like that this thread would not exist. Right? You're also correct about thinking about someones gender while playing, I don't....please don't assume the married guy does. I could careless whether I'm playing with a chick, dude, hermie or what have you.

P.S. Don't misconstrue the comment about mountains and mohills I made, I've had my share of stalkers......imagine having a 350 gay guy stalk you at work

and follow you around every time you go outside to smoke....yet mr. stalker doesn't smoke. Then imagine having to tell your gay boss about it......not fun.

SSE4 · Apr 25, 2005, 05:51 AM // 05:51

I really only gave this thread a brief overview since I'm busy, and I apologize if anything I say has been said.

This is just one of those things. Some of it is the fact that you may just be a nice character, but a fair bit of it is also the fact that players, although may not be more "attracted" in a sexual sense to you, but rather just in a psychological sense. I mean, the female character (Or what some might assume is a female player) would be a fair bit nicer, maybe less goal-orientated, and overall someone other players want to go with. This is based off a gross number of generalizations, as most of our thoughts are. But personally, I don't even care.

I don't play female characters in this game, not because I never have and/or because I think it's "sick". I've found myself playing a female in World of Warcraft (Female Human Paladin) because the males looked butt ugly. When I adventure in the world, I want a good looking character, regardless of sex. So then why must they make the guys look deformed? I don't know, maybe to force players who desire a cool looking character onto the female sex. I do however, understand that players tend to be more "clingy" to female characters, probably due to my generalized reasons which I stated above. Size doesn't seem to have anything to do with it, it's sex-based.

They're just more interested in talking to you, for whatever reason it may be (It varies between players) as opposed to the manly man with a beard. It's nothing new, and I'm sorry that I don't really have any advice for you to perhaps help you, except to keep your "cicle" of friends select. Just need to tough it out really. I would just ignore them. Sure, you may think it isn't nice, but it isn't nice interrupting someone either.

There is more than one girl in any given world. So it makes sense that some people may not experience it, and/or you may not experience it all the time. Just because it didn't happen to you doesn't make the people who have had this experience paranoid. It's based purely on chance.

Tanik · Apr 25, 2005, 04:47 PM // 16:47

i admit i prefer to play with people who use female characters, alot like SSE4 said its the generalizations. Most people who play male chars are more agressive by nature, they seem to talk less and run ahead of the group more(this is my experience it may be different for you, and i have found a few male players like myself who dont have this "i can do it myself" attitude) But people who play as female are more talkative, more friendly, and all in all generally better team mates whether its a girl or guy behind the screen dosent really matter its the attitude they approach the game with that makes me want to play with them. I personally refuse to use female characters (tho i was very tempted on my warrior) but this is mainly due to the fact that i like to feel that im the one in the game, and being female REALLY constrews that image i have in my mind

Talsar · Apr 25, 2005, 05:34 PM // 17:34

From my gaming experiences: Sometimes there is a group of young puppies who cling to the first person crossing their path and label that person a friend. They will doggishly follow the friend and never tire from tells/suggestions/questions/invites, no matter how bruntly kicked or how often deviously slaughtered by luring them as "bait" for the level-impossible-uber-slaying-monster-from-hell.

The good news is that those persons are rarely "gender based" in their targetting, they are 1) too insecure to speak to other gender 2) random in their approach.

Normal players answer a question when asked about basic gameplay (ergo like where is the exit). Some take that up as a signal for the "friend label"

Like most vermin, very hard to get rid of.
One method that seems infallible though. Will not post on forum due to "sensitive ears" being about.

Manderlock · Apr 25, 2005, 06:22 PM // 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talsar

From my gaming experiences: Sometimes there is a group of young puppies who cling to the first person crossing their path and label that person a friend. They will doggishly follow the friend and never tire from tells/suggestions/questions/invites, no matter how bruntly kicked or how often deviously slaughtered by luring them as "bait" for the level-impossible-uber-slaying-monster-from-hell.

The good news is that those persons are rarely "gender based" in their targetting, they are 1) too insecure to speak to other gender 2) random in their approach.

Normal players answer a question when asked about basic gameplay (ergo like where is the exit). Some take that up as a signal for the "friend label"

Like most vermin, very hard to get rid of.
One method that seems infallible though. Will not post on forum due to "sensitive ears" being about.

PM it to me, I can tell it will make me laugh