Curse

RSGashapon · Jun 26, 2007, 04:26 AM // 04:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snype

When I bought Guild Wars, I read the Code of Conduct. I knew what I could do and what I could not do in order to avoid losing playing privileges. My problem right now is that Arenanet has taken away my right to play (and essentially, some of my money). I don't care how long it is for. If I didn't break the Code of Conduct (I challenge someone to find out where I did), then I see no reason to ban.

EDIT:After seeing the above post, I still don't believe I violated any part of those two clauses.

Your right? Right to play? No, I think you have it wrong there. It's a privilege to play on Anet's servers, not a right. They gave the game to you and they can take it right back, either with a ban of your account or a shutdown of the entire server network. A flip of the switch, so to speak, and it's all gone. They don't owe you anything. You paid for the privilege, you didn't buy the rights to the content.

It is, however, in Anet's right to do whatever they need to uphold and enforce their side of the Code of Conduct that you so quickly agreed to.

Omniclasm · Jun 26, 2007, 04:27 AM // 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by explodemyheart

And followed it with the ideal that less people are missing legs than people suffering with AIDS. SO WHAT? Who cares if there's 1 million people with AIDS that play GW, and just 1 man with a missing leg that plays GW? If you're championing that it's not okay because those 1 million people have possibly had their lives devastated, you cannot then turn around and say "so what about John and his one leg, he's in the minority!" Offensive is offensive is offensive is offensive! It doesn't matter how many people it offends, or for what reason they are offended, you can't just exempt certain people because they're in the minority.

Are they going to ban someone because their name offends 1-2 people? No
Are they going to ban someone because their name offends thousands? Quite probable

Are the 1-2 people still offended? Probably.

My first post shows how someone could be offended by the name, since some people here cannot grasp how AIDS could be offensive to someone.

Edit: Joking about AIDS, not just mentioning it.

explodemyheart · Jun 26, 2007, 04:32 AM // 04:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omniclasm

Are they going to ban someone because their name offends 1-2 people? No
Are they going to ban someone because their name offends thousands? Quite probable

Are the 1-2 people still offended? Probably.

My first post shows how someone could be offended by the name, since some people here cannot grasp how AIDS could be offensive to someone.

Actually, as someone has already stated, it is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If someone reports it, Anet then determines whether it was offensive enough for a temporary ban and if it was a PvE character, if they will allow a name change.

In all likelihood, it comes solely down to Anet's determination of whether it was okay or not, not how many people have reported the name as offensive. It's likely that many people who've had temporary bans for offensive names have only been brought to the attention of Anet by a single random person who was offended by it. I personally know of at least one situation where a single person caused a ban.

Offensive is offensive, even in Anet's eyes, I'm sure.

Omniclasm · Jun 26, 2007, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by explodemyheart

Actually, as someone has already stated, it is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If someone reports it, Anet then determines whether it was offensive enough for a temporary ban and if it was a PvE character, if they will allow a name change.

In all likelihood, it comes solely down to Anet's determination of whether it was okay or not, not how many people have reported the name as offensive. It's likely that many people who've had temporary bans for offensive names have only been brought to the attention of Anet by a single random person who was offended by it. I personally know of at least one situation where a single person caused a ban.

Offensive is offensive, even in Anet's eyes, I'm sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Series

No? If you do something wrong, you do something wrong. And it can be wrong on a severity. For example, an armed assault would get you in less trouble then a shooting spree, because it is less severe. You are punished regardless however, which is what you seem to not comprehend.

Connect the dots.

Mad King Corn · Jun 26, 2007, 06:30 AM // 06:30

What we all seem to be missing here folks is the things in Guild Wars that may be offensive to people, should we petition Anet to remove them?
Like alcoholic beverages for instance, I had a relative die suddenly to a drunk driver, should anet remove alcohol from the game? Whenever I am in town and I see someone drunk and talking to themselves, I have flashbacks to the night of the phone call.

arcanemacabre · Jun 26, 2007, 06:51 AM // 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad King Corn

What we all seem to be missing here folks is the things in Guild Wars that may be offensive to people, should we petition Anet to remove them?
Like alcoholic beverages for instance, I had a relative die suddenly to a drunk driver, should anet remove alcohol from the game? Whenever I am in town and I see someone drunk and talking to themselves, I have flashbacks to the night of the phone call.

If you really want it removed, and you feel you can stick to your guns, by all means, petition it. The main problem here, though, is it's advertised along with the "Teen" rating that the game contains: "Suggestive Themes; Use of Alcohol; Violence". Those three things are where the devs and ESRB drew the line. I doubt the will change it, but that doesn't stop you from trying.

Angelic Upstart · Jun 26, 2007, 07:34 AM // 07:34

"The Nondenominational Highly Contagious Illness",

That made me laugh out loud,

. Seriously though the PC brigade and all thier thin skinned po faced acolytes need to get a sense of humour, period, oh and by the way i also got A IDS, it dropped for me in the Ice Imp cave,

Series · Jun 26, 2007, 07:42 AM // 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelic Upstart

"The Nondenominational Highly Contagious Illness",

That made me laugh out loud,

. Seriously though the PC brigade and all thier thin skinned po faced acolytes need to get a sense of humour, period, oh and by the way i also got A IDS, it dropped for me in the Ice Imp cave,

I think this is a problem more with society then with Guild Wars. People have begun to think that they have a right to never be offended by anything. They feel that if they don't like something, it should be removed from society. Like the people who tried to get the pledge of allegiance banned from school. If it offends you so much, don't say it. But you aren't so special that because one thing offends you it should be removed from society.

Now, applying this to the topic is a little different because nobody actually liked the guy's name. But he had every right, according to the Guild Wars license agreement at least, to do so. If AIDS was a bannable term, it would surely have been censored like countless other words. The man wasn't censor bypassing so he could make a silly name, he just had an idea for a PvP alt on the fly and hit the create button and BAM, he gets slapped with a ban. 72 hours, 24 hours, permanent, it doesn't really matter. I'm sure if you got banned for 72 hours because Anet said you dyed your armor the wrong color, you would be pissed too (perhaps the top half red and bottom half green- offending people with red-green colorblindness! A very common ailment too). Still keep the stance "It is their game, they can do what they want"? Or maybe you too would say "Hey! That isn't in the agreement I signed up for! Anet, what's going on here!"

Angelic Upstart · Jun 26, 2007, 07:58 AM // 07:58

Yeah my post at the pc brigade was aimed at the whole of society not just GW, but i think a ban was over the top, a bollocking would have been sufficient, as aids, although a widespread global problem, is not offensive in my book.The guy wasnt attacking any particular group he just used it as a name on computer game, end of story, if people dont like certain words or storylines in the national press then they should simply avoid reading them .
Peace out , i gotta take my son to school.

dargon · Jun 26, 2007, 08:00 AM // 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snype

When I bought Guild Wars, I read the Code of Conduct. I knew what I could do and what I could not do in order to avoid losing playing privileges. My problem right now is that Arenanet has taken away my right to play (and essentially, some of my money). I don't care how long it is for. If I didn't break the Code of Conduct (I challenge someone to find out where I did), then I see no reason to ban.

EDIT:After seeing the above post, I still don't believe I violated any part of those two clauses.

Intentionally or not, I can see a couple places where it could be interpreted as you having breached the Rules of Conduct.

#3 You may not use sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, or racially or ethnically offensive language.

#15 You may not organize nor be a member of any pledges or groups within Guild Wars that are based on or espouse any racist, sexist, anti-religious, anti-ethnic, anti-gay, or other hate mongering philosophies.

There is also section 4d in the User Agreement which states

(d) Character Name. In order to use the service, you must create a character and choose a name for your character to identify your character to other Members (your "Character Name"). You may not select as your Character Name the name of another person, or a name which violates any third party's trademark right, copyright, or other proprietary right, or which may mislead other players to believe you to be an employee of NC Interactive or its affiliated companies, or which NC Interactive deems at its sole discretion to be vulgar or otherwise offensive. NC Interactive reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (1) delete or alter any Character Name or (2) terminate any license granted herein, for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, any suspected or actual infringement of any trademark or trade name right, copyright, or other proprietary right.

Now, whether or not you think the name is offensive, in breach of a rule, etc etc etc, the point of the matter is that NC Interactive has the final say according to the EULA which you agreed to. Is the agreement enforceable? Who knows, do you really have enough money to hire a lawyer and find out, or would a judge take one look at your complaint and laugh his/her ass off? In the end, it's not up to us to determine what is or isn't appropriate, that is purely at NC Interactive and ANets discretion

arcanemacabre · Jun 26, 2007, 08:10 AM // 08:10

Series, you need to step out of your own mind, and realize there is a whole world out there of other people that don't think like you. The problem with society is not that people are easily offended, it's what people are capable of if given the avenue to project their intolerance of others. Why do you think he chose "A I D S" to be included in his name instead of "Influenza" or something? Was it just the first illness he could think of? Just something random he pulled out of a hat? Or do you suppose it was for shock value, knowing that at least a handful of people out there are going to see it and be disgusted, making his smile just a little bigger?

People are only truly offended when they know it's not just affecting them alone. If you took someone suffering from some odd or unknown disease and made some joke about it to their face, they may be a little depressed or find it amusing, but I guarantee they wouldn't be offended (unless they can relate it to another disease like it). They can't relate it to anyone else's plight, and will see it as a more personal thing. It may be embarrassing, depressing, or aggravating, but not offensive in any way.

Trust me, I used to think like you. I, personally don't find much of anything offensive, but that's just me. I realize that there are people out there who do, and not respecting them is much like ripping your car through someone's yard and doing donuts simply because you don't personally believe in property ownership. Respecting other's values is an important skill for a thriving society. It's called empathy. It's something that, of all people or groups, companies in a capitalist society need to understand and use if they plan on succeeding.

Free speech is fine and dandy for us regular joes (though try to avoid slander and plagiarism), but you just have to understand that the smartest move for Anet is to cater to the easily offended - or look like the anarchist bad guys among the "good society".

Div · Jun 26, 2007, 08:20 AM // 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snype

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.

Cry more, and maybe after crying you'll grow up some. AIDS is not the same thing as something like the cold or flu, and it has many other connotations in the current society that you should be aware of before using it (and if you know these connotation and are still using it, then you deserve to be banned).

Skuld · Jun 26, 2007, 08:24 AM // 08:24

Carebears know no limits!

Angelic Upstart · Jun 26, 2007, 08:25 AM // 08:25

Yeah my post at the pc brigade was aimed at the whole of society not just GW, but i think a ban was over the top, a bollocking would have been sufficient, as aids, although a widespread global problem, is not offensive in my book.The guy wasnt attacking any particular group he just used it as a name on computer game, end of story, if people dont like certain words or storylines, for example in the national press then they should simply avoid reading them.Words are just words, it is the context within which they are placed that causes offence in most cases.
Peace out , i gotta take my son to school.

bungusmaximus · Jun 26, 2007, 08:40 AM // 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt

Influenza isn't going to get you banned. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease that has killed millions of people.

Sorry, but flu also killed millions of people :P
I detest any form of censorship tbh. but GW is a game played by an international community. It's kinda hard to keep track of what all different cultures playing the game find offensive. I can't really blame aNet for trying to keep things a little neutral. They would hate it when parents don 't buy GW for their kids because they think it's bad for them, they would lose money in such a case. I personally don't give an ass when you name your char 'snype has A I D S', but the people who find it offensive are at a majority so it seems.

Etta · Jun 26, 2007, 08:44 AM // 08:44

What with the 2nd posted, Upstart? Isn't it the same as the one earlier? I'm sure the op wasn't aim to attack anyone, just didnt have any common sense or just that, an idiot. Sometime words are not just words and to avoid anything or let it go in order to be dumb and happy just doesn't seem right, does it?

Angelic Upstart · Jun 26, 2007, 09:13 AM // 09:13

What with the 2nd posted, Upstart? Isn't it the same as the one earlier?

Yeah was editing the original when i had a freeze up and double clicked, didnt realise til i saw your reference to it that i had double posted

Sometime words are not just words and to avoid anything or let it go in order to be dumb and happy just doesn't seem right, does it?

Yes they are, words are just words it is the individuals that read them and interpret different inferences that causes the differing of opinion. Also refering to your claim that it is not right to avoid things in order to be ""dumb and happy", i find your stance a little myopic , if i was so inclined im sure i could find offence within every newspaper i read, and sure some things get me riled up, but as there is no way to influence or change them, i let them go, because raging against something you have no control or influence over is a waste of time and energy, it has nothing to do with being dumb and happy.
This thread was about the rights and wrongs of a banned name, nothing else,
personally i cant see the problem with the name he chose, ok it wouldnt be my choice, but there you go, freedom of speech gotta love it.

JeniM · Jun 26, 2007, 09:37 AM // 09:37

I do think the name is offensive
but all you people that think AIDS is an STD need to go back to school or wiki it because you don't actually know what your talking about

Perth68 · Jun 26, 2007, 09:46 AM // 09:46

I think its rediculous to ban on something like aids, I don't have any offense from it and I find it laughable that some people do. All that aside welcome to the internets, all name filters/bans in games have huge failings both banning fairly innocent and missing some bad stuff. Sorry it happened to you = /

JeniM · Jun 26, 2007, 09:56 AM // 09:56

Don't appologise to him he made a name designed to offend people
Good Work Anet