Curse

Stupid Shizno · Jun 26, 2007, 10:14 AM // 10:14

i dont think its right to ban someone for making a name ".... has A I DS" and i do feel sorry for you and the ban. if the reason anet banned you was cause you, or a "char name" is publizing you have aids, then i want magic johnson and every other douchebag banned from the media for going public with their aids problem.

the only time i ever care if you have aids if i am going to get into bed with you, could care less otherwise.

majoho · Jun 26, 2007, 10:43 AM // 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Series

I wasn't aware a sign of being "mature" is getting offended at the name of a disease.

Well actually it is, in this context.

Also I was referring to the posters "Grow up".

Cass · Jun 26, 2007, 10:57 AM // 10:57

Hahaha I can just imagine the cognitive effort you made to think up that retard name and then getting worked up enough over the ban to make an indignant post here. Too funny and the irony is layered so thick it's unreal. LOL

Enjoy your ban! Here's an idea to spend your time: Maybe you could go stand on the street corner and tell random people "Hey I'm Snype and I have AIDS!". Should be a laugh.
[skill]Skull Crack[/skill]

DreamRunner · Jun 26, 2007, 11:04 AM // 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by fog_of_redoubt

The intelligence in this thread is utterly amazing.

Please tell me all of those of you that think you should not be prevented from naming your characters what you want, are not Adults yet. I really, really, really hope you are still in Junior High where things like this get a laugh. If you are adults and are mingling in society on a daily basis and feel that this is appropriate then you have a major problem.

You cant take that the fact that most people who are defending the OP or following the reasoning of that people who are offended are just trying to take the moral high ground? Because thats what its coming too. Good work, on trying to be the superior one, of being "mature", because the OP has got a good point, if you fail to see it, then I feel sorry for you.

Deleet · Jun 26, 2007, 11:59 AM // 11:59

I have a character named Odg Si Eadd, an anagram for 'god is dead'. Does that offend you?

Rocky Raccoon · Jun 26, 2007, 12:46 PM // 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Series

I wasn't aware a sign of being "mature" is getting offended at the name of a disease.

Being mature is knowing that some words can be hurtful to others and having the maturity not to use them.

around · Jun 26, 2007, 12:51 PM // 12:51

The G letter on its own is banned :/

I wanted to name my character Roy G Biv but ANet were having none of it. I don't even see how G-String could in any way be construed to be offensive.

Quote:

Being mature is knowing that some words can be hurtful to others and having the maturity not to use them.

The word 'is', very offensive. Don't use it.

Some people have a taboo on speaking the name of recently dead or any word which sounds like their name. Should we stop saying these words becasue we're breaking a taboo?

JeniM · Jun 26, 2007, 12:57 PM // 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deleet

I have a character named Odg Si Eadd, an anagram for 'god is dead'. Does that offend you?

I'm sure lots of peoples names spell something else if you swap all the letters round

And no it doesn't offend me but i can see your an ass now if this was deliberate as names that you have to ask "Does this offend you?" are clearly designed to offend as many people as you can manage

Snype · Jun 26, 2007, 12:59 PM // 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risky Ranger

Being mature is knowing that some words can be hurtful to others and having the maturity not to use them.

If I named my character "A I D S Is Fun", I wouldn't be posting here. The use of the word was in no way offensive, hurtful, or racially targeted at any group or minority. The ban was unjustified in the context of THEIR OWN User Agreement.

Rocky Raccoon · Jun 26, 2007, 01:11 PM // 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by spawnofebil

The G letter on its own is banned :/

I wanted to name my character Roy G Biv but ANet were having none of it. I don't even see how G-String could in any way be construed to be offensive.

The word 'is', very offensive. Don't use it.

Some people have a taboo on speaking the name of recently dead or any word which sounds like their name. Should we stop saying these words becasue we're breaking a taboo?

First of all ANET can decide what they consider offensive, period, case closed.
If people don't have the common sense or the cognitive ability to realize what is acceptable I feel sorry for their handicap.

william1975 · Jun 26, 2007, 01:32 PM // 13:32

Wow what a totally bizzare thread.

It seems obvious to me that while some do not get offended or otherwise by the name and others do the terms set out in the Rules of Conduct have been violated.

rule 1 states that "you may not... cause distress... to other players"

The use of the name obviously causes distress to some others.

rule 3 states "You may not use... harmful... language."

the term used in this manner can be said to cause mental harm by being distressing, therefore it also breaks this rule

Now in the Terms of agreement it quite specifically says what the consequences of this are in

Rule 14 "NC Interactive reserves the right to suspend or terminate this Agreement... immediately and without notice if you... upon game play, chat or any player activity whatsoever which is, in our sole discretion, inappropriate and/or in violation of the spirit of the Game(s) as described in the Rules of Conduct.

Should NC Interactive decide to suspend or terminate this Agreement with a User under any circumstances, the User will lose access to your Account."

With these in mind when you look at the disciplinary process in the guild Wars conduct breaches and outcomes the specific measures taken by anet are outlined in detail
the basic details state

"We do not issue warnings; the first mark, with its temporary account suspension, is considered a form of warning, and should be accepted as such by the player."

and

"The suspension periods are designed to be effective and fair. The first mark results in a relatively brief suspension; players who slip up once in a great while will not suffer dire consequences. The suspension periods do scale up, though, in order to better handle those players who are in regular breach of the Rules of Conduct. For them, the account marks can add up to weeks of suspension."

With regard to naming infractions it simply states that

"For unacceptable character names, a mark will be placed against the account and the character will be blocked. This means that the character and all the inventory items and attainments associated with it will be inaccessible until the character has been renamed. The account will also receive a mark, and therefore will be inaccessible for whatever period of time is called for within the escalating suspension system."

With all this in mind it is therefore not unreasonable what happened to Snype, the rules state that he got what he deserved. A temporary ban, a requirment to change the name, all for the breaking of Anets rules.

Whether or not some of us feel the name is unoffensive or not is irrelevant to the original post, all it takes is for one member to bring a name they find offensive to Anets attention and they will then determin if they think it is breaking the rules, this name is obviously goign to upset some people, Anet agrres with that and have done the required action with the rules everyone agreed to.

We must keep in mind that the intention of the OP here is irrelevant too, whetehr it was a joke, whether he intended to upset people, or if he was even ignorant of any offense that could be caused by the term.

This is a multicultural game and what is offensive in one country may not be in another, or even realised, some terms will be brought to light by people reporting it and Anet will have to act upon it. I may name a charact somethign that is inoffensive here in Scotland, but in Japan it may cause extreme offense, if this is reported as unintentional as it may have been the action is for anet to temp ban my account and enforce a name change, I may not like it, but I agreed to it when i bought the game and started playing it.

Oh and unfortunatley after looking at the rules i noted that copyright infringement is not allowed so the use of the name Bagpuss would not be allowed under that, probably someone reported it, so maybe it is not offensive or vulgar just breach of copyright that caused it to be removed.

On that note i may be looking at some suspension myself as some of my characters are based on characters from books lol, and i have no idea if they are copyrighted

lacasner · Jun 26, 2007, 01:40 PM // 13:40

Perhaps whoever reported him had the perception that he was mocking someone who actually did have HIV/AIDS, and therefor had the morale decency to report them.

Tbh, I think this is the only way you can actually deem the OP's name offensive, and really in itself I don't see how he can be banned when his name is pertaining to himself. But there is no way Anet could have known that.

P.S.: For all those people saying cry less, how exactly are you contributing to the thread other than trolling around?

around · Jun 26, 2007, 01:45 PM // 13:45

Quote:

rule 1 states that "you may not... cause distress... to other players"

Just what constitutes distress? If I had a name that was an elaborate insult in a foreign language that no-one who plays GW speaks is that insulting? If I told someone to diaf when they didn't know what it stood for is that causing distress?

EDIT: Cass-your character names are insulting to me. Cassandra was a victim of rape. I demand you change them.

Ninjitsukitsune · Jun 26, 2007, 01:48 PM // 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1975

Rule 14 "NC Interactive reserves the right to suspend or terminate this Agreement... immediately and without notice if you... upon game play, chat or any player activity whatsoever which is, in our sole discretion, inappropriate and/or in violation of the spirit of the Game(s) as described in the Rules of Conduct.

Whether or not some of us feel the name is unoffensive or not is irrelevant to the original post, all it takes is for one member to bring a name they find offensive to Anets attention and they will then determin if they think it is breaking the rules, this name is obviously goign to upset some people, Anet agrres with that and have done the required action with the rules everyone agreed to.

bold 1! IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION aka they looked at your name said nah no good BAN HAMMER sucks for you but honestly... The names offensive... duh? you knew that when you made it...

bold 2! ANet decided you were breaking the rules... so lets see ANEt has final say, ANet says you broke the rules.

How come you made a thread again? looks pretty black and white to me =/

Quote:

On that note i may be looking at some suspension myself as some of my characters are based on characters from books lol, and i have no idea if they are copyrighted

^_~ books are copyright to their authors as are all characters and that character's likeness the name "Lord Voldemort" would now be copyright infringement

Rocky Raccoon · Jun 26, 2007, 01:51 PM // 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by spawnofebil

Just what constitutes distress? If I had a name that was an elaborate insult in a foreign language that no-one who plays GW speaks is that insulting? If I told someone to diaf when they didn't know what it stood for is that causing distress?

It might not at the time, but if they were to Google it and find the meaning maybe it would. There are enough names available that are not offensive, why try and push the envelope? I think some people just try to see what they can get away with.

lacasner · Jun 26, 2007, 01:56 PM // 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by
Risky Ranger

It might not at the time, but if they were to Google it and find the meaning maybe it would. There are enough names available that are not offensive, why try and push the envelope? I think some people just try to see what they can get away with.

This logic fails.

william1975 · Jun 26, 2007, 02:05 PM // 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjitsukitsune

How come you made a thread again? looks pretty black and white to me =/

The previous post was the only one i made in this thread, previous to this one obviously

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjitsukitsune

books are copyright to their authors as are all characters and that character's likeness the name "Lord Voldemort" would now be copyright infringement

This is not right actually, I could for example name a character Captain Nemo as twenty thousand Leagues under the sea is not covered by copyright law, amongst many other books too.

"works granted such right by law on or after January 1, 1978, are protected for the lifetime of the author or creator and for a period of 50 years after his or her death." quoted from Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) but further "in the UK, since 1996, the period is 70 years after the creator's death (previously, 50); in the USA, since 1978, the period is 50 years for most works (previously 28, once renewable)" quoted from Crystal Reference Encyclopedia

most contries have adhered to an international copyright law similar to these, though china dosnt appear to. Once this runs out the material is publicaly owned, many of the books I have are not covered by copyright

Ninjitsukitsune · Jun 26, 2007, 02:10 PM // 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1975

The previous post was the only one i made in this thread, previous to this one obviously

Ick I worded badly was using you post cause you made valid point but was posting to OP

Quote:

This is not right actually, I could for example name a character Captain Nemo as twenty thousand Leagues under the sea is not covered by copyright law, amongst many other books too.

"works granted such right by law on or after January 1, 1978, are protected for the lifetime of the author or creator and for a period of 50 years after his or her death." quoted from Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) but further "in the UK, since 1996, the period is 70 years after the creator's death (previously, 50); in the USA, since 1978, the period is 50 years for most works (previously 28, once renewable)" quoted from Crystal Reference Encyclopedia

most contries have adhered to an international copyright law similar to these, though china dosnt appear to. Once this runs out the material is publicaly owned, many of the books I have are not covered by copyright

naturally I assumed since you mentioned you might be violation copyright laws that your char names came from books that would be copyrighted atm

Kakumei · Jun 26, 2007, 02:11 PM // 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risky Ranger

Being mature is knowing that some words can be hurtful to others and having the maturity not to use them.

If we spent our time worrying what other people might get offended over, nothing would ever be accomplished. There are some people bound and determined to get upset over anything they possibly can.

That said, this is Anet's game, not yours. It's their call as to what they allow or don't allow.

Spazzer · Jun 26, 2007, 02:13 PM // 14:13

^ It was written in a recent update that GMs would give players a chance to rename offensive characters before banning.