Character name can't be hidden.

[ShadowHeart]

if i wasnt so cheap i would pay a buck to make a mule called troll even though ..


se gets enough money from me mind u 14 is still free lulz

[Charismatic]

I don't know what to say about this, not really happy about the change so I put a mule on there.

[Runespider]

Remember when people said characters being linked would stop trolling and retarded behaviour on the forum? yeah...the most annoying posters right now have their acc linked properly right there.

[scaevola]

Needs more level 1 gnome warlocks imo

[Zaknafein]

SE making character info/server shown is fantastic. Only thing missing was making it be the highest level character on the account. Here's to hoping they rectify that. If people want to join in discussions, add their input, and criticism, etc at least have the sack to show your main character.

[Runespider]

SE making character info/server shown is fantastic. Only thing missing was making it be the highest level character on the account. Here's to hoping they rectify that. If people want to join in discussions, add their input, and criticism, etc at least have the sack to show your main character.

I actually agree with you now, since the forced character thing these forums have lost a lot of their appeal. Mainly the attitude of many of the posters which have made this place seem a lot dumber and a lot less friendly a place to be a part of (maybe it was always that way, but it shines out a lot more with recent changes to the forum). If they had forced it to be main chars those of us that had a problem with it would of simply quit and been done with them, as it was they ruined the appeal to many but still left an avenue that let us carry on posting.

I intend to use them as little as possible now personally, there are far better forums with far better communities around than this place. The only thing this place has going for it is the eye of the devs and in reality they only listen to the JP forum anyway, regardless how they try to make it appear.

[Atomic_Skull]

SE making character info/server shown is fantastic. Only thing missing was making it be the highest level character on the account. Here's to hoping they rectify that. If people want to join in discussions, add their input, and criticism, etc at least have the sack to show your main character.


Thanks to Abyssea you can level a mule to 90 in a day or two so that won't work either.

Of course I would just use one of my gardening accounts which consists of nothing but lvl 1 mules.

[Alhanelem]

That's exactly what i'm doing and yes why should anything I say on a forum have an impact in my gaming time? If you think what you're saying would have a negative impact on your gaming time, then you should probably reconsider saying it, instead of trying to hide who you are. And if you're NOT like this in game, why can't you be like you are in game here? Then it would have a positive impact upon you.

Nice people, or at least people trying to be nice, have nothing to hide.

[Shyla]

Why do I have no control over what job it displays in my avatar? If you're going to make use use something at least make it something that works. One fail thing after another this month gd SE get with it.

[Zaknafein]

Thanks to Abyssea you can level a mule to 90 in a day or two so that won't work either.

Of course I would just use one of my gardening accounts which consists of nothing but lvl 1 mules.

Well the fact stands that people who choose to list a mule will not be taken as seriously or respected to a certain degree. 8/10 players listing a mule are doing it because they have talked a big game yet their actual info doesn't nearly stack up to their anonymous forum persona. While I understand that a small percentage of mule lister's are against it strictly for the privacy issue (and if you've been hacked b4 I don't fault you for being overly cautious). However I don't agree with the mule thing being an option. I think if you want to participate on the "official forums" then you should do so as your "official main character."

This would make people think twice about being idiotic anonymous trolls. Or in other cases thinking b4 talking like they know everything there is to know about the subject being discussed. If they still proceeded to do those things anyhow at least players on their server would have that knowledge, and could avoid those people.

Also just to clarify I'm not attacking or talking down to you cause your the original poster. Everything I've seen you contribute to the forum has been intelligent, and non-trollish. However, I do ardently believe you're in the minority of mule users.

[Scuro]

I don't understand people's moaning or saying "Everybody is going to pick their mules!"..... No, I'm sorry last I checked I'm damn proud of my lvl 90 BLU called Scuro on Odin. I frankly don't give a damn lol. My only regret with this is that it asks for your 3 primary jobs and yet it only displays 1. I would ask that they display all 3. Why should displaying your in game name, server, and job hinder anyone from posting? If anything I would find it more encouraging so that if your asking for help on something, people can find you and offer such help.

And if the trolls come after you in game.... Well thats what black lists are for. What this does for me personally is it allows me to see what level the person is, and based on that take them seriously or not... If they are lvl 1-30 I can tell you right now my level of seriousness and respect for a post will be drastically lowered for a garbage idea, then it would on a garbage idea coming out of a 90 (which would probably even have less respect then the 1-30). This just gives me a better understanding of a person's perspective =).

P.S
You should come to the realization that if you say something stupid or you are a jerk in general, it will effect you in the long run (In RL you don't go walking around town spitting on people that talk to you, it tends to get your ass beat down.). People will recognize you and you will gain a reputation for being an ass hat. If you would be smart, and try not to bash as much, you might actually get somewhere, to say that you can come onto a forum and smack talk and then hide behind anonimity is cowardly.

And if your really that flustered about posting with your name attached to it, trust me, SE did a good thing by having jerk posters stop posting and leave the forums simply because they don't have the gaul to put their name and reputation to their posts. Honestly if SE can get those of you that are actually drastically worried about your anonymity to leave, we might actually accomplish something around here then having people asking for a pankration update. When I'm an ass on these forums or in game, i want people to know that Scuro, from Odin, 90 BLU is calling them out. And if anyone comes after me in game, I do have black list to fall back on ;-)

[Atomic_Skull]

Anonymity is a good thing not a bad thing. People are more likely to speak their minds. The internet is the one place you're free to speak the truth without fear of retribution for not paying lip service to bullshit.

[Zaknafein]

Anonymity is a good thing not a bad thing. People are more likely to speak their minds. The internet is the one place you're free to speak the truth without fear of retribution for not paying lip service to bullshit.

I completely agree. I certainly feel free to speak my mind even with main character information shown. At the end of the day my virtual reality FF character is still pretty anonymous :)

[Bulrogg]

There are very few positives and negatives for this move. I too do not understand why they are doing it.

Only that I think after it happens we'll eventually get over it :(

It's my guess they may be testing to see about linking in game achievements to forum profile; maybe changing how medallions are tallied again. I don't know, and I don't mind.

[Ravenmore]

Why do I have no control over what job it displays in my avatar? If you're going to make use use something at least make it something that works. One fail thing after another this month gd SE get with it.

Set every box to the job you want to display, it will then go to one box with that job.

[Aleste]

I don't really care either way whether or not my character/server is shown; nor do I particularly understand why job level is shown.

It matters not whether I post from my main or mule; I don't feel like my opinion would vary on the grounds of being harassed (in the loosest sense possible) in-game.

[Greatguardian]

I am, arguably, one of the most scathing, opinionated, generally either loved-or-loathed posters on these forums.

I have never, ever been called out in game for anything I've said on here, or BG, or anywhere. Never. Not once. In fact, the only time someone outside of my linkshell has ever spoken to me about something I said on the forums, the person thanked me for what I had said. I haven't even received any negative FFXIAH comments either (and no, I don't delete any of those), and those can be posted from any server.

So, unless you think you can get more people to hate you more than they hate me, I'm pretty sure harassment will not be an issue for you.

inb4 someone posts negative ffxiah comments now to prove me wrong =P.

[Bumbeen]

My main is gimp cause I came back from 2009 so I use a mule til I get it geared.

[Zaknafein]

My main is gimp cause I came back from 2009 so I use a mule til I get it geared.

Sort of a lay away plan.

[Habiki]

They should really adjust it so only characters lvl 30 or higher can post in the forums would eliminate alot of the ignorant posters and trolls and make the forums alot nicer. I doubt someone will go to the extent of leveling a mule from 1-30 for the ability to post on these forums. Only reason people pick mules is because you can get banned in game for posting inappropriatly on the forums. So i see no reason to not restrict it to lvl 30 characters or higher, make them work for the right to post. Instead of letting them run rampant belittling others for their opinions and generally being rude, they wouldn't act like that in game I don't see why they should be allowed to here.

I imagine the moderators will eventually crack down on the type of misconduct on the forums by the players, and hopefully some people lose their lvl 1 crafting mules with 100 craft skills or nice gear they have on their mules they used as their handle for the official forums when their character gets banned in game, it will teach them a lesson in proper etiquette.

[Bumbeen]

Sort of a lay away plan.

Haha exactly!

[Runespider]

They should really adjust it so only characters lvl 30 or higher can post in the forums would eliminate alot of the ignorant posters and trolls and make the forums alot nicer. I doubt someone will go to the extent of leveling a mule from 1-30 for the ability to post on these forums. Only reason people pick mules is because you can get banned in game for posting inappropriatly on the forums. So i see no reason to not restrict it to lvl 30 characters or higher, make them work for the right to post. Instead of letting them run rampant belittling others for their opinions and generally being rude, they wouldn't act like that in game I don't see why they should be allowed to here.

You don't visit here much do you? Almost all the worst posters here show their proper character details, check and see.

As for the level 30 thing, you can get to 30 easily in a day with fov on a mule, or a couple of hours if you have the means. What they should do is force you to show all your characters on an account, that way you can't use a mule!

[Khiinroye]

They should really adjust it so only characters lvl 30 or higher can post in the forums would eliminate alot of the ignorant posters and trolls and make the forums alot nicer. I doubt someone will go to the extent of leveling a mule from 1-30 for the ability to post on these forums. Only reason people pick mules is because you can get banned in game for posting inappropriatly on the forums. So i see no reason to not restrict it to lvl 30 characters or higher, make them work for the right to post. Instead of letting them run rampant belittling others for their opinions and generally being rude, they wouldn't act like that in game I don't see why they should be allowed to here.

I imagine the moderators will eventually crack down on the type of misconduct on the forums by the players, and hopefully some people lose their lvl 1 crafting mules with 100 craft skills or nice gear they have on their mules they used as their handle for the official forums when their character gets banned in game, it will teach them a lesson in proper etiquette.

If someone is getting banned ingame for actions on the forum, it will probably be all POL accounts tied to the SE account, not the character linked to the forum profile. Remember, SE was able to ban characters before linking the characters to the forum profile was mandatory.

[Aleste]

I'm still bewildered as to why they show job/character levels.... they don't really make any opinion more/less valid because you've a LVL90AWE/SMN.

Guess it's for those who don't link their FFXIAH/Linkshell Community page and want to verify that they do infact have a LVL90AWE/SMN...

[Greatguardian]

You don't visit here much do you? Almost all the worst posters here show their proper character details, check and see.

As for the level 30 thing, you can get to 30 easily in a day with fov on a mule, or a couple of hours if you have the means. What they should do is force you to show all your characters on an account, that way you can't use a mule!

Define worst, and point out a few specific examples. As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

[Zaknafein]

Define worst, and point out a few specific examples. As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

+1

PS: Quotes need to count as ten characters

[Karbuncle]

Define worst, and point out a few specific examples. As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

I must say i agree to this. For obvious reason.

[Esvedium]

Define worst, and point out a few specific examples. As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

This.

yadayadayada

[Eeek]

They should really adjust it so only characters lvl 30 or higher can post in the forums would eliminate alot of the ignorant posters and trolls and make the forums alot nicer. I doubt someone will go to the extent of leveling a mule from 1-30 for the ability to post on these forums. Only reason people pick mules is because you can get banned in game for posting inappropriatly on the forums. So i see no reason to not restrict it to lvl 30 characters or higher, make them work for the right to post. Instead of letting them run rampant belittling others for their opinions and generally being rude, they wouldn't act like that in game I don't see why they should be allowed to here.

I imagine the moderators will eventually crack down on the type of misconduct on the forums by the players, and hopefully some people lose their lvl 1 crafting mules with 100 craft skills or nice gear they have on their mules they used as their handle for the official forums when their character gets banned in game, it will teach them a lesson in proper etiquette.

I only disagree with this sentiment because it would prevent new players and old players returning on brand new characters from posting for perfectly valid reasons. Won't somebody please think of the New Players Forum!

:p

[Runespider]

As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

I don't check the forums as much as I used to but who do you consider the worst posters that are posting anon?

[Elexia]

I don't check the forums as much as I used to but who do you consider the worst posters that are posting anon?

More than likely those who purposefully choose a mule so they can "be free to insult on the forum and not have it come back to them in-game."

:D

[Runespider]

More than likely those who purposefully choose a mule so they can "be free to insult on the forum and not have it come back to them in-game."

Yeah but you assume that people that do that care about being known, infact most trolls are proud of it and are the same ingame, they want to be known. Most of these really hardcore trollers are kept out by being forced into having a valid content id to post.

The problem I have with many that post in this topic is they have no valid argument at all for thier point of view, mule character posters are not raving trolls lashing out at everyone and post many decent additions to the forum. The accusations have very little grounding in the reality of the situation.

[Zaknafein]

There's about 2/10 who genuinely care about the "privacy" aspect of it, and actually contribute to the community.

[Atomic_Skull]

You don't visit here much do you? Almost all the worst posters here show their proper character details, check and see.

As for the level 30 thing, you can get to 30 easily in a day with fov on a mule, or a couple of hours if you have the means. What they should do is force you to show all your characters on an account, that way you can't use a mule!

I'm using a gardening account so that wouldn't affect me.

[Runespider]

There's about 2/10 who genuinely care about the "privacy" aspect of it, and actually contribute to the community.

This place is considered on every other forum that exists to be completely moronic anyway, mule poster or not.

Read the topics on the first few pages and say with a straight face a lot of them aren't retarded (and made by genuine char posters).

If people could point at something genuine as a reason for the hatred for mule posters then fine but the truth is, there aren't any. Many seem to think it means a damn that your name is there but in reality it adds no value to your posts at all, it's not a seal of quality or intelligence and it doesn't mean you have any more manners than anyone else. You can't even say having a 90 job means you have knowledge of it to comment, many level jobs 1>90 that they have honestly never actually even played anyway (key whoring etc).

Post the names of the mule posters that are such a horrible moronic influence on these forums, lets see if it's worse than the norm.


You can't because you possibly can't understand how anyone but you thinks maybe? ie. You like chocolate ice cream so how could anyone else in the world not like it right?

The way someone sees their ingame time maybe different from the way you view it, or hell maybe they just don't want to be forced to do something they don't want to for no valid reason. Why should people be forced to combine their forum persona to their ingame one if they really don't want to and feel uncomfortable doing so.

[Atomic_Skull]

There's about 2/10 who genuinely care about the "privacy" aspect of it, and actually contribute to the community.

You go on and on about how forcing people to show their characters will make people behave but at the same time you certainly are free with the personal insults. You two are proof of why your own argument is invalid.

[Runespider]

You go on and on about how forcing people to show their characters will make people behave but at the same time you certainly are free with the personal insults. You two are proof of why your own argument is invalid.

I read his post and was about to do the same thing you did lol

[Byrth]

There are something like 3 people who play FFXI and know my RL name. Privacy is a fairly big deal to me, as I don't really want my RL name associated with an MMO if someone goes to google me. That said, I don't see how keeping your in-game name secret is particularly important.

I wouldn't even click on this thread anymore if I wasn't quasi-fascinated by how much you guys seem to care about something so entirely and unarguably unimportant.

[Zaknafein]

Feel free to point out how I've invalidated my argument.

[Atomic_Skull]

Feel free to point out how I've invalidated my argument.

An admin had to edit your previous post because you were calling people names. And the other post by Scuro was so inflammatory that the admins completely deleted it.

[Runespider]

There are something like 3 people who play FFXI and know my RL name. Privacy is a fairly big deal to me, as I don't really want my RL name associated with an MMO if someone goes to google me. That said, I don't see how keeping your in-game name secret is particularly important.

Lets put it this way, there are people that don't care if others know their RL name ingame and use it in parties etc. To those people your post makes no sense, what do you have to hide they may ask...or what does it hurt for people to know your name? The point isnt really to have to justify it, it's that it would bother you (just as this issue bothers some of us).

Different people have different levels of what they consider privacy, some would laugh and be totally unable to grasp what you just posted as many here seem to be towards those that have a problem with this.


Feel free to point out how I've invalidated my argument.

In my eyes, you argue that people who post their character name are of a higher calibre, are worth more, are more trustworthy and generally more worthwhile to this forum. You go on to say that people that post using mules are trolls, flamers, moronic..etc.

Then you get someone like mr Scuro post what he just did totally invalidating everything you are trying to say. His post was so stupid it was deleted by an admin, notice his name blazed onto his sidebar there..it didn't stop him did it? I don't see any mule posters being anything like what you say, I see a heck of a lot of main character posters fitting right into that description you keep using though.

lol I just saw your own post has been edited for flaming, breaking the rules of the forum..

[Zaknafein]

Wow ... my post was in need of moderation..seriously? My statement was on topic, and about as PG-13 as possible. I most certainly did not target anyone by name either. As far as what someone else posted after me I have no control over other peoples comments.

[Atomic_Skull]

My statement was on topic, and about as PG-13 as possible.

Your post was edited for "inflammatory comments" so the admins disagree with you.


I most certainly did not target anyone by name either.

It was plain to everyone that your comment was directed at anyone who doesn't want their character name shown. Just because you didn't name anyone specifically doesn't mean that your flaming wasn't directed at specific people.

[Karbuncle]

Wow ... my post was in need of moderation..seriously? My statement was on topic, and about as PG-13 as possible. I most certainly did not target anyone by name either. As far as what someone else posted after me I have no control over other peoples comments.

Your post could have said "Sir, I disagree with you for these reasons, Your idea is illogical" and it can be removed if enough people report it enough times :D.

[Atomic_Skull]

[Removed by Moderator according to the FINAL FANTASY XI FORUM Guidelines (http://support.na.square-enix.com/rule.php?id=20&la=1).]

You called people "moronic" that's inflammatory in my book.

And now you are thumbing your nose at the admin 's decision.

[Greatguardian]

I don't check the forums as much as I used to but who do you consider the worst posters that are posting anon?

Hordecore. Dallas. Akujima. Who do you consider horrible posters who are showing off their name?

I never said all of the anon posters are bad. I'm simply challenging your assertion that the worst posters on these boards are not anon. You have yet to provide a specific example of these worst posters who show off their name and "exploits".

[Zaknafein]

That must mean it's time to rally the mule army, and report some more posts yeah?

[Runespider]

Hordecore. Dallas. Akujima. Who do you consider horrible posters who are showing off their name?

I never said all of the anon posters are bad. I'm simply challenging your assertion that the worst posters on these boards are not anon. You have yet to provide a specific example of these worst posters who show off their name and "exploits".

The 3 people you mentioned are not people hiding behind mules, they are posters from before change. This whole argument is about posters "hiding" behind mules being negative or not as good as anyone else and nobody can show mule posters that are actually anything but valid, decent members of this community, not to say you said it directly but that is the general idea from many posting in this.

I won't name names but there really are some stupid posters on this place, look at the EU maint ime thread for instance. Ultimately I don't think this forum has any really "bad" posters though, there are some childish posters that are trying to bring the FFXIAH mentality over but even they aren't really bad.


That must mean it's time to rally the mule army, and report some more posts yeah?

I think you've run out of things to say, the point was you got busted on what you falsely accused people on doing while you did them yourself and that the next "linked poster" made a post so trollish/stupid it was deleted, further disproving any notion that linked = better or more accountable.

[Scuro]

lol its funny because my post got deleted and it had no ill will or offense towards anyone, just was blatantly stating the facts that I won't restate because apparently big brother finds me to be mean apparently. Eh doesn't much matter, over all the point is, this topic is just foolish. There isn't a point in arguing it anymore because people are so attached to their characters they actually feel that revealing their name is a violation of privacy. What a crock lol. Oh well. As far as I'm concerned if you really feel like leaving because you have your anonymous avatar placed in the forum along with its job and server. Well then I say even more Kudos to SE for instating a policy to weed out those that probably shouldn't be on the forums in the first place.

Its funny because at this point it should be evidently clear to the admins as well as the people posting who are the true trolls fueling this argument. Since its really only 2 people at this point fighting one side against at least a solid 6. I really think at this point and time its clear that people don't mind displaying their names, that they should make the highest character your main character, and that by no means is SE out of bounds for having players display the information that they are letting us rent.

[Runespider]

lol its funny because my post got deleted and it had no ill will or offense towards anyone, just was blatantly stating the facts that I won't restate because apparently big brother finds me to be mean apparently. Eh doesn't much matter, over all the point is, this topic is just foolish. There isn't a point in arguing it anymore because people are so attached to their characters they actually feel that revealing their name is a violation of privacy. What a crock lol. Oh well. As far as I'm concerned if you really feel like leaving because you have your anonymous avatar placed in the forum along with its job and server. Well then I say even more Kudos to SE for instating a policy to weed out those that probably shouldn't be on the forums in the first place.

Its funny because at this point it should be evidently clear to the admins as well as the people posting who are the true trolls fueling this argument. Since its really only 2 people at this point fighting one side against at least a solid 6. I really think at this point and time its clear that people don't mind displaying their names, that they should make the highest character your main character, and that by no means is SE out of bounds for having players display the information that they are letting us rent.

Numbers mean nothing, the sad truth is that many have stopped posting here out of principle or because they didn't want to be forced to do something pointless. People that added to the forum and that should of never been forced to leave, what is left is not the "cream of the crop" by any means..reading some of the horrid posts shows that very well.

I still find it amusing how many people shout out the word troll without the knowledge of what it means. According to many, differing oppinion = troll. Maybe it's good so many people judge a posters worth based on their ingame account, cause if it was judged by what they actually post here many may lose any respect they seem to think they have at all.

[Byrth]

Anything that gets reported for moderation gets heavily editted/deleted regardless of its content.

[Runespider]

Anything that gets reported for moderation gets heavily editted/deleted regardless of its content.

I don't think the mods here are quite that stupid, report my post and lets see though. You know as well as I do that's not true though so I doubt you will.

[Zaknafein]

[Removed by Moderator according to the FINAL FANTASY XI FORUM Guidelines (http://support.na.square-enix.com/rule.php?id=20&la=1).].

Thank you. My thoughts exactly.

[Runespider]

[Removed by Moderator according to the FINAL FANTASY XI FORUM Guidelines (http://support.na.square-enix.com/rule.php?id=20&la=1).].

You make a flaming post and you expect it not to get nuked if it was reported? XD You have no point at all, but at least you had fun writing that I guess. I've only bothered to report one person in my time here and honestly that was more effort than I cared for so I certainly won't be reporting your post. The way I look at it, if you make a idiotic flame or nonsense post it does more damage how others see you than reporting it and having it removed. As I said before though I rate someone on here by the posts they make and not their amazing level 90 job, so maybe i'm in the minority.

[Byrth]

This isn't 2005. Getting jobs to level 90 is the work of a night and takes neither skill nor dedication. Why do you care if people can see that you have level 90 jobs?

[Zaknafein]

This isn't 2005. Getting jobs to level 90 is the work of a night and takes neither skill nor dedication. Why do you care if people can see that you have level 90 jobs?

They care less about people seeing their actual account, and more about being able to say what ever they wish without anyone ever knowing who they are. Let's be real about this. It is cowardly. Period. If you have something to say, an opinion to state, or you just enjoy talking like you know everything about everything than at least have the stones to do it without hiding behind a loophole.

This is the official forum. If your going to say something in game you'll think twice about it, because it can tarnish your reputation. Seems only fair that it should be the same here.

[Greatguardian]

They care less about people seeing their actual account, and more about being able to say what ever they wish without anyone ever knowing who they are. Let's be real about this. It is cowardly. Period. If you have something to say, an opinion to state, or you just enjoy talking like you know everything about everything than at least have the stones to do it without hiding behind a loophole.

This is the official forum. If your going to say something in game you'll think twice about it, because it can tarnish your reputation. Seems only fair that it should be the same here.

This in a nutshell.

We've already addressed the in-game abuse notion directly. It's a completely unjustified and unfounded fear. Meanwhile, I see absolutely nothing wrong with people being forced to think a bit before they speak. It's not like they're going to be abused because they say something stupid. People are just going to think they're a complete idiot. Which is well within their rights.

At the same time, it prevents pointless posturing like the crap Dallas spewed all over the Mythic/Emp/Relic Staff thread, and the BS TearValerin/Andylynn caused with his sock fake Gungnir account. Calling people epic gimps when they themselves are horribly geared, or pretending to have relics so that they can inflate their already bursting sense of self-importance and e-ego, that sort of thing is what turns legitimate discussions into steaming piles of crap.

[Karbuncle]

They care less about people seeing their actual account, and more about being able to say what ever they wish without anyone ever knowing who they are. Let's be real about this. It is cowardly. Period. If you have something to say, an opinion to state, or you just enjoy talking like you know everything about everything than at least have the stones to do it without hiding behind a loophole.

This is the official forum. If your going to say something in game you'll think twice about it, because it can tarnish your reputation. Seems only fair that it should be the same here.

inb4Postmoderated. This is an Opinion i can agree with.

[Esvedium]

They care less about people seeing their actual account, and more about being able to say what ever they wish without anyone ever knowing who they are. Let's be real about this. It is cowardly. Period. If you have something to say, an opinion to state, or you just enjoy talking like you know everything about everything than at least have the stones to do it without hiding behind a loophole.

This is the official forum. If your going to say something in game you'll think twice about it, because it can tarnish your reputation. Seems only fair that it should be the same here.

I'd bake you cookies for this post. <3

[Runespider]

They care less about people seeing their actual account, and more about being able to say what ever they wish without anyone ever knowing who they are. Let's be real about this. It is cowardly. Period. If you have something to say, an opinion to state, or you just enjoy talking like you know everything about everything than at least have the stones to do it without hiding behind a loophole.

This is the official forum. If your going to say something in game you'll think twice about it, because it can tarnish your reputation. Seems only fair that it should be the same here.

If this were true would we not be spouting horrible things, safe behind out curtain of anonymity? Most everyone is posting nothing more horrible than anyone else, we all just simply want to be a part of the forum the devs probably check now and then.

I want to post here because I want a say in the game I pay to play, I should not be forced into linking my ingame time to whatever views I have that I post on a forum. Especially since they in all honestly have zero influence on it anyway, the point is I don't want to, and why should it be forced on me just becacuse you want it to be (for no valid reason either).

As for tarnishing reputations, we all know that the only things that tarnish reputations are ingame actions. Me calling someone a assface on a forum won't effect that, still dosen't change the fact some of us like to keep them seperate.

[Karbuncle]

Okay, I think i just realized this has nothing to do with the forums. its "I'M GROWN UP AND I DONT WANNA! I DONT WANNA I DONT WANNA I DONT WANNA" argument now.

Its never been about linking character Data, you just don't like being told what to do. Its okay really. I understand how you feel.

[Bumbeen]

Click new posts up at the top, about 50% of them are worthless suggestions, complaints, and just fodder in general. Not worth putting thought into, much better for just trolling. If you want to put thought and consideration into your posts, do it on a forum worthy of such.

[Runespider]

The only truely sad part of this whole thing is that it stopped a lot of decent posters being active here (on forums their subscriptions pay for), whether because they were worried about ingame privacy, because they wanted the two to be kept seperate or because they just didn't want to be forced to do something utterly pointless.

Personally I wanted more people to post here, not less.

Honestly the silly part of this whole thing is, the forums that have had the biggest impact on FFXI over the years are all anon to post.

[Karbuncle]

The only truely sad part of this whole thing is that it stopped a lot of decent posters being active here (on forums their subscriptions pay for), whether because they were worried about ingame privacy, because they wanted the two to be kept seperate or because they just didn't want to be forced to do something utterly pointless.

Personally I wanted more people to post here, not less.

Honestly the silly part of this whole thing is, the forums that have had the biggest impact on FFXI over the years are all anon to post.

I ask this in complete seriousness.

Who do you consider a "decent poster" who stopped posting because of this? Cause when i look around i still see the same names i consider the best and most knowledgeable posters still posting.

[Runespider]

Look around the topics on here, you will see quite a lot of worthwhile posters who have no characters linked to their accounts, many of them seem to of stopped posting around the same time.

[Karbuncle]

Look around the topics on here, you will see quite a lot of worthwhile posters who have no characters linked to their accounts, many of them seem to of stopped posting around the same time.

I'm sorry if this comes off as rude but I do not want to look around for your opinion. I asked you if you could name me the people you feel were good posters who stopped posting.

I Can't look at the beginning of this thread and find people you think were good, Our opinions are different. I'd like you to name them so i can more easily see and understand the point you are trying to make.

Obviously our opinions on good posters are different, Good is a subjective term, Which is why i asked you which do you feel are the good posters who are gone now. Because our opinions on good will vary, I Can look back and not find anyone, while you may have some names in mind.

Edit: The only people I don't see with linked accounts are "Tsukino_Kaji", Who was actually for this adjustment, So i doubt thats why he stopped posting, and GlobalVariable, who after reading I think is probably the one "not bad" person to stop posting. He wasn't bad/troll, But the forums will live without him.

Edit2: Looks like Tsukino is posting now though. So its just GlobalVariable.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Edit: The only people I don't see with linked accounts are "Tsukino_Kaji"Funny story actualy. I linked right away and imediately complained that it displayed me as sam instead of whm when sam had never been selected. Is what happed was, I fell victim to that july payment glitch. Which, without an active ID, seems to have dropped it while my account was down.

[Karbuncle]

Funny story actualy. I linked right away and imediately complained that it displayed me as sam instead of whm when sam had never been selected. Is what happed was, I fell victim to that july payment glitch. Which, without an active ID, seems to have dropped it while my account was down.

Lordy >_>, That really sucks D:

[Scuro]

Ya as I said before, and Karbuncle is addressing this, the act of a forum troll is not that their opinion differs... Oh no, its that they start an argument, and prolong it until people give up and accept their statement. Til then they will keep fueling a pointless argument, that has reached its end probably 10-20 pages ago, when a ratio of 6 to 2 people agree that linking names is ok in the eyes of the community. To say otherwise is just denying majority vote here, and while we are not exactly a representation of the entire community, if a fraction of us say yes, and an even miniscule fraction say no, what do you think that will say in the grander spectrum of the community? Pretty sure the same thing.

I would love to see who actually stopped posting, because from what I can tell.... no one has stopped posting, everybody linked their characters as soon as possible, and a lot of us still enjoy posting here. If you can name some people, their post amount, and to what topics they did such a "monumental contribution" to please, write them down, but pretty much.... everything is the same, except now your avatar info is below your Screen Name. I pretty much fail to see a reason to keep griping about this when its clear that people are ok with avatar information being displayed, and I personally want it to stay.

[Neonii]

This in a nutshell.

We've already addressed the in-game abuse notion directly. It's a completely unjustified and unfounded fear. Meanwhile, I see absolutely nothing wrong with people being forced to think a bit before they speak. It's not like they're going to be abused because they say something stupid. People are just going to think they're a complete idiot. Which is well within their rights.

At the same time, it prevents pointless posturing like the crap Dallas spewed all over the Mythic/Emp/Relic Staff thread, and the BS TearValerin/Andylynn caused with his sock fake Gungnir account. Calling people epic gimps when they themselves are horribly geared, or pretending to have relics so that they can inflate their already bursting sense of self-importance and e-ego, that sort of thing is what turns legitimate discussions into steaming piles of crap.

There is room for other motivations in using a mule. None of the above describes me yet I have very valid reasons for using the mule. 1. It allows me to feel safe in asking questions and trying to be a better player. 2. On my last online game I was followed by some guy who wanted to date me even after I changed servers. I used the same name for my Character on both games it fits me to a T. I don't know if someone googles the name it would point to ffx1. I know if i google it the guild point list from my other game still come up. I will comply and list it here if they insist. However, until that time comes I would rather err on the side of caution and not list the name. I have never even once called names or tolled or flamed anyone on these forums. I prefer to use it as a resource to get answers to my questions. I don't think it is fair to paint everyone who choose to use a mule as trouble. Also. GG i'm not saying you personally advocate this. I'm just using your post because it sums up the views of this thread as I understand them nicely.

[Karbuncle]

1. It allows me to feel safe in asking questions and trying to be a better player.

This is a bad excuse. Not a single person will ever think less of you because you're taking the initiative to learn your job and learn more. In fact this is usually praised. The worst people are those who spew misinformation as fact and refuse to learn. You don't fall into this category.

So not that "you're bad", Simply this is something you shouldn't fear. Most/all People look up on those who would try to better themselves, You should never fear asking a question that will improve yourself.


2. On my last online game I was followed by some guy who wanted to date me even after I changed servers.

Thats creepy, But also harassment/abuse. You can blist this person and GM him and it gets rid of the problem. However, Did he find/track you in-game? or over a forum. If it was in-game, Everyone in-game already knows you in-game name. If it was via forum, I understand your concerns...

[Habiki]

I only disagree with this sentiment because it would prevent new players and old players returning on brand new characters from posting for perfectly valid reasons. Won't somebody please think of the New Players Forum!

:p

Well if they did restrict it to lvl 30 or above to post it wouldn't have to be across all the topic sections, LvL 1's should definatly be allowed to post in such places as, new players, technical support, and in game bugs. Theres no reason a new player should be posting about adjustments to content they haven't experianced though it doesn't help further discussions in the slightest.

[Habiki]

You don't visit here much do you? Almost all the worst posters here show their proper character details, check and see.

As for the level 30 thing, you can get to 30 easily in a day with fov on a mule, or a couple of hours if you have the means. What they should do is force you to show all your characters on an account, that way you can't use a mule!

Question is would you really level up a job to lvl 30 just to post if the change was made, just so you could remain anonymous. I don't think most players would they would likely just stop posting because they couldn't get away with being a complete a$$ without putting some work into it, this doesn't apply to all people who link their mules but theres some that abuse the feature to no end and to clean up the forums it needs to be restricted.

[Runespider]

I'm sorry if this comes off as rude but I do not want to look around for your opinion. I asked you if you could name me the people you feel were good posters who stopped posting.

Look at hordecores last post on the front page, in there are many posters that were regulars here. If you check them reading down the list you will see many names where their last activity was around the time they added the new feature. The list of players that never upgraded their account shows quite clearly in that topic too, but yes I was thinking of the people you mentioned as well as others like raist and some others you can see in that topic.

I was hesitant to bother replying because ultimately you will come back with "the forum will live on without them" but that really isn't the point, the point is they are being denied access to a forum due to being forced to do something they should not have to do...and they should have every right to access this place without having to do something they disagree with and that serves almost no purpose. They have as much right to have their ideas and posts heard and discussed as anyone else, I was hoping for this forum to be used by as wide an array of FFXI players as possible.


Ya as I said before, and Karbuncle is addressing this, the act of a forum troll is not that their opinion differs... Oh no, its that they start an argument, and prolong it until people give up and accept their statement.

A troll is somone that posts things simply to get other people annoyed and getting enjoyment from that, they don't actually care about what they are posting about. Someone who dissagrees with you is not a troll, I am not trolling anyone. I don't care if you get mad or kiss my feet with adoration, it makes no difference to me. All I care about is that I feel this forced linking was a bad idea, that it did make us lose some decent posters, that I personally am against it as are some others and that it's warping the community here ("opinions of anyone that does not have a valid account linked is garbage" "a posters worth is more to do with who they are in game than what they have to say" etc). Idiocy.


when a ratio of 6 to 2 people agree that linking names is ok in the eyes of the community. To say otherwise is just denying majority vote here, and while we are not exactly a representation of the entire community, if a fraction of us say yes, and an even miniscule fraction say no, what do you think that will say in the grander spectrum of the community? Pretty sure the same thing.

As I said before the problem is a lot of people seem to of stopped posting, if not for the fact that we can use a mule and stay anon anyway there would of been at least another 3-4 from this topic alone. They can't post here anymore cause they can't post without doing what they refuse to do, some people had issues with this and drew the line.

[Neonii]

This is a bad excuse. Not a single person will ever think less of you because you're taking the initiative to learn your job and learn more. In fact this is usually praised. The worst people are those who spew misinformation as fact and refuse to learn. You don't fall into this category.

So not that "you're bad", Simply this is something you shouldn't fear. Most/all People look up on those who would try to better themselves, You should never fear asking a question that will improve yourself.



Thats creepy, But also harassment/abuse. You can blist this person and GM him and it gets rid of the problem. However, Did he find/track you in-game? or over a forum. If it was in-game, Everyone in-game already knows you in-game name. If it was via forum, I understand your concerns...

In real life I am shy, I don't like to draw attention to myself. My personality is what it is not an excuse. He located me by looking up ls (called guilds on that game) forums and looking at their member list. Blacklist did not stop the gossip and innuendo. I was just attempting to point out that a person can have any reasons to list a mule, not just to flame or brag ect. Thank you for the encouragement thou .

[Karbuncle]

Look at hordecores last post on the front page, in there are many posters that were regulars here. If you check them reading down the list you will see many names where their last activity was around the time they added the new feature. The list of players that never upgraded their account shows quite clearly in that topic too, but yes I was thinking of the people you mentioned as well as others like raist and some others you can see in that topic.

You said a lot of "Good" Posters. Hordecore was far from "Good", he was an awful Troll. Again, This is my Opinion on him, And our Opinions differ. So i would have never once guessed "hordecore" when someone mentioned "A list of good posters who stopped posting". Which is why I specifically asked you who you thought were the good posters who stopped posting.

Because our definitions of good are far different it seems if you feel hordecore was a lost to the forums >_>.


I was hesitant to bother replying because ultimately you will come back with "the forum will live on without them" but that really isn't the point, the point is they are being denied access to a forum due to being forced to do something they should not have to do...and they should have every right to access this place without having to do something they disagree with and that serves almost no purpose.

They're not being denied access. They're choosing Anonymity over Access to the forums. Rather you think its a fair choice or not is 100% moot and meaningless.

They have/had a choice, Pick a Character or mule and continue posting, Or quit posting and remain anonymous/lurk the forums. another thing is they can still read the forums, They simply need to conform to the rules laid by SE if they want to post.

Rather its pointless or not is equally meaningless, SE thinks it has a point, and its their website, therefore we either comply or stop posting. Rather i agree or disagree is equally meaningless because it wont change anything.


They have as much right to have their ideas and posts heard and discussed as anyone else, I was hoping for this forum to be used by as wide an array of FFXI players as possible.

Yah, they do, I agree with this.

However, Problem is they're choosing to relinquish that right in order to remain anonymous. Which again, Rather you find this fair or not is moot. Every Forum has rules, This Forum happens to make you link your account, If you don't want to follow the rules, its your choice not to post.

We have a choice, no one is denied anything. Its their own choice to either pick a character/mule, or simply stop posting.

[Runespider]

Look at hordecores last post on the front page, in there are many posters that were regulars here.


You said a lot of "Good" Posters. Hordecore was far from "Good", he was an awful Troll. Again

Was it really that hard to understand? I was pointing at his topic that had a lot of good posters in it...not him.

I didn't even read the rest of your post, that was enough to stop at.

[Karbuncle]

Was it really that hard to understand? I was pointing at his topic that had a lot of good posters in it...not him.

I didn't even read the rest of your post, that was enough to stop at.

Oh, So now you're being going to belittle my post and refuse to read based on one line?

Congratulations, you epitomize the very things you hate.

Edit: I mean, At least i took the time to read your post and attempt to understand who you thought were good posters now gone (which you still never answered, You just keep telling me to look for myself, and my attempts to explain to you how our opinions vary when it comes to the term "Good" go ignored).

Its quite hypocritical to claim the website lost a lot of good poster and that its deny versatility then turn around and insult/belittle someones post simply because they misunderstood a single section of your own?

Doesn't that seem to contribute to the downfall of the forums a bit? I mean its awfully uncalled for.

[Dallas]

One person got it exactly right. Here's the scenario:

You are sitting at a bar. Some guy sits next to you and asks your name. You don't tell him. He insists that he has a right to know your name. He starts trashing you for not telling him. There is a word for it. CREEPY. In the real world, this guy gets thrown out of bars, fired from jobs, or even arrested. Online, this guy thrives.

If you think anyone OWES you their character name, you are VERY creepy.


http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/10337-Character-name-can-t-be-hidden.?p=130901&viewfull=1#post130901

As I warned at the beginning of this thread, I had bigger plans. I've always said the information flows in one direction. When they announced this change, I performed yet another service to the FFXI community. I proved without a doubt that I was the only person capable of perpetuating the longest thread. The creepy people who "demand justice" are not the source of information.

I have told everyone who I am. I am the same poster from wiki forums who directly caused 2 unpopular pet jobs to be nerfed. I had a choice. Share with the entire community, report it as broken and avoid it, or risk a Salvage-esque end to my gaming career. Post nerf, both jobs still jumped 6 positions in the census because of my choice.

That's all you get to know about me. I produce results and am one heck of a conversational piece.

[Khiinroye]

Except it's not like going into a bar. It's like going into a conference where you have to provide wear a badge saying who you are.

[Greatguardian]

It's not like everyone cares who everyone is. No one here walks up to a random stranger and demands to know their character name.

Here's the situation: You're in a business conference, and some jackass is running around telling everyone their that their companies are total crap and no one knows what they're doing. Despite their best efforts, it is impossible to get rid of this jackass, so he continues to spout his crap all over the conference. Naturally, people wonder what the hell is so great about him and his company that he has the gall to talk down to everyone else there. When people realize he is a representative of Myspace and his company was just sold off for $30 million (after being bought for $580 million), they realize he's a total gimp and laugh their asses off at him.

[Ravenmore]

It's not like everyone cares who everyone is. No one here walks up to a random stranger and demands to know their character name.

Here's the situation: You're in a business conference, and some jackass is running around telling everyone their that their companies are total crap and no one knows what they're doing. Despite their best efforts, it is impossible to get rid of this jackass, so he continues to spout his crap all over the conference. Naturally, people wonder what the hell is so great about him and his company that he has the gall to talk down to everyone else there. When people realize he is a representative of Myspace and his company was just sold off for $30 million (after being bought for $580 million), they realize he's a total gimp and laugh their asses off at him.

Boy don't get tired of seeing that. I had a mule linked for first week or so show I really didn't care for them wasting time on something so easy to get around. I really don't care if someone knows who I am in game why after I protested a little I linked my main.

Blist is one of the 7 wonders of Vana'deil. So even if they do bother to go out thier way to harrass they can find a nice spot there.

[Atomic_Skull]

You know how you can tell when someone is full of sh*t when they start advocating invading your privacy?

They say: "the only reason someone would be worried is if they have something to hide"

That argument is bull**** in real life and it's bull**** here as well.

[Greatguardian]

The hoary old argument that "only people with something to hide are worried about privacy" is bull**** in real life and it's bull**** here as well.

And to say that any random person becomes the target of strangers for absolutely no reason at all is equally fallacious. I don't see how either assertion applies to the topic at hand.

[Atomic_Skull]

And to say that any random person becomes the target of strangers for absolutely no reason at all is equally fallacious. I don't see how either assertion applies to the topic at hand.

Privacy doesn't need to be justified. I don't want people knowing my character name for the same reason I don't want people knowing my private business.

[Zaknafein]

Ugh.. this thread hasn't died yet? Best way to handle this is just to ignore them. They post in a thread.. don't reply to them. They will either get tired of it, and cowboy up. Or they can continue to grumble anonymously till the cows come home. Either way everyone wins. There's really no point in setting the required level to post at 90 because the really die hard ones will go burn up a mule to 90 (like they burned the rest of their jobs on their main) to keep their anonymity intact.

Only way to combat this issue is to refrain from acknowledging shady posters.

[Greatguardian]

Privacy doesn't need to be justified. I don't want people knowing my character name for the same reason I don't want people knowing my private business.

The day we start being able to send anonymous /tell messages in FFXI, you come back to this point again. No privacy is being given up. This is a first party forum for a video game that is accessed using your character information from said video game. This may as well be an amalgam of Port Jeuno, with the ability to communicate between servers.

The same rules and the same moderators manage both these forums and the game's chat system. If anything, these forums are more strictly moderated rather than less. There is no assumption of privacy concerning your character name. Honestly, I'm just surprised this feature didn't come standard with the original release. If it had, I doubt anyone would have an issue with it.

[Dallas]

And to say that any random person becomes the target of strangers for absolutely no reason at all is equally fallacious. I don't see how either assertion applies to the topic at hand.

So why do you feel the over creepy desire to see my character data?

[Runespider]

The day we start being able to send anonymous /tell messages in FFXI, you come back to this point again. No privacy is being given up. This is a first party forum for a video game that is accessed using your character information from said video game. This may as well be an amalgam of Port Jeuno, with the ability to communicate between servers.

The same rules and the same moderators manage both these forums and the game's chat system. If anything, these forums are more strictly moderated rather than less. There is no assumption of privacy concerning your character name. Honestly, I'm just surprised this feature didn't come standard with the original release. If it had, I doubt anyone would have an issue with it.

People have differing oppinions on privacy, some do want to try to keep forum and game seperate. Not for any negative or shadey reasons either, cause let's be honest you don't see all the mule posters doing anything different to anyone else. If there was any validity to many outlandish claims made here we would be running rampant abusing the forum at every opportunity, the only negative comments and judging are coming from linked posters sadly.

For many this really is a privacy issue and although to you and many it's a non-issue to us it obviously is. Given that this is being got around anyway we just simply think it would of been far better to of had the option to be anon if we wanted to, it would of stopped all the worry, controversy and this topic would not of existed.


If it had, I doubt anyone would have an issue with it.

This is honestly the heart of the problem, if it would of been there at the start those that had a problem would of never joined. As it was we joined, got into using this place and then it was forced onto everyone with no real reason.

[Scuro]

Why is this still going? lol

[Runespider]

Why is this still going? lol

Stop posting in it if you don't like it.

[Dallas]

Why is this still going? lol

Because truly creepy people ignore "no."

[TybudX]

Define worst, and point out a few specific examples. As far as I'm concerned, almost all of the absolute worst posters on these boards post anonymously.

+1


I proved without a doubt that I was the only person capable of perpetuating the longest thread.

Your thread isn't something to be proud of.


I have told everyone who I am

No, but we can pretty much guess.


I am the same poster from wiki forums who directly caused 2 unpopular pet jobs to be nerfed. I had a choice. Share with the entire community, report it as broken and avoid it, or risk a Salvage-esque end to my gaming career. Post nerf, both jobs still jumped 6 positions in the census because of my choice.

Straw man much?
a) Other players reported it on this site, not you. I see nothing you said that insinuated you would report the problem.
b) Neither job saw a rise in popularity because of the nerf, not to mention, lol 'your choice'. Good luck finding any kind of correlation there. You may as well claim the sun rises because you open your eyes in the morning.

[katz]

Did we ever get to the reason why they wanted the names to show? Maybe it if was stated then people could chose better what jobs they want people to see. If it was so that people could contact you in game, I can understand why people chose not to show it. If it was to see which job you consider to be your main well I have 11 main jobs. I rotate as necessary. If its the current job you are working on then thats the one I published. If it was to establish some sort of hierarchy over others who dont have the same job levels, that was just wrong. If it was to link people to chars then why display it.

[Esvedium]

2. On my last online game I was followed by some guy who wanted to date me even after I changed servers. I used the same name for my Character on both games it fits me to a T.

You were (what sounds like) e-stalked in some game, changed servers, kept the same name, then made a character on a different game with THE SAME NAME again, and you're worried about being stalked? Why would you use the same character name if you are really worried about being e-stalked? Does not compute...

[Dallas]

No, but we can pretty much guess.

Do whatever your creepy desires tell you to do.

[Arlan]

Well I just got my Mule registered.
Good to be back to the forums.

kinda lame how SE requires ur ingame info to be registerd to public.
I think this should be optional because people have different preferences and that should be fine.
SE does have our in game info, I dont see why we must be required to let everyone else know as well.

Oh well. =)

[Dallas]

There is no requirement. I understand the frustration must be exponentially bad for everyone who planned harassing people in game.

[Razushu]

There is no requirement. I understand the frustration must be exponentially bad for everyone who planned harassing people in game.

I think it was more so people could avoid having to play with people who display a complete lack of working knowledge of this game. It would have been nice to know who exactly to avoid in game it's a shame they didn't make registering your main mandatory

[Dragoy]

Many other official game forums use the account and/or character information integrated with them. I don't see any problems with that, being the official site. It does of course depend a bit on how it is implemented but nevertheless, there will always be those who do not want to (for a reason or another) display their "main character(s)" and that's fine. If one does not agree with that, it's usually better to just ignore it, than to start tossing accusations and whatnot.

I always judge a post by its content, not by the poster (books and covers). Others of course do, and they're free to do so too, but I really don't see what people are arguing about here, or why. Seems just a rather pointless tossing of obvious statements from side-to-side...

Not everyone "hiding" behind a "noob-char" are bad. Just like not everyone showing the "main-char" are good. Personally I'd probably show a level 10 (lowest I have) job if I could, just for my own weird little fun.

In the end, we are free to just not use these forum-boards though I am sure they appreciate constructive criticism. :]


One might say make peace and happy, optionally love, not war. ^^
Just my thoughts anyways~


Edit:

Oh, it has updated the job now.
Yay.

[Dallas]

I think it was more so people could avoid having to play with people who display a complete lack of working knowledge of this game. It would have been nice to know who exactly to avoid in game it's a shame they didn't make registering your main mandatory

For you, it's simple. Avoid all other SMN. One of them is bound to get Hvergelmir.

[Razushu]

For you, it's simple. Avoid all other SMN. One of them is bound to get Hvergelmir.

Nah I'd just like to avoid you in game, you've proven yourself time and again here to be both arrogant and clueless in equal measure. For the record I'd gladly team up with a melee SMN if I knew I could trust them to be smart, you however I wouldn't group with(knowingly) regardless of job.

[Runespider]

I think it was more so people could avoid having to play with people who display a complete lack of working knowledge of this game. It would have been nice to know who exactly to avoid in game it's a shame they didn't make registering your main mandatory

FFXI really isn't the same game it was in the past, the rep aspect is nowhere near as big a deal anymore. I've been in Abyssea parties with people I really don't like and just shrugged it off, not like you are going to get into a deep and meaningful conversation while doing dom ops or farming seals where being against someone on a forum will matter.

Only time I can think of when it could possibly matter is if you were in the same LS, even then though people act differently ingame than on forums. Well many seem to.

[Neonii]

You were (what sounds like) e-stalked in some game, changed servers, kept the same name, then made a character on a different game with THE SAME NAME again, and you're worried about being stalked? Why would you use the same character name if you are really worried about being e-stalked? Does not compute...

Blame the victim? I should not have to change the name. Anyway this is off topic.

[Greatguardian]

Blame the victim?

He's not blaming you for being stalked. Simply pointing out that you handled it extremely poorly and took absolutely no preventative measures to secure yourself after the initial stalking; and that you, frankly, have a lot more to worry about than the appearance of your character name on these forums given your aversion to any other form of personal internet security. If you're worried about stalking, and are seriously using the same name on every game and every server, fix that first and worry about where that cloned character name shows up later. Priorities =/

Edit: Have to? No. You shouldn't have to lock your home or car doors, or travel in pairs when you're walking through the slums at 2am wearing pearl necklaces and dangling jewelry either. Is it smart to, though? Damn straight.

[Neonii]

He's not blaming you for being stalked. Simply pointing out that you handled it extremely poorly and took absolutely no preventative measures to secure yourself after the initial stalking; and that you, frankly, have a lot more to worry about than the appearance of your character name on these forums given your aversion to any other form of personal internet security. If you're worried about stalking, and are seriously using the same name on every game and every server, fix that first and worry about where that cloned character name shows up later. Priorities =/

Edit: Have to? No. You shouldn't have to lock your home or car doors, or travel in pairs when you're walking through the slums at 2am wearing pearl necklaces and dangling jewelry either. Is it smart to, though? Damn straight.

That's a lot of assumptions. There is a difference between having a name on an isolated server and posting it online. I took precautions by using the mule on the web. I take the precaution of never listing my name on an online Guild Member list. Unless he is incredibly lucky there is no way that person knows i'm playing FF. Even then he would have to happen to choose the same server as me, happen to do a sea all while I was online ect. I have no quarrel with you GG in fact I have always appreciated your point of view in the post you have made. However, this post seems personal and states opinions as fact.

Edit: Just so everyone knows I like to keep the name in Memory of/Tribute to the very special person who helped me choose it.

[Greatguardian]

That's a lot of assumptions. There is a difference between having a name on an isolated server and posting it online. I took precautions by using the mule on the web. I take the precaution of never listing my name on an online Guild Member list. Unless he is incredibly lucky there is no way that person knows i'm playing FF. Even then he would have to happen to choose the same server as me, happen to do a sea all while I was online ect. I have no quarrel with you GG in fact I have always appreciated your point of view in the post you have made. However, this post seems personal and states opinions as fact.

Edit: Just so everyone knows I like to keep the name in Memory of/Tribute to the very special person who helped me choose it.

It's not my intention to make anything personal. I'm simply pointing out that there's a difference between blaming the victim and criticizing someone's handling of a situation.

While it's true that no one should be forced to change their name to conceal their identity from stalkers, the fact remains that it's generally a smart thing to do. Using the same name on multiple servers and games simply leaves you significantly more vulnerable than you would be if you had changed your name(s).

Posting your own name online is also not the only way for it to appear online. Unless you have absolutely no interaction with other players in-game, other people may not take your character name's privacy as seriously as you do. People may make threads about a linkshell, or an event gone awry, or any number of things that may mention your character name on forums and show up on a google search. Back when linkshell recruitment was a bigger deal, BG used to host cross-server background checks on linkshell applicants. The Gimp/wtf/confused player thread hosts hundreds of characters/character names without the owner's consent. Any FFXIAH or BG player warning may mention players without their consent/approval.

What ever preventative measures you did take, I can only infer based on what measures I know you did not take. You may have the most powerful anti-intrusion software on the planet installed on your computer, but that doesn't help at all if someone knows your username and/or password. No matter what advanced measures you take, if the very simple things like your username remain the same, people can still find you.

Relavent: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2237#comic

I understand your reluctance to change your username. But I think there's a fair point to be made that it's the first thing you should be changing if you're really serious about avoiding a stalker.

[Neonii]

It's not my intention to make anything personal. I'm simply pointing out that there's a difference between blaming the victim and criticizing someone's handling of a situation.

While it's true that no one should be forced to change their name to conceal their identity from stalkers, the fact remains that it's generally a smart thing to do. Using the same name on multiple servers and games simply leaves you significantly more vulnerable than you would be if you had changed your name(s).

Posting your own name online is also not the only way for it to appear online. Unless you have absolutely no interaction with other players in-game, other people may not take your character name's privacy as seriously as you do. People may make threads about a linkshell, or an event gone awry, or any number of things that may mention your character name on forums and show up on a google search. Back when linkshell recruitment was a bigger deal, BG used to host cross-server background checks on linkshell applicants. The Gimp/wtf/confused player thread hosts hundreds of characters/character names without the owner's consent. Any FFXIAH or BG player warning may mention players without their consent/approval.

What ever preventative measures you did take, I can only infer based on what measures I know you did not take. You may have the most powerful anti-intrusion software on the planet installed on your computer, but that doesn't help at all if someone knows your username and/or password. No matter what advanced measures you take, if the very simple things like your username remain the same, people can still find you.

Relavent: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2237#comic

I understand your reluctance to change your username. But I think there's a fair point to be made that it's the first thing you should be changing if you're really serious about avoiding a stalker.

Fair enough.

[Dallas]

Nah I'd just like to avoid you in game

If you hate being subpar, you'd only allow yourself to be seen next to me once. Chances are very good that I'd make you change to one of your melee jobs, since no one needs that buff cycle garbage.

[wish12oz]

This thread is so funny. The only people people who care that their characters name/server are displayed are those with something to hide.
The only thing that remains is what they are hiding, whether they're hiding from an e stalker, or hiding their incompetence by trying to remain anonymous as they say nothing of value or just have no understanding of how the game works and don't want it to come back to them in game.

[Razushu]

If you hate being subpar, you'd only allow yourself to be seen next to me once. Chances are very good that I'd make you change to one of your melee jobs, since no one needs that buff cycle garbage.

What melee job? Although I wish I had one I'd take you out into the field and show you what a real DD looks like. You sure do throw around alot of big talk and bravado for some who won't even let themselves be known

[Zaknafein]

This thread is so funny. The only people people who care that their characters name/server are displayed are those with something to hide.
The only thing that remains is what they are hiding, whether they're hiding from an e stalker, or hiding their incompetence by trying to remain anonymous as they say nothing of value or just have no understanding of how the game works and don't want it to come back to them in game.

Quoted for truth

[Runespider]

So this is a very popular thread, this is an annoying issue for quite a lot of posters (including many that never linked due to this). As as can be seen by the arguments against, there really are none.

Any chance a rep can post if there is a possibility of a character hide privacy feature?

[Atomic_Skull]

This thread is so funny. The only people people who care that their characters name/server are displayed are those with something to hide.

"Only people with somethng to hide are worried about privacy"

That's a bulls**t argument. Always has been and always will be.

Privacy does not require justification.

[Razushu]

"Only people with somethng to hide are worried about privacy"

That's a bulls**t argument. Always has been and always will be.

Privacy does not require justification.

When it's something sillly like a character's name in a game that thousands of people have the potential to see anyway, it does kind of require justification.

[Runespider]

When it's something sillly like a character's name in a game that thousands of people have the potential to see anyway, it does kind of require justification.

Silly to you but not to others maybe?

There are people that post their face in their avatar pic, post the state they live in etc..they don't care. Should that be forced too since they see no problem with it? You have nothing to hide, why keep secrets?

It's not if you consider something silly or not, it's that it's something makes people uneasy or they simply don't want to and that it serves no purpose except people being nosey, there is almost no justification for it. On a forum like ffxiah it's fine, you can simply decide not to post on it but these are the official forums, that are paid for by all of our monthly fees.

[Razushu]

Silly to you but not to others maybe?

There are people that post their face in their avatar pic, post the state they live in etc..they don't care. Should that be forced too since they see no problem with it? You have nothing to hide, why keep secrets?

It's not if you consider something silly or not, it's that it's something makes people uneasy or they simply don't want to and that it serves no purpose except people being nosey, there is almost no justification for it. On a forum like ffxiah it's fine, you can simply decide not to post on it but these are the official forums, that are paid for by all of our monthly fees.

Comparing an ingame character to posting your RL info is very silly. The fact is thousands of people that you don't know already see your online persona, it's not like you're on a server with 4k+ people and they're all on your FList. It if implemented properly would have meant no one can be a tool on the forums and then run around the game with you having the chance to play with them unawares. As it stands nothing is lost by linking a character, no privacy there's already lots of people that can see your name etc. no security the information given is useless for hacking. The only thing lost is anonymity, and why is that such a big deal you need to log in anyway so anonymity is partial on the forums anyway. You can choose not to post on these too.

[Dragoy]

What I more or less left out of my first post here, is that I sort of always expected any official forum to have the users connected to their in-game account and thus, I never really saw it as a privacy issue. It's part of the game, so to speak.

I am one of the most paranoid about security and privacy, but even I don't see this as a privacy issue. If you do, then don't use the forum feature or create a secondary account to post with. That would also clear the paranoidness about the account being "hacked" via said feature though in reality, it would be granting one a false feeling of safety, since if it was possible to get "hacked" via this forum like that, then the account would probably be in danger already, no matter what. ^^;

Sure, it's not as simple to create and maintain a secondary account since it is SqEX we are talking about, but it is an option.


If they were forcing to display more information than the name of a character, job, and level which you can all select yourself (level being tied to job obviously), say your real-life location (country for example), then it would be becoming an issue. Again, I understand that the account management of SqEX is not great and that additional characters cost money, so I would be angry too, if this was an issue to me.


Keep your voices heard, but I'd say don't waste your time with pointless arguments which I see a lot here and some are quite heated up even and serve for no purpose other than draining the effort and nerves of some, fersure.

Personally I would welcome an option to hide our character name, job, and level. I have nothing against that. I would probably prefer it, actually, since I do enjoy having options with everything.


Again, just my thoughts, and none of this is towards anyone in particular, just a general view of the situation. ^^

[Scuro]

I love how the posters in this are now the "Rebels with out a cause" its not so much the fact that people have something to hide, its that the are "forced" to do something. Its like those people that rebel against the govt. because they are "forced" to pay taxes. Just ridiculous. Because as i said before, if you want something kept private..... then don't put it on the internet, or there is this really cool thing called password protection and only allow certain viewers to view your private items. Crazy concepts of protection, if an avatar that (usually, in which case you obviously don't care because you posted your RL name in a video game as your character) doesn't bare your name doesn't already give you anonymity or a dual persona by which can barely have any association with you in RL aside from the fact that you play the character.

[Atomic_Skull]

When it's something sillly like a character's name in a game that thousands of people have the potential to see anyway, it does kind of require justification.

Go over to /v/ on 4chan, post a screenshot of your character without the name blacked out.

Note that this would not be a wise thing to do. Every horrible thing you've heard concerning 4chan is true.


There is a reason I keep all personal info hidden on the internet, even something as innocuous as a character name in an MMO. It's because anything can be used to track you and there are people out there that will ruin your life just for lulz.

[Tagrineth]

Er... I've seen screenshots from all manner of games with players' names not blacked out on 4chan.

Good lord, you people are paranoid.

[Runespider]

It doesn't matter what our reasons are we have them and since this forced feature doesn't even do what they wanted it to (since we are here using mules) why anger a portion of your paying subsribers pointlessly? Just add a hide feature and everyone is happy, that's all those of us with an issue have here.

We aren't saying those that want to share this information should not be allowed to, just that those of us that don't want to should not be forced to. In light of how stupid they did it there should be no argument against this at all...unless you just want something that annoys some people for no reason at all.

[ShadowHeart]

the thing that makes me really LOL is that SE / FFXI is one of the most uninformative/secretive games i ever seen and lack clear and concise disclosure of whats happening before hands. This being updates or emergency maintenance or whichever and any one who has played this game for more then a month knows exactly how frustrating this can be. Yet they try to force us to disclose information against our will. Give us the option to do so and they need to quit being so secretive... like people asking earlier in other posts how do you activate fool killer or fatality belt.... they just tell us go figure it out...

[Runespider]

I know the mods here read this post, can we get a word as to whether there is a chance of a hide feature at all?

[wish12oz]

I know the mods here read this post, can we get a word as to whether there is a chance of a hide feature at all?

I hope they don't offer any hide feature.
Why? Because anyone who hides on a mule isn't contributing anything worthwhile, if they were, they wouldn't be hiding on a mule. Personally I think it would be nice if this site made you log in with your main characters name and post from that and it displayed your server as well as linked to your linkshell community beta page, and they should update LS community to be as awesome as guildwork or ffxiah, it would eliminate a lot of the stupid ideas/rants/posts and make these forums a lot better. Giving people the ability to hide will result in more hordecores and stupid trolling, why would anyone want that?

[Runespider]

I hope they don't offer any hide feature.

The post was asking the staff, I'm well aware some love seeing peoples char names but I wasn't asking that.


it would eliminate a lot of the stupid ideas/rants/posts and make these forums a lot better.

The vast majority of stupid posts I've read on here were made by a linked poster, your idea although nice does not work out that way in reality. Check the forums yourself.


Because anyone who hides on a mule isn't contributing anything worthwhile

What have you done that's worthwhile to this forum? Almost everything everyone posts here is garbage, don't even try that "worthwhile contributor" rubbish.


Giving people the ability to hide will result in more hordecores and stupid trolling, why would anyone want that?

I and many otehrs are hiding behind mules, we don't care enough to troll anyone. If certain people are a problem, ban them.

[wish12oz]

The vast majority of stupid posts I've read on here were made by a linked poster, your idea although nice does not work out that way in reality. Check the forums yourself.


The vast majority of dumb posts/threads came from hordecore, who doesn't post anymore, lets keep it that way.


What have you done that's worthwhile to this forum? Almost everything everyone posts here is garbage, don't even try that "worthwhile contributor" rubbish.

All I've ever really done is crusade against bad ideas for ninja. I did do/post the math for why throwing is terrible, why ranger is terrible, why ninja is terrible on anything remotely difficult and why yonin and innin are garbage though.


I and many otehrs are hiding behind mules, we don't care enough to troll anyone. If certain people are a problem, ban them.

SE won't need to ban them if they make them link their character name and server, then people will be more careful about what they say, or just become a joke in game and not just on the forums where it didn't matter what you said, until now.

[Runespider]

The vast majority of dumb posts/threads came from hordecore, who doesn't post anymore, lets keep it that way.

He didnt post from behind a mule.


All I've ever really done is crusade against bad ideas for ninja. I did do/post the math for why throwing is terrible, why ranger is terrible, why ninja is terrible on anything remotely difficult and why yonin and innin are garbage though.

Yeah so nothing any better than anyone else.


SE won't need to ban them if they make them link their character name and server, then people will be more careful about what they say, or just become a joke in game and not just on the forums where it didn't matter what you said, until now.

If people want to be a problem knowing their ingame name won't stop them doing it, they don't care >.> If people are using a mule it doesnt make them a troll/bad poster either. Nobody cares about what you post on a forum ingame as to it ruining a persons rep for being a dumbass, even moreso in the abyssea age.

[wish12oz]

He didnt post from behind a mule.


Oh, you mean Hordecore is still posting? last I saw he hadn't registered a character.



If people want to be a problem knowing their ingame name won't stop them doing it, they don't care >.> If people are using a mule it doesnt make them a troll/bad poster either. Nobody cares about what you post on a forum ingame as to it ruining a persons rep for being a dumbass, even moreso in the abyssea age.

It helps a lot, because people who hide behind a mule are basically known to be full of it. Look at that melee SMN guy for instance, and as I said, Hordecore doesn't even post anymore and never registered a character, that alone was worth it.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

On the other hand, you could have just listed a low level job on your main so everyone would assume it's a mule.

[Greatguardian]

The vast majority of stupid posts I've read on here were made by a linked poster, your idea although nice does not work out that way in reality. Check the forums yourself.

Still waiting on examples.

[Alistria]

You know, there are stupid people in the world and sadly a good majority of them play online games. I'm always telling my LS guys that they need to be careful of the enemies they make, otherwise some grand SE idea (Such as this one) Will make it a very hard situation for them.

While I don't think it's entirely a bad idea, I think that sometimes it makes things harder on people than it has to be because of said stupid people.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Makes me think of the mantality of CS vs. Halo.(CS being superior of course.)

[Eeek]

Still waiting on examples.

Runespider and Atomic_Skull, in a sense, are providing examples in this thread: themselves. It's unfortunate that their examples run counter to their argument, but that's hardly a stumbling block in public discourse these days. Thinkin' and logic is for nerds. The correct line of argument is the one that feels right, man.

[Zaknafein]

Cha Ching!

[TybudX]

Point for The Opposition: Tsukino_Kaji doing massive safeface and backpedaling in emergency maintenance thread.

Thanks to this wonderful forum tool I now know to avoid Siren world transfer at all costs!

edit - Holy crap @ youtube rant in FFXI limited due to XIV thread... Siren, abandon ship! There is no hope!

[Runespider]

Oh, you mean Hordecore is still posting? last I saw he hadn't registered a character.

You said people posting from mules, many of us post from mules and do nothing negative towards the forums. You are picking one person that posted ages ago and trying to base an argument off that, he might of been banned for all you know.


It helps a lot, because people who hide behind a mule are basically known to be full of it. Look at that melee SMN guy for instance, and as I said, Hordecore doesn't even post anymore and never registered a character, that alone was worth it.

Many post from mules as I say and post lots of things on here that have nothing bad to be said about them, many which offer as valuable contributions as everyone else. If you want to make an argument against mule posters/hide feature then you have to show that people that would use it would be any more negative than the norm, of the small number of posters you can show that were bad "in the past" they should of been the people that would of been best suited to being banned.

[Greatguardian]

You're the one who made the initial claim that the worst posters on this board were "advertising their names" rather than being anon.

Instead of backpedaling, can you please give the class a few examples? Who are these forum nightmares that show off their character name as a badge of honor?

No one is making any sort of ridiculous claim that "All anon posters are evil". But if you want to claim that the worst posters on this board are non-anon, you have to back it up. Likewise, other people are going to counter you by saying that the absolute worst posters on this board are anon. Does that mean all anon posters suck? No. Stop inferring that it does. But it does mean that Hordecore, Dallas, et al are all anon posters and are considered by some here to be some of the worst trolls/posters on these boards.

[Runespider]

No one is making any sort of ridiculous claim that "All anon posters are evil".

Yes they are and have done many many times. I'll quote a recent one for you.


Why? Because anyone who hides on a mule isn't contributing anything worthwhile, if they were, they wouldn't be hiding on a mule.

I actually said many of the most stupid and pointless posts are from named posters, that doesn't mean regular posters. That EU maintenance post sticks in my mind, I could name regular posters that I consider worthless to these forums and that love to flame/spam up posts but I would rather not make it personal.

[TybudX]

But it does mean that Hordecore, Dallas, et al are all anon posters and are considered by some here to be some of the worst trolls/posters on these boards.

*cough*Starcade*cough*Kingfury*cough*

OK, Starcade might technically be anon, but we all know who he is. Hey, we all know who Marcus is, too!

edit - Not arguing for or against anything in particular, just pointing out two counter-examples where knowing not only the player's in game name, but also their actual real life name, has done nothing to curb their stupidity. Shit goes both ways.

[wish12oz]

Starcade was just crazy, he doesnt count, since he uses that name for everything.
Kingfurry you can have though.

[Karbuncle]

Yes they are and have done many many times. I'll quote a recent one for you.



I actually said many of the most stupid and pointless posts are from named posters, that doesn't mean regular posters. That EU maintenance post sticks in my mind, I could name regular posters that I consider worthless to these forums and that love to flame/spam up posts but I would rather not make it personal.

I'll reiterate for him.

no one reasonable in this thread is calling every single anon poster evil. Only that when told "The bad posters show their name" naturally we say "Well, I see more bad Anon posters..."

Then we provide evidence to support our opinions on the matter, All we want is simple evidence from you on the matter. You say some of the worst posters are not Anon, We simply wish to know who you consider the "Worst" posters.

Nothing more nothing less, from me anyway, and probably GreatGuardian. We just simply want to see the forum through your point of view. Trying to understand your opinion.

Then again this post is probably useless because you seem to lump me and GG in with the people who do call you and all anons useless/evil, when its clear neither of us think that (We both can name examples of bad Anons, but we can both name examples of bad non-anons too, its a neutral things). So no doubt your post will likely be as hate-filled as the others.

[Dallas]

You're the one who made the initial claim that the worst posters on this board were "advertising their names" rather than being anon.


You are a strong contender. Note that I have given you a name that better represents your contribution to the board.

[Razushu]

You are a strong contender. Note that I have given you a name that better represents your contribution to the board.

And I've given you one, because as usual you show and hurt the side of the argument you're on.

[Neonii]

I say people believe what they want to believe. I think anon posters should let the content of their post speak for itself like any other poster. You can defend your position on either side until you're blue in the face and still folks may not agree with you. The way I look at it the accuracy/merit of each post speaks for itself.

[Arlan]

I say people believe what they want to believe. I think anon posters should let the content of their post speak for itself like any other poster. You can defend your position on either side until you're blue in the face and still folks may not agree with you. The way I look at it the accuracy/merit of each post speaks for itself.

Valid point.
Good reply, you get straight to the point. I like that. =)

[Dallas]

And I've given you one, because as usual you show and hurt the side of the argument you're on.

Quick check...

Raz? Check.
Angst? Check.
Copycat? Check.
Content-free? Check.

Yeah, still you. So, Razushu of Fenrir, think we can find someone to vouch for your competency at BP/release?

[Razushu]

Quick check...

Raz? Check.
Angst? Check.
Copycat? Check.
Content-free? Check.

Yeah, still you. So, Razushu of Fenrir, think we can find someone to vouch for your competency at BP/release?

<Character Name
<Server
<Main job

Anyone I've ever played with can vouch for my skill, So you hidden of Carbuncle can we get anyone but a sock puppet to vouch for you? Or is your own idiocy enough to condemn you?

Whats this BP/release dream you keep clinging to? That died with the 75 cap.

Do you think you're the only one that can see my character name and server? I mean I used the link feature to show my main, so everyone can acutally see this information just above your silly little replies.

[Dallas]

Who cares.

You know what? It's obvious this is all you are. I'm going back to cutting you off. You are down to one thread (not this one) and I may very well shut that one down too.

[Razushu]

You know what? It's obvious this is all you are. I'm going back to cutting you off. You are down to one thread (not this one) and I may very well shut that one down too.

Lmao you really really over estimate yourself in every aspect don't you? You were cutting me off? I didn't notice.

[Ravenmore]

Really most of of the player base could care less about these forums. Most only check the site to look at the dev tracker or will see mods post are reposted or info is spread out from one person to the rest of thier LS, friends, random party members so on. So you can be a complete d**k on here and it not effect you in game. So I don't give to shoots if they are anon or not.

[Dallas]

Have any of our cyber bully "friends" successfully convinced anyone to surrender their anonymity yet?

[TybudX]

People let threads you post in die because you ramble on about the same senseless shit regardless of topic, nobody wants to talk to you, and you are hostile. The only person doing any 'internet bullying' is you, tough guy. It's too bad your too much of a pussy to do it in the open.

[Dallas]

Ty, does anyone even remember why you joined that thread? I sure don't.

[Razushu]

Ty, does anyone even remember why you joined that thread? I sure don't.

Like alot of people here I thnik it's to lol at you

[Baccanale]

Greetings, everyone!
First of all, I want to thank all of the players that have voiced their concerns in this thread. Unfortunately, it seems that the thread has gone quite off-topic, which tends to happen when a conversation goes on for almost a month, so I have made sure to close this thread. Please do keep in mind that we will continue to take your feedback into consideration for future changes, and we wish you all the best of luck in future discussions. Thanks again for your participation!