Posters on "JOB lv. 1" characters trolling

[Nynja]

Seeing as how you pretty much need to link your ffxi id to be able to post, how about modifying it so people cant hide behind troll mules to conceal their identity.

I dont see why a lv1 character would need to have 150+ posts here. How much feedback on the game can a lv1 character have? How many problems can a lv1 character run into? None, because a lv1 character probably hasnt done a damn thing in the game to begin with.


Surely they could lvl up their troll mules, but thats a lot of effort to conceal identity.

[Hayward]

I agree with this. Own your opinions, even if no one agrees with it.

[Prothscar]

I make myself look like an idiot on almost a daily basis, live that shit down or don't say shit at all.

[FrankReynolds]

I must create a fake Identity to hide the true Identity of my imaginary character so that real live people do not create other imaginary characters to hide the identity of their imaginary characters on my imaginary characters server and harass him.

[Malamasala]

I don't see why you care. It is the post you should be reading, not his character info. I just pity you people who need someone to be angry at.

[Alhanelem]

I don't see why you care. It is the post you should be reading, not his character info. I just pity you people who need someone to be angry at.
It's not that we're reading the character info. It's that the person posting has something to hide. People who troll usually don't reveal their character so that they can't take crap for it in game. It makes it easier for them to post crap. Posting with your real character shown shows that you're willing to take responsibility for what you post. Usually, if I see a lv.1 posting, I don't take what they're saying seriously.

In short, having a real character listed increases the integrity of the poster. After all, as has already been said, if someone was really level 1, they probably wouldn't be able to make reasonable arguments as to why Meteor is too broken or why SAM's imaginary level 99 instant death WS is crappy because they don't have access to those things yet. I think they should simply make it so your selected character / job must be at least level 30 to post.

[Greatguardian]

I'd support this for different reasons. As it is now, legit level 1-20 players who come on these boards looking for help generally get yelled at or scorned because people think they're trolls.

The character profile system should just automatically link to the highest level job on the highest level character of any given SE account.

My testimony for those concerned about privacy is the same as it's always been. I have 3k posts. Most of this board hates me for some reason or another, typically for calling them retarded or correcting them on something at some point. I've never, ever received anything but compliments and cheers from forum posters who find me in-game.

Harassment is a paper tiger. In the off chance you piss off some crazy and they do mess with you, black list and GM them. There are systems in place for those sorts of things.

[Nynja]

Point is, theres a system in place where people have to link to their ffxi account to post...linking to a lv1 mule is bypassing the system and perhaps should be looked into.

[Alhanelem]

My testimony for those concerned about privacy is the same as it's always been. I have 3k posts. Most of this board hates me for some reason or anotherPeople don't hate you as much as you think. Hell, you must think i ahbhor you more than the fires of hell, but that's not the case. For all the times you've driven me crazy, you also make plenty of worthwhile contributions. We may be at odds over specific issues, but I certainly don't hate you, nor do I question your capability as a player. That being said, I'd like you a lot more if you didn't abuse my forum name or bring me up when you debate with someone else.

[Greatguardian]

People don't hate you as much as you think. Hell, you must think i ahbhor you more than the fires of hell, but that's not the case. For all the times you've driven me crazy, you also make plenty of worthwhile contributions. We may be at odds over specific issues, but I certainly don't hate you, nor do I question your capability as a player. That being said, I'd like you a lot more if you didn't abuse my forum name or bring me up when you debate with someone else.

It's easier to both remember and type, at this point it's hardly even meant to be derogatory. I'm not referring to you in particular, though. I know there are plenty of other more fanatic posters that can't stand me, some of whom are even on my server, and I've yet to run into any issues at all.

[MojoJojo]

I must create a fake Identity to hide the true Identity of my imaginary character so that real live people do not create other imaginary characters to hide the identity of their imaginary characters on my imaginary characters server and harass him.

Dude, you just blew my mind........

[Unleashhell]

Seeing as how you pretty much need to link your ffxi id to be able to post, how about modifying it so people cant hide behind troll mules to conceal their identity.

I dont see why a lv1 character would need to have 150+ posts here. How much feedback on the game can a lv1 character have? How many problems can a lv1 character run into? None, because a lv1 character probably hasnt done a damn thing in the game to begin with.


Surely they could lvl up their troll mules, but thats a lot of effort to conceal identity.


Yeah but who else is gonna give the "Like" button to certain peoples posts? You know as well as I do there are some people that post just complete and utter stupidity with no thought about the game or mechanics about the game, and the majority of us see that, but then you see 2-3 "Like" checked off.....

<Forum poster> I'm gonna make my point and shut all these people up!
<Forum poster> Now that my post is done let me log onto my mule account and press the "Like" button cause my post is that awesome!.

[MojoJojo]

People actually do that? Do they think 1 like really strengthens up their nonsense? I just figured there was another retard on the forum (or more depending on how many likes there are)

[Unleashhell]

I would not be surprised if they do lol.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Raise your hand if you never even remember that the botton exists. /

[Sparthos]

I'm Sparthosx and I approve all my own messages.

[Seriha]

I've been of the mind of everyone's main or no name at all. I don't think it's so much that harassment is a paper tiger, but rather doing so in-game puts you on the radar for the in-game GMs if a call is made. While the GM advice to the person making the call would likely be to blacklist the offender, if the offender themselves has a history, it could be what leads them to a suspension or even banning.

Were we to talk more on actual forum moderation, I believe it's both inconsistent and too lenient. Some of the mud I see slung between posters is both uncalled for and oftentimes pathetic. And while I also encourage strong criticisms toward SE with us as their paying customers, what some have said in their disagreements has also crossed lines (death threats, etc.). Some people thrive on the drama, though. I've never really understood it, but if it's given the venue to transpire, it happens.

[Meyi]

I'm Sparthosx and I approve all my own messages.

Oh no, I just liked your message...does that make me one of your mules?! D:!!

[Sparthos]

Oh no, I just liked your message...does that make me one of your mules?! D:!!

Dont tell SE, they will ban!

[Insaniac]

I don't see why you care. It is the post you should be reading, not his character info. I just pity you people who need someone to be angry at.I think the point is that complete anonymity promotes people being complete d-bags. It's not about having someone to be mad at. I think a lot of these obvious trolls would be less comfortable shitting on threads if people knew who the character behind the post was.

[Runespider]

Trolling happens here because the posters are so easy to troll. It will happen no matter what they do in regards forced highest character linking. We all know that.

Ultimately now though the reality is that these forums don't matter as we initially thought they would and are honestly just a community no different than FFXIAH, Alla or BG. Our opinions or discontent at anything make no more difference posted here than anywhere else, and even the reps (english ones at least, jp ones seem pretty involved with their communities) post less and less every day (and more and more on the XIV forums) which was always a false sense of our opinion mattering at all. As such they should just add whatever the majority would like to see in regards this.

I would personally stop posting here if they did that but since the reality is as posted above I don't think those of us that don't agree with it should really care one way or the other anymore, there are plenty of other XI forums around that offer a choice.

[Nynja]

So you're going to stop posing here if you'd have to link your main character to your forum id?

Meaning you've got something to be ffxi-embarrassed about...and I really dont get why, it makes no sense.

[wish12oz]

I support being forced into linking your character with the most levels on it to your ID on these forums, and only being given the option to select the job displayed. It got rid of a bunch of the horrible posters when they originally added character linking, it's time to take that next step and make everyone be out in the open completely.

[Runespider]

So you're going to stop posing here if you'd have to link your main character to your forum id?

Meaning you've got something to be ffxi-embarrassed about...and I really dont get why, it makes no sense.

I and I'm sure quite a few others would stop posting if it was made compulsary yeah, I don't have anything to hide really no but I don't want to be forced into doing something I see no purpose in either (It won't stop trolling, only proper moderation and the posters not continually falling for it will do that). There is no other forum I know of that has forced character linking and they all operate just fine, what makes this place so good to warrant such a system? As I said though, I don't really care anymore since this place has long since shown what it is, I doubt many others really care as much as they did when this topic came up last either.

If most posters want it then I hope they do add it for them, for those of us that don't like it we will post on another forum and be as equally ignored by the dev team as you guys here..no loss.

[Nynja]

I and I'm sure quite a few others would stop posting if it was made compulsary yeah

I dont think anyone would miss you then...



There is no other forum I know of that has forced character linking and they all operate just fine, what makes this place so good to warrant such a system?

Those other forums also arent operated by SE themselves. SE put a system in place to force character linking, otherwise why are people linking their accounts? Some people are obviously bypassing the system because they have shit to hide.

And while other ffxi forums dont require account linking (what other forums are there really other than "cesspool BG"), trolls who post anonymously generally get dealt with.

[Ravenmore]

I Didn't see the point of the linking in the first place. SE thinking they can force people to play nice is proof that SE is indeed as retared when it comes to anything online as we all know them to be. Anyone thinking the same is just the same as SE.

[Francisco]

There should be two like buttons...

One for actually liking a post...

And one for http://http://rafaellasthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/1233928590_citizen-kane-clapping.gifhttp://rafaellasthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/1233928590_citizen-kane-clapping.gif

[Nynja]

I Didn't see the point of the linking in the first place. SE thinking they can force people to play nice is proof that SE is indeed as retared when it comes to anything online as we all know them to be. Anyone thinking the same is just the same as SE.

How is linking names forcing people to play nice? I'll knock someone down a peg or two if they make stupid comments, and I dont have to hide my ffxi identity. This isnt /b/, you dont have to hide behind 7 proxies, its your damn ffxi characters name. No ones going to world shift and bomb your character.

Theres a system in place, and its gotten to the point there are way too many trolls hiding their ffxi identity because they're scared to embarass themselves here?

[ShadowHeart]

freedom and choice to have anonymity should be given to anyone within the forums but personally we were forced to reveal char and information as it is which i should be able to choose who and where people see my info....

people get hacked in mmorpg's regularly take my friend for example SE has told her on the phone your account has been compromised byJP persona nd they took your account and 4 months later they still say they are investigating and haven't / won't roll back at this time until they find all full information about person who compromised her account .... crock of bs imo ...

neither here nor there we should not have been forced to show our char info if we didnt wish to so much for listening to what the customers / players want lol

[Nynja]

So revealing your identity is going to get you targeted for hacking...gotcha.

[ShadowHeart]

yes actually it has in various games and could well do so

[Yinnyth]

Also, we should require everyone to list their full birth name, address of their current residence, home, work, and cell phone numbers, as well as their social security number. Anonymity is a matter of scale. I think our current exposure is adequate. We discuss the game here, and only people who pay monthly fees for the game are allowed access here. If you want, it's up to you to ignore people who hide behind a mule account, but I don't feel you have the right to demand to know their true identity anymore than I have the right to demand your mother's maiden name.

[Alhanelem]

Trolling happens here because the posters are so easy to troll.Trolling happens because stupid people with nothing better to do come here to get enjoyment by doing it.


yes actually it has in various games and could well do so
Giving your account name might unlock potential for that, but not character. There's no way to know the POL ID of someone from their character name, since its a random set of letters and numbers and not named by the player, nor is it displayed to anyone on the forums. You are not at any risk of hacking by using your main character versus a mule, and even if you were, how would using a mule character help? it's obvious any level 1 is a mule and probably not a main character- they'd just hack you anyway and get both if they're on the same account or get whatever you're keeping on your mule that's worth anything.

[Zaknafein]

LOL people are gonna hack my account if they know my name....

Seriously just be real about it. You either post from a mule account because you want to start shit without anyone being able to trace it back to you. Or the game you talk of here on the forum doesn't match up to your ingame gear/progression. Very simple.

[Runespider]

I highly doubt Square will add this (too much effort) so here is a very good thing all those that are for this can do, it will..at least partially fix all the problems you are having while not really impacting anyone else.

Black list the people who are posting from low level chars, you will not be able to see their posts or topics and you will have the thing you want. It's the same as blisting people ingame who are annoying you, this should be the most simple way to combat it for those that have serious issues with anonymity here.

[Alhanelem]

The thing is the system teases you by showing you there's a post by someone on your blacklist and giving you the option to reveal the post. It is suprisingly compelling to do so, just in case someone actually decides to say something intelligent, or you forgot why you blocked that person. So while it helps, it's not a perfect solution.

[Yinnyth]

LOL people are gonna hack my account if they know my name....

Seriously just be real about it. You either post from a mule account because you want to start shit without anyone being able to trace it back to you. Or the game you talk of here on the forum doesn't match up to your ingame gear/progression. Very simple.

LOL trolling is gonna stop if people know the real character name...

Seriously just be real about it. You either want to know their real char names to torment their character ingame or because you just want to reinforce your false belief of superiority. Very simple.

[Zaknafein]

LOL trolling is gonna stop if people know the real character name...

Seriously just be real about it. You either want to know their real char names to torment their character ingame or because you just want to reinforce your false belief of superiority. Very simple.

Wrong. The people advocating posting from the main character on the account are adhering to the forum guidelines. Guidelines which were put in place to reduce the amount of idiot posters, and also to give a measure of accountability to people that speak their mind.

Using mules to obscure your identity is cowardly, and dishonorable. It is also clearly skirting the system that was put in place by the entity that runs this website. So no. This issue has less to do with people who are calling out mule posters, and more to do with the ones skirting forum guidelines.

[Vold]

be as equally ignored by the dev team as you guys here..no loss.If you truly believe that then you still wouldn't be hanging around here. I dare you to walk the talk and stop posting. No loss, right?

I don't expect you to stop posting, for the record. It's practically in the same ball park as asking you to quit FFXI here and now. Never going to happen until your hand is forced.

[Yinnyth]

Wrong. The people advocating posting from the main character on the account are adhering to the forum guidelines. Guidelines which were put in place to reduce the amount of idiot posters, and also to give a measure of accountability to people that speak their mind.

Using mules to obscure your identity is cowardly, and dishonorable. It is also clearly skirting the system that was put in place by the entity that runs this website. So no. This issue has less to do with people who are calling out mule posters, and more to do with the ones skirting forum guidelines.

You mean these forum guidelines (http://support.na.square-enix.com/rule.php?id=20&la=1&tag=forum)? Yeah, I don't see the rule against hiding your identity in there. I see a guideline against impersonating someone you aren't, but impersonating your mule is no more a crime than impersonating your main character. In fact, read the 11th bullet point in those guidelines: (stuff you're not supposed to do)

Posting personal information about yourself or other specific individuals.
That sounds to me more like the forum guidelines protecting your right to remain anonymous whether you want to or not.

I'm also curious as to why you're so adamant about upholding these forum guidelines when you yourself broke them on reply #34. Didn't you know obscenity is against the forum guidelines?

[Nynja]

I highly doubt Square will add this (too much effort) so here is a very good thing all those that are for this can do, it will..at least partially fix all the problems you are having while not really impacting anyone else.

Black list the people who are posting from low level chars, you will not be able to see their posts or topics and you will have the thing you want. It's the same as blisting people ingame who are annoying you, this should be the most simple way to combat it for those that have serious issues with anonymity here.

So because you're closing your eyes, blocking your ears going "LALALALALALALALA" doesnt mean SE may take insight from these trolls. Blisting troll accounts doesnt make them not exist.


yes actually it has in various games and could well do so

Hey dummy, if your account "Woolie" gets hacked, guess what, they have access to your main also...


You mean these forum guidelines (http://support.na.square-enix.com/rule.php?id=20&la=1&tag=forum)? Yeah, I don't see the rule against hiding your identity in there.

Then why require account linking? for lulz?
The people going "I wont post here if I cant be anonymous" are probably people who make troll posts to begin with, and wont be missed. How can anyone be missed if they dont let anyone know who they are?


Seriously just be real about it. You either want to know their real char names to torment their character ingame or because you just want to reinforce your false belief of superiority. Very simple.

You've heard it here first folks. I'm going to spend 25$ to worldshift my character to troll someone because I now know whos responsible for the dumbshit comments they're making.

[Prothscar]

What's the point of being anonymous on a forum like this? Are you afraid that your opinion is so bad that you'll damage your reputation so much that you'll be an outcast? If that's the case you probably shouldn't be posting at all.

[Runespider]

So because you're closing your eyes, blocking your ears going "LALALALALALALALA" doesnt mean SE may take insight from these trolls. Blisting troll accounts doesnt make them not exist.

What is wrong with you? I know you aren't really stupid enough to think this will stop trolls AT ALL, I don't mind you wanting this option at all but stop saying it's for trolls. To use your own way of thinking, if you have a good argument you don't need to hide behind a false one.


What's the point of being anonymous on a forum like this? Are you afraid that your opinion is so bad that you'll damage your reputation so much that you'll be an outcast? If that's the case you probably shouldn't be posting at all.

What's the point not being anonymous? What are teh benefits of saying "THIS IS ME INGAME"?


The thing is the system teases you by showing you there's a post by someone on your blacklist and giving you the option to reveal the post. It is suprisingly compelling to do so, just in case someone actually decides to say something intelligent, or you forgot why you blocked that person. So while it helps, it's not a perfect solution.

You defeat your own argument, I thought you said unlinked posters had nothing good to offer or are just trolling? Teasing you with the placeholder should warrant no insentive if you know it's from an "Anon troll". I blisted someone a while back and since I know what he posts I have no intrest in checking them, why is it different for you? I'm trying to offer a fix that will help towards you're aim, if enough follow your example then it will be pointless for anon accounts to post here tright?..nobody will read them, or do they offer something valuable to read still even though you don't know their ingame name?


If you truly believe that then you still wouldn't be hanging around here. I dare you to walk the talk and stop posting. No loss, right?

I don't expect you to stop posting, for the record. It's practically in the same ball park as asking you to quit FFXI here and now. Never going to happen until your hand is forced.

Do you believe otherwise? You think anything we post here reaches the devs ears at all (or if it does they give a crap?) I'll be highly suprised if you do, maybe to a small extent on the JP forums but not here...lol Not on ingame issues anyway.

I post here for the same reason I check the XIV forums (for a game I quit in disgust long ago) and some others, it's part of my daily routine of stuff to do while playing FF and waiting for something or other to pop or simply to get involved in a rant/discussion.

Oh and just to throw another spanner in the works for those this holy cursade to banish anonymity on a forum, many people have cure alt accounts these days. For instance this account is not my main, so even posting the actual main char on the account will offer very little to people from other servers that go check their FFXIAH page and post comments on it, like mr tacocat.

At that point what's next, posting on their server forums for information or trying to find out who's main account the alt belongs to? If so why? I just honestly don't see what the big deal to all this is, I don't see what knowing the ingame name to someone's posting alias offers to anyone at all.

Some say they don't understand why people want to be anonymous, well we don't get why you care. Afterall, you say over and over that the ingame char name means very little to be so protective of so why does it offer anything of value to know it?

[Prothscar]

What's the point not being anonymous? What are teh benefits of saying "THIS IS ME INGAME"

Look, if you're too insecure to show yourself and your persona, that's fine. But know this, you won't be hidden for too long. People always find out who you are, it's only a matter of time, and it only makes you look even more stupid than you would have if you'd just nutted the hell up and posted as yourself.

[Zaknafein]

Oh and just to throw another spanner in the works for those this holy cursade to banish anonymity on a forum, many people have cure alt accounts these days. For instance this account is not my main, so even posting the actual main char on the account will offer very little to people from other servers that go check their FFXIAH page and post comments on it, like mr tacocat.

Since ffxiah has been in existence I have posted a grand total of ZERO comments on anyones page genius. Just more of your tin foil hat nonsense to justify posting /anon here instead of being honest about it being strictly cowardice.

[Tamoa]

You can also edit your ffxiah profile to not show the comments on your profile page. So if someone posts a nasty comment, noone else can see it and you can just delete it, no harm done.

[Runespider]

Look, if you're too insecure to show yourself and your persona, that's fine. But know this, you won't be hidden for too long. People always find out who you are, it's only a matter of time, and it only makes you look even more stupid than you would have if you'd just nutted the hell up and posted as yourself.

I offer you the challenge to waste countless hours of your life finding out who I am, knock yourself out. Someone probably does know who my char's name is, I've posted plenty of hints of gear etc but it boggles the mind that people like you would care to waste time from your life on a task that not only offers no reward but in regard somone you will never ever meet or care about (or have contact with outside of the words we both post here). If someone is sad enough that cares though, go for it. It won't change the content of my posts or the name that sits under my avatar either way.


Since ffxiah has been in existence I have posted a grand total of ZERO comments on anyones page genius. Just more of your tin foil hat nonsense to justify posting /anon here instead of being honest about it being strictly cowardice.

My apologies, I mixed you up with someone else. If me posting anon is cowardice I'm assuming you are posting with bravery then? Bravery on a forum is counted by the name of your char instead of the content of your post? (even though cowardice and bravery in regards posting on a forum is hilarious but you tried to use that line of through lol)

I'll be honest, I've read a lot of your posts and the quality and content of them isn't that great (kinda stuff a 14 year old would post mostly XD). Maybe relying on your ingame name is a crutch for you that many others don't need?

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/popular-mmorpg.jpg

[Zaknafein]

More like posting with honesty coward.

The content of my posts don't meet your criteria? I must have failed to absorb the Runespider's guide to intelligent posts. Post a zillion whining negative threads interspersed with Amagad Tanaka you make me so Emo. Hold on brb cutting myself. Hai Gaiz check out my super Dee duper Meme's! You don't know who I am though tee hee hee....

[Runespider]

More like posting with honesty coward.

What have you posted that's so honest? What makes you such an honest and true poster? Just curious how you think this is an argument at all. So you class people that post on anon forums like Alla and BG dishonest people? o.O


The content of my posts don't meet your criteria? I must have failed to absorb the Runespider's guide to intelligent posts. Post a zillion whining negative threads interspersed with Amagad Tanaka you make me so Emo. Hold on brb cutting myself. Hai Gaiz check out my super Dee duper Meme's! You don't know who I am though tee hee hee....

Just that you post drivel most of the time, which is fine of course (so do I!)! but when you try to set yourself up as something good, pitchfork inhand complaining about the trolls and cowardly anon posters and then post just as much garbage yourself, then it comes off kinda silly.

Anyway fear not, I'm sure nobody doubts that you are truely a brave hero. Quite possibly the bravest hero the FFXI official forums have to offer and of that I'm sure you are very proud.

[Alhanelem]

I offer you the challenge to waste countless hours of your life finding out who I am, knock yourself out.Nobody really wants to do that (except possibly the person you were responding to?)- but they also shouldn't have to. It's the simple fact that not using your real character tells people you have something to hide, or that "Hey, I get to be an ass on these forums because no one will ever find out who I am!" Basically, there's only one reason not to select your main character, and that's to send the message that you're here just to be a jerk and get away with it.

And that internet meme image you posted kind of proves that.


Maybe relying on your ingame name is a crutch for you that many others don't need?No one said it guarantees post quality, though odds are higher you'll see decent posts from people who use their character name (Now come on, it's not like we're asking for your real, actual life name) over those who don't.

Personally, I'm willing to accept the consequences of my actions if someone hates me enough after reading one of my posts that they want to go find me on the server and train NMs to my EXP party or something. It would suck, but at least I maintain my integrity and show I'm better than faceless internet trolls. The fact is, using mules as your main character is essentially a free license to troll- After all, since no one knows who you are, you can get away with it 100%, right?

[Nynja]

Oh and just to throw another spanner in the works for those this holy cursade to banish anonymity on a forum, many people have cure alt accounts these days. For instance this account is not my main, so even posting the actual main char on the account will offer very little to people from other servers that go check their FFXIAH page and post comments on it, like mr tacocat.

Who the hell cares about comments made on a ffxiah profile? The only people whos going to look at them are people relevant to the situation. You think someones gonna decline you to a VW alliance for that?

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkjk6lKLyn1qgj47l.jpg
"Helllllllo (mr anon whos too scared to post his name because his balls still havent dropped yet), whaaaaaaaaats happenin. I was just doing a routine background check on you, and I found some disparaging comments on ffxiah profile. Yeahhhhhhh this guy posted that you're a retard, so I'm gonna pass you up for this undergeared pup, he atleast has friends. Mmmmmmmmkay. Oh, oh, and I almost forgot, I'm gonna tell my friends to avoid you, we uh...had some problems based on rumors, and we want to avoid that. Thaaaaaaaaaaaanks".

[Anewie]

If you feel someone is trolling, u blist them. I cant stand people who are determined to have a problem. I myself, blist every last person i think is a complete moron and is jiust trying to get a rise out of me. Why on earth would you want to see a troll comment? Why on earth do you care what a troll says? If your argument is, someone should own up to their views and show themselves, the question i have for you is, how does that benefit you exactly? you already stated you wouldn't harrase them or bother them in game, so why do you need to know who a troll is?

So you can avoid them in game? If someone is a true troll, they will act so in game, in which you would blist them there as well. If theyre only trolling on the board, then in game it doesn't benefit you to know who they are. Because in xi, they are not trolling. So im just not sure how knowing or not knowing who someone is on a board benefits a person.

Integrity of poster? Again, if you're someone who cares what other people think of your opinion, sure. But 90% of us don't care that much. This is a discussion board for a video game, it isn't that deep.If you don't like my opinion, or even respect it, I couldn't care less. Im still going to express it and if you're gonna troll me as a response, ill just blist and go on my merry way.

I suggest everyone does the same. Cause it's really not that big a deal.

[Nynja]

Yes we know you blist everyone...you blist everyone who has an opinion differing from yours. Must be a sad lonely world you live in.

[Nynja]

I guess since I can, I'll use you as proof of why people shouldnt be allowed to post on lv1 accounts,or atleast have a 5 post limit up untill a certain level...which makes sense considering SE allready has level restrictions in game on certain things (fishing for one):

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/members/16309-Benihana
Joined 04-18-2011
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/members/4201-Anewie
Joined 03-08-2011

I'm not exactly sure when SE forced character linking...but look at these post tenures:
Apr 11: both post
May 11: Anewie, no Benihana
Up untill mid june: Anewie only
Mid june till aug: Anewie disappears
Benihana has a couple posts in september, disappears for 2 months and resurfaces around christmas for a week. Disappears again only for Anewie to appear.
You probably have more troll accounts that no ones noticed.

Both share similar signatures: ridiculously stupid gif, and attacking greatguardian.

[SNK]

I totally concur that people need to grow a pair and post under their real characters instead of thier mules.

[Aeonk]

Not like your "forum rep" matters anyway. I'd guess that less than half the playerbase posts on any of the active forums, so even if you're labeled a troll or bad player, it's more than likely not going to come back to haunt you. You may occasionally get the one or 2 players who frequent forums and know who you are, but for the most part you are still anonymous.

So yea, hiding behind a lvl 1 mule account is kind of a moot point.

[Yinnyth]

LOL people are gonna hack my account if they know my name....

Seriously just be real about it. You either post from a mule account because you want to start shit without anyone being able to trace it back to you. Or the game you talk of here on the forum doesn't match up to your ingame gear/progression. Very simple.

LOL trolling is gonna stop if people know the real character name...

Seriously just be real about it. You either want to know their real char names to torment their character ingame or because you just want to reinforce your false belief of superiority. Very simple.

You've heard it here first folks. I'm going to spend 25$ to worldshift my character to troll someone because I now know whos responsible for the dumbshit comments they're making.

So, Nynja, are you defending his post that there are only 2 reasons people would hide behind a mule account on the forums, or are you just shooting down my post that there are only 2 reasons people would demand to know the real identity of a poster? Because I'll be the first to admit I wasn't serious about that post. It was a duplication of his post only I substituted his closed-minded opinions with closed-minded opinions on the other side of the spectrum to create contrast and hopefully help other people to realize he is vastly oversimplifying the issue. Now if you agree with him that those are the only 2 possibilities, well, there is no way for a closed mind to be forcibly opened, so I'd be wasting my time here.


Then why require account linking? for lulz?
Beats me, I'm not them. How about you ask them? I always assumed it was to create a little more diversity in avatars so it would be slightly easier to tell posters apart from one another at a glance, but who am I to say? And for that matter, who are you to say? You're not them, so you're not qualified to state what their intentions are unless they themselves have already made it clear. It certainly wouldn't be the first time they did something annoying for their players for seemingly no reason (Hi, ClickAn- oh right, that was for our "own safety" or some BS they fed us about that)

Now if it IS INDEED WHAT THEY INTEND, then they have every right to re-write the ToS, implement your suggested changes, and flip me the bird. But there are currently no rules against it, so unless SE says or does something about it, anyone who says "but they're circumventing the system SE put into place to avoid this" is merely speculating, and my speculation is worth just as much as anyone else's. And my speculation is that we're giving away enough of our identity already, and that if your changes were implemented, trolling on internet forums would not see much of a decrease.

[Nynja]

Beats me, I'm not them. How about you ask them?

I'm trying...

[Lafaiel]

The thing about level 1 mule trolls is people can smell the troll coming a mile away, all it does is just brand them as a troll right off the bat and show them as being pretty dumb, I've always been a proponent of posting on your main, weather it be trolling or a serious post.

Trolling on your main gives your post credibility and makes it a lot harder to differentiate it from a troll, as for trolling on your level 1 alt lol, spineless, you need to put your conviction in it or no one will take it seriously, like they say, get on my level.

[Yinnyth]

Yeah, to be fair to you, I'm pretty much asking the impossible. Getting a straight answer out of SE is like trying to get milk out of a rock.

[Apelila]

Giving your account name might unlock potential for that, but not character. There's no way to know the POL ID of someone from their character name, since its a random set of letters and numbers and not named by the player, nor is it displayed to anyone on the forums. You are not at any risk of hacking by using your main character versus a mule, and even if you were, how would using a mule character help? it's obvious any level 1 is a mule and probably not a main character- they'd just hack you anyway and get both if they're on the same account or get whatever you're keeping on your mule that's worth anything.

Stopped reading the thread here just to point something out - if a person was silly enough to make their SquareEnix ID the same as their character name it could potentially be a security risk. You can get the POL information out of the SE character management system, so if someone made their SE ID the same as their character name it -might- make them a target.

That's going full conspiracy theory though, like hacks targeting specific players and stuff. Because you still have to get the password for said SE account, and the account has to not have a security token.

[Alhanelem]

Stopped reading the thread here just to point something out - if a person was silly enough to make their SquareEnix ID the same as their character name it could potentially be a security risk.It's not a security risk because it does not tell you what the PlayOnline ID or its password is. Without the security token, you need (or need to be able to crack) four pieces of information:
POL ID
POL password
SE Account name
SE Account password

If you have a security token, they need to circumvent that too.

It doesn't matter if they can deduce your account name. They still need your POL ID and both passwords. Just by the pure chance that SE's system ended up being so convulted, it's actually more secure than the average game with just a single logon and password (unless you conciously make it less secure by revealing all of your account details to someone, or if you do something stupid like make your account name and password the same as your POL ID and password- and I wonder if the system even allows that?).

[Apelila]

If you log in through the SE account system you can find the POL ID and you can reset the POL password without any additional verification. So w/o a security token, all you need is the SE ID and it's password to take control of an account (Assuming the person has migrated from POL to the SE account system).

There is a somewhat valid concern someone might have if they where indeed pantsonheadstupid enough to use their character name as the SE ID while not having a security token linked. And yes, the POL ID password can be the same as the SE ID password, I tried it last time I reset the PW on my alt. (Then I changed it shaking my head at the sillyness)

[Yinnyth]

Clearly the answer is MOAR PASSWORDS! It's not enough that I keep track of my POL password, SE password, security token, and CnB/Paypal passwords. Those things are all keeping me safe.

[Runespider]

I think the account linking was originally done to give the message that action can be taken on your game account due to being properly linked to your posting account, they didn't really care which char you used.

I can't realy see them changing this to add a feature that no other forum has (at least not to the level that some here want it). I quite like talking about this topic but the reality is they aren't going to add it.

[Meyi]

It doesn't matter how different all of your passwords and login names are if someone places a keylogger on your computer. That's how the RMT stole all of those accounts years ago.

Otherwise, like Alhanelem said, there are plenty of combinations a person would have to figure out in order to crack into a person's account. Security token being one of the more difficult ones.

[Mirage]

Hey guise, why are you all so caught up in this issue? I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill.

[Anewie]

Hey guise, why are you all so caught up in this issue? I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Lolz, theyre worried about your integrity!

[Eric]

Nobody's worried about anything. While I couldn't care less about half of you people hiding behind level 1 characters, I think this thread succeeded in one thing: calling all of you people out for being cowards.

[Alhanelem]

Hey guise, why are you all so caught up in this issue? I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill.
You are a lv.1 poster, you have no credibility

[Yinnyth]

Nobody's worried about anything. While I couldn't care less about half of you people hiding behind level 1 characters, I think this thread succeeded in one thing: calling all of you people out for being cowards.

And you're so brave for making incendiary remarks against a group of people when they have no way of tracing your avatar back to the human being who controls it. The hypocracy of calling these people "cowards" is sickening. Even if they're forced to link a level 99 character to their forum account, they're still effectively anonymous. Woo, they're so brave now.

[Nynja]

And you're so brave for making incendiary remarks against a group of people when they have no way of tracing your avatar back to the human being who controls it. The hypocracy of calling these people "cowards" is sickening. Even if they're forced to link a level 99 character to their forum account, they're still effectively anonymous. Woo, they're so brave now.

Except mr anon poster who goes "only elitist fgts use gearswps" now actually has a name and if they join a VW shout, that person making the group may go "hey wait, I remember you, youre the idiot who said only elitists gearswap...go screw yourself, go gimp it up in abyssea" instead of inviting a scrub.

[Yinnyth]

Forgive me if this is a more frequent occurance than I'm aware of it being, but how frequently does "only elitists use gearswaps" get posted here? And how many of them are currently hiding behind a level 1 char? And how many of them are on the same server as you? And how many of their names do you remember?

The idea here seems to be that you want players to be held accountable for their opinions by other players, not just for the things they do in the actual game, but also for the things they do outside the game, such as posting on internet forums. And to some extent, I can understand why. After all, justice is a very enticing ideal. But I don't think a person's online habits should preclude them from joining in your reindeer games. It's more likely that people would be denied access to a group because "you said something which my enormous ego took offense to on the forums" rather than "you have revealed yourself to be an unskilled player on the forums" anyways.

[DrStrangelove]

First, I am on an account with only level 1's. So, you'll want to change your requirements to take care of that. I would suggest that you ask SE to only let people with a level 99 post. Better yet, make it 5 level 99's. As we ALL know for a fact, it's piss easy to get a job to 99.

Second, ask SE to not allow access to any character that is not fully linked to the linkshell community and FFXIAH. Otherwise, we won't know if the person posting even still plays or has gear.

Third, once you've done that, ask SE to enforce some new restrictions:

1) only people with relics can make posts about relics; empys, magians, etc., same idea
2) only people with 99 Mnks can make posts about mnks, mnk gear, mnk abilities etc.
3) only people who are on the test server can make posts about the test server

That should work well I think. The trolls will be running for cover.

Of course, SE will argue that the WHOLE point of the forums is to generate ideas and discussion, while these ideas tend to eliminate it. SE will also argue that the reason they gave us an ignore button was so WE could manage this like the adults they assumed we were....

But I really do see the point. While I guess a lowly patent clerk was able to be listened too by PhD's in physics while he delivered the most advanced theory of the 20th century, those PhDs were apparently mature enough to manage their FEAR over being trolled.

Now that was my first and only post in this thread. Get cracking and let's get some censorship in place!

[Babekeke]

First, I am on an account with only level 1's.

I'm intrigued as to why. I'm sure there are some legit reasons out there.

[Zaknafein]

First, I am on an account with only level 1's.



I'm intrigued as to why. I'm sure there are some legit reasons out there.

That's one way to insure FFXI will still present a challenge nowadays. Never gain any levels! I'll have to remember that one for the "find ways to make the game more challenging" crowd.

[Alhanelem]

First, I am on an account with only level 1's. So, you'll want to change your requirements to take care of that.Then you don't use that account to register for the forum, simple as that. It's no different than any other lv1 poster. As with the posters above, I'd be wondering why. All I can imagine is it's a mule account, in which case you should be using another account to post with.


1) only people with relics can make posts about relics; empys, magians, etc., same idea
2) only people with 99 Mnks can make posts about mnks, mnk gear, mnk abilities etc.
3) only people who are on the test server can make posts about the test server
On 1) and 2), people without those things have legitimately askable questions or topics to discuss. You don't need to be level 99 in a job to discuss that job in any way. You'd be wrong to claim yourself an expert, but what if you're new to a job and wanted to ask questions about it?
On #3 I can agree to the extent that only test server users should be able to post in the test server sections. However, if people want to ask questions about the test server elsewhere, that should be fine. They'd need a lot more moderators to police crap like that anyway.

[Runespider]

Then you don't use that account to register for the forum, simple as that. It's no different than any other lv1 poster. As with the posters above, I'd be wondering why. All I can imagine is it's a mule account, in which case you should be using another account to post with.

You don't get sarcasm do you?


I'm intrigued as to why. I'm sure there are some legit reasons out there.

At my craziest time years ago I had 2 accounts full of level 1 chars purely for gardening, possibly something like that.

[ShadowHeart]

he is just trolling us all i bet when it comes down to it just look how many replies just to argue and crap talk back LOL

so it shows that you don't need a mule to troll behind we can all do it at any job any level LOL

I reserve the right to hold my anonimity and i REFUSE TO FEED THE TROLL anymore on this thread so going to stop replying and let it die so u you dont get the oh lookie how many replies i got trolled em all XD

[Mirage]

You are a lv.1 poster, you have no credibility

You're a lv99 poster, and still have no credibility :D

[Lafaiel]

he is just trolling us all i bet when it comes down to it just look how many replies just to argue and crap talk back LOL

so it shows that you don't need a mule to troll behind we can all do it at any job any level LOL

I reserve the right to hold my anonimity and i REFUSE TO FEED THE TROLL anymore on this thread so going to stop replying and let it die so u you dont get the oh lookie how many replies i got trolled em all XD

If he is trolling the fact that he posts on his main has given him the credibility to pull it off pretty well, and I approve of this, it seperates him from the poser trolls who don't even possess the faculties to make an intelligent or thought provoking post.

They hide behind level 1 alts because they know that they ARE going to post something stupid and get laughed at, not IF, they know they are not smart enough to support thier arguments so they hide.

[Runespider]

I reserve the right to hold my anonimity and i REFUSE TO FEED THE TROLL anymore on this thread so going to stop replying and let it die so u you dont get the oh lookie how many replies i got trolled em all XD

I figured Nynja was trolling on page 2 but I don't mind troll posts as long as they aren't just retarded messes, they are more intresting than a lot of the crap we get here. These start to turn into trolls trolling trolls or trolls leaping on the chance to troll people agreeing with the troll that made the post, but that's why these topics are fun anyway >_>


They hide behind level 1 alts because they know that they ARE going to post something stupid and get laughed at, not IF, they know they are not smart enough to support thier arguments so they hide.

If you post something stupid and you have a linked account, you still posted something stupid...hell some of the most mocked people on this forum had linked accounts..Hordcore and Rosina? Having all jobs at 99, a bunch of relics and every emp does not wipe away the fact you write like a chimp or post garbage. Linking has zero to do with the quality or the integrity of your posts on a forum interacting with people you will probably never meet ingame or anywhere else.

Now if an anon poster wrote a "guide to being a great drk" and brought up lots of stuff about them being the best player, maxed out char, all the best gear etc and giving advice arguing with others you could ask for them to prove it! but for most anon posters here they post nothing of the sort.

[Anewie]

I figured Nynja was trolling on page 2 but I don't mind troll posts as long as they aren't just retarded messes, they are more intresting than a lot of the crap we get here. These start to turn into trolls trolling trolls or trolls leaping on the chance to troll people agreeing with the troll that made the post, but that's why these topics are fun anyway >_>



If you post something stupid and you have a linked account, you still posted something stupid...hell some of the most mocked people on this forum had linked accounts..Hordcore and Rosina? Having all jobs at 99, a bunch of relics and every emp does not wipe away the fact you write like a chimp or post garbage. Linking has zero to do with the quality or the integrity of your posts on a forum interacting with people you will probably never meet ingame or anywhere else.

Now if an anon poster wrote a "guide to being a great drk" and brought up lots of stuff about them being the best player, maxed out char, all the best gear etc and giving advice arguing with others you could ask for them to prove it! but for most anon posters here they post nothing of the sort.

this. Ur 99 and still no credibility, and a 99 person can post something just as stupid. If u dont like someones on a board, ignore list, sup.

ppl just want something to be mad about, in which case, theres plenty going on in the world and game to be emo about.

[Nynja]

People with something to hide usually have shady intentions...thats all, and the ridiculously dumb excuses of "im gonna get hacked" sums it up.

[Alhanelem]

ppl just want something to be mad about, in which case, theres plenty going on in the world and game to be emo about. No, they don't, and complaining about lv1 posters is a legitimate complaint. And you're one of them- like everyone said, it tells people you have something to hide, and the excuses that are given are nonsense.

There's obviously a few people here who don't like me, but nobody's come after me in game or tried to hack me- what in the seven hells are you so afraid of?

[Lafaiel]

I'll agree with the fact that a level 99 or a level 1 atl can both post garbage, but when you post on your main you're putting yourself out there for the world to see, and it shows conviction, it shows that they stand behind what they post, be it good or bad, and I respect that.

I only came back to the game recently, so this is my first go round reading these forums so I though I would check them out, allakhazam is just a much better moderated forum so I hang out there more.

As for hordecore, I've seen a few of his posts, and he does not hide the fact that he is a troll, as annoying as he is, at least he does not hide it.

[Babekeke]

The only legit excuse for using a lvl 1 mule account that I can imagine is that you want to come on here and talk freely about all the hax/gilbuying/selling etc. that you do with no fear of losing your real account. Since I haven't seen anyone use this excuse, I'm bewildered.

Probably just people with ADHD or something that thrive on attention.

[Yinnyth]

People with something to hide usually have shady intentions...thats all, and the ridiculously dumb excuses of "im gonna get hacked" sums it up.

And everyone has something to hide. I, for example, will not tell you my real name. Must mean I have shady intentions, correct? Must mean I want to be able to post all sorts of troll BS on these forums without it ever getting linked back to me in real life. Or maybe I'm taking a perfectly reasonable safety precaution by exposing no more of myself than I absolutely must.

It's not because I intend to be an ass, though to be perfectly honest, everyone makes an ass of themselves sooner or later. Human nature just gotta kick in every once in a while.

But no, seeking anonymity on the internet is perfectly acceptable. The people who ask you to DROP your anonymity are the ones who you REALLY want to be careful of on the internet.

[Nynja]

No one asked for your real name, nor your address, your social insurance number, your CC number...? Holy shit, just how long is that straw you're grasping at?

[Yinnyth]

No, they didn't. You're simply demanding the ingame name and server of everyone on these forums. You're demanding more personal information out of them than is required by the system. And it is my opinion that on the internet, someone who demands personal information is more shady than someone who attempts to hide it.

What's the worst a completely anonymous person could do on these forums? Trolling until the entire community simply learns to ignore them? Now what's the worst a person could do to you if they know your character? Trolling you ingame until they get blacklisted, then filling your dbox with copper ore, then shouting in jeuno about what a newb you are, in addition to trolling you on the forums until the entire community simply learns to ignore them. You denounce these negative behaviors yet claim the solution is to allow these negative behaviors to spread from this medium into other mediums.

And why? So you have a 0.00001% chance of denying one newb who doesn't believe in gear swaps access to your VW group? Speaking of very long straws... But at least you're not trying to cite "it's what the forum mods want" while simultaneously partaking of actions CLEARLY condemned by the forum guidelines such as posting material of an obscene nature (such as profanity). Oh wait.

Then why require account linking? for lulz?

Holy shit,

I don't blame you for being a hypocrite. It wouldn't be hard to find a mashup of quotes from me which seem at odds with one another given the right context. Hypocracy is part of human nature. I DO however blame you for being unable to find a truly compelling reason to force the same lack of privacy you have on these forums onto everyone else. Privacy on the internet is something which can never be fully regained once it's lost, and I respect people's rights to hoard as much of it as they can.

Yes, that does mean they can troll with fewer repercussions. No, it doesn't mean they intend to troll. But keep in mind anything THEY do on these forums, YOU can do, and that should be the full extent of the vigilante justice that players can bring down upon one another from these forums. Just as my failures and successes in RL shouldn't follow me into the game, my failures and successes on internet forums shouldn't follow me into the game.

[Nynja]

You just read what you want to read lol...

Whats the point of forum linking if everyone links to a troll mule to keep anonymous?

[FrankReynolds]

Whats the point of forum linking if everyone links to a troll mule to keep anonymous?

They thought it would be neat if you could show everyone how awesome your character is.

[Alhanelem]

And everyone has something to hide. I, for example, will not tell you my real name. We're not asking for your real name. We're not asking anyone to give any personally identifiable information. The real character you're using is no more personally identifiable than any mule you could be on, so what harm is there in using it? Asking people not to post from a mule and asking people to give their name and address are two totally different things.

[Eric]

And you're so brave for making incendiary remarks against a group of people when they have no way of tracing your avatar back to the human being who controls it. The hypocracy of calling these people "cowards" is sickening. Even if they're forced to link a level 99 character to their forum account, they're still effectively anonymous. Woo, they're so brave now.

And yet these people still lack the balls to post from their real characters. The fact that we're still anonymous even with our characters out in the open doesn't say anything about how "brave" I am, it says something about how pathetic these people must be to want to hide their already anonymous identity behind yet another anonymous identity.

[Mirage]

Just for the record, I'm not using an alt as my character. I just picked pup cause lolpup.

[Babekeke]

I guess if I totally sucked at this game but wanted to post in these forums, I'd have to link to a level 1 mule so noone recognised me and pointed out that I suck. If that happened, everyone would ignore everything I said anyway. I guess the only way around it is to just ignore list anyone on a level 1 mule account as a safeguard :)


Just for the record, I'm not using an alt as my character. I just picked pup cause lolpup.

I generally check on ffxiah if a player has other jobs levelled, so you shan't be ignored^^

[Yinnyth]

You just read what you want to read lol...

Whats the point of forum linking if everyone links to a troll mule to keep anonymous?
To avoid character counterfeiting. What if you could set your character name and world as anything you wish? I could create an account with the same avatar, character name, and world as yours, and go around acting like an ass on the forums. Would make you look pretty bad overall.

It's as likely a reason as yours, so unless we get a moderator response, we can't really say these level 1 posters are circumventing the intended system unless we're pretending to know things we don't.


We're not asking for your real name. We're not asking anyone to give any personally identifiable information. The real character you're using is no more personally identifiable than any mule you could be on, so what harm is there in using it? Asking people not to post from a mule and asking people to give their name and address are two totally different things.

I must admit, they are indeed 2 completely different things. But perhaps I should put this a different way to make it a little more relatable to a society who is completely willing to share every last detail of their FFXI life on these forums to anyone with the will to seek that information.

Not only will I not tell you my name, but I won't tell you which city I owe allegience to ingame. Nor will I tell you what rank I am. Nor will I reveal the gear I use. I won't tell you jack about myself or my character unless it's pertinent and important to the conversation we're having. My reasoning behind this is that these forums and the game are not the same thing. My actions ingame should not haunt me here, and my actions here should not haunt me ingame.

Now, I have information I can share about certain aspects of the game, and I can cite a few credentials if the information I'm giving is a bit hard to believe. But I am under no ogligation to you or anyone on these forums to share who I am or how I play. I don't think anyone should be. Judge me for who I am here, not in ffxi, not in any other game, not in real life. And for God's sake, don't you dare think of seeking me out anywhere but these forums if something I do on these forums offends you. Just retaliate here.

In a society which thrives off giving every bit of personal information on websites like facebook and twitter, I really don't expect every last person to understand why other people would want to lie low and reveal as little as possible, but it would be nice if they at least accepted the desire.

[Nynja]

I had to go to the clinic today, and they announced my name to the public to get my attention that the doctor will see me. Can you believe that? All the people in the clinic waiting their turn now know my name. THEY RUINED MY ANONYMITY. Theyre gonna stalk me and taunt me and burn my house down because I got to see a doctor before them.

Does the above make sense? It should...because I'm just following suit to what you've been saying.

[Kimble]

If you really don't want people to know who you are in game, then don't be surprised when no one gives a crap what you have to say about game mechanics, etc.

[Atomic_Skull]

Seeing as how you pretty much need to link your ffxi id to be able to post, how about modifying it so people cant hide behind troll mules to conceal their identity.

I dont see why a lv1 character would need to have 150+ posts here. How much feedback on the game can a lv1 character have? How many problems can a lv1 character run into? None, because a lv1 character probably hasnt done a damn thing in the game to begin with.


Surely they could lvl up their troll mules, but thats a lot of effort to conceal identity.

Nynja complaining about trolls is pretty ironic.

[Yinnyth]

I had to go to the clinic today, and they announced my name to the public to get my attention that the doctor will see me. Can you believe that? All the people in the clinic waiting their turn now know my name. THEY RUINED MY ANONYMITY. Theyre gonna stalk me and taunt me and burn my house down because I got to see a doctor before them.

Does the above make sense? It should...because I'm just following suit to what you've been saying.

Ok, let's use that analogy.

After your name is called, you then notice that someone receives medical attention without their name being called, effectively keeping themselves anonymous. They're doing nothing against the rules of the clinic, they're merely using the system to their advantage. Would you complain aloud to the other patients and the management of the clinic that the patient's name has not been called? Would you accuse that anonymous person of being someone shady who exploits the system? Who's less scrupulous in this situation? The person who is anonymous, or the person demanding their identity?

These anonymous posters are currently using the way the system works to remain more anonymous than you are, and as such, you are calling for the system to be changed so they can't. The argument seems to be that they're anonymous, and anonymity isn't something they should want because it's not normal and it's harmful and it's against the rules. But the truth is that it's not against the rules, it's not even half as harmful as people claim it is, and even if you think people SHOULDN'T want it, the truth is they DO want it. So let them have their anonymity with the warning you won't take them seriously.

[Alhanelem]

Your actual, identity is not in jeopardy because someone found out your main character's name on the forums. It's still just a #&$#ing pseudonym. There's a huge difference between your real identity and your fake identiy. There is virtually no risk that any harm is going to come to you because we see your main character's name.

The worst thing that can happen is if you make a total fool of yourself, people will know who to laugh at- or if you're stupid enough to do something like admitting to stealing some linkshell's bank or something. THEN you might be in trouble, but you'd be deserving it, because you told people what you did. If you simply don't say anything you're not willing to own up to, there is no harm whatsoever in using your real name.

Using your main character's name gives you more credibility because of this- it gives weight what to say because you're more careful not to say something idiotic. Using a lv1 mule is basically a license to troll, because there are zero consequences for being an ass. Thus, people will tend to automatically treat level 1 posters as trolls.

Even if you have worthwile things to say and you post with your best behavior, people are going to prejudge you on this. If you're aware of this and wish to fight the uphill battle, I guess that's your perogative. But it doesn't really seem like the wise choice to me.

[Yinnyth]

I agree with that point. The stigma built up by the fact that your presence on the forums is represented by a level 1 character is a hard stigma to overturn. Also, that there is little to be gained by using that extra layer of anonymity.

However, I feel that there is very little to be gained by forcing them to reveal themselves, and too many loopholes they still could utilize even if the system changed. As such, since it seems to be largely moot for both sides, I'd rather err on the side of choice. If they prefer anonymity to credibility, allow them to make that decision.

[Runespider]

I guess the only way around it is to just ignore list anyone on a level 1 mule account as a safeguard

Finally! one of you gets it! If the rest of you learned from Bebs this wouldn't be an issue for you anymore.


I generally check on ffxiah if a player has other jobs levelled

What if they didn't setup a FFXIAH profile, considering the vast majority don't. Oh wait you can't read this, nvm! :D


If you really don't want people to know who you are in game, then don't be surprised when no one gives a crap what you have to say about game mechanics, etc.

I don't see anyone doing so, infact most are saying that if it's such a big issue to blist level 1 posters and stop trying to "out" everyone.

[Psxpert2011]

This community is so full of dumb@$$es...

(please excuse my bluntness but it had to be said by someone. >.>

You don't have the right to privacy of virtual information like you in-game information. The separation of virtual and costumer data consist if your a paying player and the right to privacy for you physical address and financial information. Game data is property of Square Enix and if there is someone who should be here explaining that you kids, it should be the community Rep who seems to be slacking off.

Again, remember this kids(all of you 21 and under): A right to privacy is not given, it's earned. Until you grow up, get a job and survive on your own and start your own family- Mommy and Daddy will be in your grill until the day you die.

[Runespider]

Again, remember this kids(all of you 21 and under): A right to privacy is not given, it's earned. Until you grow up, get a job and survive on your own and start your own family- Mommy and Daddy will be in your grill until the day you die.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3536/themoreyouknow.jpg

[SNK]

To avoid character counterfeiting.



................wut?

[Nynja]

Ok, let's use that analogy.

After your name is called, you then notice that someone receives medical attention without their name being called, effectively keeping themselves anonymous. They're doing nothing against the rules of the clinic, they're merely using the system to their advantage. Would you complain aloud to the other patients and the management of the clinic that the patient's name has not been called? Would you accuse that anonymous person of being someone shady who exploits the system? Who's less scrupulous in this situation? The person who is anonymous, or the person demanding their identity?


Yeah, the clinic could have used a number system, and called me up by number preserving my anonymity and dignity...I was emotionally raped by all those other people knowing my name now.

[Yinnyth]

I can't quite tell. Are you still sticking by your analogy there? If I'm interpreting this correctly, you're saying that the old way on these forums (before character linking was required) is similar to a number system at a clinic, and the new way (after character linking was required) is similar to a name system. So then under your analogy, each patient is called by name except a few who are called by number. Furthermore, a few of the people called by name resent those who are called by number and demand those anonymous persons be called by name too.

If we expand that analogy to be more similar to these forums, the rules of the clinic would be clearly visible, and there would be no rule against requesting that you be called by number instead of name. "Then why did the clinic switch to the name system instead of the number system?" I don't rightfully know, and the clinic doesn't seem to be answering that either. We can speculate as much as we want, but we can't pretend to know the clinic's intentions. "Oh, but they're hiding their name simply so they can troll the clinic!" Yes, that seems perfectly reasonable, doesn't it? Why else would they be at the clinic if not to troll you? Except perhaps to seek medical attention. "Then why are they hiding their names?! Huh?!" Why are you seeking theirs? "To defend myself!" Against what? Practical jokes? If you converse with a stranger, you welcome whatever pain that stranger's words bring you. "If I give my name, he should be willing to give his!" He's under no obligation to introduce himself, even if you openly blurt your name to any stranger you come across.

Or in terms of a simple Q&A:
Q. Why would SE require character linking if not to force us to reveal our main character?
A. I can't be certain of why, but there are several other possible reasons than the one you provide. As such, you should not endeavor to assume you know unspoken rules and seek to uphold them.

Q. Why would a person hide their char names on these forums if not just to troll?
A. They hide their name to hide their name. They use these forums to use these forums. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Q. Isn't it shady to actively hide your identity?
A. It certainly is. Don't place much trust in anonymous people, but don't demand their identity. That makes you look even worse than them.

Q. What if I want to retaliate against an anonymous person who's trolled me on these forums, yet I can't find their character ingame?
A. Do unto others as they do unto you. Troll them here, don't seek them elsewhere. Or better yet, rise above and ignore them.

Q. But they really hurt my feelings! Why don't they seem hurt by anything I do to them here?!
A. That is the nature of a troll. Exactly the type of person you want to ignore.

Q. Why can't I ignore them ingame too?
A. Why can't you ignore them in real life too? Because it's unethical to ask for the requisite information to do that, and it makes YOU look like the creep.

[Yinnyth]

................wut?
My apologies, I thought I thoroughly explained the concept, but clearly I didn't. Let's say these forums allowed you to simply "fill in the blank" for "character name" and "world". You, for example, would be able to claim that your character was Yinnyth and your world was Fenrir. Then you would be able to go around making a number of posts on these forums under the guise of being me, which would make you appear to be someone you're not.

After all, pretending to be someone you're not is against the forum guidelines, if you bother to read them, so character linking would further uphold those rules. However, pretending to be someone who doesn't exist is NOT against the rules.

Or to put it another way:
If I pretended to be Rstnikgokrek from the server Fairy, I would not be breaking the rules (provided there was no character by that name on Fairy). Edit: Or provided that I own the character Rstnikgokrek on the server Fairy.

If I pretended to be to be Viewpoint from the server Carbuncle, then I'd be breaking the rules because you own that character.

You pay a monthly fee to own that character. Me going around soiling your character's good name on SE-owned forums simply wouldn't be a good business model, would it? So why would SE require character linking if not to require us to reveal OUR MAIN CHARACTER ONRY?! My suggested answer: to prevent me from pretending to be you.

[Aarahs]

My guess would be so the community reps can easily determine who would have valid comments to pass on to the developers and who are just complaining/trolling to be heard. If you have a lvl 1 complaining about endgame droprates and a lvl 99 saying they're fine, which feedback do you think they'll pass on?

[Daniel_Hatcher]

This stops nothing, it's not like you can't go from 30-99 in one day if wanted.

[FrankReynolds]

It's so that:
A) you can't pretend to be someone else, and make them look like an idiot.
B) people can't create thousands of accounts and use them for malicious purposes (they can, but it would be incredibly costly and time consuming)
C) so that people who care to share their character info can do so.

D) Who friggin cares. T

[Alhanelem]

Don't place much trust in anonymous people,It's not really a demand so much as a request, but it feels hypocritical for lv1 posters to want their voice to be heard without putting a name to that voice. Without that, it has less weight.

[Runespider]

It's not really a demand so much as a request, but it feels hypocritical for lv1 posters to want their voice to be heard without putting a name to that voice. Without that, it has less weight.

step 1) Blist them if you truely believe this.
step 2) stfu.

Personally I hate to blist anyone, ingame or on here because I want to read everything and make my mind up on them based on what I read or just to have a laugh. It seems others don't share this point of view and as such the forum feature exists to block them from your view, USE IT!

I can't speak for anyone else that posts form a level 1 alt but personally someone with your point of view is no loss to me at not reading what I post, if you are so closed minded and shallow then as I say...idc if you can read it or not.

[Alhanelem]

Personally I hate to blist anyone, ingame or on here because I want to read everything and make my mind up on them based on what I read or just to have a laugh.Same here, but it doesn't mean I'd rather not be in the position where I'd have to consider doing so.


I can't speak for anyone else that posts form a level 1 alt but personally someone with your point of view is no loss to me at not reading what I postIts easy for you to say when you're a mule poster yourself. Since you're not willing to indicate the levels of your main character, how do we know that you're in any position to be commenting on what you are? Lots of people, for instance, talk about <insert job here> without ever having played it. But at least in most cases we know when someone who *does* have a good reason to be posting on such a topic. It's not being closed minded. Some (but very few) lv1 posters have shown themselves to for the most part to be good contributors. More often than not however, they have not. So it's completely fair and reasonable for people to have their doubts about these posters.

Giving your character is not like giving your real name or address or phone number. It's not going to hurt you to do it unless you're here to be an arsehole, so why not do it? there's absolutely no valid reason not to. You're not at any higher risk to get hacked, no one is going to server jump just to harass you, and anyone on the same server probably knows who you are already anyway.

[Dallas]

If you think you deserve to know me, you absolutely don't. I don't hide from you, you are uninvited. The more you want to know me, a complete stranger you dont like anyway, the more completely disgusting you must be. Stop worrying about me and figure out why you are so devoid of redeeming qualities. If I wanted to know you, I would.

Didn't read the thread. Don't care what you think. Get over yourself.

[Anewie]

If you think you deserve to know me, you absolutely don't. I don't hide from you, you are uninvited. The more you want to know me, a complete stranger you dont like anyway, the more completely disgusting you must be. Stop worrying about me and figure out why you are so devoid of redeeming qualities. If I wanted to know you, I would.

Didn't read the thread. Don't care what you think. Get over yourself.

gworllll PREACH!

inorite. Like they deserve to know who we are. Not a troll so im not worried about integrity ok?Aint NOBODY hiding from y'all. Get over yourselves.

If u think someones a troll, just blist ffs.

[Alhanelem]

If you think you deserve to know me, you absolutely don't. I don't hide from you, you are uninvited. The more you want to know me, a complete stranger you dont like anyway, the more completely disgusting you must be. Stop worrying about me and figure out why you are so devoid of redeeming qualities. If I wanted to know you, I would.

Didn't read the thread. Don't care what you think. Get over yourself.
You're an exception, as nobody wants to know who you are.

[Dallas]

Al, you're a funny guy.

[Greatguardian]

................wut?

I think he means so that people can't pretend that they're me. We all know most of these forums secretly wishes they were.

[TybudX]

If you think you deserve to know me, you absolutely don't. I don't hide from you, you are uninvited. The more you want to know me, a complete stranger you dont like anyway, the more completely disgusting you must be. Stop worrying about me and figure out why you are so devoid of redeeming qualities. If I wanted to know you, I would.

Didn't read the thread. Don't care what you think. Get over yourself.

+1. Poster wins this thread.

[Dragoy]

I don't think linking the account here has much, or rather anything to do with showing yourself, but more like the forum being a part of the service.

That's how I think of it anyways.

As for the rest of the topic, I wouldn't want them to force any more than they already have.
No forcing of certain characters being shown.
Forcing them avatars is bad enough!

lol

But yeah, if a person wants to "hide" behind a character, I'd say so be it; that should remain.
I may be sort of biased a little since I'm basically immune to them "trolls" and such and see no harm really as long as they play by them rules and if not, let them moderators sort 'em out. ^^

[TybudX]

It must be really tough for people to base their opinions of somebody solely on the quality and consistency of their posts.

Would anybody here suddenly think less of Nightfyre (probably mangling his name) if he had posted under different account names on all the forums he has posted on? No, chances are he would have the same reputation as an intelligent and informative poster that he does now. I can go to his ah page *cough*stalking*cough* and look at his profile to see that he has only a few jobs leveled, yet he still seems to have a clear understanding of how those jobs fit into the game.

What the hell is going on here? How am I supposed to attack his posts if he's consistently right about stuff despite his seeming lack of experience in certain matters? I know, I'll blacklist him on this website. Except those damn tags, my curiosity always gets the better of me. I wish SE would take that choice away from everybody so that I don't have to be tempted by those damn tags.

[Nynja]

If you think you deserve to know me, you absolutely don't. I don't hide from you, you are uninvited. The more you want to know me, a complete stranger you dont like anyway, the more completely disgusting you must be. Stop worrying about me and figure out why you are so devoid of redeeming qualities. If I wanted to know you, I would.

Didn't read the thread. Don't care what you think. Get over yourself.

Who are you again? Oh right, nobody.

[illusionist]

There are much more people in Japanese forum who use mule's name.So I've been involved some arguments about it.
I don't stand their side,and I use main character name,because I have something to say.
And I thought,opinion belongs to my main character,which ran around the fields in Quetz,talk with people.And if someone hate my post,I don't want make he/she wonder "Who is this??".

As far as I have my word,You deserve to know me if you want to.
(I'm already showing part of myself in these words.and I don't scribble and run away,as my choice)

Sorry about my English ability,as always..

[Eric]

Whatever. I don't need to know your forum account to notice a terrible player. Neither do other people. Hiding behind a mule on a forum won't change that.

[TybudX]

That's the point. You can't see someone's gear unless you cross reference them on a third party site, which isn't even mandatory. You can't tell anything about their playing by that gear either way (hello #1 ranked player in the game). Your next logical step is to have somebody stalk them in game to post their gear, and I'm pretty sure a lot of the people crying foul to people not using their in game names are the same type of people who get all butt hurt that BG has a gimp/confused/wtf player thread. So what do you gain by knowing an in game name? Nothing? Good. Base your opinions on somebody's actions. The only possible reason you could have to want to know their in game avatar is to attack them. I haven't seen one person here post a reason that didn't purvey that sentiment at heart.

Here's something else to think about. Do you guys think somebody like GG or Neisan go around spouting textbooks of speech to players in game? Not likely. Chances are they are just like the rest of us. They probably talk to their LS mates, joke around, and fill their time playing with lighthearted conversation. There's a good chance that how somebody acts on a forum is different than how they act in a game. I know I've talked down on certain jobs and styles of play, but on a conceptual level. That doesn't mean I'm going to refuse to play with the guy in my LS who likes to whip out his sword on RDM every chance he gets. I'm also not going to refuse to do an event just because we don't have the accepted job spread to win. I play the game to have fun. I come to forums to get the most unbiased information I can to help improve my self and the people I play with.

You know what else? I know people who (stupidly) used their real names as their characters. After this many years they shouldn't be forced to change their names just to protect themselves on an online forum. That right there is enough reason to allow mules and separate accounts.

[Ravenmore]

Again this forum linking was a sad failed attempt by SE to make us play nice. The best fights on here have been between people with thier mains listed.

[Alhanelem]

Again this fotum linking was a sad failed attempt by SE to make us play nice. The best fights on here have been between people with thier mains listed.
No, usually it's a fight between someone with a listed main and someone who has not listed a real main.


There's a good chance that how somebody acts on a forum is different than how they act in a game.Actually I'm quite certain that they do provide technical information in-game like they do on the forums- just only when somebody asks for it. The people I do know ingame who post on this forum are not much different here than there. The chance is much higher that someone who doesn't list their main is behaving differently on the forums- usually more trollish.

I also don't know many bad apples in game who aren't also bad apples on whatever forum they happen to frequent.

Seriously. The -only- real reason to hide your main character on the forums is so you can troll with no repercussions, or because you screwed somebody in-game and you don't want them to know who you are here so you don't get called out for it. There is pretty much no way to deny this. Hacking fears is a B.S. excuse because it's not true.

[Greatguardian]

No, usually it's a fight between someone with a listed main and someone who has not listed a real main.

Actually I'm quite certain that they do provide technical information in-game like they do on the forums- just only when somebody asks for it. The people I do know ingame who post on this forum are not much different here than there. The chance is much higher that someone who doesn't list their main is behaving differently on the forums- usually more trollish.

I also don't know many bad apples in game who aren't also bad apples on whatever forum they happen to frequent.

Seriously. The -only- real reason to hide your main character on the forums is so you can troll with no repercussions, or because you screwed somebody in-game and you don't want them to know who you are here so you don't get called out for it. There is pretty much no way to deny this. Hacking fears is a B.S. excuse because it's not true.

A couple friends have taken to calling me a walking ffxi encyclopedia, but it's more that I've become a mighty LMGTFY master. The difference between my forum posting and my attitude in-game are night and day, though it's rare that people I know in-game post on the forums in the first place so it doesn't come up often.

What, do people really think I'd be a successful leader of both social and endgame linkshells for over 7 years now if I was a ginormous douchebag to anyone and everyone?

Anecdotal evidence is best evidence.

[Alhanelem]

What, do people really think I'd be a successful leader of both social and endgame linkshells for over 7 years now if I was a ginormous douchebag to anyone and everyone? Well, are you saying you consider yourself to be a ginormous douchebag on the forums? That's not really what I see, at least not most of the time.

[Greatguardian]

Well, are you saying you consider yourself to be a ginormous douchebag on the forums? That's not really what I see, at least not most of the time.

Ha. I think that comes down to perspective.

[TybudX]

The -only- real reason to hide your main character on the forums is so you can troll with no repercussions

You keep bringing this up, and people keep correcting you: not agreeing with you =/= trolling. Take Dallas for example. He posts from a mule account and is at disagreement with pretty much everybody on these forums. Does that make him a troll? No, it makes him a laughing stock, and pretty much wrong about everything in life, but he's not a troll.

And when has somebody using their in game name stopped them from actually trolling you? It's so easy to do; you almost do it to yourself most times.

[Nynja]

You keep bringing this up, and people keep correcting you: not agreeing with you =/= trolling. Take Dallas for example. He posts from a mule account and is at disagreement with pretty much everybody on these forums. Does that make him a troll? No, it makes him a laughing stock, and pretty much wrong about everything in life, but he's not a troll.

And when has somebody using their in game name stopped them from actually trolling you? It's so easy to do; you almost do it to yourself most times.

If you were posting with your main character revealed, someone on Fenrir might look at your posts and go "this guys a fn retard, holy shit im never doing anything with this moron"...instead they just disregard it.

[Meyi]

If you were posting with your main character revealed, someone on Fenrir might look at your posts and go "this guys a fn retard, holy shit im never doing anything with this moron"...instead they just disregard it.

It's usually the other way around. I often times read something really stupid, look over at the user name, look down at the server and character name, and nod my head in shame. Most server idiots are well known without the help of forums.

But I agree. Why hide information? If none of us are important, then why act as if your information is so important that you feel the need to hide it from everyone? Very few people on this forum have a notorious enough reputation to even be remembered. If someone fears becoming one of these people, then just avoid being a jackass and everything should be fine.

[Nynja]

Back in the day Gilgamesh had its share of trolls, Blynk + co. After 5 years of blatantly stealing peoples shit, there were STILL morons who'd respond to his BCNM shouts and STILL shout an hour later how "this prick jacked my drops it was supposed to be your orb your drop".

[Atomic_Skull]

This stops nothing, it's not like you can't go from 30-99 in one day if wanted.

Or just use a gardening account that only has lvl 1 characters like I do.


No, usually it's a fight between someone with a listed main and someone who has not listed a real main.

Actually I'm quite certain that they do provide technical information in-game like they do on the forums- just only when somebody asks for it. The people I do know ingame who post on this forum are not much different here than there. The chance is much higher that someone who doesn't list their main is behaving differently on the forums- usually more trollish.

I also don't know many bad apples in game who aren't also bad apples on whatever forum they happen to frequent.

Seriously. The -only- real reason to hide your main character on the forums is so you can troll with no repercussions, or because you screwed somebody in-game and you don't want them to know who you are here so you don't get called out for it. There is pretty much no way to deny this. Hacking fears is a B.S. excuse because it's not true.

Oh yes the sorry old "you have nothing to fear unless you have something to hide" argument. This has always been a discredited argument. It is legitimate to want privacy for it's own sake.

Also if you'd spent any time on 4chan you'd understand why some people are adamant about remaining Anonymous. There are people on the internet who will track you down IRL and and ruin your life just for laughs. Encyclopedia Dramatica is full of stories like this.

[Alhanelem]

Oh yes the sorry old "you have nothing to fear unless you have something to hide" argument. This has always been a discredited argument. It is legitimate to want privacy for it's own sake.No, it was never a discredited argument. You can't have your cake and eat it too, either. If you want privacy, don't post on a forum. There's a reason there's no private message feature. Everything is kept out in the open, and you shouldn't be saying anything you're not willing to own up to even if you're on a lv1 mule. The only reason to want privacy on this forum is because you've done something bad you don't want people to find out about / you want to talk about it without people knowing who did it.

Nobody is going to come after you in game because you posted something on this forum. There is nothing to fear unless you have something bad to hide, it's a plain, simple fact. Again, your character and main job level are not like your name address and phone number (which are a violation of the forum rules to discuss). No actual harm can come to you by revealing it.

<<<<< That's the real deal right there. My main is Tahngarthor, I'm a level 99 PUP and I'm on Shiva. COME GET ME!

[Runespider]

Sharing information is down to the person themselves to decide (especially when it serves no purpose other than the curiosity of your fellow posters), sorry but you don't get to decide where everyone else draws the line mr Alha. Anyway that whole argument is beside the point, the real argument was that it would stop trolling and that's nonsense, trolls thrive off the notoriety of it, they want you to know who they are.

The front page and past history of trolling here debunks the entire "anon = troll" argument. Account linking was added to make people know that their actions here were linked to their accounts (not a specific char) and not to out people. You people just have to accept you ain't going to have your way so if it means so much to you either find a forum that has this (none exist) or learn to live with it.

[Greatguardian]

Sharing information is down to the person themselves to decide (especially when it serves no purpose other than the curiosity of your fellow posters), sorry but you don't get to decide where everyone else draws the line mr Alha. Anyway that whole argument is beside the point, the real argument was that it would stop trolling and that's nonsense, trolls thrive off the notoriety of it, they want you to know who they are.

The front page and past history of trolling here debunks the entire "anon = troll" argument. Account linking was added to make people know that their actions here were linked to their accounts (not a specific char) and not to out people. You people just have to accept you ain't going to have your way so if it means so much to you either find a forum that has this (none exist) or learn to live with it.

Your reasoning is faulty. We've been required to log in to the forums with our Square Enix Accounts from the get-go, and were told on Day 1 of the forum release that any actions taken on the forums could also result in disciplinary consequences for our game accounts.

GMs do not need account linking to see our SE account or our character data. In fact, I must disagree with the usage of the term "Account linking" here at all. Our Square Enix accounts have always been linked to our forum data. The only change to this was making Character data public and mandatory.

As far as I'm concerned, people who want to bypass the system will always find a way to bypass the system. However, this does not change the intent of the system. It's clear that the developers wanted us to treat these forums like we would Port Jeuno shouts or Linkshell chat - where people would know our character names if we decided to make an ass of ourselves. Whether they choose to more strictly enforce this or not is up to them, though I doubt any measures they take will definitively stop people from avoiding identification if they're dead-set on doing so.

[Nynja]

Also if you'd spent any time on 4chan you'd understand why some people are adamant about remaining Anonymous. There are people on the internet who will track you down IRL and and ruin your life just for laughs. Encyclopedia Dramatica is full of stories like this.

comparing ffxi forums to /b/...fkn lol

[Runespider]

We've been required to log in to the forums with our Square Enix Accounts from the get-go, and were told on Day 1 of the forum release that any actions taken on the forums could also result in disciplinary consequences for our game accounts.

Being told to follow the rules and having to take action on your forum acc to link it to something more valuable (game account) are two different things.

I didn't really consider that they would take action on your SE account because of something done on here till then at least.

[Greatguardian]

Being told to follow the rules and having to take action on your forum acc to link it to something more valuable (game account) are two different things.

I didn't really consider that they would take action on your SE account because of something done on here till then at least.

That's a matter of your perception, then. Nothing has changed on their side. They have always said that they reserve the right to penalize our game accounts if we stir up too much shit on the forums, from the very beginning. They do not use this power often, but they have once before - and did so before public characters were even made mandatory. That was an extreme case, though, and the person in question was clearly a danger to himself and others.

Our forum accounts have always been linked to our game accounts. Period. From day 1. The only thing that changed was the fact that other posters can now see some of that information. I'm not sure how much more clear this can be made.

[TybudX]

Nobody is going to come after you in game because you posted something on this forum.


Then what difference does it make if somebody posts their main account name? All I can see is that you are butt hurt and want to stalk people to use their gear/jobs/other experiences against them. If you were that confidant in your positions it wouldn't matter that you can or can't see somebody elses' character.

[Nynja]

Then why hide?

[MojoJojo]

The whole "protecting my identity" argument for lvl 1 forum characters is pretty paper thin. I'd wager not a single persons account was hacked/life was disrupted because of this forum showing a characters name. It's also already been mentioned if someone could get ahold of your mule account, they'll also get your main. Good thinking guys.

The point that's been made, which is an obvious one, is that the mules are used to hide the mains. For whatever reason, it's still hiding. It's still suspicious. Don't get all butthurt when you get called on it.

[Atomic_Skull]

Nobody is going to come after you in game because you posted something on this forum.

Really? Because this happened to me in EQ where I said something online that pissed someone off (something to the effect that I wasn't going to cowtow to someone because of what guild he was in) and he had his guild harass me for over a year and a half.


Again, your character and main job level are not like your name address and phone number (which are a violation of the forum rules to discuss). No actual harm can come to you by revealing it.

Wrong again, it can be used as a cross reference between sites when trying to track someone down. If you want to be a naive fool be my guest but don't try to force it on other people.


comparing ffxi forums to /b/...fkn lol

If you are a /b/tard (personally I stick to /v/ and /tg/) then you are well aware that information can be cross referenced across forums to track down IRL info on people. You should know that staying Anonymous as much as possible on the internet is a good idea.

[Kimble]

Its simply really. If you don't want people to know who you are, then just don't post at all.

If someone REALLY wants to find out who you are, hiding behind a level 1 mule isnt going to stop them.

[Tanakisnumberone]

hello OP, i agree wit u. players should b at least past their lvl caps to comment on tanaka's glorious ffxi.

[Nynja]

If you are a /b/tard (personally I stick to /v/ and /tg/) then you are well aware that information can be cross referenced across forums to track down IRL info on people. You should know that staying Anonymous as much as possible on the internet is a good idea.

What sounds easier to you:
A-Figuring out who your main char is despite your "best efforts" to hide it.
B-Finding your real name, location, city, girlfriend, virginity, job based on your FFXI name.


And, i'd like to point out why the whole "just blist the mule accounts" wont work:
Hordecore's threads still exist...but a board admin was clearly around here cleaning posts up (my mockery [to the devs] was removed from my thread title), on top of the fact that hordecore routinely bumps his pointless threads. blisting doesnt make them disappear...

[Dallas]

The whole "protecting my identity" argument for lvl 1 forum characters is pretty paper thin. I'd wager not a single persons account was hacked/life was disrupted because of this forum showing a characters name. It's also already been mentioned if someone could get ahold of your mule account, they'll also get your main. Good thinking guys.

The point that's been made, which is an obvious one, is that the mules are used to hide the mains. For whatever reason, it's still hiding. It's still suspicious. Don't get all butthurt when you get called on it.
He posted his anger! OMG, the butthurt. Random demand for vengeance must be sated!

[Alhanelem]

[Then what difference does it make if somebody posts their main account name?The difference is greater confidence in that poster's posts. We've said it a thousand times already. Countering with "oh, you must be butt hurt" only proves my point and shows how much of an immature troll you are, just like almost every other lv.1 poster I've seen on this board.

[Dallas]

Who are you again? Oh right, nobody.

And don't you forget it. I'm the best @!#$ player of a job that isn't even on the guest list.

[TybudX]

The difference is greater confidence in that poster's posts... Countering with "oh, you must be butt hurt" only proves my point and shows how much of an immature troll you are, just like almost every other lv.1 poster I've seen on this board.

No, I countered with greater confidence being attributed by a consistent pattern of behaviour. I honestly don't know why you seem so fixated on the character listed beside somebody's name. Try it. Ask yourself what you would think of GG's posts if he had his character listed as a level 1 mule. Now he's a troll, right? There's no way for you to tell what his character name and server are, he is a troll.

[Dragoy]

You's ought to give level 10 a whirl some time ! !! !

>:Ð

Oh oopsies! I forgot I leveled up RNG.
Time to switch that out of the trio!

[Dallas]

Lol, I'd level up to 99 SMN again but I can't play for real and leave this mule out to mock people, so no point.