Please Remove Housing Timers During the Covid-19 Epidemic

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

You people sure are willing to use any possible excuse to keep something you don't even use. It's so sad.

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Not even going to lose my house either way. Although I do support stopping the timers, I'd prefer they just extend the timer permanently instead of constantly turning it off and on.

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

You people sure are willing to use any possible excuse to keep something you don't even use. It's so sad.

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You're not really Y'shtola or my mom.

The virus is a big problem in Japan but there isn't a lot of deaths, so that would explain why no action with timers have been taken. On the other hand, Japan hasn't decided to go on lockdown yet.

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

You people sure are willing to use any possible excuse to keep something you don't even use. It's so sad.

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..Says the person using a sock puppet account to post here with an FC that owns like 1(2?) full ward and a bit of another.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

I really think this is too much of a stretch to expect them to halt the timer because of speculation that some fraction of the playerbase might not be able to afford a subscription. Or certainly too much of a stretch to start asking them to halt it now because it might happen to some hypothetical people sometime in the future.

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There are a lot of people in the US who are paid hourly, and not well enough to build up a significant buffer. Where if they miss a day of work, it has a measurable financial impact on them. These are the folks who will face choices like "if I feel sick, do I stay home and take the loss of pay, or do I figure it's just a flu/cold and go in to the coffeeshop where I work anyway?"

And that's without getting into the folks where their job has just said that, due to quarantine situations, they're sending everyone home indefinitely.

Two of my in-game friends who are paid hourly have been furloughed without pay for the next month, which has caused some... let's just call it "growing financial concern" on their parts. Another friend who works at a restaurant, the restaurant's closed for sit-down dining and doing take-out only, so the waitstaff—including my friend—have been furloughed without pay for the next two weeks.

(Moreover, with folks already panicking and buying up supplies, what supplies are left in some areas—diapers, toilet paper, kleenex, hand soap and sanitizer—have spiked in price, meaning if you haven't already stocked up, just finding the supplies you might need if quarantined for a few weeks can be a bigger financial hit than you might expect.)

If this passes in one month, sure, folks might still be able to squeeze in a subscription—especially if they live in an area that's allowing unemployment insurance to cover a percentage of their normal wages if they're sent home, or if other bills are temporarily forgiven because of the situation. If the disruption stretches out beyond a month or so, though, it could get really rough for those folks financially, and subscriptions to an MMO are likely not considered a necessity. (Even if you might otherwise lose your mind while quarantined, so there's maybe an argument to be made they are...)

If the reason for turning off the housing timer when there's massive disruption of internet infrastructure due to earthquakes or whatever else is "due to circumstances beyond their control, a sizable number of players will not be able to log in and reset their housing timer", it seems like the Covid-19 pandemic has the potential to become a similar scenario. so I can understand why people are asking it.

If, as others have suggested, the only reason that the timer is turned off is because SquareEnix feels it would be gauche to demolish in-game housing when people might have lost real-world housing to an earthquake, I'd agree the scenarios are nothing alike. So it probably comes down to what SquareEnix's reasoning behind turning off the timer temporarily is.

What might make sense is not so much disabling the timer but doubling it to 90 days (even if only temporarily). If you cannot log in for three months, chances are that yes, the house is being ignored and could safely be reclaimed, so it wouldn't lead to abandoned houses owned by players who haven't logged in for years, but it also wouldn't end up with someone's lovingly-decorated house and yard being destroyed because they aren't getting paid for a month.

For my part, I'm safe; I'm privileged enough to have a salaried job where I can work from home, so my paycheck's theoretically not affected (unless the national economy completely crumbles or something). Either way, I probably keep my house. But I think about the friend who's just been furloughed for a month and who has a house she loves and has worked hard on the decorations for, and I wince a bit at the idea that if she had to let her subscription lapse for two months as a result of financial disruption, she'd lose the house. In her case, I suspect others—including me—would just pick up the tab to keep our friend around. (And keep her from going stir-crazy while furloughed and quarantined.)

But that's hardly a scenario that applies to every single person who's going to feel a financial pinch.

So like I said, I can understand where the request is coming from.

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Originally Posted by Ryaz

Yeah, the media has people treating it like its another Black Death that will wipe out half of earths population. Its ridiculous the panic being caused. Panic and mass hysteria are never positive.

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The media is doing what they are supposed to do. Report on it. There's nothing ridiculous about being concerned until we have an active and effective treatment in terms of a vaccine. It will be worse if mutation comes into play. That is the real threat right now and every medical facility and personnel knows this as my facility has for months.

The media is sensationalizing it for more ratings. It's what they do.

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Originally Posted by Nedkel

No ITS NOT.
Its 20-30 times more deadlier than normal flu and about 20% of all cases requires hospitalization including oxygen intake, it also gives several times worse complications that could do permanent damage to your lungs, heart and nerve system that could carry on for the rest of infected person life. Stop being ignorant.

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Sounds like you're one of the people panicking and allowing overblown facts from the media to fuel it.

Here is what the media will tell you: "Covid-19 is x10 deadlier than influenza."

I am not saying they are incorrect. Covid-19 is indeed deadlier than the flu virus. But look at it this way. If you made a penny a day, and someone came to you saying they are going to multiply your earnings 10 fold. It really isn't that significant of an increase, is it?

The damage you are seeing caused to the lungs are caused by any number of respiratory illnesses, including the normal flu. The lungs are regenerative, and are constantly repairing themselves from the everyday toxins you take in. If they did not, humans would have much shorter lifespans.

Most people who die from the flu actually die in the hospital from catching pneumonia during their visit. IN the hospital! Ironic isn't it? The very place you go to get better ends up doing you in.

Of course, I am not saying to just be complacent during this outbreak, but a lot of what you are witnessing is the very definition of a wide-spread panic, and when this globe really decides to take a crap on humanity, I would use this as a direct example of what NOT to do.

SPread out people, sars-cov-2 is just your regular flu, nothing to look at. :)

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Have fun there in europe, especially in the UK.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Sounds like you're one of the people panicking and allowing overblown facts from the media to fuel it.

Of course, I am not saying to just be complacent during this outbreak, but a lot of what you are witnessing is the very definition of a wide-spread panic, and when this globe really decides to take a crap on humanity, I would use this as a direct example of what NOT to do.

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So if I am to understand this post (where I placed emphasis on one sentence) - you would use an out of context post that was in direct reference to how "the flu kills more people" as a statement of panic? I mean, that sounds really petty...

The person you quoted isn't saying "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" but only telling people why it's a concern and not endorsing panicking but rather than jumping to cliches.

While I dislike the spectrum of people actually panicking over this and causing more disruptions to the economy doing so, I also dislike the other end of the spectrum that wants to be petty/dismissive and ignore the actual concerns spewing rhetoric that completely misses the point.

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Originally Posted by QT_Melon

So if I am to understand this post (where I placed emphasis on one sentence) - you would use an out of context post that was in direct reference to how "the flu kills more people" as a statement of panic? I mean, that sounds really petty...

The person you quoted isn't saying "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" but only telling people why it's a concern and not endorsing panicking but rather than jumping to cliches.

While I dislike the spectrum of people actually panicking over this and causing more disruptions to the economy doing so, I also dislike the other end of the spectrum that wants to be petty/dismissive and ignore the actual concerns spewing rhetoric that completely misses the point.

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In turn, I can also express how much I dislike people who immediately think I am being dismissive of valid concerns. The rhetoric I spew is from a perspective that is zoomed out on the current situation, because it is the hysteria that makes me worry more than the actual virus, economy crashes, and loss to income. You do understand that panic promotes the spread; not hinders it. Correct?

Ironically, I AM saying "hide you kids", "hide yo wife". Not to protect them Covid-19 though. To protect them from those who are over-worried about it.

Why? Wouldnt people be in home qarantine? Unless they dont get income. But still.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

In turn, I can also express how much I dislike people who immediately think I am being dismissive of valid concerns. The rhetoric I spew is from a perspective that is zoomed out on the current situation, because it is the hysteria that makes me worry more than the actual virus, economy crashes, and loss to income. You do understand that panic promotes the spread; not hinders it. Correct?

Ironically, I AM saying "hide you kids", "hide yo wife". Not to protect them Covid-19 though. To protect them from those who are over-worried about it.

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So basically you're reinforcing my points about your accusation being on the worst end of the spectrum and WRONGLY using an out of context post to use as your platform.

Don't turn off housing timers OR extend them; INSTEAD BUY MORE TOILET PAPER!!!

You should be prioritizing your health over a video game. Congratz if you can do both but either way it shouldn't call for an extension.

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Originally Posted by QT_Melon

So basically you're reinforcing my points about your accusation being on the worst end of the spectrum and WRONGLY using an out of context post to use as your platform.

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No, because my statements are a response, not an agenda. They most certainly are not an accusation (seriously, where in the hell did that come from?). But yeah, don't try and say I have a platform. You couldn't be more wrong.

If I am reading your posts correctly, what I surmise is that you are definitely accusing me of being on a side of a spectrum that I am nowhere close to being. Attempting to deflate overblown facts from the media is hardly what I would call being in opposition to legitimate global concern. Trying to lessen people's anxiety is hardly what I would call being in opposition to a legitimate global concern.

I am not the gregarious type by any means, and it's those who are that concern me the most. I'm the one that's saying go ahead and buy some sanitizer, toilet paper, surface cleaners; but maybe just one or two packages, and not a whole freakin case or pallet? Maybe not be the two obese ladies caught on camera fighting over the stuff? I don't know, maybe continue to be a decent human being?

It's too much to ask, I know.

Or they can just add like 50 more wards and remove the demolition timer? o.o

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Originally Posted by Gemina

stuff.

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Please look at this chart

https://i.imgur.com/lxNElUc.png

And tell me that everyone is panicking over covid19.
The virus is deadlier than spanish flu from 1918, malaria, smallpox or measles. Please tell me i was wrong and it is a normal flu.
Lombardia in italy report CFR as high as 7-8%.

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Originally Posted by Nedkel

Please look at this chart

https://i.imgur.com/lxNElUc.png

And tell me that everyone is panicking over covid19.
The virus is deadlier than spanish flu from 1918, malaria, smallpox or measles. Please tell me i was wrong and it is a normal flu.
Lombardia in italy report CFR as high as 7-8%.

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With an unknown number of real infections, because mild cases happen and go unnoticed

The problem is a lack of testing and knowledge. The mortality rate could be 0.5% for all we know.


It also affects certain age groups differently, like all illnesses. I'd wager that city in italy is mostly older, which would have a higher rate. I'm sure if we polled every disease that way we'd see similar results.


I'm not saying it's not a bad virus and people shouldn't be careful. We just don't have accurate statistics at the moment.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

With an unknown number of real infections, because mild cases happen and go unnoticed

The problem is a lack of testing and knowledge. The mortality rate could be 0.5% for all we know.


It also affects certain age groups differently, like all illnesses. I'd wager that city in italy is mostly older, which would have a higher rate. I'm sure if we polled every disease that way we'd see similar results.


I'm not saying it's not a bad virus and people shouldn't be careful. We just don't have accurate statistics at the moment.

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Do you know what hides behind "mild case" definition?
- 38 C and higher body temp
- dry choking cough
- condition lasting up to 14 days
- fever
- Pains and muscle cramps
- lungs inflammation
- heavy breath

This is "mild" case of covid19, have you ever had lungs inflamed before? People who had "mild case" describe their case as "the worst flu they ever had".
This virus hits heavy and leaves scars in the lungs.

@ OP


World pandemic is reason enough to suspend auto-demolitions, SE has done it before for smaller scale disasters.

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Originally Posted by HeyMcFly

Don't turn off housing timers OR extend them; INSTEAD BUY MORE TOILET PAPER!!!

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https://cdn.totallythebomb.com/wp-co...0H-700x700.jpg

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Originally Posted by Rasikko

..Says the person using a sock puppet account to post here with an FC that owns like 1(2?) full ward and a bit of another.

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Darling, it would appear you do not know what a sock puppet is as there is no intent to deceive. Anyhow, what does owning a couple dozens plots have anything to do with this? At best, you are stating a fact. At worst, you're making a pretty bad attempt at disregarding whatever I have to say, despite that we are taking full advantage of the properties my FC owns, unlike the majority of players.

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

Anyhow, what does owning a couple dozens plots have anything to do with this?

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Yeah, what does one person owning dozens of plots have to do with a topic about the shortage of housing plots?

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Originally Posted by TheMightyMollusk

Yeah, what does one person owning dozens of plots have to do with a topic about the shortage of housing plots?

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Well first off it's not one person.

Second, did you even read the title of the thread or the first post?

Third, I doubt you are truly prepared to even talk about the causes of the housing "shortage" due to your premise, but go on, entertain me.

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Originally Posted by TheMightyMollusk

Yeah, what does one person owning dozens of plots have to do with a topic about the shortage of housing plots?

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Actually what does that have to do with delaying a timer due to a pandemic?

Can both of you take your personal beef about the housing problem to another thread please?

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Originally Posted by QT_Melon

Actually what does that have to do with delaying a timer due to a pandemic?

Can both of you take your personal beef about the housing problem to another thread please?

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Well if there wasn't a shortage of houses we wouldn't need a demolition timer. Although more than just house hoarders cause this. Several issues lead to the shortage. SE created an awful system.

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Originally Posted by Penthea

Well if there wasn't a shortage of houses we wouldn't need a demolition timer. Although more that just house hoarders cause this. Several issues lead to the shortage. SE created an awful system.

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There are people who pay subs but never login for one reason or another, or even better login but never even go inside their own house, ever. The system just ensures houses are not dormant since its limited supply.

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Originally Posted by Penthea

Well if there wasn't a shortage of houses we wouldn't need a demolition timer. Although more that just house hoarders cause this. Several issues lead to the shortage. SE created an awful system.

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I'm not here to debate that though, and should be on another topic. I just feel it's not helping and comes off disingenuous when we are actually asking that they freeze the timer due to the virus pandemic.

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Originally Posted by technole

There are people who pay subs but never login for one reason or another, or even better login but never even go inside their own house, ever. The system just ensures houses are not dormant since its limited supply.

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I know. Not sure what gave you the impression I didn't know this.

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Originally Posted by QT_Melon

I'm not here to debate that though, and should be on another topic. I just feel it's not helping and comes off disingenuous when we are actually asking that they freeze the timer due to the virus pandemic.

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I was just pointing out that hoarding isn't an entirely unrelated issue. But I agree it's not a main one as far as this thread's topic is concerned. Debating house hoarding and its effects belong elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

I am not saying they are incorrect. Covid-19 is indeed deadlier than the flu virus. But look at it this way. If you made a penny a day, and someone came to you saying they are going to multiply your earnings 10 fold. It really isn't that significant of an increase, is it?

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Did you seriously just compare human lives to pennies? Think about that for a moment.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Here is what the media will tell you: "Covid-19 is x10 deadlier than influenza."

I am not saying they are incorrect. Covid-19 is indeed deadlier than the flu virus. But look at it this way. If you made a penny a day, and someone came to you saying they are going to multiply your earnings 10 fold. It really isn't that significant of an increase, is it?

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With influenza's death rate, something like 0.1%, not many people have to worry about it unless they visit elderly people. But even then there is a vaccine to reduce the number of infections. With a death rate of 1% and above, no vaccine and no cure, people are faced with the possibility of attending a funeral in the near future.

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Originally Posted by Reinha

With influenza's death rate, something like 0.1%, not many people have to worry about it unless they visit elderly people. But even then there is a vaccine to reduce the number of infections. With a death rate of 1% and above, no vaccine and no cure, people are faced with the possibility of attending a funeral in the near future.

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Also, we're not talking pocket change but people dying when it comes to the mortality rate. And this is a virus that's easier to spread around because of its longer incubation period and being able to transfer it when not showing symptoms. And as you said, no vaccine yet.

For those hijack this thread from timer extension to plot shortage, I do have a suggestion for you. You can start by buying more items fro mogstation so they have extra fund to upgrade server for more plots. If not, just follow the current rules and stop complaining

Why would they? People are comparing an epidemic virus with completely and absolutely losing your house and everything you own due to earthquakes and hurricanes...
You can still play your game if you decide it's safer to stay at home, and in the unfortunate events you need to be taken to a hospital or someone else dear to you, I feel like keeping a virtual house should be the least of anyone's priority.

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Originally Posted by DevilsDontFly

Why would they? People are comparing an epidemic virus with completely and absolutely losing your house and everything you own due to earthquakes and hurricanes...
You can still play your game if you decide it's safer to stay at home, and in the unfortunate events you need to be taken to a hospital or someone else dear to you, I feel like keeping a virtual house should be the least of anyone's priority.

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It's not about having to 'stay home' it's about people who can't afford to spend money on the game because, for example, their hours at work have just been slashed if not shut down entirely because of this and money is tight. You could say that 'well then a house in ff is the least of their concerns right now' but that also goes to all the other reasons they've ever suspended demolition too. Some people and industries are being hit by this much harder than others and not everyone is unaffected beyond washing their hands more and staying inside more.

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Originally Posted by Bright-Flower

Also, we're not talking pocket change but people dying when it comes to the mortality rate. And this is a virus that's easier to spread around because of its longer incubation period and being able to transfer it when not showing symptoms. And as you said, no vaccine yet.

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More people died from H1N1 within the same time-frame than COVID-19. The only thing that makes COVID-19 particularly scary is the lack of vaccine. As of right now, the medical industries best advice is to treat it like a normal case of the flu. I.E. Bed rest, no excessive activities, plenty of fluids, etc...

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Originally Posted by AnonymousBard

More people died from H1N1 within the same time-frame than COVID-19. The only thing that makes COVID-19 particularly scary is the lack of vaccine.

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To be honest, there's a lot of information being thrown around the internet about it. It's hard to tell sometimes what is right. The panic and misinformation are more dangerous than the virus itself, not that the virus isn't anything to be concerned about, because it obviously is. But very few outlets are reporting on it with a clear head.

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Originally Posted by Vahlnir

To be honest, there's a lot of information being thrown around the internet about it. It's hard to tell sometimes what is right. The panic and misinformation are more dangerous than the virus itself, not that the virus isn't anything to be concerned about, because it obviously is.

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It's why the government would never admit to aliens existing. Mass. Hysteria...

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Originally Posted by AnonymousBard

It's why the government would never admit to aliens existing. Mass. Hysteria...

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In my opinion, that's the government's worst kept secret, but I digress.

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Originally Posted by Vahlnir

In my opinion, that's the government's worst kept secret, but I digress.

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https://i.redd.it/vdq7dpeeb7641.png