The permanent lodestone bans

Hello there, I would like to ask if Squere Enix and it's administrators could revise their banning policy related to the permanent bans on the lodestone.

Permanently banning paying customers seems a little bit harsh, especially when in some cases the bans can be justified only based on the individual judgement of the employe who is responsible for the management of the community.

As such I would like to suggest a humble request to consider banning users for shorter period of time such as monthly or in more extreme cases year long bans.

It's shame to see your friends disappear for good only because they got into a heated conflict with another user or because they expressed their opinions in less than polite manner.

That's all. Thanks for reading.

Lol?

Behave and have manners, it's not hard and simply paying a subscription to an MMO shouldn't put you above treating someone else fairly.

I agree, it happens all the time. (If this thread disappears I'll know what happened to you.. God speed.)

It's not brain science to follow the organisation's rules when you're using their services.

I do think a permanent ban is a bit extreme for cases that don't deserve it and the funny part is the people who do report others usually turn around and do something just as bad or worse than the thing that they reported someone for

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MihaelB

It's not brain science to follow the organisation's rules when you're using their services.

---

I would give you some examples as to what exactly people have been banned for and how absolutely erratic and ridiculous it is sometimes, but I'm afraid I'll be banned. So I need to keep my mouth shut. Shouldn't that say enough right there?

It could happen to you too. It might not seem probable at first, but you never know what kind of situations could lead you to the short time lack of good judgement.

I believe all the users should get a chance to redeem themselves.

Also it isn't just a matter of the banned individuals. These users are still members of the community and when they are permanently blocked away their friends get negatively affected by it too.

Let's try to be reasonable. Punishment can serve its purpose, but making it permanent is not the best option to deal with the problems.

People have not just been banned for using foul language, the furthest thing from it sometimes.

I agree with the OP depending on the severity of the situation. I have known of people get day-long bans for (in my opinion) very minor things, and others get no punishment or shorter bans for something I'd expect to be a much harsher punishment based on what happened.

Some things need to be looked at in detail, but this would be almost impossible for every case, so it would be more appropriate to give players 'strikes' of maybe 24 hour bans to permanent bans. This is just my opinion though, Square Enix's rules.

Wait, is this a forum? or ingame ban, because forums bans can simply happen if you say boo to the wrong person, ingame it takes a bit more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blood-Aki

Wait, is this a forum? or ingame ban, because forums bans can simply happen if you say boo to the wrong person, ingame it takes a bit more.

---

I am talking more about the lodestone blog, but the forums are in a similar situation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blood-Aki

Wait, is this a forum? or ingame ban, because forums bans can simply happen if you say boo to the wrong person, ingame it takes a bit more.

---

He is referring to Lodestone bans, I think, meaning accessing character information.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WinterLuna

He is referring to Lodestone bans, I think, meaning accessing character information.

---

ah, I almost forgot there was a blog there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blood-Aki

ah, I almost forgot there was a blog there.

---

Yes, there is a blog. Many users don't even know it exists, so every single missing person is noticeable loss.

You might give it a shot. A lot of fun is usually going on there.

Bans don't just happen, you had to do something to get a moderator's attention. Further, we don't know if these people getting permanent bans had been given temporary bans in the past. Usually that's how it works, you're given a number of temporary bans of usually longer subsequent durations and if you still keep getting moderator attention, then you're banned for good. You have to 'earn' that ban because, as was said, you're a paying customer so you're going to be given the benefit of the doubt a few times, but only a few times.

Every person is an individual and individuals can get into a heated disagreement. We simply can't get along with everyone, even if we want to believe in that. This can over time lead to hate, but it can also cool off - given enough time.

Some people are straightforward and less considerate of others, some can't be polite as much as they would want to, because they suffer from the language barrier and so it's the only mean for them to express their points.

Yet almost everything can be solved by discussion and appropriate motivators. If the users really want to continue their harmful actions they are able to buy new accounts. I believe a nocticeable portion of the banned users is reasonable enough to take the hint and reconsider their behaviour.

Paid service imo needs some rules and discipline or we start picking at each other none stop because of lack of ramifications.

Permanent ban is however very extreme and should be far more studied before just tossing it in. I realize their is a User agreement, however the forums and blogs are off limits if you are not a member anyway. A revitalization of the rules I think is in order.

A teacher of mine once told me never bring a problem.to the table without having a solution so.. my solution is make better and appropriate decisions upon something so serious. It is what we as the customers pay for after all.

Here's to hoping our woes are at least.read before disappearing ♡♥♡♥

I am here just to comment.

Im back to make a debut to this fourm . Im also here to say i agreed with the OP .

I never worry about being banned from game, forums, or the lodestone. Why? Because I know how to carry myself in a manner that any respectable human being should.

I wish SE's policy about banning were actually harsher.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MihaelB

It's not brain science to follow the organisation's rules when you're using their services.

---

I don't think anyone is arguing that. The concern is over uneven enforcement. A GM having a bad day can temp or perma ban on a whim and there should be some means to request the decision be reviewed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Archaell

I am talking more about the lodestone blog, but the forums are in a similar situation.

---

Forum bans are much easier to get and much more common.

Eh, when you're using a format where you actually have to think about what you're going to say, type it out and then confirm it somehow, I think there are more than enough checks in place to discourage questionable behaviour. There really isn't any excuse for overly heated responses because the process itself actually discourages it through it's very existence. We're not talking a face to face (or at least voice to voice) exchange here where you literally can blurt out something you immediately regret.

That said, any sort of punitive system should have an appeal process. If SE doesn't have one, it should.

It's easy to say "mind your manners" and you won't get banned. Unless that person knows why/how permanent bans are taking place, it would be hard to say right? (cause well, if you post, you are still here).

I've known 2 or more people with permanent bans. If you break any of the rules you likely will be banned permanently or such a long time (years) that it might as well be permanent.

Sure there are rules, but you can be banned at the moderator's judgement as well as far as I understand it.(I mean, shouldn't they be allowed to choose to do what they want? It's not like a forum is public property. Paying for the game doesn't include access to the forums. It's a perk.). Also, don't think they have to read everything in the forum until they hit something that is needing attention. There is a handy-dandy "report post" button. If two people are getting at it in a argument, I wouldn't doubt they might fell the need to report the other for being what they consider to be offensive. Very well both people could get banned.

Personally I think getting banned forever for for saying the wrong thing is a bit much. But it's not up to me. It's their decision. Getting a thread removed isn't a automatic ban though. (I've had one removed. It was my fault for not reading the guidelines but I didn't break a rule as far as I know.) So, I have a feeling banning is probably not the first choice in their head. There are certainly things that are instantly a ban though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by StriderShinryu

Eh, when you're using a format where you actually have to think about what you're going to say, type it out and then confirm it somehow, I think there are more than enough checks in place to discourage questionable behaviour. There really isn't any excuse for overly heated responses because the process itself actually discourages it through it's very existence. We're not talking a face to face (or at least voice to voice) exchange here where you literally can blurt out something you immediately regret.

That said, any sort of punitive system should have an appeal process. If SE doesn't have one, it should.

---

It takes almost nothing to get a temp ban on the forums; all you have to say is something that could cause a kindergartner to react with "I'm telling" and one person to have an ingrown hair in their no-no zone to report it. This includes implying a naughty word, or being mean.

The appeals process is waiting 72 hours to get an automated e-mail response that is less informative than the original temp ban e-mail.

I once got a 3 day forum ban for putting joke tags on dev posts.

A friend of mine got a permanent forum ban for rickrolling a mod. It was lifted the next day.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Immut

I once got a 3 day forum ban for putting joke tags on dev posts.

A friend of mine got a permanent forum ban for rickrolling a mod. It was lifted the next day.

---

Depending on what the tags were ("joke" covers a lot of ground) I could maybe see that, especially since they were dev posts. I got a 10 day ban for making a snarky comment about missing a memo that it's hard to gear up or something, though. They said it was discriminatory and negative toward the community. I thought it was a stretch (seriously, it was meant as a joke), but there musta been some serious butthurt there from the person that reported me. They were having a hard time gearing up, I guess. xD

Specifically, I tagged a bugfix for japanese text on a certain slyph "Katakana Cabbage Creatures"

I got banned 10 days for "encouraging botting" in a thread that was specifically targeted against botting (i even created the thread). Careful, the admins dont even care if its sarcasm and they dont like you telling the truth about the botting situation either. Never forgive, never forget.

In regards to thread though, perm bans should be used for something deserving of it. Violent threats and harassment maybe... everything else probably just a cool-off temp ban...

Our FC leader got banned for creating and posting that hilarious "Interview with the relic developer" video that everyone has been linking and passing around like wildfire.

I think my biggest issue is that warnings and stuff for first offenses aren't really issued... I got banned for using a swear word in one of my posts that is present in the GAME TEXT ITSELF, and nowhere was I given the chance to edit my post or given a warning that any swearing at all is against forum rules (seriously, people do it on here all the time...). I'd never had a single infraction before then, despite using the forums since 2014. But lol, just jumped straight to that 10-day ban.

I get that "rules are rules" and all that, but just looking at this thread it seems like a lot of frequent, respectable posters have been temp banned at some point, which makes me believe that there isn't enough cross-checking of reports going on or warnings being issued to infrequent offenders.

i was temp ban on wow forum and game for 72 hours for askinng the forum how to report being called a ho in game. I logged in made a character 5 min later i was called a ho by 5 ppl, i couldn't find report button log on forums asked the report feature while saying what happen. got called overly sensitive and temp ban for 72 hrs.

not temp ban as well for asking people a question and it was cited as harrassment even though i endited my post.

not stating where.

with lodestone honestly there is a group of ppl who just log on and troll other peoples blogs... i wouldn't be shocked if ppl just started reporting them. I stop blogging because of said ppl.

this is why I believe that SE or any MMORPG company who has a blog or forum should have better process before banning like how GM can contact you in-game to explain your situation to before being banned in general.. I also believe that if there was a option to block people who you don't want to comment or send tells to just like in-game where you can blacklist them unfortunately they don't have that option on on the lodestone so when that person starts something with the you or anyone who doesn't want them to talk you or anyone that you don't like stuff gets said in a hated moment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blood-Aki

Wait, is this a forum? or ingame ban, because forums bans can simply happen if you say boo to the wrong person, ingame it takes a bit more.

---

This is a lodestone issue. And.. since they don't know where to address issues about the lodestone here, it ended up in the worst part of the forums.. General Discussion. -.-

But yeah I tried lodestone to have some fun, seems only a few want that. Lots and lots of drama goes on here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twilite

This is a lodestone issue. And.. since they don't know where to address issues about the lodestone here, it ended up in the worst part of the forums.. General Discussion. -.-

But yeah I tried lodestone to have some fun, seems only a few want that. Lots and lots of drama goes on here.

---

This is the best part of the forums... or at least the most active one. ^.^

I was considering the website feedback sub forum, but after some thought this seems more like a community issue.

If the bans are supposed to protect the community from the wild elements, I wanted to point out that permanent bans for less serious actions may be also harming the community.

I believe that if the users were told to stop certain actions, they would at least consider it, and few months or a year long ban serve similar purpose as the permanent one, with the adventage of giving the users chance to participate in the community again after their punishment is over.

If the bans were less erratic, it would be fine to permaban, but consistency is one thing the mods seem to lack.

I still have a difficult time believing that Elana was suspended for a few days from the Lodestone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Archaell

This is the best part of the forums...

---

Considering our forums is why there's a 1,000 character limit I have to disagree there. Most active is pretty spot on, though... but that's not really a good thing given most of that activity is people making a dozen posts about much of nothing... repeatedly, in as many threads as they can... like this post now!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Archaell

Hello there, I would like to ask if Squere Enix and it's administrators could revise their banning policy related to the permanent bans on the lodestone.

Permanently banning paying customers seems a little bit harsh, especially when in some cases the bans can be justified only based on the individual judgement of the employe who is responsible for the management of the community.

As such I would like to suggest a humble request to consider banning users for shorter period of time such as monthly or in more extreme cases year long bans.

It's shame to see your friends disappear for good only because they got into a heated conflict with another user or because they expressed their opinions in less than polite manner.

That's all. Thanks for reading.

---

I've learned that it's just very easy to ignore someone. If I was to get in a heated argument each time someone didn't like what I was doing or saying, I'd been banned back in 2013.