Hello Zalera! It's Veena!
When I arrived home after another long week of work, I had no idea that I would be spending my time writing a post of this nature. This is going to be long.
As many of you know, I am a career crafter. Though I have been around since about a half year or so since 1.0 was closed, it was not until Heavensward that I became a serious crafter and marketeer.
A critical aspect of living your life on the marketboard is a garnering and maintenance of trust between yourself, customers, and supplies. Players who cheating customers or involve themselves in shady deals will find eventually find themselves unable to conduct business with anyone. Hence, it is of utmost importance anyone conducting business, and especially those who choose this facet of the game as their main activity, to be above board and honest at all times - as I have done.
Several weeks ago, I was involved in a marketboard war that started in the airship repair material market. The war raged for a two or three days with the mats reaching a low of about 700g per item. It stretched into Smithsonite ore, bringing the price down to 200g, continued into Astral Moarine, ravaging that price to 500g per. The flames spread into another market that I will not mention since it would identify the subject of this post.
My adversary in this struggle took the battle out of the context of the marketboard, where it should have stayed, and expanded into personal attacks: Verbal abuse in /yell and /shout, hunting me down in the housing district to spam me with /slap and /laugh as I was minding my own business, putting up PFs with disparaging comments, and creating retainers with personally abusive names and deployed them in my markets.
Despite this persistent campaign of abuse and harassment, I have not returned any of it to him. I have, however, placed him on my blacklist and lodged several harassment complaints.
The reason I am posting here today is he's decided to up the ante and attempt to destroy my credibility and reputation as a trustworthy provider of goods. Let me explain. I have a presence on a very popular site which I cannot name in the post since it would identify this person. On Friday night when I checked it, I found this comment on one of my content items: "He lies and cheats ppl avoid him at all cost."
I responded with this challenge: Take the accusation to the official forums. Defrauding other players is a game Square Enix customer support does not play and will deliver the ban hammer harder than a tombstone piledriver. Once he'd posted the accusation, I would respond and offer my account for immediate and permanent closure should customer support find those claims to be true, partially or in whole. People do not like being cheated or defrauded. When you do so, they tend to report you - and those reports go into you account history. Any such activity on my part would almost certainly reside there.
On the other hand, should it be found that his claims are complete fabrications, I would only ask that action in alignment with Square's policies regarding harassment be applied - and nothing beyond that.
Not surprisingly, no such post has yet appeared here or in the General Discussion forum. Though he continues to repeat his claims of underhanded activity on my part - so I bring this to you, the community - and my challenge to him still stands.
If I have cheated you in a business transaction in any way, please post about it here - then report me. On the other hand, if you have had positive experiences doing business with me, a comment from you would be very much appreciated! :)
Please understand that though this matter may seem trivial, I am a career crafter. Everything I have built and worked for depends on my reputation. Accordingly, I am obligated to hold myself to the highest standards in business conduct to build that reputation, and defend it against the attacks of those who do not need to worry about being held personally accountable for their actions.
I have taken much of your time. If you've read this far, you have my sincere thanks.
PS: If you find the content that I am referring to, please do not refer it on these forums as that would be against the TOS.
On Stalking, Harassment, and Character Assassination
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11-07-2016, 03:06 AMSeyounOn Stalking, Harassment, and Character Assassination
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11-07-2016, 04:15 AMClethoria
First, I'd like to know if this is an ERP thing. Cause if it is, disregard this entire post and I'll gladly delete it.
This is a lot of tl;dr for me but after skimming, how about you do what I do. Not respond to negative emotes or block them from the chat altogether. As for assassinations, lol wat. Unless they're threatening to kill you irl there isn't any PK.
Also, it's just the market board. If someone undercuts, ignore it. I sold high value items for a super cheap price before knowing their worth but I was the only one who did it. It's not permanent, they're losing profit and I highly doubt the price will shift if no one acknowledges it. Lastly, crafting is crafting. It's not like ERP prostitution where your goods are entirely individualized. If I hit the same level as you, the only difference would be the dye and/or quality provided I bothered with crafting it that way.
Again, this is too long for me to care to read so feel free to correct me if I missed your point. -
11-07-2016, 04:19 AMGenaxxWhy even bother posting a lengthy reply if you didnt read it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Clethoria
Its got nothing to do with ERP, its someone getting their panties in a twist over the marketboard so they went out of their way to harass, slander and abuse someone else.
Too long for you to care to read, but you'll make a lengthly off topic post :confused: -
11-07-2016, 04:42 AMSeyounThank you, Ganaxx, for that and for giving me your time to read the post. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Genaxx
Clethoria - Please do not take what I'm about to say as snark. I truly do not mean it that way: Look up the definition of "character assassination". It has a specific, limited meaning that has nothing to do with the taking of someone's life. -
11-07-2016, 04:46 AMAzirah
All I know is Veena is a good guy and has gone out of his way to help lots of us on the server over time. Does he get heavily involved in the marketboard at times? Yes. Does that mean he should be attacked? I for one am surprised that Square allows the attacks via party finder etc.
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11-07-2016, 05:26 AMifrit616
This guy sounds a particularly nasty person, i've had friends who've had trouble with stalkers and abusive people but unfortunately SE have been very slow or not even done anything about them, yours however sounds even worse, if you're on a pc it's easier to report such activity being able to copy messages, if you're a ps4 user, well i don't know.
I hope your situation gets resolved and the offender banned, welp fingers crossed anyway :) -
11-07-2016, 05:43 AMSeyounYo, Ifrit. Dude, I used to be a main healer back in the day. I'm still not to happy with you about Infernal Howl. Just wanted you to know.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifrit616
Anyway, much rather than being banned. I think it would be more beneficial to everyone if he comes to realize what he is doing is unacceptable, understands it is wrong, takes personal responsibility for it, and makes a commitment to never do it again - to me or anyone.
If he did, I would consider the matter done and closed so far as I'm concerned. However, that requires humility and an admission of guilt on his part. It is much easier to continue being hostile than face the lion of a giving a humble apology. Judging from the things he has said thus far, I do not expect he will reform, though I hope to be proven wrong. -
11-07-2016, 05:58 AMifrit616If you see a pig flying around it's probably the guy trying to repent, so the next best thing would be a ban, also sorry for the Infernal Howl, had a bad cold that day:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Seyoun
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11-07-2016, 07:41 AMClethoriaBecause I can and want to give my input.Quote:
Originally Posted by Genaxx
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11-07-2016, 09:00 AMSeyoun
In the context of being further harassed, I have invited the player in question to come to this thread and weigh in. I hope to see him here soon so that both sides can be given, light shed on facts, and truth separated from fiction.
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11-07-2016, 10:13 AMSeyoun
You won't see him here. He has declined the invitation in a very vulgar manner - that is out there online to read for any who would chance upon it.
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11-07-2016, 10:19 AMLadyR
I've seen the PF's and while I most certainly don't agree with said person's methods - you are no so sweet and innocent. You "career crafter" who make a career of jacking up the prices on Zalera's marketboard to ridiculous proportions or undercut everyone's mother's brother. Our economy is so F-ed in the butt thanks to you elitist jerks. You with your elite only crafting linkshell where you sit on your high horse looking down on "not-as-elite-as-you" crafters. I know someone who tried to join your crafting linkshell and was denied in spite of meeting the qualifications from your PF. Neither you nor your said harrasser are innocent but you should cut your bs.
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11-07-2016, 10:46 AMSeyounDo I really jack up prices to ridiculous proportions? Let's dissect that claim, it's an interesting one and I enjoy talking about the economy.Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyR
When new crafted items are released, the first ones made are always overpriced - this is the reward that veteran crafters reap for dumping hundreds of hours and tens of millions of gil into their gear. Keeping prices that high for more than a week or so, especially at "ridiculous" levels is not possible. The reason is very simple: Supply increases. As time progresses, other crafters become capable of supplying the market and prices drop. If your claim is that I jack prices up to unsustainable levels, I respectfully disagree as such a claim is in direct conflict with how the market actually works. If you try to jack prices and keep them there, you will be undersold and not sell anything at all.
There are thousands of items in play in the economy and hundreds that are significant. A linkshell of twenty or so regular players, not all of which craft all the time, are not capable of controlling an entire economy. Not to mention the number of retainer slots you'd need to even attempt a generalized market takeover.Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyR
The requirements for joining the LS is to be able to craft at least two star items. Do you think it is unreasonable for a dedicated crafting linkshell to have such a requirement? I think I know who you are talking about since I have only ever denied entry to one applicant (which is hardly being elitist). The reason for that was not because of his gear, which was fine, but for other reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyR
We are not "elite" and do not, nor have we ever, presented ourselves as such. We do not and have never disparaged, looked down, or talked down to anyone. I do not know what has given you that impression but this claim is patently untrue.Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyR
I disagree. My selling and buying on the marketboard has no relationship or bearing regarding being "innocent" or "guilty" of anything. Crafting, selling, and buying are facets of the game in which I engage. Do I undercut people? Yes, I do. Everyone does. I get undercut too - all the time. It is not fun to be undercut when you are trying to sell something. I get that. But it is the single most fundamental activity in the process of selling. You undercut the competition or otherwise do not sell your product. In other words: It is a competition.Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyR
On the other hand, the things that I have described in my initial post that are outside the activities of crafting, selling, and buying are both against the ToS and quite frankly, unacceptable. So I maintain my claims, without modification, in their entirety.
I do not wish to end this response as coming off as attacking you. You have presented an argument and I am responding to that argument. Of course, you can respond, and I will respond in turn. -
11-09-2016, 03:22 AMCwestcott18
Lol elitist, don't put everyone in the same category, there are some who do boost things up over their actual worth, but the time and mats that are put into an items sometimes is justified. There is a lot of time put into it all, on the MB i try to keep it fair, but if someone personally tries to ask me, i help them the best i can even if they might not have the mats or the crystals/shards.
Plus if an LS denied your friend from joining because they are "unqualified" that's based on their own leaders and not anyone else.
If you truly feel the way you do about "elitist" crafter's then i invite you to join in and try and make a difference -
11-15-2016, 02:40 AMCold_Raven
I wouldn't worry about it and continue to do what you're doing... ignore, ban and report when you can.
You say your reputation as a crafter is everything, but this is more a personal-opinion of yourself more than anything else.
On Zalera... 80%, may 90% of MB purchases are made without even reading who the retainer is (maybe laughing if the name is funny...).
So, for the most part, your "reputation" one way or the other matters litte.
There will be, however, that 10-20% where your reputation means a lot. These will be high-end-game purchasers looking for fast, reliable, reasonable prices and gear and such.
This is where you are correct, and your reputation can hurt you.
But, I think you're over-stating how much one person can actually hurt this reputation.
Because that 10-20% where reputation-actually-matters is so small, it necessarily forces the buyer-seller relationship to be rather high.
If you're decent in all your transactions... no word-of-mouth from a single individual, no matter how repetitive or vulgar would be able to make any significant dent anyway.
Those who know you from the required high-personal-relationship simply wouldn't care as long as you continue to provide excellent service at excellent prices.
I'm sure it's a personally horrible experience to go through.
But if you continue to be a decent fellow, I wouldn't worry about it. The blustering will bluster along soon enough. Continue to ignore, ban and report and they will eventually get bored as no one will care.
Have fun! -
11-15-2016, 09:23 AMSeyounThanks for the kind words, CR. And keep rockin' that King Slime crown!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cold_Raven
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11-27-2016, 06:28 AMSeyoun
Hey guys,
Thank you to the people who are behind the nearly 900 views that this thread has received. I'd never have believed a thread tucked away in a Server section would have gotten so much exposure (other than that behemoth RL picture thread) . The fact that this has received so many views is testament this sort of matter does concern the community; that you really do care - and I am duly humbled.
Thank you all.
It has been a while since my initial post so the number of eyes that will see this is likely a lot smaller. I want to leave some final words to all of you - on Zalera and elsewhere: If there are persons in the game harassing you - and by that I do not mean a one-off thing where someone just loses their temper - we're all guilty of that from time to time. But instead a sustained campaign of deliberate attacks designed to destroy your gaming experience - you should not respond in kind but also shouldn't quietly endure it either. Report the activity to SE by opening your main menu: Support => Contact Us => Report Harassment. Leave a succinct explanation of your harasser's conduct at that time. A GM will respond to you not too long afterward to get further details of the incident to determine the proper actions to take (if any.)
Don't sit and take abuse. Report it.
Enjoy your time in the beautiful world of Eorzea, everyone - and thanks for reading! And to my exalted and most beloved fellows on Zalera: I will see _YOU_ on the marketboard.
Veena Minerva, out! -
10-12-2017, 02:14 AMCold_Raven
Hi Veena,
I understand you may be having issues again, from the same person, even?
Regardless, the advice on how to deal with it remains the same: blacklist, ban and report.
That seems cold-hearted (such a simple solution to write out!) for such a flagrant problem (personal attacks are, well, personal). But in the online world, there's not much more that can be done. Some of that works against you, and some actually works for you as well.
All I can say is that even if it isn't seemingly doing anything... don't worry, it is. Behinds the scenes is a mess because it has to work for so many different end users, but it's controlled and everything helps to weed out the baddies eventually.
I have nothing to do with SE (or even video game development in general). But I work a lot with programming and large client bases... I'd imagine such customer-complaint aspects are rather similar.
I attempted to respond to you in-game, but can't /tell you when you're /busy :D
And, of course, if this is going on again, I fully understand why you might be /busy :p
Try as best you can to play your game your way.
Keep fighting the good fight!
And thanks for putting up all those nicely-priced tools and gear.
You've nearly single-handedly outfitted my gatherers and crafters for my more-than-casual-but-not-really-hardcore-either playstyle :p
Although, it's strange thanking you for such a thing.
I didn't really buy them because I think you're a good person just trying to play a video game (that's simply a nice side-effect). I bought them because I wanted good quality, and reasonable prices. The fact that you were the one I purchased such things from is more an expression of thanks than any post full of words can describe anyway.
Have fun!