An Apology to the Developers and the Removal of my Halloween Event Story

I sincerely hope the community reps and possibly the dev team read this post and accept my apologies if my contest entry offended anyone. This story was meant as a comical satire of very real fears held by the current player base, and was not meant to be a personal attack against any employees past or present nor to undermine the work done by the development teams, both past or present. Quite the opposite in fact, as it was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek praise of all of their hard work.

When my story was removed and I received notification of my temporary ban on the forums, I was in shock. No single person can be blamed for the initial state of FFXIV on it's release, least of all Tanaka, and I harbor no ill feelings towards any Square-Enix employees. Tanaka, like all men in charge was simply the target of player frustration and very admirably and respectfully shouldered most responsibility and blame for the shortcomings of the launch and I was not consciously attempting to villainize him.

As you can see from my player history, I have stuck with this game every minute since launch and loved it unconditionally, the good and the bad. My story simply needed a antagonist, and I chose Tanaka not for any vendetta but because at the current time he is personified as the man behind what the game once was, and cast the new development team as the protagonists because they are viewed as the reasoning behind the game's current success and also because the changes to the team conveniently provided 9 members (8 members to a party, 8 heroes, 1 leader).

So again, I hold the utmost respect and thanks to the entire staff behind FFXIV including Tanaka, for without him we would not have made such great progress as we have in this journey to a Realm Reborn and can admire his fortitude with the changes. Please consider this a formal apology for any offense or misunderstanding from my story, as it was not my intent to invoke a reaction beyond a bit of light-hearted comedy blending real life events with game lore.

Your loyal subscriber,
Furious Cupcakes

I sincerely read your whole post, and then forgot it all once I read "Furious Cupcakes" and just lol'd instead.


(I didnt get the chance to read the Halloween post, no idea what it said)

Hate to say it but when I read it I was like OMG can't believe he wrote that and how long is it going to stay.

This dude just doesn't want his Alpha application voided.

I didn't even give that thread a second glance after I posted my entry.

I kinda LOLed at the nickname too. I have no idea what actually happened or whether or not the action was deserved.

well if we have freedom of speech to talk crap bout our country, and companies seem to control our country, it makes sense that we can talk all the crap we want about SE in story form if want to lol. i didn't read it but i bet i would of lol'd at it almost as much as the op's in game name. but anyway i don't like how stuff gets locked but worse the ones they fully remove. kinda annoying. but hey thats just my opinion on the matter.

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Originally Posted by strallaalaa

well if we have freedom of speech to talk crap bout our country, and companies seem to control our country, it makes sense that we can talk all the crap we want about SE in story form if want to lol. i didn't read it but i bet i would of lol'd at it almost as much as the op's in game name. but anyway i don't like how stuff gets locked but worse the ones they fully remove. kinda annoying. but hey thats just my opinion on the matter.

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Free speech does not apply on a privately held discussion forum. If I make a rule in my house "no saying the phrase 'peanut butter pencils' and you say it, I am completely within my rights to throw you out of my house.

You must become a member to use the forum, and a company can obligate you to abide by certain rules if you wish to become a member.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Free speech does not apply on a privately held discussion forum. If I make a rule in my house "no saying the phrase 'peanut butter pencils' and you say it, I am completely within my rights to throw you out of my house.

You must become a member to use the forum, and a company can obligate you to abide by certain rules if you wish to become a member.

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I was going to say something, but I knew someone else would say it better.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Free speech does not apply on a privately held discussion forum. If I make a rule in my house "no saying the phrase 'peanut butter pencils' and you say it, I am completely within my rights to throw you out of my house.

You must become a member to use the forum, and a company can obligate you to abide by certain rules if you wish to become a member.

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Peanut buter pencils!!! Peanut butter pencils!!!

Not to poke the bear but I want to stop the speculation before it goes too far. In my story the retired director was Nael van Darnus under the mask (If you've followed the story lore that far you can imagine what this may imply.) and I made quite a few references to old design decisions. I neglected to read the ToS which speaks of portraying staff in a negative light, even though I didn't mean it that way. Bottom line: I should have read the ToS.

can u message me your story

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Originally Posted by FuriousCupcakes

Not to poke the bear but I want to stop the speculation before it goes too far. In my story the retired director was Nael van Darnus under the mask (If you've followed the story lore that far you can imagine what this may imply.) and I made quite a few references to old design decisions. I neglected to read the ToS which speaks of portraying staff in a negative light, even though I didn't mean it that way. Bottom line: I should have read the ToS.

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Really!? can't remember how many times I've said Incompetence & Development Team in the same sentence. i was recently suspended for a whole three hours, but i wont contest it "probably needed the break anyway".

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Free speech does not apply on a privately held discussion forum. If I make a rule in my house "no saying the phrase 'peanut butter pencils' and you say it, I am completely within my rights to throw you out of my house.

You must become a member to use the forum, and a company can obligate you to abide by certain rules if you wish to become a member.

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I'd like to correct you - in your house you can throw him out for any damn reason you please - or no reason even. Not just for violating a rule. As SE can do here. They can ban us on the spot for a frivolous reason and they are within their full right to do so. Just doesn't go over well with customers to take their money and ban for no reason :P

When u posted that halloween story and i didn't read it i was like
"hmm.. I think i didn't read a halloween story"


Good guts btw cupcakedude.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUURIOUUUUUUS CUUUUUUUPCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKES

I'll catch you online soon.

Yeah, message me your story too lol You can't tell us you wrote a "controversial story" and then not tell us what it was. That's like saying "Hey i got this secret. But i can't tell you." Seriously. That's just mean.

someone needs to link the story

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Free speech does not apply on a privately held discussion forum. If I make a rule in my house "no saying the phrase 'peanut butter pencils' and you say it, I am completely within my rights to throw you out of my house.

You must become a member to use the forum, and a company can obligate you to abide by certain rules if you wish to become a member.

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People talk crap about SE all the time in these forums, but it was out of line to submit that kind of thing to a community rep-generated contest. Your comment is also a failed attempt to use the transitive property of equality.

That being said, it's nice to see that at least the OP shows some remorse. You've written them a sincere apology and submitted it out in the open, vulnerable to the forum-ravaging trolls. Whether or not it'll have any effect on your future, at least this forum user is impressed. :)

His e-mail is in his signature but I doubt he'll be sending any private messages with the story on the forums lol. I wouldn't.

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Originally Posted by KneebreakerCuddlekins

His e-mail is in his signature but I doubt he'll be sending any private messages with the story on the forums lol. I wouldn't.

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I'd love to know how he could send it over PM on the forums. afaik that isn't an available feature on these forums.
though I do agree, sending something like that wouldn't be a good idea.

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Originally Posted by RoxyLalonde

I'd love to know how he could send it over PM on the forums. afaik that isn't an available feature on these forums.
though I do agree, sending something like that wouldn't be a good idea.

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Ah my bad >.< As you can see I'm new to the forums lol. Guess that's good then.

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Originally Posted by KneebreakerCuddlekins

Ah my bad >.< As you can see I'm new to the forums lol. Guess that's good then.

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i guess we should warn you then....this place...it..it sucks the IQ right outa yer eye sockets. the worst part is its so subtle you wont even know it until its to late.

And 38...

I love it when people say, "I hate this place I'm leaving FOREVER!!" then stick anyway :P.

So, hilarious internet rage aside, good on you OP for apologizing. I'll admit, I'm curious about the story anyway, but I'll let it die. I hope this hasn'truined your chances at alpha/beta.

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Originally Posted by Defmetal

I'd like to correct you - in your house you can throw him out for any damn reason you please - or no reason even. Not just for violating a rule. As SE can do here. They can ban us on the spot for a frivolous reason and they are within their full right to do so. Just doesn't go over well with customers to take their money and ban for no reason :P

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Companies that do business with the public are expected to honor the rights of those they do business with- however, when conditions are placed on doing business and clients agree to those conditions, they can be bound by them- e.g. license agreements that take away your right to sue, rules that abridge free speech, etc.

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Your comment is also a failed attempt to use the transitive property of equality.

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My comment is merely a statement of truth directed at one who had the misguided notion that the American 1st amendment right to free speech applies here, when in fact it doesn't. It is not an "attempt" at anything.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Companies that do business with the public are expected to honor the rights of those they do business with- however, when conditions are placed on doing business and clients agree to those conditions, they can be bound by them- e.g. license agreements that take away your right to sue, rules that abridge free speech, etc.

My comment is merely a statement of truth directed at one who had the misguided notion that the American 1st amendment right to free speech applies here, when in fact it doesn't. It is not an "attempt" at anything.

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I will say what I want , first amendment1!1!1!!

Ah, the times through high school when people only half payed attention in class


Lol, +1 for not misinterpreting what free speech means XD


However a company cannot take away your right to sue, even if it is in a contract.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

I will say what I want , first amendment1!1!1!!

Ah, the times through high school when people only half payed attention in class


Lol, +1 for not misinterpreting what free speech means XD


However a company cannot take away your right to sue, even if it is in a contract.

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They can, actually. It's called an arbitration clause. They have to provide some means of dispute resolution (arbitration in this case) but when you sign these agreements, you are agreeing that your sole remedy for disputes will be arbitration and you give up your right to sue through normal channels. Companies do this all the time (PayPal just did recently, I got an email about it from them) in order to shield themselves from expensive class actions and other suits.

Don't worry though, as that arbitrator is TOTALLY independent and not sided with the company at all, and will issue a fair judgement! (lol...)

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

They can, actually. It's called an arbitration clause. They have to provide some means of dispute resolution (arbitration in this case) but when you sign these agreements, you are agreeing that your sole remedy for disputes will be arbitration and you give up your right to sue through normal channels. Companies do this all the time (PayPal just did recently, I got an email about it from them) in order to shield themselves from expensive class actions and other suits.

Don't worry though, as that arbitrator is TOTALLY independent and not sided with the company at all, and will issue a fair judgement! (lol...)

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Are we talking about a ToS? You can tell them to stuff it under those agreements, as has happened before. Though they can do the same to you. Lol

It was the best one

Someone should write a story about the horror of reading the XIV forums.

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Originally Posted by Punainen

Someone should write a story about the horror of reading the XIV forums.

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50 shades of Eorzea.