Sexual harassment

[Lilseph]

Personally, I don't condone the actions of the guy being accused, but I also don't condone enacting a witch hunt against the guy in this fashion. I've heard the recordings and while I sympathise with the victims, there just isn't enough information to be completely sure. It doesn't really help their case when you look at the way they treated one of the GMs when reporting the issue to them. Why would you even mention that "you wouldn't buy Stormblood" when reporting someone for something as serious as sexual harassment? It just takes away from the real issue - which also included the absolute refusal to give the GM the name of the accused so they could start a proper investigation. I get that this issue is serious and that the guy needs to be punished in some way, but that shouldn't give anyone the right to harass the GMs let alone anyone that has a different opinion.

One other thing to also mention is a recent post where the guy being accused threw a curveball and accused the group of posting a cropped screenshot taken out of context. It wouldn't have mattered if the group didn't respond to that accusation, but alas, they did. While it doesn't seem like much, the problem here is that the group has been proven to be willing to post a cropped screenshot that had been taken out of context. This does bring into question on the credibility on all of their other screenshot evidence - whether or not any of the other screenshots that they had posted had also been heavily cropped and taken out of context too.

[Okamimaru]

Let's stop using the phrase "witch hunt".... I know it's a popular phrase right now but the witch hunts were literally just making stuff up against people you had a grudge against and often led to the accused's death... not quite the same thing... it's hyperbole and dismissive... and again the case in the article was just what got me thinking about this as an issue in gaming... despite what you think of the article itself lets think beyond one particular instance and on to the rest of the community... I think that raising awareness that this type of thing being possible goes a long way to help curb this behaviour... letting people know they can speak out without victim shaming and the community making it clear this behaviour is not accepted should also have a positive impact....

[Lilseph]

Snip

The phrase really depends how you view the meaning of it. Setting an entire community to target a specific person can be considered a "witch hunt", but it's not the only usage of the phrase. I agree with you that raising awareness of these issues is important so this sort of thing doesn't happen again, but as a whole, we're all kinda backed into a corner. If these allegations prove true, then yes, more people can speak out about their experiences without fearing backlash, but that also presents an opportunity for others to abuse this fact to maliciously target someone. On the other hand, if this turns out to be a coordinated hoax, then this brings up the credibility of future claims and ruins it for other victims; not to mention that we, as a community, managed to let this fester. We have statements from both parties now, and honestly I'm still not too sure - though, there seems to be more evidence pointing towards the latter.

[QT_Melon]

The phrase really depends how you view the meaning of it. Setting an entire community to target a specific person can be considered a "witch hunt", but it's not the only usage of the meaning.

Well if the Janes in the initial outbreak take to legal matters, or the offender will since he also has a rebuttal blog that is for them to work out. I am not here to say whether or not he should go to jail or even encourage a campaign like that, it is a definite witch hunt.

I think though after multiple women are giving warning about the same problematic behavior from an individual it stands to note it is more awareness. They also mention it interfering with gameplay because of the relationships they made. It is for either other victims to come forward, or for people to remember the precautions when going online.

The problem is when people are not understanding that after this saying things in the "should have known better" in regards to the women victimized and even males, because apparently men were also ostracized from the ordeal, either because they weren't liked or part of his approval list.

That's the thing, no matter how you want to paint a Jane as a cheater, or other derogatory words for her sexual choices. The accused decided to beg the question of the various Janes motives in all this.

Well, the thing is the accused didn't refute anything about ostracizing users or yelling at the various women when they interacted with other males in the game. He didn't refute using tactics as stating he would engage in self harm if the relationship didn't go his way. He didn't refute that he was asking women to read his erotica or bring up sexual topics when completely inappropriate. I mean I get when people make a sexual joke or flirtation here and there, and a person asks or declines the conversation continue - and the person agrees. It is abuse to keep persisting in hoping the person will eventually go along with it.

[Okamimaru]

Again I was trying to see if this was an isolated issue or more widespread and if it is more of a problem than one particular group of people what can we the players do going forward... I'm well aware that this one case isn't something we can really judge but that's not the point... the point is to raise awareness of a possible threat to a vulnerable part of the community and find ways to protect them should the need arise...

[QT_Melon]

Again I was trying to see if this was an isolated issue or more widespread and if it is more of a problem than one particular group of people what can we the players do going forward... I'm well aware that this one case isn't something we can really judge but that's not the point... the point is to raise awareness of a possible threat to a vulnerable part of the community and find ways to protect them should the need arise...

It is widespread. Have had some issues with it on the server I am on, but the issue broke more out on a facebook group. Or rather the worst of that behavior. In PSN chat I have had a guy harass me till I blocked him and didn't want to stir drama in a Linkshell I ran by simply kicking him out - I wouldn't call it blatantly sexual, but he did seem more fixated on me due to my gender.

I wouldn't say it's as big as other games but it's enough for concern imo.

[Lilseph]

Snip.

I agree with you for the most part. However, due to the nature of the situation, the guy being accused has been given very few options to refute the claims towards him - none of his statements are taken seriously anymore. It's not that he won't refute the claims moreso the community pushed him into a corner to the point where he can't refute the claims and be taken seriously. Mind you that this doesn't make him innocent. Honestly, I think both sides handled the situation very poorly which limited the scope for discussion.

[Rogatum]

Some may consider me a victim blamer since I am in the camp that assigns degrees of fault to nearly every action or in some cases inaction. As a society their is very little we can do to help victims of abuse if they do not come forward. Also it would make the jobs of those that investigate such issues more efficient if victims sought help sooner instead of sometimes years after the fact. I will not pretend to understand the about the emotional stress such an ordeal puts on a person, but waiting years in some cases to come forward due to fear of being judged or not believed does not make much sense to me. I am not sure what we can do as a society that fosters an environment that is welcoming to those that are victims of abuse.

At the core we need to educate people on what they can do to protect themselves in the most practicable way, but even with all the protections in the world if you indulge in an act one should understand that certain risks come with an action, and no one is immune from it. If one feels abused seek help ASAP, no matter how tough it will be, no matter how much others will judge you, and please do not let stories of people trying and nothing happening hinder you from seeking the help you need. No system is prefect we are all human and as such anything we do will always have flaws, but inaction does not help anyone or resolve the issue. Many might disagree with me, but I do not feel trying to get the mob on your side to shame and shun someone is not the proper way to go even if it may seem like the easiest.

First line of defense starts with you. If you are victim learn from it and try to ensure it does not happen. If this never happened be glad but do not think you are immune to it, learn from the stories of other victims and please protect yourself. Do not shut yourself off from online encounters, but understand every action comes with a risk weigh out those risks and make sure you are personally ready to handle such risks if they were to happen. I hope what I am saying makes sense, it was never my intent to be viewed as a victim blamer, am I just a firm believer in personally responsibility. Be smarter learn from others mistakes not only your own. We live in a world where a plethora of information is a google search away use it. I do not think we will ever be rid of any form of abuse or harassment, but we can mitigate through education and awareness.

[QT_Melon]

All great advice when you have hindsight, which is always 20/20.

I mean you know what helps in stopping harassment? Not to do it in the first place.

Also maybe some of us would like it so we can trust men and not make them into some kind of thing we have to defend ourselves from.

[Ksenia]

The word "harassment" needs to be defined before I can comment on this. Ksenia is Hyur female and all my characters, save one are female. I've encountered attempts at sexual roleplay and I stomped them out quite quick. I'm a 50 year old man. You only need to point that out once and whatever immersion led to the innuendo dries up quick. Nobody has ever continued with their attempts once I made that clear so no, Harassment has never been a thing.