Roleplay/Partyfinder Discrepancies & Policy Enforcement by GM's

[Theodric]

Protecting the vulnerable, children or otherwise, is a noble enough pursuit.

[Katie_Kitty]

Protecting the vulnerable, children or otherwise, is a noble enough pursuit.

Well sure but that doesn't mean it should be used as an excuse for every authoritarian crackdown ever. At that point, it becomes kinda meaningless and very naive to unquestioningly believe it when that's offered up as a justification.

Are vulnerable people being protected by banning RP who couldn't be protected any other way?

[FelisDarwin]

Protecting the vulnerable, children or otherwise, is a noble enough pursuit.

I'm uncertain how banning a safe-for-work Cafe RP protects the vulnerable. Even if you have a heart condition you can roleplay drinking coffee quite safely.

[Theodric]

I'm uncertain how banning a safe-for-work Cafe RP protects the vulnerable. Even if you have a heart condition you can roleplay drinking coffee quite safely.

It's very likely to be a blanket ban brought about by the excess of inappropriate party finder listings related to erotic role-play. The role-playing community itself has not been addressing that, thus the GM's likely have no choice but to do what they can to mitigate such things from being apparent. Naturally I can't name any names due to the naming and shaming rules in place, though a number of 'cafes' and 'casinos' advertised through the party finder have turned out to be connected to some very predatory individuals.

[FelisDarwin]

It's very likely to be a blanket ban brought about by the excess of inappropriate party finder listings related to erotic role-play. The role-playing community itself has not been addressing that, thus the GM's likely have no choice but to do what they can to mitigate such things from being apparent. Naturally I can't name any names due to the naming and shaming rules in place, though a number of 'cafes' and 'casinos' advertised through the party finder have turned out to be connected to some very predatory individuals.

Right, but right there at the beginning of what you wrote is the problem: "a blanket ban brought about", as in it's new. If Squenix wants to make that change they can, but that's a change, and one they need to announce. Making an unnannounced rule change and enforcing it immediately with penalty and without notice is not okay, period. That's why people are mad.

...well that and not smacking down the run sellers, since their reasoning would cover them. Nobody likes run sellers.

[Yencat]

It's very likely to be a blanket ban brought about by the excess of inappropriate party finder listings related to erotic role-play. The role-playing community itself has not been addressing that, thus the GM's likely have no choice but to do what they can to mitigate such things from being apparent. Naturally I can't name any names due to the naming and shaming rules in place, though a number of 'cafes' and 'casinos' advertised through the party finder have turned out to be connected to some very predatory individuals.

If they want to crack down on inappropriate listings then they should do so, but they really shouldn't "blanket ban" people or listings that have nothing to do with that.

A warning is a permanent strike on your account that never goes away, it's like giving everyone in an 8 man group a permanent strike on their account because 1 of them swore just to teach them all a lesson about not swearing.

[Bunnykin_M]

If they want to crack down on inappropriate listings then they should do so, but they really shouldn't "blanket ban" people or listings that have nothing to do with that.

A warning is a permanent strike on your account that never goes away, it's like giving everyone in an 8 man group a permanent strike on their account because 1 of them swore just to teach them all a lesson about not swearing.

I agree. I'm also concerned that a lot of people are forgetting that the actual infraction that was cited by GM Wyndallus in his own words was, "The Party Finder is intended to be used for the formation of parties to attempt content. Essentially, that system is in place to help players find other players for duties, raids, map parties, hunts, etc. It is not intended as a social feature, whereas something like the fellowship finder is."

There is nothing in GM Wyndallus' wording that states that the player had inappropriate wording or anything else but their sole infraction was using the other tab of the Party Finder for social purposes, which has been a common practice of RP venues for years without any GM involvement. This isn't about whether it was ERP or 18+ in Wyndallus' own words but simply using the party finder as a social feature. If there was going to be a change in policy about this, SE should have at least warned players of this change in policy and enforcement so that players were aware of this change on enforcement before every being confronted with a GM.

If the sole infraction is using the Party Finder as a social feature, then does that mean that GM Wyndallus will also be punishing those who throw Pride parades, birthday parties, or funeral processions if they use the Party Finder to advertise the event? A distinction also should be forthcoming as to what precisely the "Other" tab is for especially considering that all of the things that Wyndallus' listed have their own tabs in the Party Finder so players need not look at the "Other" tab to find what those things. To me, again, this is beyond weird that it's just now being punished when it's been a longstanding practice without any warning of a change in enforcement from SE, itself.

[GrayDawnclaw]

Protecting the vulnerable, children or otherwise, is a noble enough pursuit.

Right, because banning some poor SFW Cafe RP people for something that isn't even against the Terms of Service who are doing so in the last page of the Party Finder (which means you have to dig for it) is "protecting the vulnerable".

Meanwhile, people selling clears for real money (which IS against ToS) in the Duty Roulette tab of the Party Finder (thusly misusing it, which again IS against ToS) are perfectly fine according to the GM in question.

[Theodric]

Right, because banning some poor SFW Cafe RP people for something that isn't even against the Terms of Service who are doing so in the last page of the Party Finder (which means you have to dig for it) is "protecting the vulnerable".

Meanwhile, people selling clears for real money (which IS against ToS) in the Duty Roulette tab of the Party Finder (thusly misusing it, which again IS against ToS) are perfectly fine according to the GM in question.

Personally I'd like to see both problems dealt with. I'm optimistic that as the server visit feature is expanded, the crackdown on inappropriate party finder listings will increase.