Roleplay Party Finder Account Suspensions

[technole]

The ESRB rating is Teen. The description associated with that rating, as described on the ESRB site itself includes:

Blood
Language
Sexual Themes
Use of Alcohol
Violence

The game is not rated E10+ or E, which are the appropriate ratings for Children.

The Japanese rating is "Cero C", which is 15+.

The general European rating is "PEGI 16", which is 16+.

https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...&la=1&ret=rule

"Please note that Square Enix may issue a penalty at its discretion even if a report has not been filed but the act was found being conducted in public areas such as Say and Shout, search comments, Party Finder, on online video/streaming services, if the behavior is found to violate real world laws, or if it may be considered a problem based on the game's entertainment board ratings."

People like to say well ESRB doesn't cover online interactions, that is to a certain extent, like chat rooms. But performing acts using FFXIV assets like your character and content such as screenshots and streaming is still under SE's copyright and purview with ratings and local laws.

[Saimeren]

Honestly, it's probably the 18+ part. This suggests adult activities. You can't actually enforce the age limit thing, so you could be encouraging minors to have RP "adult activities" with adults.

Although I agree that maybe a written warning outlining exactly why they're being contacted and monitored would be better than an outright 3 day ban. I'd say your friends got off lucky.

[Rhais]

Filthy rats... The sickness must be purged.

[Ecl1pse]

Just to chime in real quick, I feel like the argument of it being an 18+ venue and that's why it happened is a bit of a mute point. One venue owner got banned for advertising their winery and spa in Goblin and they weren't 18+ in any respect.

[Saimeren]

You know, it could simply just be that some jerk thought it'd be funny to ruin your good time and report you because he's not into RP himself.

Square has this habit of "ban first, investigate later".

They get a report, look at the description of the report and take action to prevent any potential continuation of a potential incident. I feel this is generally automated. A few days later a real person well investigate the case and decide if any further action needs to be taken or if the case is settled.

Problem is; they don't take the false report off your record.

You're guilty before you're innocent. It's cancel culture and unfortunately Square leans into it. It's easier to ban you then say "my bad" then it is to prove your innocence.

[DPZ2]

People like to say well ESRB doesn't cover online interactions, that is to a certain extent, like chat rooms. But performing acts using FFXIV assets like your character and content such as screenshots and streaming is still under SE's copyright and purview with ratings and local laws.

How is an "18+" in a Party Finder announcement "performing acts using FFXIV assets"? It takes a pretty interesting mindset to equate the two, since the game only allows chat for interpersonal interactions.

[milkhorn]

You know, it could simply just be that some jerk thought it'd be funny to ruin your good time and report you because he's not into RP himself.

Square has this habit of "ban first, investigate later".

They get a report, look at the description of the report and take action to prevent any potential continuation of a potential incident. I feel this is generally automated. A few days later a real person well investigate the case and decide if any further action needs to be taken or if the case is settled.

Problem is; they don't take the false report off your record.

You're guilty before you're innocent. It's cancel culture and unfortunately Square leans into it. It's easier to ban you then say "my bad" then it is to prove your innocence.

That is our fear, and why I like to continue to reiterate that my friends did not have any previous warnings on their accounts and they've been playing for multiple years. They don't deserve to have these strikes on their accounts without further understanding as to exactly what it was they did wrong. They do not act maliciously, and frankly being condemned on a loop by folks here for having 18+ in our party finder doesn't help the situation nor give us a concise reasoning as to why they were severely punished right off the bat. When we've shown that people were also reported for having no such thing in their party finder, punished with the same reasoning and the same length of suspension. The only similarity is that - we are roleplay venues.

[Ecl1pse]

Another point, no one was banned for having 18+ content. They were ALL suspended for exactly 3 days by the same GM for this exact reason:

3.3 Profanity and Offensive Language. You may not use profanity or any language that a reasonable person would find offensive.

There are separate points in the TOS that talk about violating the ESRB rating so why weren't those listed? If that was truly the offense why does a GM, of all people, need to hide behind this reasoning instead?

[milkhorn]

Another point, no one was banned for having 18+ content. They were ALL suspended for exactly 3 days by the same GM for this exact reason:

3.3 Profanity and Offensive Language. You may not use profanity or any language that a reasonable person would find offensive.

There are separate points in the TOS that talk about violating the ESRB rating so why weren't those listed? If that was truly the offense why does a GM, of all people, need to hide behind this reasoning instead?

A good point as well, unless they truly do not take the time to look at what they're sending and rather just send these automated emails when issuing suspensions.

[Ecl1pse]

To put some perspective on it, my wife is one of the people that was suspended. This is the first video game she's ever truly gotten in to in her life because I encouraged her to play it. Through it, she found the RP community and wanted to give back, hence opening a venue. There was zero malicious intent and honestly, she was playing off what other venues were doing at the time and even now.

Yet when the GM went to talk to her, they offered zero explanation for the suspension. A player who has never had a single black mark against her and they pulled her in to basically say "You're suspended because of a single PF. I'm not telling you what PF or why. Go read the TOS." She asked if there was someone else she could talk to and the GM said it would take a while. She was so overwhelmed and confused and then was ported to Radz-at-Han with no explanation and suspended instantly.

If having 18+ venues isn't allowed, just tell us. She wasn't going out of her way to deliberately cause trouble. She wanted a safe place for RPer's to have some fun and kill time once a week. If doing ERP is against the TOS, even in private and consenting circumstances, then let the general public know or make some kind of statement so people who want to follow the rules are able to. Let those who think they can get away with it have their fun and take the risk but don't punish players who love this game, play every day and use it as a means of escape suffer because the rules are too convoluted and are up to the interpretation of each individual GM.