Option to privatize or opt-out of lodestone displaying character. Show your support!

[Jojoya]

Yeah. That's the problem.

But it's not going to help the player if they had already agreed in the past to add the alleged stalker to their friends list. Most stalker situations start as friendships gone bad.

Unless the player also changes physical data centers, the stalker is still going to have the name/world info since removing a person from your friends list does not remove them from yours. Very few players are open to changing worlds, let alone regions.

The key is the friends list. Something must be done to break that connection so if the player removes someone from their list, the other player is likewise removed from their list.

If friends list is tied to Character ID as the Lodestone is, even better. If there is a case of genuine stalking, the player working with the GMs and Technical Support could be granted a new character ID at the same time as the character is transferred and/or name changed. The only downside is that it would mean rebuilding the player's friends list but that would probably be a good thing at that point. The player would then get control back (at temporarily) of who would have them on their friends list and who wouldn't. They could ensure that only those they completely trust have them on the friends list so no one else could potentially be giving the new information to the stalker.

I'm not saying that players shouldn't have a privacy selection for character information on Lodestone if they want but it is pointless without changes to the in-game tools as well.

[Senn]

But it's not going to help the player if they had already agreed in the past to add the alleged stalker to their friends list. Most stalker situations start as friendships gone bad.

Unless the player also changes physical data centers, the stalker is still going to have the name/world info since removing a person from your friends list does not remove them from yours. Very few players are open to changing worlds, let alone regions.

The key is the friends list. Something must be done to break that connection so if the player removes someone from their list, the other player is likewise removed from their list.

If friends list is tied to Character ID as the Lodestone is, even better. If there is a case of genuine stalking, the player working with the GMs and Technical Support could be granted a new character ID at the same time as the character is transferred and/or name changed. The only downside is that it would mean rebuilding the player's friends list but that would probably be a good thing at that point. The player would then get control back (at temporarily) of who would have them on their friends list and who wouldn't. They could ensure that only those they completely trust have them on the friends list so no one else could potentially be giving the new information to the stalker.

I'm not saying that players shouldn't have a privacy selection for character information on Lodestone if they want but it is pointless without changes to the in-game tools as well.

There are already plans to add a two-way removal on friendlists when you unfriend someone. Can see more information on that here
The only thing left to do is give players the option to private their lodestone pages or have lodestone pages private by default with an option to make it public if you so choose.
Granting a new character ID/lodestone ID doesn't sound like a realistic solution to me - having to wait for a GM or technical support to officially grant you that could take a while. Maybe if this was more like an automatic feature like changing names or servers. I'm not really opposed to this idea, I just don't know how realistic it would be.

[Senn]

Looks like Pathra made a video on that one stalking article: link

Some of the top comments on the video:

"My former best friend had this issue, being stalked by someone that was formerly in our FC, and it got so bad, right around the time Oceania DC opened, that she xferred there to try to get away. She couldn't do anything in peace if he was on at the same time before that. He thankfully didn't follow her there. It also doesn't help that your Lodestone page URL will remain the same, so if they have it they can constantly see your character, name/race changes and all. It's sad to see the really pitiful excuses as to why it is the way it is, when the way it is ACTIVELY helps people be stalkers."

"they really need to fix the issue that if you change your character's name it should change the lodestone character URL # . if your stalker has your profile bookmarked, no amount of money spent on fantasia, name changes and server jumping is going to remove you from being targeted."

"I just went through this recently, despite blacklisting 2 individuals, they both decided to hangout in my house and leave messages in my book after I made it known I didn't appreciate it. This went on for months, I tried contacting a GM multiple times and had no luck, just automated responses. I ended up moving servers in hopes of a fresh start, and a mutual friend confirmed they knew where I transferred to (they still had me on their friendslist). So my main of 5 years is doomed for future harrassment... I had to reroll :c"

It seems to be a common problem unfortunately.

[Senn]

Just making sure this thread sees the light of day every once in a while. I really hope something can be done about this issue.

[tsuchii]

50/50 on this.
Would be nice but is it necessary? Just blacklist whoever is "stalking" you and you won't have any comms with you, they can't join your PF, etc.

If you have nothing to hide, why make it private? I prefer it public esp when someone would try to impersonate you. The real one will always have your achievements and accomplishments on your public profile.

[Senn]

50/50 on this.
Would be nice but is it necessary? Just blacklist whoever is "stalking" you and you won't have any comms with you, they can't join your PF, etc.

If you have nothing to hide, why make it private? I prefer it public esp when someone would try to impersonate you. The real one will always have your achievements and accomplishments on your public profile.

Won't work if the stalker makes an alt to bypass the blacklist.
It's also not a matter of having something to hide. Some stalkers are just crazy. Could be a crazy ex. Could be a creep. People should have the option to private their lodestone so they can get away from stalkers like that.
If you're having problems with someone impersonating you, as unlikely as that may seem, you should have the option to keep your lodestone public. No one is taking that away from you.

[Ardeth]

Taking away tools people use to stalk you is good with me. Currently, I've been playing Elden Ring while I wait for my 90-day cooldown to be up so I can peace out of my current DC to help avoid my stalker better. I really hope she rots in the deepest hell. She literally talked to my previous FC master and lied about me to get me kicked. He didn't kick me, but I left anyway because I didn't want to cause any more issues with people. I can't even change my name because she can just lodestone track me with my old name. And I've reported her and exhausted all that I can do as a player in this situation. So I'm 100% down with being able to hide it. These people are psychos.

[Senn]

Taking away tools people use to stalk you is good with me. Currently, I've been playing Elden Ring while I wait for my 90-day cooldown to be up so I can peace out of my current DC to help avoid my stalker better. I really hope she rots in the deepest -. She literally talked to my previous FC master and lied about me to get me kicked. He didn't kick me, but I left anyway because I didn't want to cause any more issues with people. I can't even change my name because she can just lodestone track me with my old name. And I've reported her and exhausted all that I can do as a player in this situation. So I'm 100% down with being able to hide it. These people are psychos.

May I ask how long you have been stalked for?

[Ardeth]

May I ask how long you have been stalked for?

Two months now give or take. There was a long stretch where I thought she gave up, and then people I know were telling me she was contacting them about me in a negative way and gas lighting them into not being friends with me. And all I did was leave the FC because I felt like nobody wanted to play with me. I didn't do anything that would constitute this even though nothing should, but still. It's working on making me not want to play all together.

[Boblawblah]

There's no good reason why you shouldn't be able to hide your information.