What constitutes 'acceptable' topics in the Novice Network

[Mayoyama]

The novice network on Behemoth lately has been full of topics which may be offensive or undesirable for New Adventurers using the channel. One person on the NN has even been given a formal warning about it by SE.

When I have tried mentioning something I was told by another mentor:

"to those complaining about chat topics, please refer to Square forums where GMs have repeatedly stated that any topic is okay for Novice chat and there are NO restrictions.. thanks "

Now, I'm not a prude but, some of these topics have been about heavy drug use, sexual behaviours and bodily functions, and have used some quite graphic language. For someone new to the game they may see this and take offence.

So I want to officially ask, are these kinds of topics really 'acceptable' or do people take the 'any topics are ok' too literally? It's one thing to talk about these topics amongst close friends where you know they're ok with it but in an open public chat mode I feel the topics should be kept a little more socially friendly. Just my opinion.

[Ilenya]

Judging by what you've said, I would personally think that is out of line myself, but without seeing exactly what is being said, it's hard to say for certain.

[AskaRay]

I think it would be any topic within the rating of "T" or ...whatever the rating is in JP and the EU... those topics, the ones you mentioned, seem a bit out of the scope of that.

[Canadane]

I generally try to urge people to keep the subjects on topic of the game.
Some side chat is fine by all means, but while there may not be strict restrictions on acceptable subjects there is still the context of the network itself, to have mentors help novices. And when I see novices ask to leave because they don't want to see some particular off colour chat, I step in and tell people to cool it, keep it civil, or whatever.

For the most part, most of the mentors on Hyperion have been like-minded. I think we've made a pretty nice novice network community. At least, compared to some horror stories I hear about other servers I think ours is doing okay at least!

[Kaze3434]

I think it would be any topic within the rating of "T" or ...whatever the rating is in JP and the EU... those topics, the ones you mentioned, seem a bit out of the scope of that.

they are out of the scope of "T", but that is because its the game itself that is rated Teen, not the online interactions with others. pretty much every game that has any form of playing with others says online interactions are not rated.

[AskaRay]

they are out of the scope of "T", but that is because its the game itself that is rated Teen, not the online interactions with others. pretty much every game that has any form of playing with others says online interactions are not rated.

Yeah, I know, I mean you can't control other people but it's mostly a courtesy sort of thing, you know?
Not like I go into a T rated online game and expect M/X rated talk, neither do a lot of people... just be nice and keep that in a private channel.

[Alien_Gamer]

Basically its a global chat channel. All the rules (or lack of) that apply to every other channel in the game apply to NN. You're free to discuss whatever you want even if its not related to helping novices but if you say something too risque then someone may find it offensive and report you, just like any other chat. If someone is saying something offensive then report them and let the GMs look into it.

Personally I don't find those topics appropriate for the NN but depending on HOW they talk about it I probably wouldn't report them. I may find it a distasteful subject but that doesn't make it reportable. if you found it offensive then please report it. I know GMs don't punish people for bad reporting as long as you aren't going crazy with it.

[Kaze3434]

Yeah, I know, I mean you can't control other people but it's mostly a courtesy sort of thing, you know?
Not like I go into a T rated online game and expect M/X rated talk, neither do a lot of people... just be nice and keep that in a private channel.

that part right there means there is a good chance that people will talk about whatever they want to talk about, where ever they want to. it doesnt matter what the game is rated. expected others to pretty much act/talk like children is stupid.

[MomomiMomi]

that part right there means there is a good chance that people will talk about whatever they want to talk about, where ever they want to. it doesnt matter what the game is rated. expected others to pretty much act/talk like children is stupid.

Just because you might run into that doesn't necessarily mean that it's allowed. I've seen plenty of games in which such things are banned.

[Kaze3434]

Just because you might run into that doesn't necessarily mean that it's allowed. I've seen plenty of games in which such things are banned.

tbh, the only one i can think of that did anything like that was maple story, granted the target audience was 15 and below. can you tell me some of the others that banned people for "mature" talk?
edit to clarify; i mean talking in a general area. not to a person directly.

edit again; im not going to expect 100% self censorship on anything that has human to human interaction based on the chance that someone that is being talked to is a child. that is an unrealistic expectation, seeing as how no one has anyway of knowing any one elses age. until someone says something about how i type(no one has) i will continue as i have been, treating others like an adult before anything else.