Online turned Real Life Harassment

[DamianFatale]

Have you ever been harassed in the game before, and then suddenly started seeing effects offline?

I thought I’d make a thread for people to vent their experiences. Just please don’t use any actual user names, or break TOS.

- I had been friends with a person in game for awhile. Unfortunately I gave them my discord/ social media information, and etc too soon, because they live nearby, and I wanted to make a new friend.

Unfortunately this led to sexual harassment, threats, the person randomly coming into my in game apartment, a physical altercation outside of the game, and stalking. I ended up having to move to another ward, so that they couldn’t find me, and also filing a police report for the real life part of the harassment.

Here are some tips to avoid such a situation:

1. The only thing you should give at most is your discord, or any other anonymous platform. Don’t use your real name. Have people call you by your in game name. You can do anything on discord that you could on a phone, or social media account. You can text, call, video chat, and it’s all anonymous! Just be aware that video chatting, and voice calling can be a safety issue. In a lot countries it is illegal to record without consent as well, so keep that in mind if those features are used against you.

2. Do not give away personal information. If you encounter them in real life by accident like I did, then do whatever you can to be near other people. Don’t stray alone with them if you haven’t met them. Be safe!

3. Ignore them whenever possible. Do not engage. Do not motivate them.

4. Screen shot. I sadly did not, because I let my fears get the most of me, and did not want to face them. I regret it. It made my case much harder, and I get harassed by people who accuse me of lying. That part is my fault.

5. Definitely contact GMs. They take your personal safety seriously.

Just because the community seems friendly, does not mean that you are safe. This experience happened to me in FFXIV, and I feel like it’s really important to guard your personal information. Stay safe out there!

[Aerlana]

Don’t use your real name.[...]

2. Do not give away personal information.

And this advice works everytime on internet.

And to make new friend, even if they are close, just be patient, friendship is building step by step. Rushing is never a good idea

[DamianFatale]

And this advice works everytime on internet.

And to make new friend, even if they are close, just be patient, friendship is building step by step. Rushing is never a good idea

Agreed 100%

If I had waited until I got to know them, I wouldn’t of gotten hurt. They might not of even recognized me in the real world. I could of seen it coming from a mile away, and nipped any consequences from happening.

[RareItems]

I would skip discord/voice chat as well xD. Especially if your in Balmung that likes to RP in Uldah.

[DamianFatale]

I would skip discord/voice chat as well xD. Especially if your in Balmung that likes to RP in Uldah.

I would until you’re certain indeed.

[Qojon]

Have you ever been harassed in the game before, and then suddenly started seeing effects offline?

I thought I’d make a thread for people to vent their experiences. Just please don’t use any actual user names, or break TOS.

- I had been friends with a person in game for awhile. Unfortunately I gave them my discord/ social media information, and etc too soon, because they live nearby, and I wanted to make a new friend.

Unfortunately this led to sexual harassment, threats, the person randomly coming into my in game apartment, a physical altercation outside of the game, and stalking. I ended up having to move to another ward, so that they couldn’t find me, and also filing a police report for the real life part of the harassment.

Here are some tips to avoid such a situation:

1. The only thing you should give at most is your discord, or any other anonymous platform. Don’t use your real name. Have people call you by your in game name. You can do anything on discord that you could on a phone, or social media account. You can text, call, video chat, and it’s all anonymous! Just be aware that video chatting, and voice calling can be a safety issue. In a lot countries it is illegal to record without consent as well, so keep that in mind if those features are used against you.

2. Do not give away personal information. If you encounter them in real life by accident like I did, then do whatever you can to be near other people. Don’t stray alone with them if you haven’t met them. Be safe!

3. Ignore them whenever possible. Do not engage. Do not motivate them.

4. Screen shot. I sadly did not, because I let my fears get the most of me, and did not want to face them. I regret it. It made my case much harder, and I get harassed by people who accuse me of lying. That part is my fault.

5. Definitely contact GMs. They take your personal safety seriously.

6. Don't play on Balmung

Fixed that for you :^)

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

Fixed that for you :^)

This can and does happen outside of Balmung. To claim otherwise would be facetious at best.

[VertoIncantation]

Thats internet 101. I learned this a decade ago, but you learn this now. While i only lost a character in a videogame that i loved, the person who stole it was a person i was "friend" with for about 2years online.

So..now you know, hopefully you didn't add the person as a friend, cause even if you change name, you'll be on his friend list, even if you remove him from yours (which is really a dumb system), you will be on theirs. So if you want 100% anonymous, server switch would be the only way.

[HyoMinPark]

Do not give away personal information. If you encounter them in real life by accident like I did, then do whatever you can to be near other people. Don’t stray alone with them if you haven’t met them. Be safe!

Honestly, this should be common sense for most people.

[Rosentretter]

Thats internet 101. I learned this a decade ago, but you learn this now. While i only lost a character in a videogame that i loved, the person who stole it was a person i was "friend" with for about 2years online.

So..now you know, hopefully you didn't add the person as a friend, cause even if you change name, you'll be on his friend list, even if you remove him from yours (which is really a dumb system), you will be on theirs. So if you want 100% anonymous, server switch would be the only way.

People still can see if you switched servers and the new name, because the dumb system you mentioned before keeps working for crossworld friend lists. But yeah it's common sense to not go around giving your personal information to everyone. I've told some few friends my real name, but that's it. We all agree to keep using our in game names while playing.