Regarding the Revision of the Prohibited Activities and Account Penalty Policy

[WaterShield]

This whole issue baffles me. If you don't intend to break the rules why are you concerned? Just don't break the rules and you have nothing to worry about.

If you intend to break the rules then there would be cause for concern.

Some of the issues stated are very obvious right-and-wrong topics. For example, a "reasonable" person would understand that Stalking is not okay.

Because the rules state that if someone is offended, even if I did not intend to offend them, I am in contempt of the rules. All I have assuring me that they won't be used frivolously is other players saying that (paraphrased "nothing is really changing") When that is not the case according to the announcement. Hence my being upset.

[WaterShield]

Why is it so important for the line to be clearly drawn? Usually the best way to avoid falling off of an edge is just to stay clear of it.

All of this can quite literally pass right over you if you simply play the game and use common sense while doing so.

All of the reactions I have seen in this multi-page topic reminds me a lot of being in a class at school or at work where the rules are continuously bent and broken, until a new teacher or boss comes in and puts a stop to it. It isn't well received because they feel like QoL goes down for them. To all those this applies to, I don't know what to say really. Being an adult isn't always fun, I guess?

Adults follow clearly defined laws and are only punished if they break them... and are always able to be aware that they are breaking the law before hand in the majority of cases.

Under the new rules I have no way of knowing if I am breaking the rules or not because they are subjective in nature. Meaning the only way I can be almost certain to avoid trouble is to refrain from speaking to anyone at all. I feel this defeats the purpose of an online game.

My new code of conduct is this: "Michael Scott : Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to anyone for any reason ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been... ever, for any reason whatsoever... "

[Anger]

Because the rules state that if someone is offended, even if I did not intend to offend them, I am in contempt of the rules. All I have assuring me that they won't be used frivolously is other players saying that (paraphrased "nothing is really changing") When that is not the case according to the announcement. Hence my being upset.

I CTRL+F'd "offend" in the prohibited activities article and that word isn't used once.

What I did see was: " "Harassment" means speech and/or behaviour that inflicts deep emotional distress on another person."

" "Offensive expression" means an expression in general that inflicts emotional distress by being offensive to another person. Offensive expression may include:"

There's a vast difference between someone being "offended" and "having deep emotional distress inflicted upon them".

I think things are being misconstrued a bit here.

[WaterShield]

I CTRL+F'd "offend" in the prohibited activities article and that word isn't used once.

What I did see was: " "Harassment" means speech and/or behaviour that inflicts deep emotional distress on another person."

" "Offensive expression" means an expression in general that inflicts emotional distress by being offensive to another person. Offensive expression may include:"

There's a vast difference between someone being "offended" and "having deep emotional distress inflicted upon them".

I think things are being misconstrued a bit here.

Who determines if someone is actually experiencing deep emotional distress by something? Can a GM reliably tell if my making a joke about cheese really triggered someone or not?

I AM EXPERIENCING DEEP EMOTIONAL DISTRESS RIGHT NOW!!!! Because of these changes. Is that not valid!?!?

"■Nuisance behaviour
"Nuisance behaviour" means speech or behaviour that hurts others or obstructs game play, but which is not classified as harassment. Even if it was not the intention, a penalty may be imposed if the end result was that another person was hurt or obstructed.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of nuisance behaviour:"

[Aulainn]

I CTRL+F'd "offend" in the prohibited activities article and that word isn't used once.

What I did see was: " "Harassment" means speech and/or behaviour that inflicts deep emotional distress on another person."

" "Offensive expression" means an expression in general that inflicts emotional distress by being offensive to another person. Offensive expression may include:"

There's a vast difference between someone being "offended" and "having deep emotional distress inflicted upon them".

I think things are being misconstrued a bit here.

Nice cherry picking there.

・Expressions that any reasonable person would find offensive
・Other expressions that are offensive to another person

[PharisHanasaki]

Which will be further changes... indicating that things in fact will change.

Also I am exercising the part that says "Feel free to let us know if there are certain topics you would like us to improve upon."

I'm just stating you are spreading incomplete info. They are doing this for the good of the community, they are a business, a business runs on money. Banning everyone for the silliest of things is dumb. And I doubt they will.

[Anger]

Who determines if someone is actually experiencing deep emotional distress by something? Can a GM reliably tell if my making a joke about cheese really triggered someone or not?

I AM EXPERIENCING DEEP EMOTIONAL DISTRESS RIGHT NOW!!!! Because of these changes. Is that not valid!?!?

Perhaps we can get to the root of your concern.

Do you feel like you do something in-game that would potentially be misconstrued as "deep emotional distress" on another person?

If so, please state what it is you may be concerned with and we can discuss whether or not we, as reasonable people, believe it is likely to be misconstrued.

[Gemina]

But I emotionally distressed them, regardless if I intended to or not. If this scenario were to happen today, I would be susceptible to a penalization. Additionally they would also be susceptible to the penalization. However I was not under emotional distress when this occurred, so shouldn't we find an equitable solution and ban me instead? Only then would our emotional damage be equivalent, mine from being banned, and theirs for getting triggered by my healer performance.

No, you wouldn't be susceptible because you DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG. Dude, listen. This isn't the media, and the GMs aren't SJWs out to protect every safe spacing idiot who plays this game. I know terms like 'emotional distress' brings about these kind of concerns, but the ambiguity is to keep everyone aware. When you draw a clearly distinguishable line, then people know how far they can go before they cross it.

It is easy tell everyone's over reactions because no one is even talking about the multiple warnings that are issued, and suggested corrective actions before you even face a 3 day suspension. It's just, "Player didn't like my playstyle, so now I'm going to get banned?" Can't you see how over the top that is? Seriously take a deep breath and just chill.

[WaterShield]

Perhaps we can get to the root of your concern.

Do you feel like you do something in-game that would potentially be misconstrued as "deep emotional distress" on another person?

If so, please state what it is you may be concerned with and we can discuss whether or not we, as reasonable people, believe it is likely to be misconstrued.

There isn't anything that I do that I think is problematic. Like I stated earlier in this thread. I have never been contact by a GM, warned, or punished, for anything, ever.

I am incredibly concerned for the potential of abuse that these vague rules create. I would like to say my piece before things get awful, rather than wait to tell you "I told you so" next year.

[Nyvara]

No, you wouldn't be susceptible because you DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG. Dude, listen. This isn't the media, and the GMs aren't SJWs out to protect every safe spacing idiot who plays this game. I know terms like 'emotional distress' brings about these kind of concerns, but the ambiguity is to keep everyone aware. When you draw a clearly distinguishable line, then people know how far they can go before they cross it.

It is easy tell everyone's over reactions because no one is even talking about the multiple warnings that are issued, and suggested corrective actions before you even face a 3 day suspension. It's just, "Player didn't like my playstyle, so now I'm going to get banned?" Can't you see how over the top that is? Seriously take a deep breath and just chill.

You're my hero!

This whole thread is starting to inflict "emotional distress" on me!