Instant Temp Bans

[Kaethra]

So if someone got banned for Harassment, seemingly out of the blue. By someone who tends to be friendly and doesn't do anything creepy like stalking people, or using ethnic or homophobic slurs. Then they probably got hit for:

・Obscene/indecent expressions

What does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine.

The fact that it isn't clearly defined leads me to believe this is likely what the cause was for the ban (assuming of course that all information provided thusfar is correct, factual, and complete, and we're going to give the benefit of the doubt because that's what polite people do).

This could have been a crude joke cracked somewhere. Something in bad taste, or whatnot. Lets just say that SE has a super conservative approach to this sort of thing coming from a culture where indency and the like are taken very seriously. Personally I think they should apply NA cultural norms to this sort of thing when applying them to NA, but that's just me. I will say when my new representative takes office they will be getting a letter about the strictness of SE's new rules and see if they can't apply pressure to alleviate some of them at least within the US. Discusion of the reasoning behind wanting to do this is well beyond the scope of this thread. If you're interested in discussing it, feel free to make a new thread.

But in either case, we are where we are now. That means no crude jokes. No innuendo jokes. None of that. Nothing that anyone could find gross, disgusting, lustful, or any of that. Like I've said in another thread. Keep your communications in game to a minimum. Use discord for any sort of friendy communication. SE has made its rules far too strict to communicate in game for most of us. Just take a look at their ruleset to see for yourselves:

https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...6&id=5382&la=1

The part under Offensive Expression is particularly troubling. By those rules you cannot even tell a tank to put on tank stance. "・Expressions that compel a playing style" Cannot tell someone to tank pretty much. But then again a tank not tanking is "Obstruction of Play" So when someone does something annoying. Don't tell them. Report them. Rules are truly setup to be a First one to Report, Wins means of resolving player to player conflict. SE wants to handle our problems for us.

[Racen]

Personally I think they should apply NA cultural norms to this sort of thing when applying them to NA, but that's just me. I will say when my new representative takes office they will be getting a letter about the strictness of SE's new rules and see if they can't apply pressure to alleviate some of them at least within the US. Discusion of the reasoning behind wanting to do this is well beyond the scope of this thread. If you're interested in discussing it, feel free to make a new thread.

But in either case, we are where we are now. That means no crude jokes. No innuendo jokes. None of that. Nothing that anyone could find gross, disgusting, lustful, or any of that. Like I've said in another thread. Keep your communications in game to a minimum. Use discord for any sort of friendy communication. SE has made its rules far too strict to communicate in game for most of us. Just take a look at their ruleset to see for yourselves:

first of all, your "representative" isn't going to do anything, they have no power over SE, and there's no leverage for them to do anything. second of all, if you can't communicate in game at all without getting warned or suspended, I would say the problem doesn't really lay with other people, sounds like this is a you issue. if the same thing keeps happening over and over and the only common thread is that you're the one involved in it, you can probably rest assured that you are the reason.

[Ashgarth]

This could have been a crude joke cracked somewhere. Something in bad taste, or whatnot. Lets just say that SE has a super conservative approach to this sort of thing coming from a culture where indency and the like are taken very seriously. Personally I think they should apply NA cultural norms to this sort of thing when applying them to NA, but that's just me. I will say when my new representative takes office they will be getting a letter about the strictness of SE's new rules and see if they can't apply pressure to alleviate some of them at least within the US. Discusion of the reasoning behind wanting to do this is well beyond the scope of this thread. If you're interested in discussing it, feel free to make a new thread.

SE's policy is basically "You can report anything and we will decide if the person was being an asshole", which they seem to be enforcing just fine. Everyone who I've seen complaining about unfair banns so far turned out to be either lying or complaining about how calling someone a useless retard is not an insult.

[Vidu]

This could have been a crude joke cracked somewhere. Something in bad taste, or whatnot. Lets just say that SE has a super conservative approach to this sort of thing coming from a culture where indency and the like are taken very seriously. Personally I think they should apply NA cultural norms to this sort of thing when applying them to NA, but that's just me. I will say when my new representative takes office they will be getting a letter about the strictness of SE's new rules and see if they can't apply pressure to alleviate some of them at least within the US. Discusion of the reasoning behind wanting to do this is well beyond the scope of this thread. If you're interested in discussing it, feel free to make a new thread.

Why though? Its their game, their rules. Quite frankly this request is a little bit disturbing... you seem to be aware that some jokes/expressions might be considered bad taste by other people, but because they wouldnt be considered that in your "culture" its suddenly okay to say them?
And how would that even work? Are there less strict rules for NA-servers? Or for all people with an NA-service-account? Can I insult NA-people with my EU-account, because its appropriate in their culture? And what kind of culture is that even that considers it alright to be rude or vulgar infront/with/to strangers? Its certainly not one I'd like to come in contact with... It really shouldnt be that difficult for an adult (or a teen for that matter) to behave friendly and politely around people they dont know. You dont need to express your "culture" if it involves obscene or rude language in a DF-party. You can always keep that in private chanels.
Remember: You only get in trouble if someone reports you! And its really not that difficult to keep it together in party-chat. Being american isnt an excuse.

[Izanagi_Fiaresu]

So if someone got banned for Harassment, seemingly out of the blue. By someone who tends to be friendly and doesn't do anything creepy like stalking people, or using ethnic or homophobic slurs. Then they probably got hit for:

・Obscene/indecent expressions

What does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine.

The fact that it isn't clearly defined leads me to believe this is likely what the cause was for the ban (assuming of course that all information provided thusfar is correct, factual, and complete, and we're going to give the benefit of the doubt because that's what polite people do).

This could have been a crude joke cracked somewhere. Something in bad taste, or whatnot. Lets just say that SE has a super conservative approach to this sort of thing coming from a culture where indency and the like are taken very seriously. Personally I think they should apply NA cultural norms to this sort of thing when applying them to NA, but that's just me. I will say when my new representative takes office they will be getting a letter about the strictness of SE's new rules and see if they can't apply pressure to alleviate some of them at least within the US. Discusion of the reasoning behind wanting to do this is well beyond the scope of this thread. If you're interested in discussing it, feel free to make a new thread.

But in either case, we are where we are now. That means no crude jokes. No innuendo jokes. None of that. Nothing that anyone could find gross, disgusting, lustful, or any of that. Like I've said in another thread. Keep your communications in game to a minimum. Use discord for any sort of friendy communication. SE has made its rules far too strict to communicate in game for most of us. Just take a look at their ruleset to see for yourselves:

https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...6&id=5382&la=1

The part under Offensive Expression is particularly troubling. By those rules you cannot even tell a tank to put on tank stance. "・Expressions that compel a playing style" Cannot tell someone to tank pretty much. But then again a tank not tanking is "Obstruction of Play" So when someone does something annoying. Don't tell them. Report them. Rules are truly setup to be a First one to Report, Wins means of resolving player to player conflict. SE wants to handle our problems for us.

Dude I thought you were serious till that line. Don't give away the troll.

[Kaethra]

Dude I thought you were serious till that line. Don't give away the troll.

I was serious, even that line. But like I said, make another thread if you wish to discuss the reasons why.

[Izanagi_Fiaresu]

I was serious, even that line. But like I said, make another thread if you wish to discuss the reasons why.

IF you think this is a big enough deal that you need to contact your congressman? Then that tells me that you need a hobby outside FFXIV.

First of all. Freedom of Speech only goes as far as the government not arresting you for calling the President a Cheeto.

Second of all. There are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more important things to call your representative about than how a company moderates their video game.

Of all my years gaming. That is the most INSANE neckbeardy thing I've ever heard.

[Hash_Browns]

I was serious, even that line. But like I said, make another thread if you wish to discuss the reasons why.

D-do you think Freedom of Speech applies here..?

[Komarimono]

I was serious, even that line. But like I said, make another thread if you wish to discuss the reasons why.

I'll save you the trouble of starting a new thread.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinion...-1702_h315.pdf

In short, as ruled by the supreme court, Amendment constraints do not apply to private platforms. FFXIV is a private platform they own and control, thus anything you request in a legal matter is null and void.

[alimdia]

If he got a month ban then this isn't the first time he was banned.

GM's can escalate bans if whatever he did was too severe. Like someone being racist in public chat or posting NSFW links isn't gonna get the lowest punishment even if it's their first time.

@OP this is your friend's last chance, next time he gets in trouble it will be account termination.