SE's inability to protect players from stalking/harassment

[AiUsagi]

Apparently my stalker can just make trial accounts to stalk me with now too. Seems like the only way to fix that would be for SE to stop offering trial accounts if people are going to abuse them in such a way. This is why we can't have nice things.

[AiUsagi]

Does SE do IP bans or just account bans?
SE should be able to put two and two together via IP addresses, even if it is just a trial account?

[Jojoya]

Does SE do IP bans or just account bans?
SE should be able to put two and two together via IP addresses, even if it is just a trial account?

IP addresses were never a solution and are even less of a solution now people are using VPNs.

You're at the point you need to take this to law enforcement if it's so persistent.

[Tsumdere]

Does SE do IP bans or just account bans?
SE should be able to put two and two together via IP addresses, even if it is just a trial account?

I don't think you're a troll, so I'll bite.

Most game companies do not do IP bans unless it is very extreme. Not only do many people use VPNs, but certain places share the same IP address. For example, the entire country of Qatar uses the same IP address. Ban it and you ban the entire country. Schools/university campuses (dorms lol) will also use the same IP address.

Moreover, if they are using the commonly used support desk software that a lot of other companies use, sending in multiple tickets is worthless as they will auto collapse new tickets into the very first one you made. Sending more tickets unless you have updated information will do nothing more than waste your time.

In addition to this, the SE support likely has no direct connection to the main SE office and yelling at the support staff does nothing. It's akin to yelling at the Subway employee that their sandwiches are too expensive. Even if you're right (and you are - the blacklist function DOES need updating), they can't change it and you're just making their minimum wage job more miserable and likely earing a lot of bad rap within the support office.

In this situation, the police ARE an option and a good one at that. I have personally dealt with police with a past online stalker of mine and they were nothing but nice.

[AiUsagi]

I don't think you're a troll, so I'll bite.

Most game companies do not do IP bans unless it is very extreme. Not only do many people use VPNs, but certain places share the same IP address. For example, the entire country of Qatar uses the same IP address. Ban it and you ban the entire country. Schools/university campuses (dorms lol) will also use the same IP address.

Moreover, if they are using the commonly used support desk software that a lot of other companies use, sending in multiple tickets is worthless as they will auto collapse new tickets into the very first one you made. Sending more tickets unless you have updated information will do nothing more than waste your time.

In addition to this, the SE support likely has no direct connection to the main SE office and yelling at the support staff does nothing. It's akin to yelling at the Subway employee that their sandwiches are too expensive. Even if you're right (and you are - the blacklist function DOES need updating), they can't change it and you're just making their minimum wage job more miserable and likely earing a lot of bad rap within the support office.

In this situation, the police ARE an option and a good one at that. I have personally dealt with police with a past online stalker of mine and they were nothing but nice.

I haven't said much about what actions Ive taken regarding my stalker (anymore than what Ive already chosen to share) because, 1. My stalker can see this forum (& could already be commenting for all I know) 2. This is advice for everyone facing stalking and harassment & it is my hope to bring about awareness to this issue for developers to do something about for all players, not just me.

I can understand what you're getting at about the IP addresses- it makes a lot of sense. So, I guess my answer is: No. They can't. x.x

[Sauteed]

AiUsagi I could suggest filing an actual police report to deal with your stalker. Online stalking/cyber bullying etc is increasingly taken more seriously lately. I do feel for you hope it does get addressed properly. Outside of that I think SE has decided this isn't something they care to address thus far.

[Magnedeus]

AiUsagi I could suggest filing an actual police report to deal with your stalker. Online stalking/cyber bullying etc is increasingly taken more seriously lately. I do feel for you hope it does get addressed properly. Outside of that I think SE has decided this isn't something they care to address thus far.

Thank you! I said the exact same thing, but the police isn't an option to her for some weird reason.

[Nayout]

If you do not have proof that that person is harassing you they will not do anything and not only from Square Enix it is in almost all games, in World of Warcraft Blizzard where the PVP Open World exists there was a lot of harassment to players. The only way that Blizzard acted with this is when the camping was prolonged and it was possible to show that that person was chasing you around all the maps with a character from the opposite faction.

The difference is that in other MMORPGs, harassing means not being able to play with your character due to PVP systems, harassing in this game allows you to continue playing normally. There are some fixes to the system but those fixes will not greatly avoid the harassment problems of the game, because changing these rules would open the door for any of us to be banned simply for having the bad luck of running into the same person every time.

[AiUsagi]

If you do not have proof that that person is harassing you they will not do anything and not only from Square Enix it is in almost all games, in World of Warcraft Blizzard where the PVP Open World exists there was a lot of harassment to players. The only way that Blizzard acted with this is when the camping was prolonged and it was possible to show that that person was chasing you around all the maps with a character from the opposite faction.

The difference is that in other MMORPGs, harassing means not being able to play with your character due to PVP systems, harassing in this game allows you to continue playing normally. There are some fixes to the system but those fixes will not greatly avoid the harassment problems of the game, because changing these rules would open the door for any of us to be banned simply for having the bad luck of running into the same person every time.

A lot of my stalking has occured at my personal home. This player seeks me out via player search and comes directly to my FC. This isn't just petty stalking where we "happen" upon each other, though they have stalked me to other locations. I guess I don't understand how giving players more actions would get people banned? If I couldn't have been found through the player search, my stalker wouldn't have even known my FC location to bother me there. If we could blacklist a player and all information is removed, including the physical character, then it seems to me that this would be more beneficial for not only the player being harassed, but the GMs who have to deal with it too. I think if this game had more tools for players to use, then GMs would become last resort for once those tool have been utilized and seen ineffective. I'd think this would actually make it easier.

[Eien713]

I just wanted to add that the blacklist feature in this game is useless, like it's already been mentioned in the thread. The only thing it does (as far as I know) is block messages (and emotes, I suppose) from the person in question. I was so shocked the first time I blacklisted someone back when I was still new to the game then a day after got tagged with them in the same duty. When I blacklist someone, I want nothing to do with them. This person had harassed someone I care about and who was also with me in that duty. I didn't want this dear person to have to deal with this jerk or even see his name so soon after what had happened.