Bullying on FFXIV

[Aethelinda]

Bullies Online

First of all I will apologize in advance about my grammar. My primary language is Spanish but I will do the best that I can to express myself in a way you can all understand. ^^ I think this article will do well to some on the victim position. I’m very sorry about that too. As you can see on my profile I don’t post much but sometimes I feel the need to speak up and I guess this time I want to speak up for them.

I decided to post this article about bullies because I’m sick and tired of some pretending to be mental stable individuals and “boom” out of nowhere they become someone's worst nightmare in their free and supposedly relaxing time. The sad part of this story is that many of these people are adults and even professionals. Many of us were victims at some point and I’m pretty sure you were thinking “Oh My God, what’s wrong with this person?” I was there one time, can think of three names at this moment, and will probably be again because we are SURROUNDED BY ZOMBIES! O_o

Anyways last night someone calling himself a “lawyer”, committed harassment to someone in front of a group of people. These were a full party from his LS, one joined him like a good pal, and a few others waiting to get in A.V. I hope he doesn’t behave that way in real life if not I don’t see a really bright future as a lawyer for him. This is what throws me off my chair. However this is not so much about him because he is only one out of many in FFXIV that are constantly harassing and making a few players’ experience miserable; Shouting, /tells, linkshells sites, lodestone forums and whatever they find to accomplish their goals. Apparently this is their only way to justify their existence in this world. I don’t mind the adrenaline and some ego alpha male approach, I’m a girl and I can even understand that. Now what I’m really talking is about abusive behavior to the point where they are doing it to harm rather than to just have fun and compete or even express an opinion.


SE, I don’t blame them. They are working too hard so they can’t do much. We got too many with problems and even drama queens already to be listening to every single one of them. We got to give them a break. It is impossible to keep up with everything and believe every story. I wish they will find a better way instead of just the blacklist which is totally useless. You can ignore what they say to you but you can’t ignore what they are doing on your screen or even the rumors that these beautiful mind people come up with. Sooner or later they will find a way to get to you. What can we do then? Not much. Trust on your friends or people that you have known the longest and their judgments. Will not guaranteed that they have a good judgment though but hey at least we got hopes that they do have it. That’s why we called them friends to begin with even if they are just cyber friends.

While doing my research I found this piece info which I think is very helpful and explains in detail what are cyber bullies and what can be done. I modified it a little bit to adjust to the main topic of the thread. Bullying in FFXIV


"This is the definition about harassment and cyber bullying

Bullying: Repeated and deliberate harassment directed by one in a position of power toward one or more. Can involve threats or behaviors, including assault, or indirect and subtle forms of aggression, including rumor spreading. Also online bullying, often called online harassment, is a serious issue, and it’s getting more common.

Harassment: Unsolicited words or actions intended to annoy, alarm, or abuse another individual in an emotional way.

How to recognize a Cyber Bully.
Online bullying can take many forms:

• Sending threatening, taunting or teasing e-mails to someone.
• In an online game use their character to make themselves known around you with the purpose of bothering you. Like emos actions or moving around you.
• Using any other tech to spread gossip or rumors.
• Pretending to be another person online so you can post or e-mail things that will embarrass or get that person in trouble. Very common on the forums
• Being a “pretend friend” online so you can later hurt or humiliate someone.
• “Ganging up” on someone in a chat or on a message board because the more people they have, the powerful they feel.
• “Grieving” someone in an online video game by constantly picking on a new or inexperienced player.

Why do people do it?

It’s anonymous. The Web lets you hide behind a fake user name or alias, and many bullies feel protected by this “false identity.” Because they feel hidden and shielded, bullies might do and say things they would never dream of doing to someone face to face. In other words, sometimes a coward.

They want revenge. If a person is bullied in real life (can be by strangers, friends and even family) he might decide to fight back online. You don’t have to be a typical “bully” to be mean. Many people who are good with technology see online cruelty as a way of getting even with people who push them around in the real world. They are not happy with themselves and their surroundings. Remember they need to be A SOMEBODY in this virtual world to feel happy. Once is over, they are nothing.

They get caught up in it (Accidental one). Sometimes online bullies start out small, with a funny comment or a joke. Then things slowly get out of hand. They start posting meaner and meaner things, and before they know it, they’re really hurting people with the things they write. This is very common on forums. Some might not even realize it.

They don’t understand how much it hurts. When you’re cruel to someone online, you can’t see him/her cry, so you might not understand just how bad you’re making him/her feel. We are humans behind a monitor after all.

What can you do?

Don’t retaliate. If someone is mean to you online, don’t hit back. It might seem natural to give them a taste of his or her own cruelty, but this will just keep the war going. Not worth it.
Ignore it. Face to face, it can be very hard to “walk away” from an insult. Online, it’s actually much easier. Turn off your computer and walk away. Do not go back to Web sites or chat rooms where you’ve been bullied.

Also we should never let ourselves be a victim but don’t become the bully neither. Don’t post comments or say anything when you are angry because you might become the bully by mistake and that’s not the way neither. At the end they will live by their own reputation. "
Haters will always hate

- Flaherty, Lois, M.D. "It's My Life . Friends . Bullies." It's My Life . Friends . Bullies | PBS Kids GO! CastleWorks, 205. Web. 06 Oct. 2012. <http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/article8.html>.

[Andrien]

If blacklist don't work, the best thing to do is call a GM. However they'll most likely say "we'll investigate"

I think SE should toughen up on the ToS but, the GM call must be valid.

[Presbytier]

The easiest and best solution to stop cyber bullying is to take the anonymity out of the web. Blizzard's Real Id plan was great unfortunately they caved to the pressure of people suddenly realizing they may have to own up top the things they said online.

[Honz]

Apart from the title I don't understand what your post is about OP. I understand that you have been wronged in some way by another player, but the rest of your post is not making any sense to me.

[Jaimie]

What exactly did he/they do ?

One of the problems with games like this, is you have people from many different cultures. And, something that might seem harmless or funny to me might be offensive to someone else.

I for one, am sick and tired of Political Correctness. As far as I'm concerned, it's a form of censorship. If you do / say something stupid, I ain't gonna sit back and hold my tongue.

This is a game, but people really do need to try to be more respectful and helpful towards others.

[Aethelinda]

Apart from the title I don't understand what your post is about OP. I understand that you have been wronged in some way by another player, but the rest of your post is not making any sense to me.

Bullying awareness and the why of my decision of posting about it; How to spot a bully and what can be done against him. Me been wronged by another player? not really. Not to the point where I had to post something like this. In fact, the reason that I'm posting it is because I was a witness of someone else been bullying by another person.

Edit: I think you got confused at the part where I said "Many of us were victims at some point and I’m pretty sure you were thinking “Oh My God, what’s wrong with this person?” I was there one time, can think of three names at this moment" . On the third paragraph I explained that my decision was because what I witness last night with this victim. Let me know if I have to change something , my English might be bad and feedback are always welcome ^^

[Griss]

The easiest and best solution to stop cyber bullying is to take the anonymity out of the web. Blizzard's Real Id plan was great unfortunately they caved to the pressure of people suddenly realizing they may have to own up top the things they said online.

Knowing that the jackass who is doing the 'bullying' is named Bill frinklemen does jack all to solve any problem.

The big thing about blizzards real id push. Remember when that rep posted his real name and the interweb detectives set to work to find him and pegged the wrong guy? Yea super effective.

[Jaimie]

Mmm... Bullying awareness and the why of my decision of posting about it; How to spot a bully and what can be done against him. Me been wronged by another player? not really. Not to the point where I had to post something like this. In fact, the reason that I'm posting it is because I was a witness of someone else been bullying by another person.

pics or it didn't happen
really what did you see / hear ?

Maybe it was a misunderstanding misinterptretation

I can tell you right now this language barrier / auto translate dictionary is not contributing to MY enjoyment of the game.

NA server FTW

[Presbytier]

Knowing that the jackass who is doing the 'bullying' is named Bill frinklemen does jack all to solve any problem.

The big thing about blizzards real id push. Remember when that rep posted his real name and the interweb detectives set to work to find him and pegged the wrong guy? Yea super effective.

You are not looking at the big picture; if everyone had to show who they where they would be far less likely to grief, and could actually face legal punishment easier when necessary.

[XavierBlade]

Don’t retaliate. If someone is mean to you online, don’t hit back. It might seem natural to give them a taste of his or her own cruelty, but this will just keep the war going.