Enough is Enough

[Metallurgist]

Ok, I've pretty much had enough of this whole issue.

I get jailed and then banned by +Rayne for 24 hours last night for talking about a subject that I should not have been talking about evidently in public chat.

Then Im pretty much reading the website all day, because I cant play and watching the global chat and guess what, oh what is this? Oh are there about 5 people engaged in a conversation about legalization and one of those people's names just happens to be "BlaZe Bud" I mean COME ON PEOPLE. We all know what that means. Not only am I pretty much getting discriminated against, its been over 24 hours now and I still get the "account blocked" message.

I have been incredibly nice during this time. But after the conversations I saw ALL DAY, I'm probably more upset today than I was yesterday after getting banned.

Here's the real issue, I'm a donator, I help lots of people on the shard. Im constantly answering questions and helping people. So I get banned for 24 hours........ In the real world, this is like biting the hand that feeds you. I mean, its not like we have an over abundance of players here, this type of irrational and inconsistent behavior from the staff only breeds rumors and issues that could easily be avoided.

I really like playing here, but at the moment I can't log on. I really hope that whatever caused me to be blocked out of the game for doing something that MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE are doing on a regular basis never happens to me again.

I have a lot more to say but ill stop there.

Metallurgist

[Metallurgist]

And I still cant log in................ Will someone please take the ban off my account it has been longer than I was told.

THank you!

[BlaZe]

Yea.. I can see why you're irked, doesn't seem fair in my book either.

I could write a short speech on why this should be permitted discussion of, since talking about cigarettes, alcohol and some other 'adult' topics seems to be allowed.

I think it'd be in everyone's best interest for someone to list in the Codex what other subjects are off-limits to bring up in global chat, since this won't be the last time it happens.

[Metallurgist]

Yeah, and also know that the GMs can and WILL read your PRIVATE messages. Be assured that pretty much no communication within their server is safe from unwanting eyes. Im going to start using a chat program.

[Metallurgist]

Any GMs on? Please please please let me back in, my punishment for doing nothing has been served.

Thank you.

[Metallurgist]

What chat program does everyone use now a days anyway? Im way out of the chatting loop.

[Jax2]

I have to agree, completely.

I was sending the message that certain things were BAD for kids, glad mine aren't on them, and so on so forth, and I even got a warning.

Family shard or not a family shard, some people need to realize that anything that CAN be said, HAS been said to your child many times over ... I am not saying that we should start cussing and chatting way over the line, but having a simple discussion, and then even having what I would consider to be a GOOD conversation (Don't do certain things!) would be a message people would want to get across. And, after having said that, I get a warning.

If those of you who are really SO against anything even REMOTELY controversial being said on chat, I would have to say that you have a small problem, as nothing said here is anything you or your children haven't heard anywhere in public, on television, on the radio (Hmm, anyones kids listen to rap here?) ... if you're THAT UPTIGHT about it, perhaps it's you that does have the problem and you the one that shouldn't be using chat. Just my opinion, but man, some of you take things way too far.

[+Rayne]

1. When you are banned you are not allowed to use the Portal or the Forums to make contact.

2. Your Ban time is set automatically and when the specific time is up, you will be able to log back in.

3. The overall issues pertaining to your ban are private and I will not discuss them just as I will not discuss the consequences of other players.

4. I suggest that if you wish to have a future here on Excelsior that you conduct yourself in a more appropriate manner. We do not allow discussion of drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, use of profanity and the like.

+Rayne

[fingers]

I love excelsior shard. I love that when a player wants some help, he can ask it in chat and get the same answer 5 times in a laps of 10 seconds. I love that when someone calls for help to retreive his body, there will be 3-4 players rushing to the player in danger in no time. I love the economy. I love the balance between risk and reward when hunting. I love the taming/breeding system. I love that my young daughters can run around here without any risk of being pk'ed or being scamed.

But meanwhile, I decided to invest time in an other shard. I haven't played excelsior for 3 days. Why? Well i have the feeling that even if I do my best daily to be a helpfull force on UOEX, I am marked by the staff as someone causing trouble. I had two jailing suspensions yet, while I didn't thought that any of them were warranted. I had a discussion about it with Colibri, who told me something like: "Fingers, I am here to have fun and to program." Wich is very understandable. Don't we all just want to have fun and enjoy the game?

From my own experience and the experience of a few players I have been close to, I can say I didn't see that warning that should come before jailing. Also, I have been jailed once exclusively for some posts I made on this board. IMO, if a punishement was truely warranted for something said here, while nothing could be told against you ingame, I think that your ability to post should be removed and not your ability to play.

I have too many friends here to simply strip polar bear and close my account. And my daughters love it here and, as they don't speak english at all, can't be caught, or witness of any controversy here. But I can admit that my motivation to log on has been greately hurt with the jailing and nerfing decisions made lately. I wish that distinction could be made between the player that really wished the best for the shard, yet perhaps making mistakes, and the ones that just don't care about any others than theirself.

That being said, I wish you all a good night and a lot of fun!

[Jax2]

Polar, we're all sad to see you go ... :/ However, I hope you have fun on your new shard

I need to clarify a few things here...

1) I understand this is a family shard. My own daughter plays here.

2) I understand, though fully disagree with, the rules pertaining to chat.

Don't mistake me as someone who doesn't care. I've been here a month and I love it here, contribute when I can and donate to help keep the shard up, only because I find the people nice and helpful and deserving of a good shard.

With that said, I still feel the need to repeat that people need to relax a little bit. Again, nothing said in chat is something you or your child hasn't heard hundreds of times in probably the last week alone. Yet, some of you come off on here as being OMG! He said something bad! REPORT! REPORT! ...

So be it. If you REALLY want this to be a 100% carebear land, fine. I won't say much on chat other than questions and to try and sell things, because almost ANY conversation you can come up with is going to offend one of you in one way or another, which is really sad.

For this reason, I would highly recommend that the staff consider an opt-in chat channel for those of us grown up enough to have a conversation on topics we find interesting or at the least, be allowed our freedom of speech on. This channel could be joined purposefully only. In other words, when you start in the game, you're not on it.

Perhaps you could even require a birthday to join the chat, just to make sure ... I'm just saying, the feeling that almost anything you discuss could end up getting you banned or jailed at least, really really ruins it for some people, ask around.

[Chroma]

Its not that hard to figure this stuff out.

"SOME" and i mean "some" , of the staff here like to go on power trips. Is it there fault? No, they are staff and we have to respect them. They put on a good show in front of people but tend to [anger] alot of other people. Staff on ANY SERVER tend to make up rules as they go - or they choose to let people get away with rules some days and go ape [on] other days.

I think the staff need to read over the Codex WITH US and memorize it and if there is something that they feel is wrong - instead of banning somone i think that they should just pull them into a jail cell, say something like "knock [it] off" and let them go. if they choose to ignore the warning then ban them.

NOW just because you give them a warning for talking about drugs does not mean you ban them for macroing. NO! give them a [_] warning for that. Make a note on the account or something i mean seriously i used to own my own shard i know you can do that and it takes less then 10 seconds from your "oh so busy schedual"

Another thing people is just use common sense. Dont be talking about [wrong things] in public chat. NO one is gonna want to hear about that [stuff].

And staff need to use a little common sense also. Come on [chocolate] is not BANNED in every country so its safe to talk about it in some countries. Give some people a break. Half the time these little kids dont even know what the [nice] people are talking about anyway. And if it offends them? Maybe mommy and daddy should change their dieper and take a closer look at what their kids are doing.

No one is getting physically hurt or mentally hurt over someone talking about weed. Just let it go. Jesus. And stop favoring people.

Sorry about this little rant but someone had to stand up and say it.

Im probibly going to get in trouble for this also - So if i do.

Peace!

-Zack Ralston AKA Chroma, Wife of Amor de Vaca

[+Veritas]

Once again Chroma, thank you for adding your point of view. However, I would recommend taking a couple minutes to change your wording around to express yourself exactly the way you want to, but with different words. There is literally, no point in using some of your selection to get your point across. You even pointed out the likelihood of getting into trouble for doing it. So, why tempt the possibility of getting into trouble?

[smth12342]

Hello, i'd just like to say that there should be a chat channel that you could be allowed to enter of your own free will where people could feel free to talk as they would like. now im not saying 100% total filth. but somewhat more of an adult chatroom/public in-game chat room. would this really be so hard to do? the only other thing i could think of would be for everyone to use ventrillo, skype, ect.. to make a chatroom where excelsior players could chat without the fear of big brother looking over your shoulder all the time. now to big brother please do not ban me lol! simply stating an opinion wich are like ass%*(es. i understand that there are children that play this game and there are ceartin things that should not be said. i can say that when i speak in guild chat with guild mates we can pretty much say what ever we want without the everpresent chat filter. make a public chat room in game for persons over the age of 18. how to findout if said person is over age of 18. i cant say i really dunno. but something should be done to address this issue. i can say personally theres been times where i have wanted to curse/use some really foul language to certian peeps who are on this shard. most are very nice but a select few are always cracking wise ass comments. when people ask questions. and when a staff member is on man phew let the asskissing begin. i like the staff here they are very helpful. and i love excelsior im enjoying myself here verymuch. but after playing on atlantic for over 6 years i also know that some gm's can be manipulated into playing favorites shall we say and ban people who maybe really should not have been banned to begin with. long story short all im saying is give us the players of excelsior an adult-ingame public chat channel. is this something that would really be so hard to do? phew... ok lol im done now what a freaking windbag eh?

[+Neptune]

As someone else stated, if you wish to entertain conversations pertaining to subjects known to rouse controversy then why not use MSN Messenger or something like that. I know on MSN you can have a group discussion with many people in the same window and it would be external to the game and would be accessed ONLY by "like minded" persons, or you can get your on Vent channel and again , limit access as you see fit.

This is just a suggestion. You would have access to the game chat to conduct game business and then you would have a totally external chat to talk about any subject you feel the need to discuss that would only be seen by people who find that line of conversation acceptable and not seen by those who don't.

This is the only option i see for these people who wish to discuss things that Staff find inappropriate for general chat.

AND PLEASE.. don't come back with the posts saying " WELL, I should be allowed to say what I want when and wherever I want". Because, NO, this is not a Democracy. You do not have the RIGHT to do as you please. This is a game and is ran by Administration who control it as they see fit for the continued enjoyment of EVERYONE, not just a few. And as Colibri/Rayne have stated, As much as we appreciate the people who Donate to the server, they are in no way different that any other player and are to be held to the same rules as everyone else. They received their reward for their gracious contribution and that is where the difference ends.

Hope this helps,

+Neptune

[Rune]

hey guys
lemme first say im parrent myself but my kids arent playing here

you guys need to take a step back and see what your asking of the staffs
i read all this like...you want this shard to be a safe place for all but same time say it should be ok to talk about *certain* adult things

now lets see what happens if staff *ok* to bend the rules on talking about weed..pretty soon some wise monkey will say
since its ok to talk about that..i wanna have *freedom* to talk about other smokeable drugs or all other drugs and then we have the train rolling wild and shard is no more a famely shard

saying a famely shard without rules and good staff handling is still a famely shard
is like saying
steak dinner without gravy is a good meal (no way in hell)


*roundhouse slaps with old fish*