http://www.cyberbullyalert.com/blog/2008/10/cyber-bullying-state-laws-and-policies/
http://www.online-bully.com/index.html
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html

This is number one reason people quit this game and everyone should know their rights and report such behavior to proper authorities if they've ever been a victim of this type of abuse.
In one of these links is laws in some states where cyberbullying is a crime.

We just lost a great friend and player because he was constantly harassed with hurtful words and it's sad that noone does anything about such hateful abuse.

Could the GM team please educate themselves on this subject and enforce some new rules for forums and ingame related play regarding this ongoing issue?

Let's keep it clean and no flaming.
If anyone has been a target please fill out a RT and not post accusations in here.

Booya39 wrote:

http://www.cyberbullyalert.com/blog/2008/10/cyber-bullying-state-laws-and-policies/ http://www.online-bully.com/index.html http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/why_do_kids_cyberbully_each_other.html This is number one reason people quit this game and everyone should know their rights and report such behavior to proper authorities if they've ever been a victim of this type of abuse. In one of these links is laws in some states where cyberbullying is a crime. We just lost a great friend and player because he was constantly harassed with hurtful words and it's sad that noone does anything about such hateful abuse. Could the GM team please educate themselves on this subject and enforce some new rules for forums and ingame related play regarding this ongoing issue? Let's keep it clean and no flaming. If anyone has been a target please fill out a RT and not post accusations in here.

Sorry to hear that you lost a in game friend, Because some 13 yr old learnt a few new words

It really is sad.

Hope a change is made!

Actually the #1 reason people quit is life, plain and simple, however this does deserve consideration. A lot of people who play MMOs are early twenties and younger. It's a simple research proven fact that people under the age of 25 are far more affected by bullying/peer pressure/etc. and the end result can be devastating.

That said, there is also the fact that any US residents should voice their rights regarding these laws to Aeria. Most online companies these days are taking notice of issues such as cyber bullying, cyber stalking, etc. and it wouldn't surprise me for Aeria to adopt some form of policy regarding the issue.

Brave and excellent suggestion with a big +1 from me.

I agree that this is a issue. I don't know about other servers but i know on S, there are some people who will start harassing people they don't like hoping that they get mad enough to swear or something so they can get them banned for a day or two. I think that is just wrong. There is a lot more that goes on that the SS isn't showing the GM's. I'm not trying to say its the GM's fault i just feel it would be good to get new rules about harassment. I'm not sure how they would enforce them though, without the SS that normally shows half the conversation. =/

Hea, EXCELLENT posts above. Yea, Aeria will not do much now, as it seems you have to know how to SS for harassment and etc. Now how many people really going to SS and then take time to sent RT in. Personally, I think they will quit first.

That is how a game is lost, one person at a time. But again, that is my personal opinion. I stay on S5 a lot and would love to be a GS but only for the S5 arena so I could go ban certain people who I know are always doing things. This will not happen I know. Aeria has rules and they do not know how to bend them for their advantage. In the Army, we call it, not knowing how to delegate. Remember, the spamming a few years back. SusanRev, said something to the effect to give a player the ability to ban people (gold spammers) then they would abuse it. Yea, but the gold spammers are responsible for the high prices too. Keeping a game so tightly controlled is the downfall of any game or situation. Aeria requires SS and etc, and again, people will quit first. As it is a pain to do the paperwork if someone bothers you. Not the GMs fault either now. But bulling or HEAVY harassment is a fact of life in Sarissa now.

Well, let me be a GS then I would just put on the glow when I sell. At least this would keep those big mouths shut. Of forgot, got to go thru the process and I will NEVER be a GS just to stop leveling either.

Also, tell the GS to put on the glow when they are in selling mode or on a server not fighting. Lots of time I will see GS Meela online by chance. If she would have the glow on, then players would notice this better. Hard to see her with everyone else around. Oh, and give the glow some more color or something as it seems you can not really see it that well. But having a GS with a BIG, noticeable glow might alleviate some of the problems. Most people I figure know that a GS CAN REPORT you and you WILL get banned.

Just a thought, and kudos for those above.

i agree they should take action.

.Prodigylx wrote:

i agree they should take action.

I hereby deputize you (and every other player) to go in game, and to document the people violating the rules, and then report it...

Edmund Burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not do sit by and do nothing.

Superman0X wrote:

.Prodigylx wrote: i agree they should take action.   I hereby deputize you (and every other player) to go in game, and to document the people violating the rules, and then report it... Edmund Burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not do sit by and do nothing.

Way to make a total mockery of the point. If they had negative karma....

This is a suggestion to make an addendum to the ToS, not a suggestion for the staff to pawn off everything on players. You already do that, we don't need a second confirmation of it.

Superman0X wrote:

.Prodigylx wrote: i agree they should take action.   I hereby deputize you (and every other player) to go in game, and to document the people violating the rules, and then report it... Edmund Burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Do not allow evil to triumph. Do not do sit by and do nothing.

When it comes to trolling, this guy has some skills! Game recognize game.

Great Post. Couple of clarifications though...

A GS can't just get someone banned. We have to have screen shot proof just like everyone else. We also can't be glowing unless we're doing official duties, that's why we have the GS tag in our names now, to be more noticeable. And yes, we've all agreed that the glows suck, you can barely see them half the time but that is a developer thing and we all know how that goes.

As far as "are they really going to bother to make an SS and report it?", how do you expect the staff to know harassment is happening if someone isn't reporting it?

There are rules against harassment in the ToS, and they do need to be a lot tougher on bullying, I totally agree with that, however, if no one reports it, no one (that can do something about it) knows its happening. I think that's what Supes is saying - if you don't report nothing can be done.

SS are necessary for the simple fact of proof that it's happening, otherwise its just an I said they said thing and ppl will just be flinging false accusations around. If someone didn't like you and started saying you were harassing them, and you got banned, without the proof, you probably wouldn't be very happy if you were innocent and would say where's the proof! I know GM's can look at logs, but logs don't show stalking/bullying in all its forms, only the verbal ones.

A great idea would be to have a "Contact GM" feature in the game, like most MMO's have now. Then the GM would be made aware immediately and could control the situation right away instead of days after it happened.

Bullying and harassment definitely need to be dealt with swiftly, strongly, and permanently. Those players should not ever be allowed to come back. Please please please encourage ppl to report, or report it for them, since this is the only way the staff will know its happening, and can then take action. Hopefully something productive comes from this thread on Aeria's side.

+1