Guild Wars 2

People being abusive in games isn’t something new, but should be a thing of the past. The time when ANet started to pay more attention to this issue was yesterday. The level of abusive behaviour in the game has reached greater magnitudes as I’ve witnessed in the last few days, especially in PVP, obviously because people think they can get away with whatever vulgar attitude.

As a paying customer I did not pay for a hostile (in-game) environment, often crowded with immature individuals.

While there is a profanity filter option in settings, many have it disabled simply because they don’t mind the occasional f* words, but the level of cussing some people demonstrate is getting out of control and requires heavy moderation.

What I propose:

1st violation: written warning
2nd violation: complete suspension of the account (based on proof)

Harsh? Not compared to how some treat others. It’s time to teach people some manners, and what better way than having them pay for their behaviour.

Block and report.

Good luck.

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

Block and report.

Good luck.

What he said. Block, and if you think it’s THAT bad report, and set your filter if you can’t handle some words. My guild would be perma-banned if Anet was as harsh as you want them to be lol…

There is a filter for a reason. Use it. While I’m not condoning vulgar language, it will come up. Expecially in pvp. Swinging the ban hammer for language will get a lot of people banned, myself included, very fast.

Eight Samurai.6840:

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

Block and report.

Good luck.

What he said. Block, and if you think it’s THAT bad report, and set your filter if you can’t handle some words. My guild would be perma-banned if Anet was as harsh as you want them to be lol…

That button seems to be out of order. I have never heard of a single instance when someone got punished for their behaviour.

If people don’t know how to behave, then it’s time for them to learn. Some are old enough to know what it means to keep their frustration at bay.

Or is this game only for bullies without jobs?

blazinfury.8504:

There is a filter for a reason. Use it. While I’m not condoning vulgar language, it will come up. Expecially in pvp. Swinging the ban hammer for language will get a lot of people banned, myself included, very fast.

And whose fault will that be?

Then, you probably don’t frequent the Account Issues sub-forum.

Again, block and report. The CS Team will do the rest.

As others have said: just turn on the profanity filter and block + report anyone who subverts it. These systems are already in the game and already do a sufficient job of handling sass.

You have heard of the ‘block’ option?

If crude language isn’t your thing, then make use of it. There are always ‘rude’ or ‘abusive’ people in all walks of life- much of which depends on your definition of what you personally find rude or abusive.

The proposal you make is out of all proportion to the ‘offence’.

Your opinion of ‘manners’ might not be the same as mine. For instance, some will be happy to hold a door open for a lady while some ladies would be offended by it and consider it deeply sexist.

Use the filter, use the block setting and don’t expect shrinking violets to be playing in a very competitive environment where maybe being able to wind up the opponent by the use of language gives an advantage.

By all means report extreme examples (not that anything will happen) if you feel personally offended by remarks made in the heat of battle or in a competitive environment where they might well be designed to rile you so you play worse.

At the end of the day they are just words on a screen. Don’t take them to heart- it’s much worse being yelled at in person or over TS than any amount of words typed out.

Block and report.

They do suspend for language, as the outraged threads in the Support forum show from people who were suspended for language and can’t believe they were so badly treated. They will even ban for language, if it continues and the person gets enough suspensions (thread where people pled for re-instatement of a person banned for language).

Inoki.6048:

As a paying customer I did not pay for a hostile environment overfilled with immature dorks.

While there is a profanity filter option in settings, many have it disabled simply because they don’t mind the occasional f* words, but the level of cussing some people demonstrate is getting out of control and requires heavy moderation.

Turns off profanity filter… complains about seeing profanity! Will wonders never cease?!

Also you have insulted us by calling immature dorks which is strike one for you buddy. You should be infracted for your insulting attitude.

The filter is not there to give you carte blanche to swear as much as you want.

It’s there so I don’t have to see it between you using it and you getting suspended for using it.

If suspending for language would get you suspended, stop, grow up just a little bit and control yourself.
And if you feel you need profanity to feel like an adult you have serious maturity issues.

You agreed to certain ToS, if you then refuse to keep up your end of the bargain it is not in any way unreasonable to suspend or ban you.
Nothing to do with people being overly sensitive, but only the standards of behavior you agreed to follow.

Or just quit being so easily offended.

ScribeTheMad.7614:

The filter is not there to give you carte blanche to swear as much as you want.

It’s there so I don’t have to see it between you using it and you getting suspended for using it.

If suspending for language would get you suspended, stop, grow up just a little bit and control yourself.
And if you feel you need profanity to feel like an adult you have serious maturity issues.

You agreed to certain ToS, if you then refuse to keep up your end of the bargain it is not in any way unreasonable to suspend or ban you.
Nothing to do with people being overly sensitive, but only the standards of behavior you agreed to follow.

Very well said.

Or you know, you could stop giving WORDS power over you. If you find them offensive and bothersome, then you have given them power over you, and given them the ability to control you and your feelings emotions.

Grow up and learn to live and let live. If you find some one offensive, block and report.

Sadly, there is a lot of salty behavior and hurt feelings in certain areas of the game: especially PvP.

I deal with that nonsense every day, and I can tell you it isn’t going away as much as I would like it to as well.

Buck up, block, and move on.

Inoki.6048:

People being abusive in games isn’t something new, but should be a thing of the past. The time when ANet started to pay more attention to this issue was yesterday. The level of abusive behaviour in the game has reached greater magnitudes as I’ve witnessed in the last few days, especially in PVP, obviously because people think they can get away with whatever vulgar attitude.

As a paying customer I did not pay for a hostile environment overfilled with immature dorks.

While there is a profanity filter option in settings, many have it disabled simply because they don’t mind the occasional f* words, but the level of cussing some people demonstrate is getting out of control and requires heavy moderation.

What I propose:

1st violation: written warning
2nd violation: complete suspension of the account (based on proof)

Harsh? Not compared to how some treat others. It’s time to teach people some manners, and what better way than having them pay for their behaviour.

…as a paying customer
nonononnonono u already paid
2nd words cant hurt you
3rd man up

ScribeTheMad.7614:

The filter is not there to give you carte blanche to swear as much as you want.

It’s there so I don’t have to see it between you using it and you getting suspended for using it.

If suspending for language would get you suspended, stop, grow up just a little bit and control yourself.
And if you feel you need profanity to feel like an adult you have serious maturity issues.

You agreed to certain ToS, if you then refuse to keep up your end of the bargain it is not in any way unreasonable to suspend or ban you.
Nothing to do with people being overly sensitive, but only the standards of behavior you agreed to follow.

Echoing for truth. The conversation’s come up before, and Gaile’s confirmed it there. Just because there’s a filter, it doesn’t give open license to be a kittenface kittenbag with a kitten up your kitten.

Snark aside, OP, I recommend report and block. Unfortunately, report does not auto-block, so you must do the two separately. Also, infractions take time, and may be ruled as warnings or non-offense.

It must be because I don’t do much PvP, but I rarely see profanity in game.

The one thing that I report for is emote spam. When someone fills your whole chat window with emotes, I report and block.

Miserymachine.7512:

Or just quit being so easily offended.

It’s not about being offended for a simple f* word. What I’m talking about goes beyond profanity filters, where people realise they could be censored, so they compose insults in ways to bypass and because they enjoy it, like masochists.

Why not just block and or report them? Solves your issue with seeing it, and if it’s a constant thing with that player it will be taken care of.

I can get behind suspension for repeatedly using abusive and hateful language, which is not necessarily limited to profanity. Everyday profane and vulgar language is fine. We’re pretty much all adults here, after all.

This thread is quite offensive to me and is adding to the hostile environment. Why are you calling me an immature dork? Is OP perhaps one of the bullies??

Since so many are so dead set against seeing any “swears”, I’ll stop using profanity when people can explain why profanity is bad.

So far nobody has ever been able to give me a good reason. It’s always “they just are!” and “iI’m offended because i was taught to be offended!”.

Think about it, and maybe you’ll realize profanity isn’t even worth discussing. Not talking about directed and targeted abuse here either, but the words themselves.

Hybrid.7059:

This thread is quite offensive to me and is adding to the hostile environment. Why are you calling me an immature dork? Is OP perhaps one of the bullies??

Edited, for the lack of understanding of some, while it was blunt obvious what I was referring to, I made it very clear this time.

2nd violation your account is prema ban for just vulgar language? That’s stupid, not even the worse gaming companies would go that far. At the very least maybe a chat ban, banning someone’s full account just for hurting your feelings a little is just silly. If it was more harassment then I could see the reasoning but not just vulgar language.

vespers.1759:

Since so many are so dead set against seeing any “swears”, I’ll stop using profanity when people can explain why profanity is bad.

So far nobody has ever been able to give me a good reason. It’s always “they just are!” and “iI’m offended because i was taught to be offended!”.

Think about it, and maybe you’ll realize profanity isn’t even worth discussing. Not talking about directed and targeted abuse here either, but the words themselves.

Because, as human beings we are naturally emotional (some more, some less, some not at all it seems) and we use words to communicate and express how and what we feel, or what we want (to achieve) et al.

If the words used are intended for hurtful or otherwise demeaning purposes they shouldn’t be tolerated. It’s the same as using verbal insults against ones race, gender, orientation, religion, you name it – that too, though just verbal, is often used as a weapon.

I think quite a few individuals could use a lecture in psychology, to learn about how things work in life. Most think that “just getting over it” will do. Tell that to a person suffering from severe depression, for example.

@drox,

Unsure if the OP means a perma ban or simply a suspension. Either way I agree that’s a little much for just general vulgar language. If it’s directed harassment then it’s a different story.

I really don’t understand why the OP doesn’t simply just block someone they are offended by.

Inoki, why is the current simply block and if you feel it was going way over the line report system not good enough?

Miku.6297:

I really don’t understand why the OP doesn’t simply just block someone they are offended by.

This

Miku.6297:

Inoki, why is the current simply block and if you feel it was going way over the line report system not good enough?

Because I’m not sure it’s even working (the report button). At least I don’t see any weakening of verbal abuse in the game.

Just try it, spend a few days in PVP. Kindergarden would be a nice way of calling it, but it’s far from that. People simply don’t know how to control themselves.

Just as people ask me what’s preventing me from using the report button, I’m asking those verbally abusing others: why can’t you keep it to yourself?

Inoki.6048:

Because I’m not sure it’s even working (the report button). At least I don’t see any weakening of verbal abuse in the game.

Just try it, spend a few days in PVP. Kindergarden would be a nice way of calling it, but it’s far from that. People simply don’t know how to control themselves.

Just as people ask me what’s preventing me from using the report button, I’m asking those verbally abusing others: why can’t you keep it to yourself?

Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Very few CS teams for games like this disclose the final results of a report to the reporter. This is no different.

I agree the HoTM can get a bit crude at times, however I also find it interesting you are talking about “verbal abuse” yet you are degrading and insult players in the PVP lobby with your word choice. Maybe lead by example?

As far as keeping it to themselves; because in a game setting like this the only thing you can fully control is yourself. If you don’t like what they are saying, simply block them. Remember everyone has different tolerance levels, so what you find over the top another player might not. So the best option is to give players control over what/whos text they see, and not over what others can say in general.

I didn’t ask you what was preventing you from pushing it, I asked why not just /block and report if you feel it’s warranted.

Inoki.6048:

Miku.6297:

Inoki, why is the current simply block and if you feel it was going way over the line report system not good enough?

Because I’m not sure it’s even working (the report button). At least I don’t see any weakening of verbal abuse in the game.

Just try it, spend a few days in PVP. Kindergarden would be a nice way of calling it, but it’s far from that. People simply don’t know how to control themselves.

Just as people ask me what’s preventing me from using the report button, I’m asking those verbally abusing others: why can’t you keep it to yourself?

The game has different sections. When you say no weakening of verbal abuse in game, do you mean PvE (where I rarely see abusive language) or PvP?

It’s possible that PvE and PvP are held to somewhat different standards. It’s well know that across all games that PvP will have more people being insulting, probably because of the competitive nature of it. The line to be crossed for suspensions might be higher there.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Inoki.6048:

Miku.6297:

Inoki, why is the current simply block and if you feel it was going way over the line report system not good enough?

Because I’m not sure it’s even working (the report button). At least I don’t see any weakening of verbal abuse in the game.

Just try it, spend a few days in PVP. Kindergarden would be a nice way of calling it, but it’s far from that. People simply don’t know how to control themselves.

Just as people ask me what’s preventing me from using the report button, I’m asking those verbally abusing others: why can’t you keep it to yourself?

The game has different sections. When you say no weakening of verbal abuse in game, do you mean PvE (where I rarely see abusive language) or PvP?

It’s possible that PvE and PvP are held to somewhat different standards. It’s well know that across all games that PvP will have more people being insulting, probably because of the competitive nature of it. The line to be crossed for suspensions might be higher there.

No, I meant mainly PVP. People cursing at NPCs makes no sense, does it. In PVE it’s very rare, thankfully.

OP you can’t control others behaviors. You can only control your own including your reaction to their behaviors. So block them and report to be done with it.

Inoki.6048:

That button seems to be out of order. I have never heard of a single instance when someone got punished for their behaviour.

The reason you don’t hear about it is that ANet keeps such actions very private. Unless the person punished comes on the forums to complain about an unjust sanction, that is, at which point the devs tend to puncture the pretensions with a vengeance.

If someone’s just being vulgar and it goes beyond what you find acceptable, block and report. If they are specifically harassing you with targeted comments, block, report, and perhaps add in a ticket to be sure the report is heard. ANet will never tell you that action was taken, however, and if you see the same person continuing their behavior either it hasn’t yet been sanctioned but will be, has been sanctioned and when their time out was done they hadn’t learned their lesson and may get a harder slap next time, or the behavior wasn’t actionable even if it triggered your own personal irritation threshold.

Inoki.6048:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Inoki.6048:

Miku.6297:

Inoki, why is the current simply block and if you feel it was going way over the line report system not good enough?

Because I’m not sure it’s even working (the report button). At least I don’t see any weakening of verbal abuse in the game.

Just try it, spend a few days in PVP. Kindergarden would be a nice way of calling it, but it’s far from that. People simply don’t know how to control themselves.

Just as people ask me what’s preventing me from using the report button, I’m asking those verbally abusing others: why can’t you keep it to yourself?

The game has different sections. When you say no weakening of verbal abuse in game, do you mean PvE (where I rarely see abusive language) or PvP?

It’s possible that PvE and PvP are held to somewhat different standards. It’s well know that across all games that PvP will have more people being insulting, probably because of the competitive nature of it. The line to be crossed for suspensions might be higher there.

No, I meant mainly PVP. People cursing at NPCs makes no sense, does it. In PVE it’s very rare, thankfully.

Yah. Rare in PvE (noncompetive). Common in PvP (competitive). I suspect the two communities are held to different standards for that reason and PvP only gets sanctioned for actual, direct abuse, not just general salty comments and (mild) profanity.

By the reaction on this thread you can probably see how popular this change would be. No one likes to be silenced and I don’t think Anet could even manage to enforce stricter speech codes. They’ve already provided tools to deal with things like this, and there’s nothing in this world that is objectively offensive (anything can be offensive) so if that isn’t enough for you I’m not sure what they can do.
If they cater to you specifically then they’ll be expected to cater to everyone and we’ll quickly find our chat very controlled.
At one point one has to take responisibility for one’s own self, and say I won’t let those words bother me or I will take measures to avoid those word, because at the end of the day, you aren’t any more important than anyone else.

It’s why I’m so repulsed by PvP. You can read the other team’s messages and sometimes there are people that will just get aggressive and rude with you for no reasons.

I don’t ever want to play PvP because it makes me hate the game, and it’s annoying that the new legendaries require the tokens from PvP.

Hey, people like that are just telling you what sort of person they are. It’s a big, lighted, neon billboard sign that says an awful lot about them. Makes it easy for you to avoid them.

Blocking is easy to do.

Sephas.8793:

Miku.6297:

I really don’t understand why the OP doesn’t simply just block someone they are offended by.

This

Because everyone, including you, should be able to enjoy the game without being harassed or verbally abused by people who are blatantly breaking the TOS. If increasing numbers of people are so quick to dismiss the TOS, to which they agreed to abide by, then perhaps its time for Anet to strengthen its enforcement and enhance potential punishments along the lines of what the OP is suggesting (other options are possible).

For all those that are saying, “block and report”, I agree with this course of action but to suggest that the OP needs to “man-up”, you seem to be confused. A “real man” does not remain silent when he sees something wrong happening (like bullying), a “real man” takes action to improve the situation. A popular phase/quote comes to mind:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.”

By creating this thread, perhaps the OP might contribute to raising the awareness of Anet to this issue (if indeed bullying is happening more often in the game which I can not confirm or refute).

Andraus.3874:

OP you can’t control others behaviors. You can only control your own including your reaction to their behaviors. So block them and report to be done with it.

Wait I need to clarify this.. You can LET others control your behavior. For instance, someone in pvp makes you upset with their negativity. They make you so upset that your bothered enough to make a forum post about it.

Now if you did NOT LET them control your behaviors you simply would have blocked, reported, and moved on. But right now they have control over your emotions. Right now they are winning and getting exactly what they want because you’re letting them. This is why a lot of responses here are like “grow up, get over it, Ect.” Because to counter this type of negativity you have to rise above it and realize it isn’t worth getting upset over so you simply block report and move on.

Samnang.1879:

It’s why I’m so repulsed by PvP. You can read the other team’s messages and sometimes there are people that will just get aggressive and rude with you for no reasons.

I don’t ever want to play PvP because it makes me hate the game, and it’s annoying that the new legendaries require the tokens from PvP.

^ best described it.

What I often feel just when I think of launching the game lately is disgust. Disgust, that I would have to be in an arena with people with the tendency to condescend to a level below that of a rat, honestly. It’s repulsive to even think of doing PVP.

Inoki.6048:

Samnang.1879:

It’s why I’m so repulsed by PvP. You can read the other team’s messages and sometimes there are people that will just get aggressive and rude with you for no reasons.

I don’t ever want to play PvP because it makes me hate the game, and it’s annoying that the new legendaries require the tokens from PvP.

^ best described it.

What I often feel just when I think of launching the game lately is disgust. Disgust, that I would have to be in an arena with people with the tendency to condescend to a level below that of a rat, honestly. It’s repulsive to even think of doing PVP.

Well that’s your choice then. Good luck.

Inoki.6048:

vespers.1759:

Since so many are so dead set against seeing any “swears”, I’ll stop using profanity when people can explain why profanity is bad.

So far nobody has ever been able to give me a good reason. It’s always “they just are!” and “iI’m offended because i was taught to be offended!”.

Think about it, and maybe you’ll realize profanity isn’t even worth discussing. Not talking about directed and targeted abuse here either, but the words themselves.

Because, as human beings we are naturally emotional (some more, some less, some not at all it seems) and we use words to communicate and express how and what we feel, or what we want (to achieve) et al.

If the words used are intended for hurtful or otherwise demeaning purposes they shouldn’t be tolerated. It’s the same as using verbal insults against ones race, gender, orientation, religion, you name it – that too, though just verbal, is often used as a weapon.

I think quite a few individuals could use a lecture in psychology, to learn about how things work in life. Most think that “just getting over it” will do. Tell that to a person suffering from severe depression, for example.

I can insult someone without using a single word of profanity. So why is profanity bad?

Inoki.6048:

What I often feel just when I think of launching the game lately is disgust. Disgust, that I would have to be in an arena with people with the tendency to condescend to a level below that of a rat, honestly. It’s repulsive to even think of doing PVP.

lmao

Silvatar.5379:

Because everyone, including you, should be able to enjoy the game without being harassed or verbally abused by people who are blatantly breaking the TOS. If increasing numbers of people are so quick to dismiss the TOS, to which they agreed to abide by, then perhaps its time for Anet to strengthen its enforcement and enhance potential punishments along the lines of what the OP is suggesting (other options are possible).
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” .

So those that play the game, and don’t mind or commonly use crude language in the heat of the moment (and like it that way) should be punished? Some people don’t mind or even enjoy a little bit of trash talk in a competitive environment.

The issue I have here is where is the line drawn, crude language =/= harassment. So by whos definition of what is acceptable would someone be suspended or banned from?

I don’t really feel like by saying “block and report then move on” is dismissing the ToS in fact it’s saying: block them, this will solve the OPs problem of seeing the offensive messages any further; report them, this will alert A-net that a user is potentially breaking the ToS and is disrupting anothers play experience.

Augurs of Gas.2184:

Inoki.6048:

What I often feel just when I think of launching the game lately is disgust. Disgust, that I would have to be in an arena with people with the tendency to condescend to a level below that of a rat, honestly. It’s repulsive to even think of doing PVP.

lmao

ditto

If it’s that bad OP, maybe you need to find another game where there is no profanity. Or stick to PVE…

Andraus.3874:

This is why a lot of responses here are like “grow up, get over it, Ect.” Because to counter this type of negativity you have to rise above it and realize it isn’t worth getting upset over so you simply block report and move on.

Actually, the “grow up, get over it” crowd are the very people that would get silenced/kickbanned if ToS they agreed to when they bought the game were enforced properly. :P

Inoki.6048:

Samnang.1879:

It’s why I’m so repulsed by PvP. You can read the other team’s messages and sometimes there are people that will just get aggressive and rude with you for no reasons.

I don’t ever want to play PvP because it makes me hate the game, and it’s annoying that the new legendaries require the tokens from PvP.

^ best described it.

What I often feel just when I think of launching the game lately is disgust. Disgust, that I would have to be in an arena with people with the tendency to condescend to a level below that of a rat, honestly. It’s repulsive to even think of doing PVP.

I celebrated the first time someone sent me vitriol on PvP by posting it on my tumblr (I censored their name of course). It’s amazing what you can take when you laugh it off. I also like submitting to kittengw2playerssay.

No thanks

Implementation of a Code of Conduct is the first step in a SJW takeover of a space.