Spiral Knights - Three Rings decided my name was offensive, this could happen to you.

Three Rings decided my name was offensive, this could happen to you.

25 replies [Last post]

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:01

Blaqqie

In regard to this thread: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/44783 I decided to make my own to show that Three Rings takes it even further.
My name was Yussy and I will write everything out exactly how it happened, tl;dr version below.

4 days ago a guildie decided to hold a big quiz, an event welcome in times of boredom. We rounded up alot of people and I actually made first place!
Right at the time of claiming the prestigious rewards I get kicked off randomly. I log back in just to find a message saying:
"Your nickname has been deemed offensive" With the only option "I Understand", exactly the same as the link above says.
Now I find my knight is called 'Knight-Generic', so the first thing I do is try to contact the only game master online at that time, Aphrodite.

0 Response, even after filing a complaint and pretty much sending messages every 3-4 minutes.
Idle message gets turned on and off but I'm being completely ignored by Aphrodite.
Hours pass and here is when I send the first mail to get some answers. What happened? Why was my name changed? Change it back please. Response:

Greetings,

Another player filed a complaint against you for your name because it was
evading our chat filter. Upon investigation, we found that it was a clear
violation of our Terms of Service. If you're confused as to what word you
were using, a quick Google search will clarify our objection to it.

As with anyone who uses an inappropriate name, you're welcome to request a new
name provided it too isn't offensive. Please provide us with several options
as some might already be taken.

Best wishes,

- Cronus

What? Thank you for buying that elevator pass and investing your time in our game but we decide what happens, take it or leave it?
A couple of mails follow back and forth but they all come to the same conclusion, "You're welcome to
provide us with several other alternate choices or continue with the name you
have now."
In-game I message multiple game masters but alas they also do not respond. I send one final mail demanding my name back but to this day still no answer.

I talked with alot of people wether they found the name 'Yussy' offensive, general opinion seemed quite the opposite. A girly, cute name which could actually be a real name in some countries.
Nail on the head! Actually google'd it myself to only find facebook pages of girls called Yussy. The only thing I can think of is other, slightly-offensive words it looks like.
Then someone awares me of a page on urbandictionary.com which the GMs might've found and based their decision on. A page an online friend made to troll me back when I played Lineage 2! Hence the thumbs down.
I seriously hope the GMs did not base their decision solely on this one site but I'm pretty much done with trying to convince them. I had no ill intentions using the name Yussy, I just liked it and have been using it for a long time now. Including on Lineage 2 and Kongregate.

tl;dr:
- Kicked off randomly during event
- Log back in to find name changed from 'Yussy' to 'Knight-Generic'
- Message GM on at that time, no response
- Mail GMs, they answer with stubborn authority: "You're welcome to
provide us with several other alternate choices or continue with the name you
have now."
- In a span of 3-4 hours no single GM responds ingame not even to /complain
- Final mail is sent demanding my name back, until this day still no answer
- 4 days later this thread is created after reading The-Echo's thread

It's been a while since I have touched MMOs, Spiral Knights felt so awesome it sucked me in whenever I had spare time. Even got me to spend real cash on it so I could play when my mist energy was depleted.
The only thing I regret is ever coming in contact with the game masters, but that was pretty much forced upon me. All I know is they truly are headache inducing.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:13

Playerman

Yussy nooooooo D:

What is with Three Rings recently with names...

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:20

Vtmoon

Epic Troll

It sucks but I have to say your friend Epic Trolled you, to get you screwed over in a totally different MMO, that is impressive.

I wanted to create a knight named Shomono but it wouldn't let me and I sat their for like 5 minutes trying to figure out why? Finally I realized the word hoomo was in the middle of the name, which I was like wow, you can't even use certain phonetics in your name.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:21

Fehzor

Lol, that sucks... hope you

Lol, that sucks... hope you get your name back.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:22

Wuvvums

http://www.urbandictionary.co

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yussy

It's apparently an offensive term, even if it's an obscure one, they have a professional duty to try and address any terms like these. Would you have complained if your name was a swearword or a racial epithet?

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:25

Wuvvums

@Vtmoon When I was on a wow

@Vtmoon

When I was on a wow roleplay server I wanted to make a pirate guild called the Black Rose Pirates or something related to that. The thing is is that the system wouldn't allow it because black was a filtered out term. It was inconvenient for me personally but probably more convenient for the company to not have to worry about addressing these individually if someone in fact decided to make a guild name with black being used offensively. They decided to filter out homo preemptively because there's probably one or two knights who just want to use it phonetically, and probably a messload more who would use it offensively. It's just the easier solution, and you know, an ounce prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 08:26

Blumiland

First this -

First this - http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/44783
Now that.

OOO, I'm losing my respect I had in you.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:01

Asukalan

the hell is this, GM basing

the hell is this, GM basing his opinion on Urban dictionary, where everyone can add their own imagined imputs and rank them up with fake accounts?

Did you tried asking WHY exactly they find your name offensive? Everyone can say "hi i find your name offensice i dont like double ss in words so it i find your name offensive" Did GM told you how exactly your name was trying to avoid their filter?

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:02

Cactuscat

You guys... OOO reserves the

You guys...

OOO reserves the right to change your name. FOR. WHATEVER. REASON.

That said, obviously a good reason is greater than none...

...and yours had a complaint against it. You'd be a fool to sit here and try to convince me that "Yussy" does not look dangerously close to another slang word.

This isn't exclusive to Spiral Knights. This happens all the time in WoW or other MMOs - if your name errs on the line, and someone reports it, you'd best believe the GMs will change it, because it is part of their Terms of Service.

They are literally upholding the rules they have set forth, and that you AGREED to.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:02

Vtmoon

@ Wuwums he already stated

@ Wuwums he already stated that the page you linked from Urbandictionary was created by a friend of his as a joke.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:07

#10

Wuvvums

Well, it's sort of like using

Well, it's sort of like using the word "shizzet" instead of the other word it was meant to be. It's meant to mimic a term that is inappropriate and could be offensive.

How did his "friend" create the page as a joke when it's dated in 2008? This term has obviously been around and used in that way for a couple years at least. :/

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:11

#11

Blaqqie

@WuvvumsYou srs? Did you

@Wuvvums
You srs? Did you even read the tl;dr version, explained the urbandictionary definition 1 scroll above that.

@Vtmoon
What can I say, not everyone enjoyed being PK'd :*
People loved to transform my name into starting with a P.

@Cactuscat
Would love to hear from you after such a thing happens to you. Stuff sure changes when you're the one they turn their attention to.
You do know the synonym to cat right?

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:09

#12

Cactuscat

"People loved to transform my

"People loved to transform my name into starting with a P."

And you honestly can't see why OOO decided to change it, when another player filed a complaint?

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:09

#13

Wuvvums

Your situation isn't similar

Your situation isn't similar to The-Echo. You chose a derogatory term as a name and the company is responsible for changing names like that. I'm sorry, but I can't really empathize.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:15

#14

Cactuscat

My name is not one character

My name is not one character away from a derogatory term. As Wuvvums as pointed out, your situation is no where similar to The-Echo's.

You have a name close to a derogatory term.
A player filed a complaint.
OOO decided to take action, according to their Terms of Service, which you have agreed to.

Feel free to contest their actions - but I doubt demanding your name back is very fruitful, especially when you are expressing distaste to authoritative statements in this very thread.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:20

#15

Blaqqie

@CactuscatHow is their

@Cactuscat
How is their disgusting way of thinking my problem exactly. Other then you think I did not get my name Yussy from P-.
Who would choose an insult to derive a serious nickname from? I was explaining that angry players would deform my name into an insult, not the other way around.

@Wuvvums
"You chose a derogatory term as a name"
What is this I don't even.

Seriously you two, I compared my case with The-Echo's because the game masters assume guilt over innocence. Nothing is up for discussion, there is only accept and move on.
It is very obvious you two love this game and try to defend it in any way possible so I'm asking you both, if you cannot think objectively please refrain from posting.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:19

#16

Dancinjen

Actually, it is an offensive

Actually, it is an offensive term as described in urban dictionary. It's nothing new.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Yuss

Although it is a name that many people in this world use, it is an offensive term. The only way I can see you getting your name back is if you can prove you were using it as the name. Otherwise, they're going to stand by their decision.

At the same time, I have seen many people get their name changed. I had a guildmate get his name changed in the middle of a shadow lair which kicked him from the shadow lair and they didn't even offer or bother to help him get back into the shadow lair. Not only that I think someone is walking around with the name blackjesus of sorts. I have seen many others like thejesusraptor or something. Those are a bit offensive, any they've been around a long time and their name has NEVER been changed.

My problem is not with the name changing itself, but with the consistency of it. I usually stand by their decisions with about anything, there have been a few things I've been a bit put off by but most of the time I think they do a good job and they have to make decisions the best they can. It's not easy because someone is going to be upset and they can't please everyone. As long as you got a fair chance to change your name to something you enjoy having, it's okay.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:23

#17

Cactuscat

Blaqqie, "or which Three

Blaqqie,

"or which Three Rings deems in its sole discretion to be vulgar or otherwise offensive. Three Rings reserves the right to delete any vulgar or otherwise offensive User ID, or to require you to change your User ID. You must also select a password for your account."

Straight from the Terms of Service. It does not matter if you don't think it is not offensive, if anyone else finds it offensive to a reasonable degree, then OOO can look into it and take action.

Do not patronize me on speaking objectively, when it is you who is obviously biased since the situation is occurring to you.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:33

#18

Nodocchi

@Dancinjen If you find names

@Dancinjen
If you find names with Jesus in them offensive then file a complaint and those players will probably be forced to change their name. Those names probably survived this long because nobody bothered to file a complaint against them.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:38

#19

Asukalan

Maybe we should start a

Maybe we should start a social experiment? From now we will report every single person we meet for offensive name and them we will see how many of them will come to forum and we will make great list of 'so called offensive' names?

@Cactuscat
"A player filed a complaint...."
Becouse EVERYBODY are so law abiding and righterous, they do everything for the greater good, its not like someone could do it just becouse he acted like a noob and Y-word (former name of OP maker since it seems i cant say it loud Oo) told it to him, or someone was begging him and he declined so that person reported him?

And another thing, also related to reporting, if you would see how chat logs look you would know that report system can be easly abused to get rid of certain players you dont like, you dont need to see a person to complain, you dont really need to know what is he doing, what is he talking. Reporting him over and over sooner or later you will chatch moment where his chat log will qualify for spamming, he could have posted same thing to a friend, to a guild chat and trade chat one after another. Noone saw all of them, therfore there were no reason to fill complain for spamming, yet if you would report him at that certain moment, just by coencidence, he would end up as spammer since it seems chat log dont show in what channel nor haven it was posted.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:44

#20

Cactuscat

@Asukalanforum:A report

@Asukalanforum:

A report doesn't mean that an action will be taken. Yes, technically we could all go report "Happyflower" for having an offensive name. But what would happen? Nothing.

The Gamemaster's receive complaints, then they look into them. If they deem that they are against the terms of service, THEN they take action. Don't pretend for a second that just because someone gets reported enough, they automatically get banned or something. An employee hired by OOO looks into it, before any kind of account action is taken.

You are acting like this could snowball and affect everyone else. Not everyone else has a name that is one character away from an offensive slang word. If they have a name you feel is offensive, and you feel it is unjust, then send a report and hopefully it can be changed.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:45

#21

Wuvvums

http://wiki.spiralknights.com

http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Report

"Make sure that the player is really doing something that violates the Terms of Service. It's not ideal to report someone who is being irritating but is not truly breaking the rules. For example, you should not report someone who you simply find annoying. "

"Offensive name — Names that are offensive are not acceptable in Spiral Knights. Be aware that what you consider offensive may not generally be considered offensive. "

I think "I'm offended" sort of falls under the annoying spot. There's a difference between someone being offended at you and you choosing an offensive term. I also don't think this is worth "experimenting" upon.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:48

#22

Blaqqie

@CactuscatReread your posts

@Cactuscat
Reread your posts objectively and then decide who is biased. You're doing a good job provoking me into defending myself while you are not even a staffmember.

"My name is not one character away from a derogatory term."
Let's also punish 'Nick' then, you know what I am talking about. He's an admin too, should be quite some fun.

If you can't even deduct from my original post that I'm using the name Yussy as a serious nickname without ill intention (which I also mentioned in the post itself) then I have to ask you again, please refrain from posting in this thread.

@Wuvvums
Are you saying the name 'Yussy' would directly offend you personally? I'm left speechless.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:50

#23

Cactuscat

Blaqqie, I will not refuse to

Blaqqie,

I will not refuse to post in a thread because I hold a different viewpoint than you. These boards are meant for discussion, not for people to come on and go "Yeah, I agree with you, /highfive!"

Nick is a commonplace name is Amercian society, which is where OOO is stationed and founded. Yussy, is not.

If you think I'm not being objective, when all I've done is post: 1) The Terms of Service and 2) The actions presented against you, following those terms of service, then you do not understand the meaning of objective.

"In creating your character in Spiral Knights we ask that you use names appropriate for the setting. Do not use names that violate these terms, that might be offensive to other players, or that include copyright or trademark characters or products."

Look at that, right there. MIGHT. I understand that you are using Yussy as a serious name, with no ill intention - but for the third time, THAT DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is how others perceive it - yes, that is the kind of world we live in, I know, it sucks.

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:52

#24

Asukalan

@Wuvvums And here is the one

@Wuvvums

Great you mentioned that. "It falls under annoying spot." also in Spam description it says "...and its annoying" So we have things that are forbidden and are bannable offence becouse they are annoying while in report sections when we want to report someone for being annoying it says something "you cant report for that, simply ignore that user blah blah blah"

So where is truth something is annyong, its bannable offence while annoying thing itself cannot be reported?

btw. im also finding name Nick offensive and i think its obviously way to avoid spiral knights filter

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 09:53

#25

Eurydice

Community Manager

Per the forum guidelines,

Per the forum guidelines, appeals of support actions are supposed to be escalated through appropriate channels, not via the forums.

In addition, you did receive a response via email--several, in fact, to which you replied.

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Three Rings decided my name was offensive, this could happen to you.