| Summary: | Player Harassment and Creation of a Toxic Atmosphere |
| Violation: | Social Contract: Fair Play |
| World: | Atamara |
| Complainer: | TH (http://battlemaster.org/UserDetails.php?ID=26113) |
| About: | Jason (http://battlemaster.org/UserDetails.php?ID=29572) |
The basis of the following evidence is that the accused parties have created an atmosphere which is explictly targeted against myself as a player and the use of OOC messages and ongoing themes of OOC content to harass me, ridicule me or my realm, or to convince players using OOC means that my character shouldn't be trusted instead of using IC means.
Specifically, OOC jabs at my realm's name and the name of my character began a month ago, quickly followed by OOC statements that my character is "evil", "manipulative", "can't be trusted", etc...and the finally adoption of these same OOC comparisons into letters which while given "IC letterhead" are neither *clear* nor *obvious* that it is targeted at my character and not myself the player.
Overall, this seems to be an orchestrated, group-wide effort by members of the League of the Eagle on Atamara, primarily leaders which includes two rulers, and government members both past and present to harass and ridicule me as a player for taking an IC action. While levels of contribution to this vary, and I believe the punishments (if proven guilty) should vary as well, it is important to remember that a higher standard should be held for government members in this game. They are teaching new players and those below them that such an atmosphere is acceptable.
Finally, Jason Elegant's player in particular should receive a harsh punishment because he has already been warned by the Magistrates before for this same action. This is a repeated offense. For him at least, I request an extended account lock punishment, and a multi-month ban on government positions. Other government members contributing to this should also not allowed to continue such action, but as contributions to this infraction vary, I'll await further discussion by magistrates on that issue.
Evidence will follow via a forum post. (easier to format)
Letter from Jason Elegant (12 hours, 9 minutes ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (55 recipients)
Brothers,
Please excuse me for interrupting in your political talks. I just want you to tell a story. If any resemblence with any true incidence is found, then it would purely be a coincidence. Here is the story:
Long back, there was a League of the Elite (LoE) consisting of some realms. There was a region called 'Elosta' which belonged to enemy. A treaty was signed between LoE and that enemy (Estonz) to give the region to a new allied realm called 'Real Estonz'. But, suddenly, the lord of 'Elosta' transfered the region to one of the league nations called 'Corio' which was under the influence of an anti league person called 'the one who cannot be named' (TOWCBN). Then TOWCBN got greedy. He refused to honor the treaty of the League. He told that since the region belongs to his duchy, he cant give it to anyone. All the league nations were stunned after hearing this. Nobody expeced this act of betrayal. The league had helped 'Corio' kill 'Hammargays' and steal all its regions and when time came, Corio's top leaders got more and more greedy. Needless to say, no other league nation liked it.
Today, when Corio's regions changed realm, TOWCBN is making such a big fuss about it. He forgets that he will reap whatever he had sowed long back. Moreover, due to two antiqe plans of TOWCBN, league could not defeat its enemy called 'Lightka'. This will never be forgotten by the ones who were betrayed. The only chance of survival of TOWCBN and his fancy name realm is that he helps kill 'Lightka' and bring victory to the League, just like 'Hammargays' were eliminated for him.
So, that was a simple story.
Jason Elegant
Royal of Cagilan Empire
Letter from Jason Elegant (8 hours, 57 minutes ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (55 recipients)
Yes, actually, 'the one who cannot be named' behaves like a 5 year old. Due to this, he has endangered his whole realm...
Next part of story is that the league knows that TOWCBN had snatched 'Lightka' from its jaws. So, the league proposed that either put Lightka back in its jaws or return back the hammargay's all lands to the league. Needless to say, TOWCBN chose to side with Lightka and his whole fancy name realm was wiped out. Poor fellow destroyed his own realm by back stabbing the league by protecting Lightka and taking all anti league nobles in his realm.
Disclaimer: this part of story has no resemblence to any event happening in future. If similarities are discovered later on, then that would be a coincidence.
Jason Elegant
Royal of Cagilan Empire
Out-of-Character from Jason Elegant (7 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (55 recipients)
lol... Justin, that was funny bro. Its like watching scary movie series :D
Let's chill with a beer !
Wansu Seisan
Out-of-Character from Enri Kinsey (29 days, 11 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
What's with all these hard-to-remember names? Silnaria? Seriously?!
Why not Silvaria?
Or just go full egomaniac and name the realm Silverfiria?
I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Narnia?
Yangfan Wang
Out-of-Character from Enri Kinsey (29 days, 10 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
I'm-Somewhat-Disappointed-It's-Not-Narnia
Yangfan Wang
Out-of-Character from Enri Kinsey (29 days, 10 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
At the risk of pissing off Sean :), let me break character for one more moment to applaud TH's handling of Merlin, who continues to prove that he can play his fellow Corians (sorry, Silnarians) like cheap fiddles.
When Enri writes his memoirs, I do believe he will take full and complete credit for raising such a Machiavellian student. :D
Yangfan Wang
Letter from Enri Kinsey (15 days, 10 hours ago)
I only read Tyrant Ottar's message after having sent out mine.
"Silnarnia" has a nice ring to it, though.
In all seriousness, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Torsaan is trying his hardest to convince our Senators to agree to peace with your realm and... your loudmouth is not helping. Several Senators have switched their votes to nay, citing your Countess Raziella's messages.
Assuming that we can push this through the Senate, we'll exchange peace for passage rights with you and then get out of your way. You and Tyrant Ottar can have fun with your staring-contest. The rest of us have Darkans to kill.
Sir Enri Kinsey
General of Cagilan Empire
Out-of-Character from Jean Luc Kinsey (16 days, 6 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (56 recipients)
Game mechanics trump RP. Anyway you look at it, CE and Tara are allied with Coria, and Silnaria is the one in rebellion here.
Yangfan Wang
Letter from Ottar Perkeleet (16 days, 6 hours ago)Celestial Fury:
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (56 recipients)
I Can't Believe It's Not Merlin...
:)
That were found on trhat scribe too
To me this mean: I have never asked that any of our infils will go after any Royals so I will not say yes to this question. I want that they will make the first move against us before we will make ours.. That we will wait until Narnia will attack against us and every desent ruler who has been here long enough knows my basic idea sending infils against Royals. It is pointless to twist that principle, yes yes, i know that you don't have any and we couple of old timers have those. We won't sell our words and promises.
Don't even answer on this as will not read your messages. If Narnia has something to say you can send an Ambassador .
Ottar Perkeleet
Tyrant of Tara
Letter from Celestial Fury (26 days ago)
Message sent to all full members of "League of the Eagle" (31 recipients)
To the realm claiming to be successor to Coria,
And to the former King now King under the mountain once more,
I would have preferred to do this in the elders chambers but apparently many of the elders are most resistant in giving you access once more, even temporarily to facilitate communications. Thus, so be it.
King, Con you explain these words of yours?
Silnaria, continues to see itself as allies of this league, and will support our allies in their war efforts.
THEIR war efforts, is it? Not OUR war efforts? My physician tells me this is most likely due to:
interference of some unconscious ("dynamically repressed") subdued wish, conflict, or train of thought.
It's kind of revealing, yes? But of course as you claim to be the direct and legal successor to Coria, inheriting all its previous functions and roles, no doubt you have already RE-DECLARED war on Darka. Wait, no?? I can't wait to hear the Better Speculative reason (in short, BS) you have for this.
King, Con you explain why you are being paranoid of coming under attack?
If you cannot, do allow me. It has to do with your naming faux pas [foh pah]. You've never being able to get it right. To refresh, in your previous short reign as a Monarch you went through multiple titles and what we addressed you as one day was no longer valid the next day. First it was King Con (King/Consul). Then it was Pimp (Princeps Imperator). And now that you name your realm KOS, you can't sleep at night.
May I can introduce you to my physician?
Celestial Fury
Prime Minister of Cagilan Empire
Out-of-Character from Mizuhiro Ishida (25 days, 20 hours ago)
Message sent to all full members of "League of the Eagle" (31 recipients)
I'm sorry Alvin, but I kinda agree with Sean here (as well as what Enri said, I guess). It does seem like Celestial's wording towards Merlin's actions borders on a slightly "un-noble" way of communication, especially the uh... weird acronym play on Merlin's titles that's been going on.
En Kai
Out-of-Character from Ivore Whiteblood (29 days, 11 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
I'm a bit surprised it's not something like "Get Off My Lawn" or "I'm Taking My Toys And Going Home"
James Stephens
So there is rumours that Coria will form new realm called Freakpot and yes it is the same freak in charge who wanted to create an new Empire. He even sent Infils against own people,against Royal. I really can't understand why others could let this kind of clown rule over them. So Darka did get an puppet after all.
Hey Madlin,where is the war?
Yes, you are right Silnaria and Tara has not ever been allies. So Silnaria isn't following Corias footsteps in anyway. One thing is sure and you cant twist that. Menedor is under Tara's banner and Silnaria tries to TO it. Don't twist game mechanis bty saying that Tara took those regions. Couple ofLords did choose to change their allegiance to Tara instead of living under Silnaria and that madman. Of course Tara will try to protect those Nobles. I heard a rumour that mindplague is coming from Freakpot.
Out-of-Character from Virgo Blue Star (29 days, 11 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
I wish it were "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" to be honest. Haha imagine if the new nation was called "Falasan" the rps that would of flooded in.
Chris Jones
Out-of-Character from Archymond Paxwax (29 days, 8 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
Couldn't agree more with Yangfan on this one!!
Merlin does a great job at manipulating his peers.....and the ones he doesn't succeed in manipulating he successfully replaces them from their positions and placing others loyal to him in their place! He would truly be a feared king!
Hopefully for all of us here and the free world as well, TH isn't or won't be holding any position of power within a real country anytime soon! :P
And Enri did do a terrific job at raising such a student...too bad it turned out to be an EVIL one! :P
Tiberiu Stanescu
Letter from Luthor Forbes (15 days, 21 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (57 recipients)
Countess,
Since when did being in the same region as someone else make you guilty of a crime?
Perhaps it was a commoner that did not like the fact that his Lord decided to abandon Carelia. Or perhaps the songs and poetry were enough to move someone to violence. But there is no proof that these acts were done by the hand of Sir Escent.
At best what you have is circumstantial and not in any means enough for Causus Belli to try and murder someone in the night.
Luthor Forbes
Supreme Chancellor of Strombran
Letter from Luthor Forbes (15 days, 20 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (57 recipients)
Must one be a noble to wield a dagger?
Luthor Forbes
Supreme Chancellor of Strombran
Regarding harassment on my part, I was making a joke referring to the name one because of the butter rebellion and because Barad Falas history of having a white rabbit, but now having a Silver/White Owl (see banner). If I as a player can not make a joke then that is disturbingly wrong. In no way was this a assault on TH.
Though I must speak on Luthor part, also. I find it personally reasonable for him to say such. A scout report shows that a person was in the region... it does not show that a assassin assaulted another noble. Yes, we as players can believe that it is true and that is what really took place, but if you are not in the region and their is simply no report of the guards seeing someone, cause Escent is that good, then how do you know it happened? Truly a issue regarding Infiltrators visible or invisible. Without looking at it from the player's prospective how can you fathom that that is actually what happened?
Regarding the issue I believe Eirikr himself set up a thread regarding this issue and it is a in high contention, so I do not believe that needs to be brought up, then again it isn't my call. Just my 2 cent
I saw one of my character names and came to take a look, OCC wise that's exactly what I said yup, I believe also I asked if in anyway did that mean silver fire, ya know some words mean different things and truly it could, was curious.
Regarding harassment on my part, I was making a joke referring to the name one because of the butter rebellion and because Barad Falas history of having a white rabbit, but now having a Silver/White Owl (see banner). If I as a player can not make a joke then that is disturbingly wrong. In no way was this a assault on TH.
Let's all avoid the infiltrator question, shall we? It is questionable whether that can really be considered to be harassment since it's basically just your standard IC reaction to one of your infiltrators being accused of something. If you want to protect him, deny everything and blame it all on someone else. Nothing strange or malicious about that in any OOC sense whatsoever. As Bluestar says, please refer to Eirikr's thread on this topic if you are interested in discussing it. It can be found here:
http://forum.battlemaster.org/index.php/topic,4387.0.html (http://forum.battlemaster.org/index.php/topic,4387.0.html)
This case is flimsy at best. For starters, I don't see them insulting any players, just characters and realms. Most of it seems to be in jest. I hardly think this is a toxic atmosphere. Sure, Merlin/Silnaria are getting a ton of flak IC, but that's the game. To say it with a meme, "If you throw a monkey wrench in the Cagilan program, you're gonna have a bad time". Maybe Zadar's comments on the forum are a bit too much, but then again, if we're to punish everyone who gets a bit heated in here, we'd do nothing else.
Out-of-Character from Merlin Silverfire (29 days, 23 hours ago)
Thank you mate!
It's all good. Merlin will just blame all of his "failings" on your teachings as well.
TH
Out-of-Character from Merlin Silverfire (16 days, 13 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (56 recipients)
Well if Game Mechanics trump RP, then Coria is game mechanically dead. It can't game mechanically gain a capital anymore, and so it is dead.
So game mechanically stop RP'ing characters into making stuff up.
TH
That being said I'd have liked to see TH send an OOC letter stating that he felt the situation was becoming personal and would appreciate people backing off a little before filing a magistrates case as this situation could easily be avoided.
The argument that they aren't insulting a player rather than a character is flimsy at best. They plainly make fun of the realm's name in an OOC nature, which makes things much more personal. Besides, a realm's name is made by the player who creates it, and so making fun of it is personally attacking him, not the character. By the way Sacha, every one of those messages provided in the evidence post is OOC besides one or two, so that's not "the game". That's OOC.
Sacha, I agree that the case appears weak, but I ask that the duration of this problem be given some thought. This is far from a new problem. Several players have expressed discomfort at the "jests" over the past months (if not years), yet nothing has changed. Those implicated (on both sides) have been playing for years; they know where the line is and have decided to walk right along it. This case will decide whether or not we want to encourage testing the boundaries or make everyone take a step back again. The Magistrates on this case are essentially deciding the difference between "laughing with you" and "laughing at you"... will barely hiding the behavior be consistently good enough to escape punishment?
I may sound calm, but I am actually quite angry at TH right now. What the heck man. I thought you were my friend.
This doesn't have to be clear and obviously a player attack to be guilty, it just has to be clear and obviously NOT a player attack to be not-guilty.
And I don't care how toxic you think the League may be, anything said IC should not be taken OOC.
I'd like the other Magistrates to correct me if I'm wrong, but this is NOT how cases are decided. This is NOT 'guilty until proven innocent' justice. That would set a very bad precedent and kick the door wide open for endless frivolous accusations.
"The truth is, a dozen multicheaters do far less damage to the game than one person who believes that spreading poisonous rumours and lies about people IC and OOC is an acceptable way to win a war."
These allegations are so frivolous that they are not worth responding to. However, out of respect for both TH and Sean, I will say something in my defense:
All I can say is that when playing on Atamara, primarily in the League over the past *years* it just feels toxic. I really have no other way to describe it. If you don't fall in line and do everything that you are told to do, you are brutally attacked by every method possible by many leading parties until you get in line.
These letters are just the evidence I have from this past month. The players involved, know how to walk the line of what is acceptable, just so that they don't get punished. These are players who have played the game for years. They know the rules, they know how to say just the right thing so that while it has the intended effect, they can't get punished for it.
The entire point of the social contract is to ensure that the game remains fun for everyone to play. The standard of determination here is "Clear and Obvious." Is it clear and obvious that the players involved were targeting my character? I think that is very hard to defend when you consider most of these letters are OOC in nature. This doesn't have to be clear and obviously a player attack to be guilty, it just has to be clear and obviously NOT a player attack to be not-guilty.
You want to look at a reason why player retention is low? It's because the social contract is eroding and not being defended. We have slowly started to allow more and more things to be seen as "okay" because it isn't a blatantly obvious: "That player is a dick." You are never going to get something like that. People know the rules, so they walk the borderline intentionally because it helps them better "win" battlemaster.
I'm not saying you did something wrong here, I'm saying I think you probably did something wrong here. It's for the Magistrates to decide.
Stating oocly, that *I* the person should never be given power in real life is not erring on the side of caution.
Should all members listed be given a punishment? No. But, completely throwing out this case is absurd and would mean the death of the social contract as we know it.
Stating OOCly that my character is evil, is not erring on the side of caution.
So we're not breaking any rules... And you want the Magistrates to punish us anyway? Why?
OOCly, players are going to gossip and say bad stuff about other players' nobles, probably behind their back but sometimes to that player's face. You are free to feel insulted about this, but I dispute the notion that this is somehow an unfair tactic used to "win" BattleMaster. Please demonstrate how players OOCly saying bad things about your nobles impacts anything in-game.
I respectfully disagree on this point. None of the messages you posted mention your name or refer to you directly. It is clear and obvious to me that we were referring to Merlin...whom we referred to by name, and who is not you. And again, I assert my right to call Merlin a Machiavellian bastard if I want to, even if he doesn't deserve it. Especially if he doesn't deserve it. I can't believe you are seriously complaining about in-character whisper campaigns, when nobles can literally kill their peers.
apologize to me for dragging me in front of the Magistrates for no reason.
No it's not. And that's because I don't care one bit about Merlin's feelings regarding my OOC messages, because he's not real.
ICly, nobles are going to gossip and say bad stuff about their peers, probably behind their back but sometimes to their face. To suggest that this is a Social Contract issue is absurd.
OOCly, players are going to gossip and say bad stuff about other players' nobles, probably behind their back but sometimes to that player's face. You are free to feel insulted about this, but I dispute the notion that this is somehow an unfair tactic used to "win" BattleMaster. Please demonstrate how players OOCly saying bad things about your nobles impacts anything in-game.
I think the problem with saying things like "tempers will get hot" is that this isn't a set of knee-jerk reactions to an upsetting incident. This is just the way they act. They clearly feel that this is "normal," and I think that perhaps more than anything else here, that is a real problem.
I think the problem with saying things like "tempers will get hot" is that this isn't a set of knee-jerk reactions to an upsetting incident. This is just the way they act. They clearly feel that this is "normal," and I think that perhaps more than anything else here, that is a real problem.
I just want to ask do many of the people commenting believe we organized this so called 'School Bullying'? I mean this wasn't organized to insult and many of us were just making comments referring to the realm's name.
Assuming we were to do something about this, what do people think should be done?
The whole point of this is that a toxic atmosphere is being created, where it's "OK" to say things that demean and stress out a particular player.
It is fully possible for no single message to break a rule, and yet have a collection of a hundred such messages that is worth banning someone from the game.
Assuming we were to do something about this, what do people think should be done?
For example, I'm pretty sure that he originally brought up the "game mechanic versus RP" argument himself. However, those messages are more than a month old now and have fallen off the queue.I know for certain that the first message of that sort (sent to the entire channel, at least) was from you. I thought it was very odd that it would suddenly appear, as I said in my reply:
Out-of-Character from Ravendon Eirikr (16 days, 21 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (55 recipients)
Can we cut the OOC nonsense about game mechanics? Nothing has been done in conflict with them; Merlin has repeatedly provided several options for IC ways to deal with diplomacy.
You want to claim Silnaria is in rebellion to Coria? Fine. Do it IC. We'll contest that IC, of course. We have been providing communication establishing what happened... It is your choice to accept it or not.
The game mechanics are pointless without the RP context, and vice-versa. How would you explain Talerium's peace with Darka without RP? What do treaties mean without RP? Count communications between realms as garbage, too. They're not backed up by game mechanics, either.
Bugs are another story altogether. It's something you should be able to do, but can't. They are the rare case of an unknown result; you make up for it and the world keeps turning. In all other cases, the RP is just building off the existing game mechanic... If that's off base, then why are any of us bothering to play this game or send messages?
Sean Shaffer
People can laugh and throw jokes, as long as the target of the jokes is laughing too... when target isnt laughing, its not having fun, its bullying.
I'd like to note that I tried to find some more of TH's OOC messages when he first founded Silnaria, with which I had hoped to show that he was a willing and eager participant in the conversation. For example, I'm pretty sure that he originally brought up the "game mechanic versus RP" argument himself.
That isn't true and you know it.
The messages I was referring to happened in the flurry of messages right after Merlin founded Silnaria. They've gone off the queue now, so I can't prove anything.
I remember TH writing an OOC message on the subject and me replying with, "Exactly, game mechanics trumps RP, so (some more words here)." This was a few days before my other message that you were referring to.
Could you please not imply that I am a liar? If you have proof that I'm lying, then please show it.
Do we archive the older messages somewhere?
I remember TH writing an OOC message on the subject and me replying with, "Exactly, game mechanics trumps RP, so (some more words here)." This was a few days before my other message that you were referring to.He did say that, but after your initial message. I'll go find it when I have the time (I'm at work). I thought there may have been private messages between you two to that effect.
Out-of-Character from Merlin Silverfire (31 days, 8 hours ago)
Message sent to everyone in "League of the Eagle" (50 recipients)
If the 5th strongest realm on Atamara isn't real, then I don't know what is.
At any rate, I think these conversations can be kept out of the realm of OOC. If you want to hate on my character, do it in game so that there are repercussions for it.
TH
I believe the argument was that some nobles were ICly refusing to recognize Silnaria as a realm. Then TH chimed in OOCly that game mechanics trumps RP, and therefore Silnaria is too a real realm. And then I said, "Exactly, game mechanics trumps RP, so CE is still allied with Coria, not Silnaria." I can't guarantee that it was TH who sent the message, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't start the whole argument. I was responding to someone else.
Used in certain context its not possible to sanely state he was referring to a cigarette. Hammergay was used, and no one describes a group of people as cigarettes. Quit trying to !@#$ing twist !@#$ thats plain as day. When you use fag in reference to people it is never, ever tobacco rolled in paper.
Used in certain context its not possible to sanely state he was referring to a cigarette. Hammergay was used, and no one describes a group of people as cigarettes. Quit trying to !@#$ing twist !@#$ thats plain as day. When you use fag in reference to people it is never, ever tobacco rolled in paper.I was just using that as an example, as Wansu obviously did not say "fag". If you want a better example, maybe in India "gay" still means "happy". I don't know. I'm not an ethnolinguist.
Must you be so hostile all the time?
I'm pretty sure thats what Silverfire felt reading all those messages.
What ticks me a bit, is that you dont seem to see anything wrong on those messages or the "gangbang" ooc/ic mocking?
I think we all can agree that those wasnt as individual messages that bad, but when there is several people pointing fingers 1 person and mocking him... we have problem. Not sure if it is worth anything else than inform people doing it that it sucks... but what worrys me is that you dont seem to see anything wrong happening here.
And for the umpteenth time, it's fine if it's directed against a noble. I personally find "suck my sock" to be offensive and hostile, because we both know you don't really mean "sock", but I'm not reporting you or Lavigna to the Magistrates because I understand that it's all in-character.
Except I'm trying to talk to him about it, not dragging him in front of the Magistrates as first reaction.
And for the umpteenth time, it's fine if it's directed against a noble. I personally find "suck my sock" to be offensive and hostile, because we both know you don't really mean "sock", but I'm not reporting you or Lavigna to the Magistrates because I understand that it's all in-character.
You are free to disagree. I guess the solution is going to be ceasing all in-game and in-forum communication with certain players... Now that's just sad.
Whoa, you must be new here.KK has actually posted that as an answer IN CHARACTER to rulers, he even received reports for vulgarity and received his loss of honor points for it.
So yeah.lol sad panda. Also it actually mean socks, dirty ones, dirty king's socks.
A verdict has been reached, and IG enforcement actions have been taken. For anyone who desires to cite this case in the future, the final verdict is:
"After consideration, the Magistrates find the defendants Not Guilty. We recognize that the player bringing the case feels that he has been harassed, but the pattern of behavior is, overall, relatively unobjectionable. We will close this case with a simple admonition to the players who were reported: Please take the plaintiff's feelings into account and try to remember them when determining how to interact with him in the future. As ever, there's no call for rudeness, and whether we agree that what happened was harassment or not, the plaintiff did and does and those are valid feelings to have. Please do your best to make sure that he continues to feel welcome in the game and the community despite any disagreements you might have with him or his characters. We expect no less from anyone who plays the game.
Magistrates voted 4-0 in favor of a Not Guilty verdict.
This thread will remain open for any questions regarding the case."
Bro, I have often used the word "Hammarguys" (you can ask realm council, if they remember). I do not know how did I let that mistake happen in both the letters, i.e., the word "hammargays" (I was traveling in train and the game pressure was on). I did not mean to type that word referring to "gays", all I meant was "guys". If any gay person/general public is offended, I offer my apology. Anyway, it is a mistake and I bear the full responsibility of typing it, without offering any excuses, ready to take punishment.
I don't want to seem like we're just trying to throw everything we can at Elegant
You have thrown everything you could on me in this thread and it seems that you are not satisfied with the outcome. Punishing the player of Jason seems to be your top priority (instead of punishing the character Jason using your char in game). I did a mistake in poor word, but of course, please feel free to take this opportunity to file another case in front of whole game and further humiliate me by writing long posts explaining and magnifying the matter. For your satisfaction, I have already surrendered before you.
It's impossible to moderate IG messages, so a Magistrates case is the current established recourse.
you've completely missed the point of the entire Magistrates system. If I'm misinterpreting this, I'd gladly retract my words, but you're making it very hard to believe any other explanation.
You have missed it, not me.
Magistrates are for disputes. You did not tell me what was wrong in my message at that time, but, you were ready to open a magistrates case against me. If you had pointed out my mistake, I would have explained this and apologized. If I had resisted you in this matter, you could go to magistrates. But, what's the point of going to Magistrates when there was no dispute at all? We could have solved this issue that day itself without bothering Magistrates ! That's why I feel that you wanted to drag me unnecessarily in court.
Funny.
I don't see a single question in any of these posts following the verdict.
I'd like to specifically ask whether the specific message from Jason about "Hammargays", etc. was considered. I'd rather not start a second case if it's already been considered and is determined to be resolved, but I also believe it warrants its own attention for a different reason than the original complaint here.
I don't want to seem like we're just trying to throw everything we can at Elegant, but it needs to be clear that such messages are unacceptable.