Author Topic: Playing Nice, Rumormongering, and Invasion of Privacy  (Read 3975 times)

Dread

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Playing Nice, Rumormongering, and Invasion of Privacy
« on: April 27, 2012, 11:12:21 AM »
There's been a nasty trend on the rise as of late, and it involves the spreading of malicious gossip (as opposed to normal gossip) amongst certain members of the community. These people seem to think that it's completely harmless to speculate about the gender, sexual orientation, personal habits, and relationships of individual players or a group of players, and then pandering these rumors to whomever might listen. Either that, or they talk out-of-character about things they have no understanding about in-character, but have merely heard about.

This kind of stuff is poison for any community on the Internet, and we are no exception. Several players have left because of the damage that this sort of malicious gossip has done. It breeds paranoia, drama that those on the Community Council and the DM Team have to deal with, and causes serious rifts in the PotM community.

Not only does this sort of behavior breach Rule #5:

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Section 5: Interacting and Roleplaying

- Excessively deteriorating, disruptive or disrespectful behaviour, both by OOC and the elements you bring into IC, is not permitted. Always consider the experience of those you roleplay with, and strive to avoid OOC aggravation or grief. If you experience someone that you feel are disruptive, deteriorating or disrespectful to you, contact them and inform them of this. If they fail to cease, report it to a DM, and it'll be evaluated.

It also goes against this guideline, given here:

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PLAYER PRIVACY

Don't speculate others identity or repeatedly inquire for it - show respect if someone might be wanting to remain anonymous. The only exception to this rule is that if you suspect someone is using another account to circumvent a ban, in which case you should contact the DM team and leave further investigation to them.

Likewise, if you are a player wishing to remain in anonymity and feel you are being harassed (this is speculative and determined by you, subject to review by staff members) you must take screenshots of the offending conversation(s) in question.  This is the only form of proof that will be viable in a formal complaint.

We ask, as always, that players "be excellent to each other". Moreover, to use the age-old adage, "if you haven't anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Those who don't have anything nice to say will find themselves punished according to our rules. If you believe that you might be made the victim of harassment, this sort of malicious gossip, or that your privacy is being infringed upon, all I have to say is... screenshot whatever evidence you can possibly bring forwards, and send it those who are on the team. We will treat your case seriously, in the hopes that the matter will be resolved one way or the other, and we can all get back to having fun here.
« Last Edit: April 27, 2012, 11:25:23 AM by DM Seraphim »