What, PRECISELY, is the spam policy for NWO?

sidenti

I just got silenced for 24 hours for being a spammer. Excuse me? The ONLY people I've even come close to spamming are actual spammers. Don't tell me a spammer reported me and *I* got hit for it. That's gonna be a rather nasty article on the subject.

I've been playing here a little over a week. I'm impressed with the game, but I am NOT impressed with the lack of consistent customer service. A lack of consistent customer service does not give me the peace of mind I need to conduct business transactions, and without that peace of mind I can't spend any money here.

Just as well. It's free to play. For me, anyway.

I'd sincerely appreciate a CSR followup on this matter pointing me to the most detailed information on the company's spam policy as soon as possible. I have a few decisions I need to evaluate. Thanks in advance for the information. -bp

sidenti

Actually, a followup - is it because I target the only two gold farmer websites that seem to spam this game? I mean, if I'm interrupting a business deal between Cryptic and these gold farmers, I can understand the treatment. But it WOULD be nice to know such things, yes?

dardove

How it works is that if enough people report you for spamming, you get silenced.

Now if you want a CSR follow-up then you will need to submit a support ticket, not post about it on the forums.

mconosrep

Their spam policy is not (precisely) disclosed but basically if enough people 'ignore' or worse 'report spam' you, then your character is muted. To avoid this it is safest to not write a second line in /Trade or /LFG unless your first has scrolled off the screen.

lewstelamon01

The above is true. If you're reported a set number of times in a fixed timeframe, the system mutes you for 24 hours from all forms of chat. You can send in a support ticket, however, given the general response time for a ticket, it's quite possible that by the time a CS rep is able to view the ticket, your chat ban has already expired.

Is it a system open to widespread abuse? Unfortunately, yes...you can get muted if a guild just doesn't like what you're saying. It's been a hot topic over ALL Cryptic games. However, as of yet, an alternative solution has not been fashioned.

sidenti

mconosrep wrote: »

Their spam policy is not (precisely) disclosed but basically if enough people 'ignore' or worse 'report spam' you, then your character is muted. To avoid this it is safest to not write a second line in /Trade or /LFG unless your first has scrolled off the screen.

See, here's the problem - the only thing I do that's close to spamming is repeat tells to those that are ACTUALLY spamming a global channel. In other words, the gold farmers.

If this is indeed the case, and I was squelched because a gold farmer complained, then I can't spend any more money here. That's just messed up, if that's what happened. XD

Hence the reason I asked for a specific policy if one exists. I'm starting to realize that may not be the case. -bp

sidenti

lewstelamon01 wrote: »

The above is true. If you're reported a set number of times in a fixed timeframe, the system mutes you for 24 hours from all forms of chat. It is a moderated queue by the GMs, to be sure, but the amount of reports is such that the time period expires before a GM even looks at the report.

Is it a system open to widespread abuse? Unfortunately, yes...you can get muted if a guild just doesn't like what you're saying. It's been a hot topic over ALL Cryptic games. However, as of yet, an alternative solution has not been fashioned.

AH! Well, then, you can close this thread and I can close my wallet. Thank you VERY much for the prompt reply!

Man. I really didn't think Cryptic could do any worse than CoH. Hats off to 'em for pulling off the impossible. -bp

dardove

lewstelamon01 wrote: »

Is it a system open to widespread abuse? Unfortunately, yes...you can get muted if a guild just doesn't like what you're saying. It's been a hot topic over ALL Cryptic games. However, as of yet, an alternative solution has not been fashioned.

It should be noted that some time back, there were changes made to the system in Champions Online (which would have carried over to STO and NW since it is all one chat server). They never specified what those changes were, but I noticed after that topics about the issue more or less stopped with the occasional topic like this popping up.

ironzerg79

sidenti wrote: »

See, here's the problem - the only thing I do that's close to spamming is repeat tells to those that are ACTUALLY spamming a global channel. In other words, the gold farmers.

If this is indeed the case, and I was squelched because a gold farmer complained, then I can't spend any more money here. That's just messed up, if that's what happened. XD

Hence the reason I asked for a specific policy if one exists. I'm starting to realize that may not be the case. -bp

So you're spamming spammers? They probably reported you for spamming, hence your chat ban. Your best bet is to just report spam on the spammers, and not take matters into your own hands.

Two wrongs don't make a right, and based on your description above, I would say you probably deserved your chat ban.

sidenti

ironzerg79 wrote: »

So you're spamming spammers? They probably reported you for spamming, hence your chat ban. Your best bet is to just report spam on the spammers, and not take matters into your own hands.

Two wrongs don't make a right, and based on your description above, I would say you probably deserved your chat ban.

Yeah, that's not the lesson I learned here. Sorry.

Oh, and I have been reporting spammers. A lot. No effect because of the "system" (and I use that term loosely) in place. I mean, really. A system even 10-year-olds can abuse? That's lazy programming and not worth supporting financially. XD

No, I like the idea of reforming the system and continuing to do what I do better than giving up and giving in. I'm going to go research how other, better companies have handled this problem (SWTOR in particular is excellent about handling spam - it's rarely seen, even on Fleet) and, in the interim, continue to show people the treatment I am shown.

Maybe some of those gold farmers WANT me to spam them. They certainly seem to think I want them to spam me. It'd be rude to not return the favor. -bp

sockmunkey

You seem to be under the impression that it was either the spammers or GMs the muted you. This is not really the case. The spammers rarely stay logged in for more then it takes to send out their 3 lines. They know, they will simply get muted or booted. And as such simply spam, log out, and rotate in the next bot. They have enough bots on hand to do this for hours and it pretty much makes them immune to enforcement. Simply due to the fact that its hard to enforce anything on an army of disposable accounts. Punishment is meaningless when the account is meaningless.

Likewise, GM presence in game is fairly light. They tend to function more as a response group rather then proactive enforcement. So simply put, if you were muted. It was the players themselves who did it to you. Considering it can take a fairly large group of players to make this happen. You were obviously doing something that was annoying enough to the entire player base for them to react. Something everyone should be aware of and seriously consider before saying anything inflammatory in zone chat.

sidenti

sockmunkey wrote: »

You seem to be under the impression that it was either the spammers or GMs the muted you. This is not really the case. The spammers rarely stay logged in for more then it takes to send out their 3 lines. They know, they will simply get muted or booted. And as such simply spam, log out, and rotate in the next bot. They have enough bots on hand to do this for hours and it pretty much makes them immune to enforcement. Simply due to the fact that its hard to enforce anything on an army of disposable accounts. Punishment is meaningless when the account is meaningless.

Likewise, GM presence in game is fairly light. They tend to function more as a response group rather then proactive enforcement. So simply put, if you were muted. It was the players themselves who did it to you. Considering it can take a fairly large group of players to make this happen. You were obviously doing something that was annoying enough to the entire player base for them to react. Something everyone should be aware of and seriously consider before saying anything inflammatory in zone chat.

Then it was to just one player. I never target globally; it's annoying.

But it's okay. I've already started the ball rolling on getting the issue resolved permanently. If you like, I'll keep you posted on how that goes... but something tells me it's not a facet you'd find interesting. -bp

iamannoyingdevil

sidenti wrote: »

Then it was to just one player. I never target globally; it's annoying.

But it's okay. I've already started the ball rolling on getting the issue resolved permanently. If you like, I'll keep you posted on how that goes... but something tells me it's not a facet you'd find interesting. -bp

I doubt they are going to change their current muting policy through the fear of you not spending money , you only started playing a week ago and neverwinter survived the last year perfectly well without you and I am sure it will survive perfectly well should you decide not to spend any money or stick around , trying to hold cryptic to ransom by threatening to not spend any money is probably not going to get any balls rolling and it certainly will not resolve anything either I'm sorry to say.Other more experienced players in this thread have given you advice on how not to get muted in future , if you decide to blatantly ignore that advice then nobody else is to blame but yourself.

sidenti

iamannoyingdevil wrote: »

I doubt they are going to change their current muting policy through the fear of you not spending money , you only started playing a week ago and neverwinter survived the last year perfectly well without you and I am sure it will survive perfectly well should you decide not to spend any money or stick around , trying to hold cryptic to ransom by threatening to not spend any money is probably not going to get any balls rolling and it certainly will not resolve anything either I'm sorry to say.Other more experienced players in this thread have given you advice on how not to get muted in future , if you decide to blatantly ignore that advice then nobody else is to blame but yourself.

Oh, I see what the confusion is. No, I don't handle things by cutting and running. That's just ridiculous. I prefer actually resolving issues. It tends to be a more direct way of resolving issues. -bp

sockmunkey

sidenti wrote: »

Then it was to just one player. I never target globally; it's annoying.

You still seem to be mistaken. It is simply not possible to be muted by a single person. Period.

One person could of finally pushed you to the trigger point. But in order to get to that point you would of had to of been doing something to annoy a considerable number of people over the course of your entire week.

mconosrep

sockmunkey wrote: »

You still seem to be mistaken. It is simply not possible to be muted by a single person. Period.

One person could of finally pushed you to the trigger point. But in order to get to that point you would of had to of been doing something to annoy a considerable number of people over the course of your entire week.

Or, of course, someone with access to tools that can automate certain functions (such as posting a message, or say "/ignore" or "/report spam") over various accounts...

zahinder

The spam system is incredibly terrible. There are reports of guilds essentially shutting people they don't like down, it shuts off all communication so it can shaft guild leaders, and in CO costume contest organizers are often griefed with it.

People have been complaining for four+ years, so don't expect a change any time soon.

stormdrag0n

zahinder wrote: »

The spam system is incredibly terrible. There are reports of guilds essentially shutting people they don't like down, it shuts off all communication so it can shaft guild leaders, and in CO costume contest organizers are often griefed with it.

People have been complaining for four+ years, so don't expect a change any time soon.

There are reports that there is an underground base that does mutagen experiments on the homeless in my hometown...doesn't make it true.

In my personal experience folks who get muted usually have been showing their *** for close to a week. I personally know of that happening twice, one person who use to frequent the forums she got muted here way before they finally muted her in game.

I have made more than my share of enemies since this game was announced, I have even received a few personal threats...never once have I been muted in any cryptic game and yes I do speak my mind, but I'm not dickish about it.

pkcrypt

let's be civil here for a moment I am a guild leader and I post on a daily basis in diff zones and even have in trade a few times and havent had any issues I even made friends with guild leaders in larger guilds that work with me and my members and we became friends... as far as a 24 hour chat ban you did a heck of alot more them pm a few gold spammers lmao I can honestly say you had to make a bunch of folks mad at you in order to get banned from chat. maybe you should just cut the HAMSTER and tell us exactly what you said that made alot of people mad instead of whining in forums sayin you was unfairly banned from chat for sending tells to the spammers whom will not even report you as they are not even human they are computer programs set up say the same stupid *** message over and over again and sometimes they will even send auto tells to you as I have had that happen and i just ignore them and keep doin my business and quests and recruiting. so please dont even say the bots reported you that's like accusing your toaster of changing the TV channel or changing your radio station.... give me a break man you pissed off atleast 30 people to the point of being reported.... so please do as you like with your paycheck or well allowance because your apparently just a kid to be crying in forums because you couldnt post in chat for 24 hours lmao. ok well back to neverwinter see ya'll there

sidenti

sockmunkey wrote: »

You still seem to be mistaken. It is simply not possible to be muted by a single person. Period.

One person could of finally pushed you to the trigger point. But in order to get to that point you would of had to of been doing something to annoy a considerable number of people over the course of your entire week.

Misunderstanding runs rampant, I see! Players, from what I can tell in the ToS, lack the ultimate authority to decide who can and cannot use the communication features in this particular game. It's simply not a right afforded by the company. Of course, if I missed something in the voluminous Terms of Service while perusing them, I am more than happy to be corrected upon furnishing of proof.

See, now, if this were a decade ago, I'd probably fight fire with fire, much like you allude to here. I'd just go get MY friends and abuse the system. But that's incredibly asinine. So here's the Better Business Bureau complaint information:

https://oakland.ebindr.com/complaint/view/57283946/c/h4ry9u

...and as soon as I hear back from the state Attorney General's office, I'll be sure to keep you apprised. Though I rather hope this gets resolved without having to fill out that rather ponderous claim form. I think it's a bit much for a simple exploit fix, personally, but it IS the proper channel for a contract dispute.

It is what it is.

sidenti

pkcrypt wrote: »

let's be civil here for a moment I am a guild leader and I post on a daily basis in diff zones and even have in trade a few times and havent had any issues I even made friends with guild leaders in larger guilds that work with me and my members and we became friends... as far as a 24 hour chat ban you did a heck of alot more them pm a few gold spammers lmao I can honestly say you had to make a bunch of folks mad at you in order to get banned from chat. maybe you should just cut the HAMSTER and tell us exactly what you said that made alot of people mad instead of whining in forums sayin you was unfairly banned from chat for sending tells to the spammers whom will not even report you as they are not even human they are computer programs set up say the same stupid *** message over and over again and sometimes they will even send auto tells to you as I have had that happen and i just ignore them and keep doin my business and quests and recruiting. so please dont even say the bots reported you that's like accusing your toaster of changing the TV channel or changing your radio station.... give me a break man you pissed off atleast 30 people to the point of being reported.... so please do as you like with your paycheck or well allowance because your apparently just a kid to be crying in forums because you couldnt post in chat for 24 hours lmao. ok well back to neverwinter see ya'll there

I can only tell you what happened if you want the truth. Now, if you want me to make something up, I can do so with style. Maybe put a sentient wheel of cheese at the head of a global gold-farming, HAMSTER-spamming conspiracy headquartered in Sheboygan.

Seems like it'd be more interesting than the stuff you're talking about, but I have strange tastes.

stormdrag0n

sidenti wrote: »

...and as soon as I hear back from the state Attorney General's office, I'll be sure to keep you apprised. Though I rather hope this gets resolved without having to fill out that rather ponderous claim form. I think it's a bit much for a simple exploit fix, personally, but it IS the proper channel for a contract dispute.

It is what it is.

I wish I had a nickle every time someone threatened action from the SAG, FTC, BBB, or the ever popular "family attorney"
:rolleyes:

sidenti

stormdrag0n wrote: »

I wish I had a nickle every time someone threatened action from the SAG, FTC, BBB, or the ever popular "family attorney"
:rolleyes:

I can give you five cents out of the full refund I've just been issued. Laurie was a nice gal on the phone.

I guess the only thing left is to write up the experience. This game's got a lot of potential. I really like what they've done with the place. But the bugs under the hood are just a bit too glaring to financially support at this time.

I'll still be here though. Love that Foundry. And it's free. -bp

melodywhr

the discussion or posting of private communications between you and PWE is against the forum rules and the privacy policy. threats to file reports against the company need to be sent to customerservice@perfectworld.com and not posted here on the forums.

that said, the community has answered and this thread is finished.

aandrethegiant

stormdrag0n wrote: »

I have made more than my share of enemies since this game was announced, I have even received a few personal threats...never once have I been muted in any cryptic game and yes I do speak my mind, but I'm not dickish about it.

Silence!!!