Predatory Advances

Shirszae

@Tahquil pretty much hit the nail right on the head regarding why mass ignore is a bad idea, I think.

First, and foremost, even if a lot of people ignored them, I am fairly sure a lot more would not for whatever reason. That alone makes it ineffective. Then there's the fact that if all of us who actually can do something IGNORE them, we are in the end leaving them a clear path to have their way with newbies and the like. Or what? Are you going to handle newbies a list right off the bat with a host of people to ignore? That as much as anything else is likely to scare a novice off.

Also, I think the forum ignore script all it did was pretty much akin to closing your ears to the problem of people being toxic to each other. It did not resolve the issue, and it would still be unresolved had the admins not taken an active hand in it, which they would have done regardless of script or not.

Personally, I think the best solution we can actually enforce is simply to make newbies feel welcome and comfortable enough that they are not afraid to ask questions without feeling silly, and answer honestly when you ask them if there is an issue or if there's some matter they need help with. And I really do think this goes a long way. I can't count the times I've facepalmed because a newbie asked something and someone felt the need to reply scathingly. All that does is make newbies insecure and unwilling to be forthcoming  next time they need help or feel uncomfortable, which might mean they might just give up and leave.

Elowin

I can honestly say I don't know anyone or know of anyone who acts like this. Maybe I play in a bubble?

Kafziel

Elowin said:

I can honestly say I don't know anyone or know of anyone who acts like this. Maybe I play in a bubble?

^

Tahquil

I've heard a lot of rumors about certain people try to sleaze on to novices but I personally haven't walked into a room and seen them emoting stuff about forcing the schwartz on people. I do know first hand though that people can fake logs or make alts to spread unsubstantiated rumors about characters so I wouldn't be so quick with the unruly mob and pitchfork in name & shame /ignore game.

If only there was some omnipotent forces at work that could investigate those claims of predatory behaviour and institute a game-wide ignore system preferable with a photosynthesisy feel to it. Hmm...

Asmodron

Obviously our top PKers should make some newbie alt sirens with lucrescent nuts and wait around to see if anyone tries to force themselves on them. They'll be in for the shock of their lives.

Tecton

Best thing you can do is if/when you see it, issue yourself and let us know. We'll take a look at things and take the appropriate action. We'd love to have the surplus time/admin power to proactively monitor for this sort of stuff, but sadly, we don't. Relying on reports from the playerbase is key in us finding and dealing with these problems.

Jarrod

Here's the actual solution.

If you see these people who seem to be randomly propositioning/everyone thinks of as predators, message Tecton their name. Real simple. If they're trying to proposition newbies it doesn't matter if they stop when told no, they're still doing it to random newbies who don't have MUD experience as well.

If it's habitual to the point of a bad game experience, Tecton can check their history and see it and deal with it. If they're not, nothing will happen to them. There is no downside or longterm community degradation of opinion. Only T will know you think they are and he'll figure it out behind the scenes. Stop protecting them with 'oh but it didn't continue for long' excuses, just report them.

Kasya

I'm pretty sure @Tecton could repost what he wrote a page or so ago, and then this thread could be closed, because people are just talking in circles now, and it's not exactly the best advertisement to the game when this thread keeps getting bumped up. Because of all the people I've met in Achaea, the type referenced in this thread is a miniscule percentage compared to the people who were not.

Report them. Issue yourself, report them, give a time (use the TIME command to get it) even if it's not explicit to start. Make the admins aware. Reach out to newbs and if they mention anything, let them know to do the same.