Rapture 3 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 In the ever-evolving landscape of online communities and multiplayer gaming, server bans have become an essential tool for maintaining order and ensuring a positive experience for all participants. However, as the rules governing these servers grow increasingly complex and server populations continue to swell, it is time to reconsider how bans are administered. Instead of employing a straightforward, one-size-fits-all approach, server bans should involve direct communication with a staff member. This change can help foster a more understanding and inclusive environment within online communities. The Complexity of Server Rules Server rules are essential for ensuring that everyone in a community can enjoy their time without interference from trolls, cheaters, or disruptors. Over time, these rules have grown in complexity, as new games introduce unique mechanics and nuances that require specific regulations. For players, these intricate rule sets can be overwhelming, and unintentional infractions can lead to bans that feel unjust. The Human Element Servers are not just lines of code; they are communities of real people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Every player brings their unique understanding of the rules, and misinterpretations can occur. Some players may not even be aware that they are breaking a rule. This is where the human element comes into play. By incorporating a conversation with a staff member as a prerequisite for issuing a ban, server administrators can provide an opportunity for players to clarify their actions, ask questions about the rules, and gain a better understanding of the server's expectations. This interaction can bridge the gap between the rule makers and the players, fostering a sense of community and empathy. Avoiding Unnecessary Bans One of the main issues with traditional server bans is the potential for overzealous enforcement, leading to the wrongful exclusion of players who genuinely want to be a part of the community. With a more communicative approach, staff members can discern between unintentional violations, misunderstandings, and deliberate misconduct. Conversations can also provide a chance for staff members to educate players about the server rules and encourage them to abide by them willingly. This approach can result in a more informed and rule-abiding player base. Reducing Toxicity and Improving Player Retention Online communities often suffer from toxicity, which can be exacerbated by a zero-tolerance ban policy. Engaging in conversations with players before resorting to bans can humanize the experience and deter negative behavior. Players may be less likely to engage in toxic actions if they perceive the server staff as approachable and understanding. Furthermore, when players feel they are heard and understood, they are more likely to remain engaged with the community, improving player retention rates. A more inclusive and communicative approach to handling rule violations can ultimately strengthen the server's population and its overall health. Conclusion In today's intricate and ever-growing online gaming communities, it is crucial to evolve the way we administer server bans. A shift towards incorporating conversations with staff members can lead to a more just and empathetic system that takes into account the complexities of server rules and the diversity of player experiences. By fostering understanding and promoting a sense of community, we can create a more enjoyable and sustainable online gaming environment for everyone. 2 1 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/
Big Boss Fredo 1204 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Ain’t nobody reading all this 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583940
Admin -dante- 5313 Posted September 13, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 8 minutes ago, Big Boss Fredo said: Ain’t nobody reading all this I got you 11 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583942
Linka 2963 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 all I heard was free @ vedalkenn 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583943
Admin Bubbaloo - Reusable P Cup 3039 Posted September 13, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 I am available within at the most 24 hours of issuing a ban. I don’t like to do player reports when I know I won’t be available for a while as players will not be able to reach me. I provide rule knowledge to players and consider myself lenient if I’m not dealing with a repeated offender. While I agree with your statement, it would create a crazy back log of player reports by us just sitting around until the player is actually online to speak to them about their ban. We have and are testing a new system that if proven beneficial, will be sticking around permanently. I think you’ll like what we have cooking in the kitchen. 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583945
N9ne 429 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 tldr; Rapture is a retard Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583946
Rapture 3 Posted September 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Just now, N9ne- said: tldr; Rapture is a retard Who even are you? 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583947
Moderator CaloomClark 1348 Posted September 13, 2023 Moderator Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 I feel @ Headless and @ ThatNerdyGuy dealt with my ban in such a manner… and i think i’ve come far in the server since being unbanned after 560 odd days Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583952
Linka 2963 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 17 minutes ago, Bubbaloo Burrito said: I am available within at the most 24 hours of issuing a ban. I don’t like to do player reports when I know I won’t be available for a while as players will not be able to reach me. I provide rule knowledge to players and consider myself lenient if I’m not dealing with a repeated offender. While I agree with your statement, it would create a crazy back log of player reports by us just sitting around until the player is actually online to speak to them about their ban. We have and are testing a new system that if proven beneficial, will be sticking around permanently. I think you’ll like what we have cooking in the kitchen. You can trust Bubbaloo, all his skill points went into being staff instead of driving in game 4 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583953
Admin -dante- 5313 Posted September 13, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 9 minutes ago, CaloomClark said: I feel @ Headless and @ ThatNerdyGuy dealt with my ban in such a manner… and i think i’ve come far in the server since being unbanned after 560 odd days with a streak like that.. I think it deserves a ghosthawk hand delivered by @ Grandma Gary tbh 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583954
The Antichrist 251 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 2 hours ago, Staff Point Farm said: The Human Element Servers are not just lines of code; they are communities of real people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Every player brings their unique understanding of the rules, and misinterpretations can occur. Some players may not even be aware that they are breaking a rule. This is where the human element comes into play. Yes. Such as when @ Grandma Gary opted to protect @ CaloomClark 's Ghosthawk after CTF's was taken for combat store, and after players have had theirs granted as comp from logs alone, yet alone visual contact. 2 hours ago, Staff Point Farm said: Conversations can also provide a chance for staff members to educate players about the server rules and encourage them to abide by them willingly. This approach can result in a more informed and rule-abiding player base. Yes, conversations are also important. If they were all willing to have conversations about the matter, I could have informed @ Grandma Gary he was unfairly applying the rules, and thus, could have avoided him making a huge mistake that he'd have to double down on. Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583956
Snake 771 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Im not sure if im just lucky but ive only had a staff member be reasonable and speak to me a single time in the 5 times ive received a ban in the last year. The variability of bias and experience on this server are extreme and while i do think its impractical to implement what OP is discussing, having a structure that allows you to handle the siutation without being sidelined for days or weeks at a time would be beneficial. The website is not communicative enough and is not the same as speaking to someone in voice. I've been banned for 3 days for saying "imagine lethally injecting someone running oil" in side chat and seen RDM bans overturned within minutes. That is dumb as hell and the admin who banned me was and is still a retard for that. There should be something in place to make things fair and more balanced when rules are broken. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583957
The Antichrist 251 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 10 minutes ago, Snake said: There should be something in place to make things fair and more balanced when rules are broken. Like the ending of gray area rule interpretation. Still remember a TNM member getting a ban because he ran towards a room that had his friend in restraints with a suivest, and still managed to kill EVERY COP. If he hadn't done that, than the cop processing his friend would have survived. Or some people losing vehicles when they combat store and others don't. Staff are not psychics, and nothing will ever break a players spirit and make them not want to be on a server more than staff being bias. Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583958
Element_ 447 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Speaking of bans, report finally went through on someone blantanly RVDing our gang shed, 30 min later hes unbanned? Now I remember why I barely report anyone, because they never get actually banned, just a time out for 1-2 hours of sitting in TS waiting to appeal the moment they actually do. Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583960
johnny goose 3338 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 i am NOT reading all that Just now, Element_ said: just a time out for 1-2 hours of sitting in TS waiting to appeal the moment they actually do. real niggas dm @ Ryan and he handles it Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583961
doubleueyeceekay 627 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Element_ said: Speaking of bans, report finally went through on someone blantanly RVDing our gang shed, 30 min later hes unbanned? Now I remember why I barely report anyone, because they never get actually banned, just a time out for 1-2 hours of sitting in TS waiting to appeal the moment they actually do. RVDing sheds is weird, we’ve had the exact same experience when someone flew a plane into our shed, they got a hefty ban, and then was back on the server within the hour. I remember a colleague allegedly tractoring a CoB gang shed and getting a good ban and the appeal denied, what happened to that tier of enforcement? 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583965
Larkerz 176 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 5 hours ago, Linka said: all I heard was free @ vedalkenn all I heard was free @ EricZ Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583969
johnny goose 3338 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Free cheese free 7 free tarq free matthew free the guys 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583980
doubleueyeceekay 627 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 57 minutes ago, The Sovereigns Pet said: Free cheese free 7 free tarq free matthew free the guys Cheese is innocent he was smoking crank at my house when he got banned free him up 1 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583981
Millennium 5828 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 13 hours ago, Bubbaloo Burrito said: I am available within at the most 24 hours of issuing a ban. I don’t like to do player reports when I know I won’t be available for a while as players will not be able to reach me. I provide rule knowledge to players and consider myself lenient if I’m not dealing with a repeated offender. Unfortunately you aren’t everyone. Majority of staff do not like interacting with people that they banned and will avoid them. It has always occurred , I used to give people shit for it all the time when I was staff. I mean I get it, it can be annoying sometimes, but that’s a part of the role that you are volunteering to do. There was a guy waiting in ban center the other day for almost 24 hours, waiting on the banning staff member to pull him. The staff member was active in the Teamspeak and just choosing to ignore him even after I talked to the kid in support and even talked to the mod/admin, but he didn’t wanna bother with it. (I’ve seen this too many times to count unfortunately) 4 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583982
doubleueyeceekay 627 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 34 minutes ago, Millennium said: Unfortunately you aren’t everyone. Majority of staff do not like interacting with people that they banned and will avoid them. It has always occurred , I used to give people shit for it all the time when I was staff. I mean I get it, it can be annoying sometimes, but that’s a part of the role that you are volunteering to do. There was a guy waiting in ban center the other day for almost 24 hours, waiting on the banning staff member to pull him. The staff member was active in the Teamspeak and just choosing to ignore him even after I talked to the kid in support and even talked to the mod/admin, but he didn’t wanna bother with it. (I’ve seen this too many times to count unfortunately) They want the perks of staff but not the responsibility fr, I understand they also want to play the game or others but they have explicitly volunteered for the role and knew the responsibilities going in free matthew tarq and cheese fuck it free 7 also Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583983
ben- 568 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 something ive always disliked about american servers is the report system, you can just report someone with little context of the full picture (e.g. i run someone over and kill them so out of anger they run me over and i report them and they get banned). Its a system which is unfair and human emotion and error is taken out of the picture. I think allowing people to see what they get reported in by adding them to the support ticket would be a good idea as it allows the person to resolve and deal with the issue at hand. 3 Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583991
Admin Noble 1850 Posted September 13, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 Often times, many staff members don't want to talk in TeamSpeak because they can get a clear idea of the situation from the ticket and dispute alone. If you VDM an airdrop vehicle and tell the kid to kick rocks and suck your nuts in the dispute and then you make a ban app saying how sorry you are and asking to be heard out in TeamSpeak, most of staff wont give you the time of day. On the contrary, many times people break rules and somehow (beyond me) smooth talk an admin to lift the ban even after it was a clear, textbook rule break with nothing but toxic responses on a dispute. This leaves the player that created the report with a sense that we don't care about rule breaks and enables more people to break rules because "i can just go in TS and get it lifted". Enabling behavior like that is bad for the server. Best thing to do is don't break rules! 17 hours ago, Element_ said: Speaking of bans, report finally went through on someone blantanly RVDing our gang shed, 30 min later hes unbanned? Now I remember why I barely report anyone, because they never get actually banned, just a time out for 1-2 hours of sitting in TS waiting to appeal the moment they actually do. this^. If we enable you to talk in TS instead of denying your ticket, the banned player gets even more mad because after 30 mins of trying every trick in the book (mental health gf broke up with you dog died cat died uncle died and you lost internet drug addict etc etc) to try and get unbanned. Then they pull the "oh well ill comp him now" well of course anyone who is banned will comp NOW to play once you get banned its too far past the comp stage. After all that, if i tell the guy im not reducing or lifting, he gets pissed that he waited and told me his story. Usually ends with "shit server shit staff goodbye" and a disconnect from TS. Its a lose lose Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583992
Admin Bubbaloo - Reusable P Cup 3039 Posted September 13, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 4 hours ago, Millennium said: Unfortunately you aren’t everyone. Majority of staff do not like interacting with people that they banned and will avoid them. It has always occurred , I used to give people shit for it all the time when I was staff. I mean I get it, it can be annoying sometimes, but that’s a part of the role that you are volunteering to do. There was a guy waiting in ban center the other day for almost 24 hours, waiting on the banning staff member to pull him. The staff member was active in the Teamspeak and just choosing to ignore him even after I talked to the kid in support and even talked to the mod/admin, but he didn’t wanna bother with it. (I’ve seen this too many times to count unfortunately) 100%. Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583993
The Antichrist 251 Posted September 13, 2023 Report Share Posted September 13, 2023 23 minutes ago, Noble said: Often times, many staff members don't want to talk in TeamSpeak because they can get a clear idea of the situation from the ticket and dispute alone. If you VDM an airdrop vehicle and tell the kid to kick rocks and suck your nuts in the dispute and then you make a ban app saying how sorry you are and asking to be heard out in TeamSpeak, most of staff wont give you the time of day. On the contrary, many times people break rules and somehow (beyond me) smooth talk an admin to lift the ban even after it was a clear, textbook rule break with nothing but toxic responses on a dispute. This leaves the player that created the report with a sense that we don't care about rule breaks and enables more people to break rules because "i can just go in TS and get it lifted". Enabling behavior like that is bad for the server. Best thing to do is don't break rules! this^. If we enable you to talk in TS instead of denying your ticket, the banned player gets even more mad because after 30 mins of trying every trick in the book (mental health gf broke up with you dog died cat died uncle died and you lost internet drug addict etc etc) to try and get unbanned. Then they pull the "oh well ill comp him now" well of course anyone who is banned will comp NOW to play once you get banned its too far past the comp stage. After all that, if i tell the guy im not reducing or lifting, he gets pissed that he waited and told me his story. Usually ends with "shit server shit staff goodbye" and a disconnect from TS. Its a lose lose There are staff that legitimately are terrified of getting yelled at and/or looking like the bad guy, and it ends up making them the bad guy. There are some staff with absolutely 0 of the traits the position requires, and are staff entirely because they are friends with staff who vouch and push for them. Quote Link to comment https://olympus-entertainment.com/topic/46190-improving-server-bans-a-call-for-conversation-and-understanding/#findComment-583994
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