In my time of being a Grifball player I have both been the aggressor and the recipient of numerous verbal beat downs. Steadily over the seasons I have developed a little more class as the quality of people in the community increased, as well as people being held accountable against the #1 rule (Don’t be a douche).
So the question is – how far is too far? Ever read the HLC thread? Apparently everyone who visits there has either done Dragon’s mom or will be that evening. Offended? Yes? Okay, we respect that. No? Welcome to the family!
The Grifball community is tight. There are so many legacy players that have known each other for a year or longer now that we know how to have fun, how to push each others buttons, etc. We have a great time! We love ragging on each other, making crude, suggestive remarks and generally embarrassing each other. Why does this go on so often, and why is it tolerated? Good question. The answer is simple, we respect each other. It doesn’t seem like it but if Dragon were to ask us to stop making those remarks (legitimately) then we would, and we’d probably apologize to boot.
As Tex pointed out in his article – we DO have class. So what happens when respectful people go into double XP and let loose? The answer isn’t so simple. Sure, we come up against each other and have lolz and make fun of one another. But what happens if we have a random in the party with us?
This past double XP weekend two players were banned for stat padding. Either they didn’t realize or didn’t care that a legacy player was on the other team. They deliberately held the bomb and didn’t score when there was an opportunity, letting their team mates spawn kill, etc. This just frustrates the other team and is poor sportsmanship. Class was set aside for their lolz and the respect from the other team and players was lost.
There will most likely be an outcry from this latest ban. It directly impacts a playoff team and questions/comments will be raised as to whether the ban should be delayed. My response? “No!” Burnie, Jack, MooCow, Adam, Menze, and myself have had and do have a responsibility to enforce the rules of the game as set down by previous admins and the community as a whole. If we ever want to become something more than a social game then we need to carry ourselves well and show Micorsoft, Bungie, Rooster Teeth and the rest of the world that we deserve that chance.
So as it stands, when someone is caught (and proven to be) breaking any of the major rules – especially those that directly affect the image of the community – these bans will be enforced for the good of all! And I for one am happy that people such as MooCow, Adam and Menz are willing to step up and help enforce these rules, which by definition help define us as a community of good character.
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I think the banning was stupid but everyone has there own opion on everything….so basically my opion states that it sucks.
This whole arguement of being a jerk in public games versus private, within the community matches is a prblem in the Shadowrun Community, too. The Shadowrun community, however, is dieing. Fast. And even there, where recruiting is essential and the chance of conitnuing competetive games is ridiculously low every time someone stops playing, no one cares what people do in pubs (public matches). They are there to blow off steam. If you want to go into MM and crap on some horrible kids who have never played Grifball before and trash talk til you’re blue in the face, why not? If you need to blow off steam, you are playing a freaking video game, isn’t that what it’s for? Stat padding bans I understand, because that is just abusing knowledge of the game, kills fun, and is boosting, which is totally retarded, it’s freaking social games. But trash talking, teabagging, doing a Papa Cap Challenge, iWrestle Special, whatever, shouldn’t be anything that has negative reprecussions. I’ve always thought the idea of banning someone for being hotheaded in MM was plain stupid.
Unfortunately banning, suspension, and forfeiture are the only methods of rule/ethics enforcement currently available to the AGLA Admins.
Perhaps, someone could write up some standards to distinguish between infractions that would warrant each of these three penalties… even the judicial system has precedents as guides to ensure fair punishment. Perhaps individual game suspensions can be enforced for conduct violations that would lead to banning (maybe a three strike rule)…
I will go so far as to volunteer a written proposal myself. To get community feedback, it can be posted as thread initially. And then I can submit it as an article here for more feedback. If anyone has some thoughts, you can hit me up on my RT account, GQRox, or look for the thread to come soon.
ALSO: Bear in mind that this not only for basic rules infractions, but to enforce our “code-of-ethics”… most of you know it better as the “Don’t be a douche” rule.
Okay, I have added the forum topic using the title from Highlnds article. I will continue to look here and at the forum for feedback and begin compiling something that resembles a set of standards.
At present, I intend to use the three aforementioned penalties. If anyone has alternative penalties (other than bans, suspensions, and forfeits), please submit them for consideration.*
I hope to get a lot of great ideas from new and legacy players, alike
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*Suggestions should be serious and sincere. “Doing Dragon’s mom” will not be considered as a legitimate penalty for infractions.