Jagex Permanently Bans Twitch Streamer for Telling a Suicidal Person to Kill Themselves on Air

SBFord

Jagex Permanently Bans Twitch Streamer for Telling a Suicidal Person to Kill Themselves on Air - MMORPG.com

A YouTube streamer named "Aus_Swag" has been permanently banned from RuneScape after an incident when, while playing the game, he made a phone call to a suicidal person. According to Dexerto.com, Aus_Swag was asked by a friend to phone a suicidal woman "for advice and support". He did so during his RuneScape stream and, rather than offering support, "he instead simply states, 'I think you should just kill yourself'" while laughing along with other participants in the call.

Read the full story here

Albatroes

Avanah

Funny how he tries to fix it...

SBFord

If you listen to his YT apology, he says the woman didn't remember him saying that but, honestly, it doesn't matter. His behavior on the stream, his uproarious laughter at a fragile person's expense is outrageous. He earned his bans from RuneScape and Twitch. Guy seriously needs to get his shit together. 

gervaise1

Kudos Jagex. Other companies should take note and follow suit.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Tuor7

Mocking a suicidal person from afar is one thing, but calling *them* when asked to *help* and then abusing them instead is Not Cool. I don't know if banning was the right call, but some form of punishment definitely was called for, IMO. What a sad sack of a human being.

Slapshot1188

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

MadFrenchie

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think you and I kinda figured out where each other are coming from on these topics in general via our PM convo recently.

I get your aversion to censorship of any form.  With the connectivity of the internet, though, I have a sneaky suspicion he'd have enough folks think this is hilarious to not even notice the negative consequences you imply, as sad as that is to say.

Aeander

As someone with a friend who has survived multiple suicide attempts, I don't think words can be a sufficient apology for this streamer's actions.

The very least that might help redeem him for these actions would be donations to suicide prevention charities.

SBFord

Aeander said:

As someone with a friend who has survived multiple suicide attempts, I don't think words can be a sufficient apology for this streamer's actions.

The very least that might help redeem him for these actions would be donations to suicide prevention charities.

If you looked over the main article, he did make a donation of $200 to a prevention charity, so at least there's that.

Slapshot1188

MadFrenchie said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think you and I kinda figured out where each other are coming from on these topics in general via our PM convo recently.

I get your aversion to censorship of any form.  With the connectivity of the internet, though, I have a sneaky suspicion he'd have enough folks think this is hilarious to not even notice the negative consequences you imply, as sad as that is to say.

Just for clarity here (and I'll stay out) it's not censorship in any form.  It's based on who is doing the censorship and what is being censored.   Absolutely censor anything illegal.  I'm 100% OK with that.  But JagEx just banned a guy for something that had nothing to do with their game.   It's a slippery slope and that kind of action is waaaay down the slope.  Example, should a company be able to ban a fan who kneels during the national anthem because the company finds it disrespectful?  Not an employee, but a fan who was attending the game.  You start down the slope it just gets more and more slippery and momentum takes you to a very bad place.

Just wanted to clarify for you.

PS: I know it's not a popular stance.  That's OK. And yes, to repeat, the guy was a douche.

Aeander

SBFord said:

Aeander said:

As someone with a friend who has survived multiple suicide attempts, I don't think words can be a sufficient apology for this streamer's actions.

The very least that might help redeem him for these actions would be donations to suicide prevention charities.

If you looked over the main article, he did make a donation of $200 to a prevention charity, so at least there's that.

Ah. Well it's a start.

I'm reminded of when one of Smite's early successful streamers, DmBrandon (who I used to be acquainted with and considered to be a huge jackass) belittled a suicidal viewer who had just donated to him and told him to kill himself. Hi Rez ended the partnership and donated to charity (one of the few times I actually allowed myself to respect Hi Rez as a developer.)

killimandros

Slapshot1188 said:

MadFrenchie said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh

Not a fan of BigBrother

Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.

As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.



When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.

That includes freedom to be an ass.



If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.



I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think you and I kinda figured out where each other are coming from on these topics in general via our PM convo recently.

I get your aversion to censorship of any form.  With the connectivity of the internet, though, I have a sneaky suspicion he'd have enough folks think this is hilarious to not even notice the negative consequences you imply, as sad as that is to say.

Just for clarity here (and I'll stay out) it's not censorship in any form.  It's based on who is doing the censorship and what is being censored.   Absolutely censor anything illegal.  I'm 100% OK with that.  But JagEx just banned a guy for something that had nothing to do with their game.   It's a slippery slope and that kind of action is waaaay down the slope.  Example, should a company be able to ban a fan who kneels during the national anthem because the company finds it disrespectful?  Not an employee, but a fan who was attending the game.  You start down the slope it just gets more and more slippery and momentum takes you to a very bad place.

Just wanted to clarify for you.

Hi. I am Norwegian. Some years ago there was a huge act of terror on norwegian soil. A crazy guy killed 90+ youths on a summer camp. Before he did it, he was an avid gamer, mostly WoW. At the forums and in chat he spent a lot of time spreading theories about the new world order, the plague of the muslims and promote conservatism. His account name was conservatism.
At the day of the terror, one of my friends got shot and lost two limbs. Two other ones were shot dead. I personally think any comment online indirectly or directly leading to a potential or direct harm to anyone is more than good enough reason for anyone to be removed, until they learn better. If they ever do.
Up to this day his ideas on various forums is still being spread, and in some social networks he is considered a hero.
This streamer obviously did not do anything remotely similar to "our" monster. Still, the similarity is in the wording. If anything is allowed to let pass on the altar of freedom of speech, the world will not be a better place. It will become a more dangerious place, because we create echo-chambers for each others. ALready theres many who think what he said was fair and just. And that the person should have killed herself. Thats good enough reason for me to get him out of the game, at least if I was moderating it. Some ideas, meanings and thoughts doesnt have the right to the freedom of speech ideal. It is ours duty to guard that ideal, not to promote speech which is life threatening, because a life is much more worth than some jackass who think hes funny.
Question; if you saw someone bullying another for their looks, or for their ethnisity, for their religion or for their mental state, would you stop the one trying to stop the bullier with "freedom of speech" in hand, or would you also try to stop the harasment? Internet society should have the same rules as real society. If someones an asshole in real life, you should stop him. If hes an asshole online, same rules apply.

Sovrath

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think the circumstances were that he was streaming that game thus sort of aligning himself with that game in the viewers' eyes.

Companies are loath to be seen with anyone who will taint their image and even though he didn't do that in game, he did do it alongside the game.

I mean, look at what happened, people who were watching immediately informed Jagex because he was representing the game (whether they wanted him to do it or not)

And while I"m not a big believer in censorship, I am a believe in censoring people being "assholes" and possibly harming others because of their antics.

If he was wearing a Coca-Cola shirt while doing it and that got back to the Coke company I'm sure  they would release a statement indicating that they were not in any way condoning such actions, blah blah blah.

Aeander

Slapshot1188 said:

MadFrenchie said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think you and I kinda figured out where each other are coming from on these topics in general via our PM convo recently.

I get your aversion to censorship of any form.  With the connectivity of the internet, though, I have a sneaky suspicion he'd have enough folks think this is hilarious to not even notice the negative consequences you imply, as sad as that is to say.

Just for clarity here (and I'll stay out) it's not censorship in any form.  It's based on who is doing the censorship and what is being censored.   Absolutely censor anything illegal.  I'm 100% OK with that.  But JagEx just banned a guy for something that had nothing to do with their game.   It's a slippery slope and that kind of action is waaaay down the slope.  Example, should a company be able to ban a fan who kneels during the national anthem because the company finds it disrespectful?  Not an employee, but a fan who was attending the game.  You start down the slope it just gets more and more slippery and momentum takes you to a very bad place.

Just wanted to clarify for you.

PS: I know it's not a popular stance.  That's OK. And yes, to repeat, the guy was a douche.

If you're streaming a game, you're representing it, especially if you're a partner (which I don't care enough to find out if this guy was). It's no different from doing the same thing on ingame chat. He was interacting with their community, setting a bad example for members of their community, and tarnishing the reputation of their game. They were well within their rights.

If you do the same thing on your facebook with your company linked to your profile, or do so in public while wearing a company uniform, they would be well within their rights to fire you.

Viper482

Good, not enough imo.

Darthturk

I do kinda feel you should take this article down, i really have no idea what the intention with it is. If its just to shame the dude then ok, but you arent helping the girl at all. If anything, this article and others like it could just make her situation worse. Imagine being suicidal, talking to someone who tells you to end it, and then it gets blasted out to whole world. Even if her name isnt mentioned, weird people will find it and her life could get alot worse, real fast.

Galadourn

I'm a bit sceptical, how do you call someone who is suicidal to give him advice, are they up for grabs? How does one even know another person is suicidal? Or was this a poor attempt at creating hype for the stream that went south (very south at that)....

Asm0deus

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

Have to disagree with this one.  I agree about us not giving our freedoms away but the simple fact is this isn't big brother but a couple of private companies that have eulas/terms in which you agree to avoid certain behavior.

There's being an ass and then promoting something very very unhealthy that could hurt a brand/company if not nipped in the bud.  No ones "freedoms" have been curtailed. Both platforms have their own "freedoms" and reserve the right to ban whomever from their platform 

It's like going to a restaurant acting loud, uncouth, or overly aggressive....chances are you will be asked to leave.  That's not taking your freedom away just like this wasn't, it's simply being held responsible for your actions.

I am a big fan of the slippery slope argument but this by far doesn't apply.

Good riddance I say.

Aeander

Aeander said:

Slapshot1188 said:

MadFrenchie said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh
Not a fan of BigBrother
Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.
As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.

When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.
That includes freedom to be an ass.

If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.

I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

I think you and I kinda figured out where each other are coming from on these topics in general via our PM convo recently.

I get your aversion to censorship of any form.  With the connectivity of the internet, though, I have a sneaky suspicion he'd have enough folks think this is hilarious to not even notice the negative consequences you imply, as sad as that is to say.

Just for clarity here (and I'll stay out) it's not censorship in any form.  It's based on who is doing the censorship and what is being censored.   Absolutely censor anything illegal.  I'm 100% OK with that.  But JagEx just banned a guy for something that had nothing to do with their game.   It's a slippery slope and that kind of action is waaaay down the slope.  Example, should a company be able to ban a fan who kneels during the national anthem because the company finds it disrespectful?  Not an employee, but a fan who was attending the game.  You start down the slope it just gets more and more slippery and momentum takes you to a very bad place.

Just wanted to clarify for you.

PS: I know it's not a popular stance.  That's OK. And yes, to repeat, the guy was a douche.

If you're streaming a game, you're representing it, especially if you're a partner (which I don't care enough to find out if this guy was). It's no different from doing the same thing on ingame chat. He was interacting with their community, setting a bad example for members of their community, and tarnishing the reputation of their game. They were well within their rights.

If you do the same thing on your facebook with your company linked to your profile, or do so in public while wearing a company uniform, they would be well within their rights to fire you.

Also, I would add that if you're streaming a game, you're profiting on it (even if indirectly through donations). The company has the right to enforce their terms of service, to the degree that it complies with fair use laws. In this case, I think the company would be in the clear because they banned him from their game, rather than contesting copyright.

axulthrull

Slapshot1188 said:

Ehhh

Not a fan of BigBrother

Guy is a douche but he didn't do anything in the game to warrant JagEx getting involved.

As far as Twitch... again, not a fan of allowing corporations to shut off people. Twitch is a platform like AT&T. I wouldn't want AT&T shutting down the service of some guy just because he is an asshole.



When we allow corporations to do this we lose our freedom.

That includes freedom to be an ass.



If he broke any law (which might actually have been done) he should be prosecuted, but all this self-righteous banning needs to stop.



I know many will differ and reply. In order to prevent this thread from getting shut down like every one before I will not respond. My point is simple. If the guy broke the law prosecute him. If not, and you dislike his actions, then don't watch him. I know I wouldn't. But banned from a game in which he did absolutely nothing wrong? That's insanity.

The little sh1t is not entitled to anything. Your actions in this world while not breaking a so called law, in the public eye, your a piece of shit and will be treated as such.

I hope youtube and twitch bans be permanent. If they are not, then they just warn which is not a punishment.

I applaud them banning him. Find something else to do with your life now.

Xasapis

Not sure why it's newsworthy. Not the first stupid streamer that got banned, nor the last.

Whether he should be banned from the actual game for actions performed outside the game, is another topic that has more to do with the abuse of consumer rights by the game model that turns from a product into a service.

Slapshot1188

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Beware.

rojoArcueid

LOL he made a $200 donation to a suicide prevention charity...

So the life of this woman is worth $200 in an attempt to fix this idiot's reputation on the internet. It's mind boggling.

Asm0deus

Slapshot1188 said:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Beware.

Indeed. The real trick is to know which good intentions will lead there.