Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Great game- Can't deal with the censorship though :(
elliottalb
Member Posts: 19
I thought the game was great but I just couldn't deal with the crazy amount of censorship they practice on the forums and in game any longer. It got to be completly and utterly rediculous.
I'm not a fan of any kind of censorship even if it is their site. I'd rather just not play the game at all than condone censorship with my continued subscription. I realize I shouldn't be so bothered by it because it is their site but I just couldn't help it. It seriously bugged me so much that I couldn't continue to support EA/Bioware.
Did anyone else feel this way or even go so far as to unsub because of it like I did?
Comments
Shadow's Hand Guild
Open recruitment for
The Secret World - Dragons
Planetside 2 - Terran Republic
Tera - Dragonfall Server
http://www.shadowshand.com
Well it is their forum, so they can moderate it how they like.
However, I do agree that their moderation is a little heavy handed and biased -- which is not really a good way to treat paying customers.
If someone is being critical of the game, and on the fense about leaving, and then they see mods remove critical posts, but leave abusive fan posts, it doesn't do much for retention - for me at least.
Customers, good or bad, should be treated the same on their fourms, as it is part of what they are paying for. It is really not that hard to just keep the forums clear of personal attacks, and let people voice their opinion.
I agree with you to a certian extent. You should be able to discuss anything game related. But most companies try to avoid the negatives because it hurts their wallets. EA is one of the biggest censors to this date.
Waiting for:EQ-Next, ArcheAge (not so much anymore)
Now Playing: N/A
Worst MMO: FFXIV
Favorite MMO: FFXI
That's the thing though... I think the insane moderation practiced on those foums actually contributes to the negativity and trolling of the forums.
I know it did for me.
I won't lose any sleep over troll posts being moderated, that's for sure.
Shadow's Hand Guild
Open recruitment for
The Secret World - Dragons
Planetside 2 - Terran Republic
Tera - Dragonfall Server
http://www.shadowshand.com
I don't mind troll posts being removed wither but they go beyond that. It genuinly seemed like they attempted to silence anyone who dissented about the game. I tried so hard to make my posts as constructive as I could and make genuine suggestions and almost every time they were either deleted or locked and got me an infraction.
What really killed me is I said the word "SOPA" just one time and got a month long ban for it. That's going too far if you ask me.
I don't think they targeting all negative criticism, but I would say that they probably let far more 'fan' violations slide, than those of 'Critics'.
I have seen a fan and a critic trade insults, only to see the critics posts disappear, but the fan post remain. All that does is tell the fans it is okay to lash out at any naysayer or anyone that did not drink the cool aid.
And that's exactly why I said I think the heavy moderation is what causes a lot of the negativity on the forums... Not the trolls. The "fanbois" are the ones who are trully vile on the forums. They mercilessly attack anyone with a suggestion for the game in the most vile ways only to be egged on when Bioware's own moderators delete the detractor's suggestion and not the white knight's vile posts.
Look at just about every other game forum on the web. SWTOR's is by far the most heavily moderated and it is also the most unfriendly and mean. That can't be a coincidence. Wow does FAR less moderation and their forums are nowhere near as bad as SWTOR. The same can be said for every other forum I've been on.
In any event... I refuse to support a company that can practice that kind of censorship. It's their site and they can do as they please but I can also choose not to use their product. Which I have.
I have a great solution. Just dont bother with the forums. They are useless in any case. If you otherwise enjoy the game just play the game and let all of the other crap go. The devs dont really care about the forums or what is posted in there,,,the game is what it is and wont be changing in any significant way except for more of the same type of content.
I personally never saw anthing that would relate to in-game censorship unless perhaps someone was trying to use a copyrighted name.
You're probably right... But since I know it's happening I can't continue to subscribe to this game in good faith
Well I was on those forums for a bit before I knew the game was going to be what it is. But as long as Donna Prior is running the show on those forums you can forget a fair format. She refers to herself as, " The Goddess" so that should tell you all you need to know about the TOR forums.
Forum moderators are totally different from the people who design and add content to the game. Why would you judge your enjoyment of a game based on what happens on the forum. Why even go there and fight and post with idiots that frequent those forums. From the days of WoW I have avoided ever using forums myself by posting on them. I only use it for gathering information but never to gauge a game by.
Took me a second to remember who the heck she is, I knew that I recognized the name. She was a mod on the PotBS forums or something some time ago and also worked for SOE iirc. She made quite a name for herself, and not in a good way either... She runs a pretty tight ship.
Regardless, they can run their forums however they like. Personally I'm a fan of tighter moderation as long as it's fair.
-------------------------
"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places..." ~ H.P.Lovecraft, "From Beyond"
Member Since March 2004
While I like the game I hate Ea....call it disgrunteled employee. EA Supoorts SOPA...enough said.
If EA supports SOPA is it possible that factored into me being banned for an entire month just for mentioning it? If that's the case then I don't at all feel bad about boycotting the game entirely... As well as other EA products.
After doing some research just now I found that EA was in fact an early supporter of the legislation. They released a half-hearted press release after puplic pressure saying they "pulled" their support. This makes me very sceptical of that.
Does any of this fit into this Donna Prior's scope of work as an operative of EA from what anyone reading this knows? I'm going to look into this.... Any info you find post it here.
Given the level of exaggeration, hyperbole, aggression and general spitefulness you get on forums simply because people think they are a consequence-free zone, it shouldn't be surprising that moderation gets tough. Moderation (or censorship if you prefer the more emotive and hyperbolic term) is the consequence of general asshattery.
You were banned for a month for mentioning SOPA? If that is true that is bullshit of the highest order!
Thank god that SOPA is going to die the death it deserves soon.
Bartoni's Law definition: As an Internet discussion grows volatile, the probability of a comparison involving Donald Trump approaches 1.
I love that the OP came to these forums to discuss it- (incoming horrible analogy) it'd be like escaping to North Korea to flee oppression in China.
1: Your avatar pic is awesome!
2. You think these forums are bad you should check out the $team gulag, sorry forums. Getting ready to create my third forum account there because the last two have been perma-banned because of my stance on IP laws and how I have to pay for a game that I cannot own.
Bartoni's Law definition: As an Internet discussion grows volatile, the probability of a comparison involving Donald Trump approaches 1.
Thanks
- I enjoy coming here anyway, despite it seeming to me that the majority come here only to complain (and rarely having anything to back it up aside from opinions asserted as fact), and the ten or fifteen posters that actually give thought-provoking and rational answers tend to be very middle of the road and civil to the point that even if I disagree with their opinions I don't feel compelled enough to argue with them.
People should put this thread in their sigs for the SWTOR forums so we can try to gather some more info on this and make people aware of what's going on. We'll be the underground resistance on the SWTOR forums
I'm down for a bit of covert gamer activism. If you're going to do it be sneaky though. EA doesn't mess around from what I'm reading.
Not sure why censorship on a forum would stop you from playing a game?, Censorship in the game? what censorship? you can turn on or off chat filter.
Seems like a pathetic excuse to either quit or whine for whining sake, its a commercial website they wont condone something they disagree with, you agreed when you signed up to their website to their rules, if you dont like their rules then you shouldnt of signed up in the first place, maybe you take some time out and brush up on your reading skills and understanding of smallprints that are placed under your nose before hitting I Agree button.
You're in for a surprise if you think these forums are not censored.
I'm not the only person expressing these concerns. Hopefullt his thread will stay up....
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=200577
In many cases, moderation of "general asshattery" on a forum isn't needed. People should be free to argue and have heated debates as they please.
Also, the "censorship" OP is talking about isn't referring to proper, reasonable moderation of forum TOS violations. Rather, OP is referring to the abuse of power by moderators in censoring posts and/or comments that don't actually violate any TOS or rules of the forum, or for punishing too much for just a small TOS infraction.
To say that moderation is the consequence of general asshattery is to justify moderation even in cases where actual moderation abuse occurs (this statement is just IN MY OPINION. I know you didn't make this statement). I don't see any need or reason why someone would want to support moderation abuse...the only entity that stands to gain from such abuse is the abuser.