wow Player Gets Suspended Beacuse of "Elegon" Pet Name

[Starym 3,800]

 

Here's a fun/weird/really sad one for you, as a player got a short suspension which seemed to be due to a default pet name the game gave it, but turned out to be something different, and much more problematic for the game as a whole.

EmCeeSlickyD ran into a more and more common phenomenon, where players get suspended automatically based off of mass reports. The base claim the mail they received from Blizzard as explanation for the (presumably 24 hour) suspension was that the pet name "Elegon", the default the mob/boss has and keeps when it's tamed, was inappropriate. The kicker? The pet was renamed in addition to the suspension, but the second pet they had active as a BM Hunter was ALSO named Elegon and did not get its name changed, so EmCeeSlickyD was basically sitting there scared of getting another, this time longer, suspension for the same thing. 

So what actually happened? Well, we can't be sure of the specifics, but this pretty crazy sequence of events is EmCeeSlickyD's current and most likely theory:

And while it's understandable that there's a need for fast responses to many players reporting the same issue, and it's impossible for a GM to read every single report made, getting suspended based off of just mass reports is becoming an increasingly problematic issue. Especially with bots running around with a LOT of power in their hands (as well as both legitimate and illegitimate multiboxers), as they can pretty much mass report whomever they like (for example legitimate players messing with their farm routes or killing them in PvP). The mass report problem doesn't stop there, as there have also been reports of entire guilds reporting someone on the behest of a member, without really having the actual info of what happened. While that's not necessarily what happened here, it definitely highlights how anyone can get suspended for doing literally nothing wrong.

The good news is the suspension was reversed once an actual GM got their eyes on the appeal and there was no permanent damage done, aside from the fact that EmCeeSlickyD will not be participating in any more public chats ever for fear of something similar happening again.
Here's the full post on the matter:

[rowaasr13 17]

>  it's impossible for a GM to read every single report made

There's no need for that and it isn't something new or some advanced rocket surgery. The solution for such things in support system is known for decades: report weights and all reports grouping. Instead of 1000 reports, GM sees in queue groups like "Player X's pet name"  with total weight of reports. So all GM needs to handle that is to sort queue at weight. If he sees at the top subject "Player X's pet name" where name is obviously legitimate, then it is pretty obviously fraudulent report system spamming. Single click and every reporter gets reporting system penalty, making their reports weight less next time. Several penalties in a row in a short span of time could lead to actions about spammers themselves.

Come on, we're half a century into a digital age already, there are tons of methods of aggregating information to let human make final decisions. There's no need to sit at either extreme - read everything or handle everything automatically.

[Sarabandethemage 6]

Agree.  I'm tired of the "can't have every report read by GM."  Because it doesn't have to be.  Often, players behave a certain way repeatedly.  While one (or even a dozen) might not mean something, everything added up, could.  And THAT should require real human eyes (or even a few) to look at.  Over time, if there are repeated reports (not all at once, but at different occasions), /ignore counts, /gkicks, /votekicks (taken and given).  Sure, each one of those incidents COULD be completely innocent.  /gkick for performance or inactivity rather than behavior; /votekick for being AFK; /reported because the person said something someone didn't like (but was not against TOS), etc.  But that's why when the numbers get big, you get real people involved.  I'm guessing MOST people won't have that many incidents against them.   And yes, I like the idea of player "weight."  It could also affect how often they are silenced in chat.  (Unlike say, HELPFUL GUIDES who prefers to use shorter, easier to read sentences rather than a giant wall, and gets silenced in NEWCOMER chat for "too many messages."  >.<  )

Automation can take care of most of it, but as a company that had a large and varied playerbase, they need to definitely get involved before any harm is done.  I mean, OK, so the guy got his suspension reversed, but SHOULD be really be afraid to talk in chat?  That's the effect this has had and I think cumulatively, it's detrimental when decent customers are afraid to use features of a game because some bullies succeeded in getting Blizzard to help them harass players.

[Rhoshar 2]

2 hours ago, rowaasr13 said:

>  it's impossible for a GM to read every single report made

 

That's true, but why do they state that:

Quote

After a thorough investigation of the evidence, we have Suspended your World of Warcraft account.

 

Edited February 6, 2021 by Rhoshar

[Hypersonic 119]

People actually report someone for it's pet's name? 

[krapmyself 60]

Guess it depends on the server. I frequently see some pretty heinous stuff said in trade and the people who say it don't go away unless you mute them.

[JayTee 0]

Gets banned for pets name, meanwhile druid bots farming herbs gets unpunished, this game is Deer Hunter 2021 not world of warcraft

[Xarisaah 0]

6 hours ago, rowaasr13 said:

>  it's impossible for a GM to read every single report made

There's no need for that and it isn't something new or some advanced rocket surgery. The solution for such things in support system is known for decades: report weights and all reports grouping. Instead of 1000 reports, GM sees in queue groups like "Player X's pet name"  with total weight of reports. So all GM needs to handle that is to sort queue at weight. If he sees at the top subject "Player X's pet name" where name is obviously legitimate, then it is pretty obviously fraudulent report system spamming. Single click and every reporter gets reporting system penalty, making their reports weight less next time. Several penalties in a row in a short span of time could lead to actions about spammers themselves.

Come on, we're half a century into a digital age already, there are tons of methods of aggregating information to let human make final decisions. There's no need to sit at either extreme - read everything or handle everything automatically.

I agree that there's massive room for improvement with the system as it currently stands, but I wouldn't want to see reporters penalized for making reports in good faith. You can't expect average users to know the ins and outs of the CS and TOS.

[Antimagic 26]

This line right here is pure gold " After a thorough investigation of the evidence "

Person investigating " hmm multiple reports seems legit lets ban him"

Edited February 6, 2021 by Antimagic

[Grumar 188]

You would think a multi billion dollar company could hire enough GMs to look at every post.  If it's false report, ban all the ones who false reported for 2 or 3 days, start sending a message. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by Grumar

[Hotpants 5]

my hunter's name is Äctivision, and my pet's name is Blizzard and all i get are comments like "awesome names dude" and stuff like that. i did that back in wod, no probs whatsoever so far :D

[SomeDude 1]

I got reported and insulted because I named my Cat "Isis" in late MOP. They apparently thought I implied something towards the "Islamic State"-Terrorist-Group "ISIS", while I actually just googled names of agyptian gods...people are stupid sometimes...

[Sabejnos 10]

On 2/6/2021 at 1:51 PM, JayTee said:

Gets banned for pets name, meanwhile druid bots farming herbs gets unpunished, this game is Deer Hunter 2021 not world of warcraft

Agree. Currently got 6 active accounts running around Shadowlands and gathering herbs. For 2 months now. Not a single suspension or warning. Already made around €1200 on it. 🙂 

[RubyRose 1]

On 2/6/2021 at 5:59 AM, Hypersonic said:

People actually report someone for it's pet's name? 

It's sad, it happens quite a bit. I guess the original GM knew that is the title of a book (and the dragon in it). 

I got a note that the name of my female Lightforged Draeneii Paladin was deemed offensive and I had to change it. Her name was Luciferrose. I played off the "lightbringer" or "morning star" meaning, not naming it as a demon. So, her name got changed to Lucyrose. 

[RubyRose 1]

On 2/7/2021 at 6:05 AM, SomeDude said:

Our older Shetland Sheepdog's name is Isis, we've had to explain that she's NOT named after the terrorists but for the Egyptian Goddess. It was kinda funny when they were in the news all the time, they would be talking about "I.s.i.s" and she would hear her name and turn toward the television to see who called her.

I agree, some people just aren't educated enough to not knee *filtered*.

 

I got reported and insulted because I named my Cat "Isis" in late MOP. They apparently thought I implied something towards the "Islamic State"-Terrorist-Group "ISIS", while I actually just googled names of agyptian gods...people are stupid sometimes...