GameChat Filter - your input

[AndyDufresne]

Dang, I wish my post had gone through! Lets see what I can remember. I'll cut out most of it, and focus on the main part of what's still in my noggin.

I think instead of looking to add filters or add further game chat moderation, we instead look towards connecting like-minded users. Jpcloet and MarVal are doing some fantastic things with Clans, and I know we've got some big things in mind. Clans are something we are definitely going to continue to develop at CC, as we think they can help alleviate some of the problems and issues you've presented.

If we can better connect, or facilitate connection, users who share similar customs, manners, speech, game orientation, I think some of these issues can be helped in the process. I think this is a better end goal, than adding further game chat limitations or moderation.


--Andy

[Kotaro]

If kids are insulted, get off the internet.

I'm pretty sure kids are insulted, but I'm staying on the internet anyway.

Unfortunate.

[Timminz]

If kids are insulted, get off the internet.

I'm pretty sure kids are insulted, but I'm staying on the internet anyway.

Unfortunate.

I'm not a kid. There's no need to try to insult me.

[AndyDufresne]

Posted above. It's not quite the wonderful long post I had, but it is a bare outlines.


--Andy

[jiminski]

Dang, I wish my post had gone through! Lets see what I can remember. I'll cut out most of it, and focus on the main part of what's still in my noggin.

I think instead of looking to add filters or add further game chat moderation, we instead look towards connecting like-minded users. Jpcloet and MarVal are doing some fantastic things with Clans, and I know we've got some big things in mind. Clans are something we are definitely going to continue to develop at CC, as we think they can help alleviate some of the problems and issues you've presented.

If we can better connect, or facilitate connection, users who share similar customs, manners, speech, game orientation, I think some of these issues can be helped in the process. I think this is a better end goal, than adding further game chat limitations or moderation.


--Andy

Very interesting stuff, thank you.

If i have read you right:-

The plan is to eventually have a site where every new member is taken-in/allotted to a Clan on joining CC (perhaps after a preliminary induction phase and then like putting on the Hat in Harry Potter .. dibs on Hufflepuff!)

From there, once all users are affiliated, the Clan Leaders will be called upon to moderate on all such internal and inter-Clan/Game disputes, taking on the responsibility for disciplining wayward Clan-members.

[AndyDufresne]

You're close to the right track, Jim. Though essentially not forcing or trying to get everyone into clans, we hope to promote to a wider audience and develop them---as they are very big assets to the Conquer Club community, which, until now, has been largely untapped.


--Andy

[Woodruff]

On that point:- Do you, like me, think that Gamechat filter is unnecessary if Gamechat moderation is in affect

Not only do I think it's unnecessary, I think it's ineffective. By the same token, I do think some form of gamechat moderation (even if it's only reactionary) is necessary.

In extreme cases of harassment, abuse, etc, Moderators will step in and provide Warnings or further Disciplinary Actions. You can always report extreme cases via the Cheating and Abuse Forum, or via E-tickets.

--Andy

I realize that. But there is a wide divergence in what folks see as "extreme". In my opinion (and I recognize it's only my opinion), pretty severe abuse is completely overlooked when it's reported, as long as racial/homophobic/etc bounds are not crossed, and I don't happen to believe that's good business.

[Woodruff]

If kids are insulted, get off the internet.

That's not a wise business policy, however. Even further, it's often not the kids who are insulted, but rather the parents of those kids.

[stahrgazer]

Dang, I wish my post had gone through! Lets see what I can remember. I'll cut out most of it, and focus on the main part of what's still in my noggin.

I think instead of looking to add filters or add further game chat moderation, we instead look towards connecting like-minded users. Jpcloet and MarVal are doing some fantastic things with Clans, and I know we've got some big things in mind. Clans are something we are definitely going to continue to develop at CC, as we think they can help alleviate some of the problems and issues you've presented.

If we can better connect, or facilitate connection, users who share similar customs, manners, speech, game orientation, I think some of these issues can be helped in the process. I think this is a better end goal, than adding further game chat limitations or moderation.


--Andy

Nope; most clan leaders think policing members and chat is CC admin responsibility. It was a nice way of saying, "Admin still won't do anything about flaming in gamechats," though.

[stahrgazer]

On that point:- Do you, like me, think that Gamechat filter is unnecessary if Gamechat moderation is in affect

Not only do I think it's unnecessary, I think it's ineffective. By the same token, I do think some form of gamechat moderation (even if it's only reactionary) is necessary.

In extreme cases of harassment, abuse, etc, Moderators will step in and provide Warnings or further Disciplinary Actions. You can always report extreme cases via the Cheating and Abuse Forum, or via E-tickets.

--Andy

I realize that. But there is a wide divergence in what folks see as "extreme". In my opinion (and I recognize it's only my opinion), pretty severe abuse is completely overlooked when it's reported, as long as racial/homophobic/etc bounds are not crossed, and I don't happen to believe that's good business.

Yeah, in a recent case, calling CC (not the opponent, the game) ghay and foggot because the dice were so one-player-aimed was considered severe enough to be warnable. Other offense are totally ignored.. and Andy's recent post shows they'll continue to be ignored.

[jiminski]

You're close to the right track, Jim. Though essentially not forcing or trying to get everyone into clans, we hope to promote to a wider audience and develop them---as they are very big assets to the Conquer Club community, which, until now, has been largely untapped.


--Andy

I think that is all interesting and it does capture the imagination. (heh or maybe divert the imagination )
Aside from the inherent problems specific to this clan movement, it is not likely to solve the abuse problem.

As i see it:

-Unless the clan system becomes compulsory and almost immediate upon joining, it will not help or 'protect' all members from abuse. I assume that clans will still choose their members? If so there will be a vast band of unaffiliated users roaming around, master-less and unchallenged (I am Ronin!).
I think that this would encourage a lot of people not to join the Clan system in the first place or even to drop their existing Clans.

-Clan leaders are often just the guy wearing the hat at any giving time. They are not always the one with absolute authority; most do not want to kick their mates arses and many are not able to.

-Clans are very partisan so it's unlikely to achieve an adequate or objective ruling*, more likely all-out clan-feud (Clan-Feud is a nice name for a new map).

-With indiscipline handled internally or by a clan-collective (CLA), the likelihood would be for specifically anti-social members to band together in Anti-Clans. These Anti-clans may even join in the system .. right up until they are ostracisation on refusal to toe the quasi autonomous non governmental organisations', unofficial-official line.

*I suppose what you and the clan chaps could be working on is having a second tier of quasi-staff (like a Quango) to oversee the day to day moderation, using the CLA or something. But that will make the site more elitist and closed, not more inclusive and friendly.


As much as i genuinely appreciate your input Andy, addressing this issue by making Clans (and only Clans) self-regulatory, seems like a nice idea for the future but one which does not solve the Gamechat abuse problem.

I think what this needs to be effective are independent Moderators for all, not in-house security for the select few.


jim