[Resolved] Ban Contesting

Your ban contest has been received. It will be reviewed and we will inform you of the decision in 24-48h.

 

I have reviewed the specifics of the situation. Below is a summary of what transpired:

According to our logs, we received multiple reports about your spray. It was indeed found to be unacceptable and in direct violation of our server rules against pornographic sprays.

You were given a warning via the spray management plugin we use and your spray was removed.

Approximately one minute later, you sprayed it again. It was again removed and you were placed in timeout for 60 seconds. Being placed in timeout has an automatic side effect of displaying a copy of our server rules to explicitly tell you why you were given said timeout. (https://www.vaultf4.com/brand/motd/motd.php?srv=&page=rules)

Two minutes after your timeout expired, you again used your spray. This resulted in a temporary 1 day ban from our servers.

At this point, starting not 10 minutes later, you proceeded to use multiple alternate accounts to circumvent the ban and continue using the same or similar sprays. Per server rule 7, and our policies, this is grounds for a permanent ban from our servers.

Several days later while investigating an unrelated complaint, you were again found in-game using multiple alternate accounts to circumvent the previous bans.

All things considered, I do not believe you "did not know". I think you knew perfectly well that you were breaking the rules. Per our policies, you were given direct warnings to that extent prior to the ban, and our server rules are posted both here in the forums, as part of our MOTD on entering the servers, and it is also regularly announced in server chat that we have rules and that they can be viewed with a chat trigger. As far as I am concerned we have more than sufficiently attempted to make you aware of them, to the extent that being ignorant of them is not a valid excuse.

I'm not sure how you think bans work as punishment, but circumventing them is not part of the process. We strive to run a clean, enjoyable server for players, and as such there are consequences for rule violations; Deciding you don't like them does not allow you to circumvent them, and the fact you continued to attempt to do so with at least 8 alternate accounts leaves little doubt as to your intentions.

Given the above, at this time your ban will not be lifted.

 

I see. Taking the language barrier into account, have you now had a chance to review the rules and do you understand them? If not, are there any that I might be able to help clarify with an alternate phrasing or explanation?

 

Unfortunately, the rules are not just yes/no items, they also include some general guidelines and examples which make that slightly challenging. It would probably be better if you had a friend or so that could translate them for you. If not I can certainly try summarizing them, but the summary would not cover all possibilities or cases and likely just only offer examples of the types of things not permitted.

 

Once we can reach a point where you assure me that you fully understand the rules, I am willing to lift the ban.

But, because you should now be fully aware of them, there would be little excuse for any future infractions - and as such they would be dealt with more strictly than a first-time infraction.

Does that seem reasonable?

 

Our rules are here: https://www.vaultf4.com/threads/server-rules.246/

Please let me know if there are any that do not translate well and I will try to clarify.

 

I think something is getting lost in translation, I have linked them in the post you quoted and a few times before. Do you not see the link?

 

You mean micspam ( continuous use of microphone to play sounds or music )?

We have some flexibility when it comes to that, it is generally allowed if it is "tasteful", for example reasonable quality music that does not violate any of our other rules and is not overly disruptive.

But our staff will step in if there is an issue based on the mood of the server - for example, noises that are deliberately annoying, loud, or aggravating the other players in the game.

Does that help clarify?

 

Sorry I misunderstood.

We do not have any rules against it, just our standard guidelines apply that if it is disruptive or annoying to the rest of the players or constantly spamming it to the point it fills the chat box.

I'm glad we were able to resolve this. So long as you adhere to the rules going forward, I don't think we will have any further issues; you have indicated to me that you understand them, so unless you have any further questions or comments I think we are all set.

Once you let me know you have seen this message I will lift the ban (though it will remain in the history), and mark this post as resolved.

 

No worries, that is just part of my signature.

I'm lifting the ban now.