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This makes me uncomfortable.
Earlier today, I was testing the new novice intro as a Gaudiguchian novice. I happened to encounter an incident where one character (player A) reported being sexually harassed by another player (Player 
, and was then slain, ousted and enemied from the city. When I asked what had happened, I was told to ignore said character, and that she was "insane". Several people at the nexus began making sardonic comments, I qq'd, and that was the end of that.
, and was then slain, ousted and enemied from the city. When I asked what had happened, I was told to ignore said character, and that she was "insane". Several people at the nexus began making sardonic comments, I qq'd, and that was the end of that.
Later, on the Facebook group, I encountered a log of this incident from the POV of the accused. This log and subsequent comments made me deeply uncomfortable. The first reaction of the city leadership to the accusation, apparently, was "it'll be taken care of" - said taken care of referring apparently to the enemying and subsequent deaths. Moreover, in this log and its following comments were statements such as:
"If I crush her throat, can she still yell?"
"She's an obnoxious little twit."
"Lol'd so hard."
"This person is literally just insane."
"waiting for whoever is to come here with some forged logs ;D"
Topped by "so did you actually mudsex her?"
Player B: "Sure did, if we're being honest. Like..a long time ago."
I am aware that Player A did things that were beyond the pale. However, the knee-jerk hostility to any complaints of the sort makes me deeply uncomfortable. City leadership should have told Player A to issue and let the admin handle it. Enemying and ousting Player A and subsequently calling her insane are actions that remind me of real-life tactics used to silence women who bring harassment complaints against men (especially well-connected men) - the "bitches be cray" meme, if you will. Moreover, the in-game threats of violence as a silencing tool in this context, the vitriol of the comments in the Facebook group, and the default assumption that the accuser must be lying, are reminiscent of real life rape culture.
The gaming world is notoriously misogynistic. Lusternia should not be adding to that. I am aware that people can claim roleplay - however, there are certain limits to what is acceptable and what is not. We already prohibit homophobic roleplay. There is no reason we should not also frown on actions that contribute to a hostile environment for women (or people not in in-groups in general). It can be argued that the nature of the game provides some defense in that a player's gender is not immediately known. However, we merely substitute male privilege for in-group privilege.
Had I been a true novice to Lusternia, I would have concluded from the in-game city leadership's casual dismissal of a complainer as "insane" (whether or not the harassment claim was justified) that the players of Lusternia contributed to a hostile environment, and refrained from continuing further into the game.
(I had considered posting this anonymously, in expectation that I would be called over-reacting or humorless, and that it might have an impact on friendships I form with players in the game. However, I feel like the simple fact that I hesitated and expected such problems is symptomatic of a dismissal so pervasive that I've already internalized it. I don't think this should be the case.)
(clan): Falmiis says, "Aramelise, verb, 1. adorn with many flowers."
4
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(c) Iron Realms Entertainment 2012.
Comments
I'm not in the FB group and I haven't seen the logs, nor do I care to. The first tell, I thought "Wow, ok. That was a weird thing to tell someone you've never met." The second tell made me think, "Alright, this person is persistent. Maybe they should issue instead of this." Third time, I thought, "Oh no. This person is, I'm now quite certain, periodically checking QW to see who hasn't heard about this yet. This may literally be the worst possible way to handle this." Imagine being a true newb and getting hit with that tell.
That's actually a mechanical thing, you can stop someone from being able to communicate by damaging their voicebox in game, that wasn't a threat it was more of "Hey if I use X ability, does Y happen?"
The fact that the person also threatened to forge logs is the reason people assume they're lying, not because of a culture where victims face 101 questions before they are believed. This has nothing to do with misogyny, if anything you're asking for people to cater to what is clearly harassment and slander on the basis of a perceived gender OOCly. That is privilege.
Not to mention player A was enemied and guard killed for attacking other citizens (it's even in the log) I mean if you're going to tell this story to jump towards a cause, at least tell it properly. Yes Lusternia has a good admin presence against all forms of discrimination, and no, the boundaries were not pushed in this instance.
The divine voice of Avechna, the Avenger reverberates powerfully, "Congratulations, Morkarion, you are the Bringer of Death indeed."
You see Estarra the Eternal shout, "Morkarion is no more! Mourn the mortal! But welcome True Ascendant Karlach, of the Realm of Death!
This person, alt or no, had an issue with another player. Instead of taking care of it through the usual channels, she started yelling moderately sexual things, attacked Seraku (who I can assure you is one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with in Lusternia, ever), and spammed not only Player B with tells, but a lot of other people. I myself received a tell from her.
IMO, this seemed to me to be a sort of buyer's remorse. I don't know the whole story, but she likely slept with him and then either regretted it, or thought it would lead to a further relationship. Perhaps I'm wrong, but this is simply all the information I have.
Mysrai strokes the decapitated head of Persayis tenderly.
---------------------------------------------------
Mysrai Thrice-Crowned intones, "DZA NA III."
You say, "Dzaa."
You nod your head emphatically.
Mysrai nods solemnly.
Mysrai gives you a peck on the cheek.
Reality solidifies, mending itself into a single paradigm as Mysrai departs.
Mysrai strokes the decapitated head of Persayis tenderly.
---------------------------------------------------
Mysrai Thrice-Crowned intones, "DZA NA III."
You say, "Dzaa."
You nod your head emphatically.
Mysrai nods solemnly.
Mysrai gives you a peck on the cheek.
Reality solidifies, mending itself into a single paradigm as Mysrai departs.
I have to further note that the reason she was kicked and killed was not because of her claims (I too read the logs), but instead because she was spamming everyone and everything (and actually attacking Seraku).
The whole situation is decidedly uncomfortable, yes. For multiple reasons. Trying to talk about it is tough.
In the end, I have to agree with Svorai. I have faith in the Administration's desire to see such things handled cleanly. If someone is doing something bad, the best way to get it sorted out is to go to them for help. They have a strong desire to assist you; they want you to keep playing. Yelling repeatedly and sending tells to the entire playerbase... that doesn't really accomplish anything good at all.