why report-happy players are in danger

[Jens]

I'll report people occasionally if I see them posting chainletters on more than one topic.

i really think you should warn them first because new members read this message on every topic and think "Hmm... Maybe it works! Let's try it!" and voila, you have more victims... a filter would be welcome ofcourse *hopes TNT reads this message* that filters all "Post this" to "Do not post this" or something. It will help a lot of players...

[Mystique]

another reason why one shouldn't over-report is that over time, a report-happy player is less likely to be taken seriously. even if he doesn't get frozen at some point, there's a good chance his email addy would get linked directly to the trashbox.

[DM was on fire!]

I'm not report happy, but I have 'Reporter and proud of it' in my signature and I just 'scare' them by saying I've reported them. I dunno if it works though.

[pewter_fox]

I usually don't report chain letters or just plain spamming. Only things that are obviously scams, such "whoever sends me the best item gets a codestone" or shops that advertise raffles (non-guild ones), which are against the rules. Basically, unless it looks like a scam, I don't risk reporting it. Someone else can take that one I never post reported either, I see people doing it all the time, and know there's nothing stopping the reported from sending fake reportings themselves. But I just can't stand people reporting for making some little mistake, like being slightly off-topic, when they're new enough not to know better. I hate how freely some people report, as if a warning so they might learn from their mistake would be inadequate, they need to completely remove their account.

[Mystique]

Basically, unless it looks like a scam, I don't risk reporting it.

to report someone for scamming, you have to ensure that it is a scam. if it looks like a possible scam, you should be alert and warn others of a possible scam. technically, certain scams ain't scams till it happens..like somebody asking to do a trade over 2 separate lots. other actions like simply asking for AIM/email (heard you can now be frozen for posting it)or filling up harmless looking questionaire are prelude to possible scams but are not scams till that person asked for your password or try to send some suspicious files over to you.

[Jen]

I only report people if they either post something that everyone, including them, knows that there is no way it is ever allowed to be posted, or, if I see them doing chainletters, warn them that they will probably get reported if they keep it up, and see them doing it again.

[Ambrosia]

I only report art theft.

[Temiko]

I report quite regularly and most of my reports are taken seriously and I haven't been iced to date. 0.- I think that it's how you report more than how often. Sometimes I report about 5 people in one go at the neoboards but the monitors always respond positiviely. However, if you're rude, illiterate etc. you're more likely to be ignored where as if you quote, link and clearly state what's wrong, why it's wrong etc. without treating them like absolute idiots your report will be checked ASAP.

Example. If I'm reporting someone for cheating in a flash game (like I did a few days ago), I quoted the score the first place person had, the score of the next few people down, stated that it wasn't possible etc.

And for the record, I don't post "Reported" either, actually, I don't even post in the thread where I reported someone if possible. I like my accounts... 0.o

[Selunca]

I think reporting people is fine - as long as you have good reason. The only reason I report are:

Stolen Artwork of my own (No sence sticking my neck out unless I know the artist personally)
Chain letters, because their a waste of time, and annoyance.
Anything above pg13 in nature (normally it has to be sexual for me to report it.)

I think its fine to report. Just be wise about it!

[everconfused]

I usually don't report chain letters or just plain spamming. Only things that are obviously scams, such "whoever sends me the best item gets a codestone" or shops that advertise raffles (non-guild ones), which are against the rules. Basically, unless it looks like a scam, I don't risk reporting it. Someone else can take that one I never post reported either, I see people doing it all the time, and know there's nothing stopping the reported from sending fake reportings themselves. But I just can't stand people reporting for making some little mistake, like being slightly off-topic, when they're new enough not to know better. I hate how freely some people report, as if a warning so they might learn from their mistake would be inadequate, they need to completely remove their account.

I am not a big reporter, and I never post that I've reported someone on the few occasions when I do report.

Reporting chain letters and off-topic (unless they're something vile) is kind of useless, IMHO. I have reported scams, including the shop raffle thing even for guilds. Remember, there are no contest of any kind allowed on the site including guilds. Raffles are considered a form of contest.

Lately? I only report really offensive things or for art theft, but I don't warn the person I'm doing it. The rest I just leave alone. There are plenty of people ready and willing to report for anything and everything, and there are monitors who can and do take matters into their own hands when they see something.

Anyway, there's a couple of truly report happy people on the boards, in particular the HD. They report every single board - really! It's like that's their career - being a serial reporter. Well, it's got to backfire on them. It even says on the report form to not file false reports.

Someone in my guild got a warning for "abusing the reporting form" - they were quietly reporting bad guilds, shop scams, people charging for graphics, art thieves. But they apparently reported alot. A day after getting the warning they were frozen for continuing to break the rules after a warning was given. And no, they cannot get their account back. Support's already written and told them that, as they broke the rules no matter the reason, the account will not be returned.

The thing that has really been getting to me lately are the mass reportings being done to target someone that another person, with lots of friends doesn't like. I mean, just sending in alot of reports to get someone frozen just because you had an argument with them on aim (which shouldn't even be able to be reported as it's not on the site) or you're jealous or just don't like them? That is so low to me. It's like being a bully.

Mystique, I've heard about people being frozen for posting/asking for aim or email but have not actually seen it. I have seen people post that they got a warning for that though.

[Mystique]

heh, i have not reported anyone for ages. it seems like with so many eager players nowadays, i don't have to lift a finger. it's also a good thing that nobody has risked trying to send scam mails to me.

[Temiko]

Someone in my guild got a warning for "abusing the reporting form" - they were quietly reporting bad guilds, shop scams, people charging for graphics, art thieves. But they apparently reported alot. A day after getting the warning they were frozen for continuing to break the rules after a warning was given. And no, they cannot get their account back. Support's already written and told them that, as they broke the rules no matter the reason, the account will not be returned.

Really? I would've thought if the reports were legitimate they'd accept it, I mean it's hardly abuse to help TNT do their job faster and better. Yeesh...

[Mystique]

yeah, if every player does it with self-control, it would help them. i think those report forms are for serious cases of spamming or scamming, so even if you did manage to sniff out 50 reportable cases, try to weigh in other factors like seriousness or if more than 1 player may possibly report it. as i mentioned a few times, treat the report form as a ER; don't click on it as if you would go to the ER for every little ailment.

[Johnnydontgo]

I don't report chain letters, because they're endless. For every user that gets frozen for posting them, 10 other members are just learning about them and posting them themselves. I was on the neoboards yesterday, looking for a coco roller av, and noticed three or four people posting the same web address. It was the oldest trick in the book; the fake login screen. I wanted to post so badly, "This is a scam, please don't click!", but was worried the scammer would report me. And we all know the moderaters don't read every single report form. So I reported them without posting. Later that day, I checked the board thread, and 2 people had posted that their acounts had been hacked. I feel really bad for these people, but it's gotten so out of control, you can't even warn someone without risking your own account.

[SierraRaven]

I really wish TNT would take off the "Report This Message" link on the boards. People would still be able to report offenders by taking the time to go to the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page. I, for one, despise the report-happy mentality I've seen the past year or so on the site. Just my two cents worth....