Topic
WWYD in a "Family freindly guild"?
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OK, this is an alt of my GM character. For the last year we have recruited with a macro that says we are a "family friendly guild". Someone with a very family unfriendly name asked to join our guild after she was in an instance with one of my officers. My officer invited her into the guild, but claims that only after the invite, did he actually notice the character's name. Let's just say it was bad. Really bad. I'm shocked that Blizzard allows the name... but I suspect that it is because many people don't actually know what the word - name - means.
We have 3 -4 girls in my guild who are 10 - 11 years old, and they only play when their parents are on with them. I PLEDGED that I would keep the guild family friendly. So, now here's the thing. People who know this woman say that she is a really nice lady and incredibly helpful to members. Be that as it may, as GM, I chose not to keep her in the guild. Supposedly the story is that her husband created the character, and the woman didn't even know what her character name meant for a few months, and by that time she was level 60, and decided that she would keep playing with that name rather that start another character. Like I said, based on my pledge, I booted her. What would you have done? |
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I think you did the right thing. You might also want to open a ticket and report the name; it more than likely violates Blizzard's naming policy.
A name change is $10. She can spend $10 and keep playing the same character without a name that's offensive and without having to start all over again. Or, if it's reported to Blizzard, she might be able to get a free (and forced) name change. You might let her know that if her name is changed (whether she pays for it or Blizz forces it on her), she'd be welcome back in, provided she still adheres to the rules of the guild. But that, running a guild that advertises as and prides itself on being family friendly, her name simply disqualifies her, especially when there are very young girls playing in your guild. |
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Requesting that she pay for a name change is completely within your right, given that you're trying to foster a very family-friendly environment. I don't think any reasonable person would find your request offensive or uncalled for. Just explain the situation to her like you did to us, and let her decide if she wants to leave or pay for a name change. I also agree with trying to report her name to see if she can get a free name change.
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This. There are instances where a player's name have been reported for being vulgar, and they've been prompted for a name change. If her story is true, then I don't see any issues with attempting to getting her a name change. |
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Edited by Serahna on 2/19/12 9:47 AM (PST)
Submit a ticket to a GM and tell them the name was offensive to you and your children.
GM will make them it. I have reported several people for nasty names. I'm not a prude but I have kids who play this game and I do *not* want my 9 year seeing some of the names I reported lol. PS. I commend you for maintaining a family friendly guild. Kudos to you. Mine has my young kids in it and was founded because we couldn't find a family friendly guild who would allow my youngest daughter into it. |
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Did you speak to her privately to indicate your initial concern? That is what I would have done as the GM.
It does not matter how much you assume the cost of name change was, simply bring it up to her and find out how she react. "Your character name has an offensive meaning, as the GM of a family guild I must request that you change it or I cannot allow you to stay." If her response is negative and filled with excuses without steps to resolve it, then you boot her. However, if you brooded on this subject alone without bringing it up to her first and gave her the boot, she won't understand your motivation. |
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I would not have booted her. I have had this exact same thing happen and I used the Blizzard rules to my advantage.
Most players with names that violate policy maintain those names because others in their community think that nothing will be done or Blizzard approved of it. Nothing is further from the truth. Blizzard has reactive policies, not proactive. The name needs to be reported. I had someone like this that wanted to be in my guild. I invited them late at night and reported their name at the same time. They were forced to change their name and they became a valuable guild member. I never even had to broach the subject with them. I let Blizzard do their job and take care of it. |
I did not know that.... do they get to pick a new one or does Blizzard assign one? |
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They pick the name themselves.
In a previous guild I was in on my last server one of the members made an alt with a pretty bad name, and since the guild was considered a family friendly guild I didn't understand why the GM let them join on it. I ended up reporting the name since a lot of younger kids were in the guild, and in about day I saw the name changed :P And others said you did the right thing. If they didn't want to spend $10 to change the name then so be it, if it gets reported and she changes it feel free to invite her back if you want as long as she doesn't let her husband make her anymore toons :P |
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Edited by Staugustine on 2/19/12 9:53 PM (PST)
Given that a quick look at your guild shows names like Motard and Orgyodeath, the player whom you've described must have had a pretty offensive name. I agree with others who say that if you're going to admit young people (boys OR girls) you need to be careful.
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You also make a commitment, even if not stated but by the fact they are joining the guild you manage, to the person you invited to the guild. If your going to have people in your guild or allow others to invite people to your guild, you should work on getting in the habit of communicating with them. |
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Edited by Malorei on 2/20/12 8:14 AM (PST)
First of all, Blizzard's policy on inappropriate names (character or guild) is "reactive" not "pro-active".
If you see a name that you find offensive, inappropriate or that violates the nameing policy you should report that name. Blizzard will, if it is found to be ony one of those things, rename the character with a randomly generated name. like "Fernla5643" and offer the player a "free" name change. Besides that... You could have told her that the name of her toon was inappropriate for your guild and informed her that with that name she would not be able to remain in your guild. You could have requested that she change the toon's name and offered to report the name based on Blizzard naming policy if she didn't want to pay but did want to be a member of your guild. |
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Edited by Papadeuce on 2/20/12 10:13 AM (PST)
Well, 2 things.... Motard is just a reverse name of his other character.. Dratom. Dratom was his 1st character. No hidden meaning there. Orgyofdeath was in the guild before I took over, and if you were to check you would see he doesn't play. He will shortly be deleted for non play. |
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I have a similar rule in my guild, I've declined many requests for membership on the same basis. However we did have a member that brought in his alt (another officer invited, not thinking about the name) and I gave the member the option of rejoining after his name was changed and told him how to go about self-reporting to get that done. Apparently in this case it was the brother's account that he took over. Long story short, he got the name changed and was brought right back into the guild. Not a single problem since then.
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*puts her fingers in her ears* LA-LA-LA-LA-LA I hate hearing about incidental terms of use violations. |
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Did you speak to this woman before you kicked her? Good guild members are hard to come by - especially helpful people. If you had just told her privately about it she might have been happy to change it, or it could have been reported and then she would have had the name change for free. If she refused then kick her, but at least give her a chance.
Has anyone spoken to her to tell her why? |
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I have since told her why. I should have said something first though.... but I get so upset at the fact that I don't want kids getting the wrong things from our guild, I was reactionary. That said, she said she wasn't willing to pay to change her name, so then I reported it, and Blizzard got back to me saying they would handle it....
NOW, I am going to the armory to see if they did. |
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Nope... her character is still there after 2 days since the Blizzard GM sent me a message saying it would be changed if they found it offensive. I guess being proud of her "oral prowess" is not enough reason?
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