Excessive banning/Censorship on Steam: TOS should be modified.

[Squashbuckler]

Finally back after being banned for one month...


Thanks to everyone who kept this thread alive. Also, thanks to those who have not supported this thread by keeping out message heard!



Herein lies the problem with Censorship:

My Hypothesis was that "Helicopter Parenting" leads to overly sensitive children and a sterile environment. When that hypothesis was banned from the discussion, and "Idea" was effectively eliminated from the minds of anyone who was potentially following this topic.

This is inherently insidious, and damages the fabric our our society as we continue to have ideas eliminated by the gatekeepers of opinions and thoughts. Yes, this is just one forum, but why stop here? How many "bans" are we going to accept and perpetrate on other people? Just let people speak and stop reporting them.

Original Post:

In my 14 years on steam, I have to say that the banning and censorship has now reached a new level. (I cant even offer a descriptive word for fear of being "Banned", once again).

In fact, the TOS is unreasonable should be amended:
"This post contains content that is combative, argumentative, or likely to derail"

What kind of world are we living in when we cannot be "Argumentative?" The oxford Dictionary defines this as " given to expressing divergent or opposite views". This is the foundation of a civilized society, not censored speech.

Moreover, I dont think it is reasonable to be banned for weeks by asking if DEI initiatives are present in a game. That is not a discriminatory commentary, that is a legitimate inquiry with regard to a political position. If I were to ask if right wing ideology is present in a game, or to ask where on the spectrum a game exists, that is not discriminatory discussion. That is simply inquiring as to the political leanings of a game. A purchaser has the right to withhold monies from games that do not fit with his/her alignment.

As human beings, if you keep hitting report and desire to censor speech, eventually when they come for your speech, you wont have any. Speech suppression is a political tool, and those that desire to give up freedoms for security will regret it.

Let people debate and speak on these forums. Who cares if one person calls another person a name. Why do the readers of this post feel the need to hit "report" ?
It is the mark of an educated mind to hear an opinion or criticism, you don't need to accept it. Many have insulted me here and have disagreed with me, and that is fine. If I dont accept their gift (The insult), they are left holding the bag.

The molly-coddling of our youth that is allegedly the reason for mental health issues is nonsense. When an individual has confidence and is unaffected by social media and the opinions of others, they are more resilient.

It seems that any slight criticism or comment results in a "ban". This has absolutely gone too far.

Game companies can openly push political agendas, but any contrary opinion to it results in a ban.

Allow people to speak, and only moderate hate speech ( I.e: Prohibited grounds)

I dont like social justice/DEI initiatives in my games. When I ask about whether or not they are contained, I receive bans. How is this acceptable?

If you are banned by a dev, protest it! Don't let devs push their agendas in forums

If you are the kind of person that keeps hitting report, give it a rest.


At least steam kept this thread going..

Update: Had my Witcher 3 forum post deleted for saying the : " Main story was missing something, and generally weak". I was accused of being a "troll" because I had not yet updated my review from years ago. This is madness.

TL:DR : The forum rules need to change.

[Lystent]

Stiletto の投稿を引用：

Lystent の投稿を引用：

You have to leave a post with your name on it for the salt emote. Not so much with the jester.

It is kind of bizarre to me that Steam would include such an emote when their rules start with "no flame wars or fighting". I can't imagine a use for the salt emote that wouldn't be provoking another user.

I feel the same with the jester. It is highly probable that it has been used as some sort of insult more often than a compliment. (Am I salty about the subject? Yeah, probably.)

[Stiletto]

Lystent の投稿を引用：

I feel the same with the jester. It is highly probable that it has been used as some sort of insult more often than a compliment. (Am I salty about the subject? Yeah, probably.)

I mean, yeah, I guess it could be self-deprecating. But it also seems contrary to the way in which the forum is regulated. A "u mad" emoticon would probably also be highly useful but I would imagine they wouldn't think it was civil.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Lystent の投稿を引用：

Stiletto の投稿を引用：

It is kind of bizarre to me that Steam would include such an emote when their rules start with "no flame wars or fighting". I can't imagine a use for the salt emote that wouldn't be provoking another user.

I feel the same with the jester. It is highly probable that it has been used as some sort of insult more often than a compliment. (Am I salty about the subject? Yeah, probably.)

I'm going to take a guess and say they opened Pandora's box and can't stop it.

With the awards, at least you are giving up points. With the emote, they probably didn't want to open the can of banning emotes because they were being used in certain context.

[Lystent]

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

Lystent の投稿を引用：

I feel the same with the jester. It is highly probable that it has been used as some sort of insult more often than a compliment. (Am I salty about the subject? Yeah, probably.)

I'm going to take a guess and say they opened Pandora's box and can't stop it.

With the awards, at least you are giving up points. With the emote, they probably didn't want to open the can of banning emotes because they were being used in certain context.

It might help, IMO, if they were to tie account names to the awards. I feel the whole 'being able to dish out insults without any indication of who is doing it' thing could be enabling more toxicity. I feel that when the giver's rep is on the line, they'd probably be less inclined to do lazy insults.

[Stiletto]

Seraphita の投稿を引用：

snip

I asked you to acknowledge a comment you made that was objectively rude and condescending, as well as lecturing people for something they weren't doing. You respond with a half dozen questions as if this is some sort of court case and you're trying to get off on a legal technicality.

Another example of the problem with this forum. It's nice to have the block feature for the kinds of forum users that are consistently and unapologetically rude and nasty to others(while carefully toeing the line of rulebreaking without crossing it too often), but after a while, it becomes clear that this same group of forum users are the ones dominating each thread, as the number of replies by blocked users far outnumber the rest of the community. At that point, why even bother coming here, if that group is allowed to basically lock down threads?

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Lystent の投稿を引用：

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

I'm going to take a guess and say they opened Pandora's box and can't stop it.

With the awards, at least you are giving up points. With the emote, they probably didn't want to open the can of banning emotes because they were being used in certain context.

It might help, IMO, if they were to tie account names to the awards. I feel the whole 'being able to dish out insults without any indication of who is doing it' thing could be enabling more toxicity. I feel that when the giver's rep is on the line, they'd probably be less inclined to do lazy insults.

Youd be quite wrong.

Like...what are you or anyone else going to do about it other than stay mad?

[Start_Running]

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

Lystent の投稿を引用：

I feel the same with the jester. It is highly probable that it has been used as some sort of insult more often than a compliment. (Am I salty about the subject? Yeah, probably.)

I'm going to take a guess and say they opened Pandora's box and can't stop it.

With the awards, at least you are giving up points. With the emote, they probably didn't want to open the can of banning emotes because they were being used in certain context.

There's also the fact that they'd pretty much have to ban all the emotes because any phrase or sentiment can be turned into an insult depending on the context of the delivery.

[Lystent]

AmsterdamHeavy の投稿を引用：

Lystent の投稿を引用：

It might help, IMO, if they were to tie account names to the awards. I feel the whole 'being able to dish out insults without any indication of who is doing it' thing could be enabling more toxicity. I feel that when the giver's rep is on the line, they'd probably be less inclined to do lazy insults.

Youd be quite wrong.

Like...what are you or anyone else going to do about it other than stay mad?

Not hide anymore, that is for sure.

Edit: unless you count workshop rating abuse, etc....

[The Commendatore]

Mad Scientist の投稿を引用：

kitt の投稿を引用：

insults and whatnot don't change the meaning just because they call other people Asshats..

Context is immensely important and that person wasn't calling anyone that, it was clearly a notation to not be that thing if one doesn't want trouble.

Let it go.

They'll cling to it 'till the end of days.

[Tito Shivan]

Mugen Majimq の投稿を引用：

And OP is banned, seems he was right about the over moderation lol

Congrats for proving the futility of discussing moderation actions in the forums.

[Tito Shivan]

Mugen Majimq の投稿を引用：

Tito Shivan の投稿を引用：

Congrats for proving the futility of discussing moderation actions in the forums.

wasnt me who proved it, the mods did that themselves

You're assuming he was banned because of this thread, which is wrong.

From another thread on the subject:

Tito Shivan の投稿を引用：

Kraukar の投稿を引用：

Ah, kind of like the thread about excessive moderation? Where the OP isn't ban- oh, wait. He is. Hmm.

That's the thing about discussing moderation. If I made the nicest thread ever and then I went to threaten someone, I'd be banned, the offending posts deleted and someone would come and say "See, he got banned for posting this super nice thread here! Unfair moderation!"

[kitt]

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

kitt の投稿を引用：

insults and whatnot don't change the meaning just because they call other people Asshats..

He didn't call anyone an 'asshat'.

The context of him saying such was a general statement of "...don't be an asshat." A statement that was not directed at anyone. A statement that is the same as "...don't be a ♥♥♥♥." or "...don't be a jerk.".

There was no insult. He didn't call anyone anything.

how is "dont be an asshat" not directed at anyone when its used via a quoted message and who should not be an asshat? it can only be a person, no?


Moving goalposts once again aren't we?

[Boblin the Goblin]

kitt の投稿を引用：

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

He didn't call anyone an 'asshat'.

The context of him saying such was a general statement of "...don't be an asshat." A statement that was not directed at anyone. A statement that is the same as "...don't be a ♥♥♥♥." or "...don't be a jerk.".

There was no insult. He didn't call anyone anything.

how is "dont be an asshat" not directed at anyone when its used via a quoted message and who should not be an asshat? it can only be a person, no?


Moving goalposts once again aren't we?

No goalposts to be moved. Just an understanding of context.

[kitt]

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

kitt の投稿を引用：

how is "dont be an asshat" not directed at anyone when its used via a quoted message and who should not be an asshat? it can only be a person, no?


Moving goalposts once again aren't we?

No goalposts to be moved. Just an understanding of context.

whats the context in insulting someone?

[Boblin the Goblin]

kitt の投稿を引用：

SlowMango の投稿を引用：

No goalposts to be moved. Just an understanding of context.

whats the context in insulting someone?

Considering he wasn't insulting someone, that context doesn't exist.

What's funny is if you go back to the original comment and see the quoted comment, it solidifies it wasn't an insult directed at anyone.

The comment being responded to was talking about using an alt account as a way to not have your main account banned. The 'asshat' comment is literally said as another way to not have your main account banned.