KI needs to wake up and to give up the battle with trying to filter language. Chat filters have been tried for years on many online games and services. They never work. People just find ways around them. This has been true every other place they've been tried and it's true on Wizard.
This leads to a never ending spiral of chat filter tightening and rules tightening, player banning and other punishments, at the same time the players who WANT to use the forbidden words just get more creative with their spelling, saying what they want to say without any problem, until the admins of the game or other online service finally learn what many others already know - that chat filters do NOT work, throw up their hands, and give up.
Its commendable that the KI admins want to protect their players, but it's a losing battle. It would be far more useful to allow the players themselves to configure a chat filter and disallow the words or phrases they don't want to hear in their own account. And if possible legal issues are a concern, there's an old, old, court case that stands which says that if an online service tries to monitor what their users do, then they ARE responsible but if they don't monitor their users, then they aren't responsible.
KI really needs to turn the responsibility for monitoring users over to the users - or the parents of the users - and stop trying to babysit.
There's no way to stop people from using similar words for profanity without banning almost everything. For example, if "book" were a bad word, it could be dodged with:
balk bulk BO OK limBO OK hook look took nook rook back buck boot boon block
And so on, using context to convey the true word.
To combat it, use Report.
KingsIsle takes profanity abuse seriously and WILL hand out punishment for those who use "dictionary dodge" to get around the profanity filters. The first might only be a warning or for 24 hours, but if the offender does it often enough, it will undoubtedly result in a permanent ban and/or mute.
KI needs to wake up and to give up the battle with trying to filter language. Chat filters have been tried for years on many online games and services. They never work. People just find ways around them. This has been true every other place they've been tried and it's true on Wizard.
This leads to a never ending spiral of chat filter tightening and rules tightening, player banning and other punishments, at the same time the players who WANT to use the forbidden words just get more creative with their spelling, saying what they want to say without any problem, until the admins of the game or other online service finally learn what many others already know - that chat filters do NOT work, throw up their hands, and give up.
Its commendable that the KI admins want to protect their players, but it's a losing battle. It would be far more useful to allow the players themselves to configure a chat filter and disallow the words or phrases they don't want to hear in their own account. And if possible legal issues are a concern, there's an old, old, court case that stands which says that if an online service tries to monitor what their users do, then they ARE responsible but if they don't monitor their users, then they aren't responsible.
KI really needs to turn the responsibility for monitoring users over to the users - or the parents of the users - and stop trying to babysit.
I realize that some players are already finding new ways around the latest filters that KI has put in place. KI had done an awesome job as it is and I think they will continue.
As far as letting the players and parents be responsible for setting their own filters, I don't think that will be a good idea, for the simple fact that most will not use them. Once the filters become the responsibility of the players, this game stops being an ALL AGE game.
The unfortunate thing is that it is not just the kids (and NOT all kids) that abuse chat. I have seen and reported some that are old enough for open chat since the latest filters that KI has installed.
KI has committed a lot of effort to protect their players and I am not sure they could stop now even if they wanted to.
Wow, really? First, the filters are working. I'm seeing a lot less cursing in the game, especially in the Commons. Second, I'm sorry, but did you seriously suggest KI leave the filtering to the players? That obviously would be ten times less successful than KI's method. Nothing would be fixed because people creatively finding ways around the filter, the problem you brought up, is still there. Lastly, I don't know if you realize, but this game is rated E10+. If they even considered your idea, they'd have to change the rating to M if not A.
Wow, really? First, the filters are working. I'm seeing a lot less cursing in the game, especially in the Commons. Second, I'm sorry, but did you seriously suggest KI leave the filtering to the players? That obviously would be ten times less successful than KI's method. Nothing would be fixed because people creatively finding ways around the filter, the problem you brought up, is still there. Lastly, I don't know if you realize, but this game is rated E10+. If they even considered your idea, they'd have to change the rating to M if not A.
What I hate is when the filters get in the way of me actually trying to say what I want to say. I was in storm drain tower helping a group of people and Lord Nightshade had ended up killing me. The people I was helping kept trying to heal me because they thought I needed the quest. I was trying to tell them not to worry because I just came to help but the phrase "I just came" was bocked. I know why it would be blocked but I wasn't trying to use it in that context, I was trying to communicate that the people I was with could have finished the battle without me and it wasn't a big deal that I had died.
Wizard 101 has the strictest chat filter of any game I have ever played. I understand their intention but when it gets in the way of actually playing the game, it becomes more of a hassle than a help. And really if the really obvious bad words were filtered that would be good enough. People look silly when trying to work around the filter and the insult loses much of its power.
Another idea is to have +18 realms and +18 message boards that will still have a filter, but not nearly as strict because adults aren't as sensitive to bad language and age verification wouldn't be that hard. Or maybe having varying levels of filters that can be changed in the account settings. Where if a parent wanted a strong filter for their kids, their kids couldn't say and wouldn't see messages with blocked words in them but older players could have a less strict filter so its all around easier to communicate
"I just came" was bocked. I know why it would be blocked but I wasn't trying to use it in that context
I actually can't believe you are surprised by this. Do you really need an answer? It's pretty self explanatory...
Dorkface21 wrote:
Wizard 101 has the strictest chat filter of any game I have ever played.
Thank you!
While developing Wizard101, we realized the style and content of the game would appeal to all ages. As a result of our young audience, we decided to incorporate safeguards that make online play a generally safe and positive experience (especially when dealing with other players).
This game is rated E10, not M for mature. You logged in to this game knowing that there would be chat restrictions, and Members over the age of 18 have the option to enable Open Chat.
For all our players under the age of 18, we will continue to be diligent in ensuring that the online experience is appropriate for our audience,
If you want the prize, you have to build the ladder rung by rung. There are no shortcuts.
KI really needs to turn the responsibility for monitoring users over to the users
We already do, there's a report button. We put the power of reporting in the hands of every player. If you see inappropriate behavior, please use the REPORT button. Each and every report is read by our support team, and acted upon.
When you report someone, or you are reported, a message is sent directly to Mr Lincoln that includes the chat logs of everything that was said before and after that report.
Mr Lincoln then reads the log and assess the situation. He determines how bad the offense was, looks up prior offenses for the reported individual, and based on that assessment he issues sanctions such as muting or banning and sends an email to the offending account explaining the violation and the sanctions.
If the report was falsely made, that is determined as well, and the player who made the false report is investigated as to whether or not they have made previous false reports. False reports are just a egregious as valid ones, and similar sanctions can be levied against repeat offenders of false reporting.
Everything that a player enters into the chat window is logged. These larger chat logs are also routinely checked for those infractions that are not reported.
What is Considered a Reportable Offense? We appreciate that our players want to make Wizard City the best it can be, and we've placed the tools in your hand to report players for inappropriate behavior. We ask that you use the reporting feature to identify truly egregious behavior, such as creative profanity (swearing around the filters), solicitation of usernames/passwords, predatory threats, racist comments and other such actions as outlined in the Terms of Use. The old story of “the kid that cried wolf” has a lot of bearing in this situation and we trust that all reports received by players are valid and require support intervention.
What is NOT considered a Reportable Offense? Because false reporting can be construed and/or used as harassment of other players, we’d like to take a moment to ensure you are aware of what does NOT fall under the category of a reportable offense:
“S/he falsely reported me” or reporting someone for false reporting (2 wrongs don’t make a right)
“Won’t leave my house” (pick your friends wisely and avail yourself of the non-porting option)
“Being rude” (We’re sorry, we can’t enforce good manners. Use the ignore button liberally &/or change realms. It’s wholly up to you to choose to stay around someone that’s not nice to you.)
“Chain Stunning” (admittedly, it’s not much fun for the receiving team, but it’s not a violation of the game rules).
“Scamming” (KingsIsle will NEVER ask for treasure card(s) in exchange for a code. Trading “cards for codes” is done at the players’ own risk. Codes are either fully public or one time use)
“Spamming” (Although the Terms of Use mention spamming, it’s related to email/web posts. Yeah, it’s annoying in game and never of profound statement. Refer to “Being Rude”).
If you want the prize, you have to build the ladder rung by rung. There are no shortcuts.
