Disclaimer: This piece is unlike anything you will normally see on our blog. But in response to a particularly disgusting email we recently received under the guise of news, we felt the need to address the seeking out and publishing of intensely private and personal info by some in the playerbase. This is a form of cyber-stalking and will never be welcome on our blog.
Our blog has often been accused of being a gossip rag and of trying to foster conflict between certain groups. Our response is always the same. 'We report the news of New Eden.' Point of fact, New Eden does not include the personal lives of the people behind the many online avatars. In gaming, there's a line that should not be crossed and it starts with anything that ventures into the real lives of players. Recently we have seen a rash of Dust & EVE conflicts that have spilled over into the real world and we find this both disgusting and unbelievable. Some of you have most certainly lost your way.
Printing the information on a corporations private forums for all to see and publishing the real life address or phone number of a player are not the same thing. We are saddened to find a number of players dont know the difference between the two. For those who believe in 'anything goes' in relation to metagaming we'd advise a psychological exam. You would think this community would learn something after last years Fanfest episode. Cyber stalking, bullying and intimidation doesn't just pertain to children and adolescents. We wont use names in this piece sufficeth to say that some of you need your moral compasses reset. Its inevitable that real world antics like these in gaming will result in real world reactions. When this happens the backlash will be unimaginable, know this: Hell Hath No Fury like the mainstream media. EVE and Dust will suffer and all it ever took to prevent was zero tolerance against this kind of behavior by the community and everyone involved.
More than once in the past two months we have received personal information on players that had nothing at all to do with New Eden. Ask Yourself: What do the living situations, sexual preferences and credit reports of real people have to do with New Eden? We are not and will never be interested in this brand of news. Keep the game within the lines. Blurring this line is dangerous. You may think calling a persons real life phone number is funny, but how many people will still be laughing when an online conflict results in someone showing up at your address? Stories about a death in someone's family, an eviction, real-life health crisis, car repossession or other personal episodes are not welcome here. This behavior is essentially a new brand of cyber-stalking. Know that gaming is at a crossroads where it is repeatedly being used as a scapegoat by mainstream media. Behaviors like these give the people who would like to limit gaming freedoms the ammunition they need. Showcasing real life and sensitive personal info as a means of intimidation is another matter altogether, and has no place in Dust or EVE.
Some of the information sent to us related to people who have criticized our blog in the past, fortunately our editors have integrity. We can't be baited this way. This blog will be deleted and torn down long before we print anything relating to a person's private life with the intent of being hurtful, no matter their relationship with us. This is one instance where 'Internet Spaceships is serious business' may have gone too far.
Stop this brand of behavior immediately. CCP, Dust and EVE dont need the negative publicity and neither does gaming. You play a very dangerous game when you blur the line between gaming and reality, and you threaten gaming as a medium when you behave like this.
I didnt realize this was going on its sad.
ReplyDeleteGood to see this. Thanks for this article. At least I know you guys are sane.
ReplyDelete+1
ReplyDeletebravo Dusters! this needed to be said!! get a life stalkers!!!
ReplyDeleteThis needs linking from the main forums.
ReplyDeletebravo ppl couldnt of said it better my self...
ReplyDelete.cody-p.
Many thanks to your staff for having the moral courage to stand up to this bullshit instead of feeding it. For those that thought this was a good idea - Learn to play EVE, for fuck's sake. This isn't "metagaming". It's juvenile bullying, and its used by people who aren't clever enough to deal with in-game issues using in-game means. It's petty, pointless, cruel, and unbecoming of the community. Whoever submitted this needs to take some time and space away from the game and do some serious rethinking of why they're here in the first place.
ReplyDeletegood points made here.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. I'm not all aware of the details, but I can imagine. Its kinda sickening to think those doing this think they are "just playing a video game" (and justify it with BS like "welcome to New Eden").
ReplyDeleteI never cared enough about anything in this blog to comment on it, I also tend to have an aversion to the Dust514's forums as I did with the MAG forums because they can be pretty toxic with it's gossip and hostility up to the point where I actually did think over the possibilities of these sorts of things... and I almost did quit my clan. So I do try to check out/participate in such things out in moderation and whatnot...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I really wanted to just come out and say I'm grateful you don't go to such lows, things could get pretty ugly publicity-wise.
-Indy Strizer
not sure about the info that's being talked about, but bullying ends after high school. if you're 18 or under, ok you can claim bullying. anyone over 18 claiming to be "bullied" needs to learn how to how to stand up for themselves or get walked on for the rest of their life.
ReplyDeletePeace
B
I'll be honest, I haven't really been a fan of you guys or your work. But this? I can safely say that this article (and your handling of the situation) has earned my respect.
ReplyDeleteCarry on smartly gentlemen. If any of you are coming to Fanfest, I owe you a drink.
I'm glad to the positive direction this publication has taken. It's situations like these that separate a good blog from a great one. Honestly though, I would say that you should remove any details from this article. State that is was personal and leave it at that. We may not know who you're talking about, but the person this stuff references could read this and be harmed by it.
ReplyDeletethis is outstanding.
ReplyDeletewe have received a flurry of emails regarding the details of this. please consider personal privacy before trying to satisfy your personal curiosity. ignore the whos & whats and consider the message. also bear in mind we are not trying to villify anyone, its the behavior we find disgusting. we are pretty sure the community has spoken in regards to actions like these.
ReplyDeleteIt is integrity like this that will allow this blog to flourish for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteMag Worldwide, you need to publicly name who sent you this information. Right now you are just riding a controversy and getting publicity for it. The only personal attacks I've seen have come from this blog. You need to identify who leaked you this information so this situation can be dealt with in a transparent fashion.
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong. leave it be. This has nothing to do with you.
DeleteWhy would the name of the person be public info? From someone on the inside of this the only person who seems to be trying to get publicity is you, Kane. The right people know about it. Let it go.
Deleteur like one of those people who slows down by an accident so he can see a body. sick bro.
DeleteI got into it with a guy who was just a mouthy little turd. Stalked my every move the moment I turned on my ps3. Instead of reporting him to sony for the harassment, I just googled his screen name which gave me his email as both were the same. Looking through the google results I found all kinds of porn site activity and posted on his facebook for everyone to see lol. ( this means his mother) At times abrasive action like this is the only way to shut down some of these e-peen thumping turds, who float in the punch bowl in attempt to troll and make life miserable for some.
ReplyDeleteI shut him down and he left me alone. That was his lesson to be learned. Was I wrong maybe, was he wrong ....100%. Did I stop the harassment .....yes. While a bit over the top it was effective.