Harassment Question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Harassment Question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 8:14:09 Hello all,

I was looking for some help with a problem I seem to have. I don't know if there's much that can be done, but I thought I would see what the minds here could offer. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Without further preamble, here's the gist:

Yesterday I logged into my email and found a message from WotC stating that my forum account had been suspended for 24 hours. I was pretty shocked as this has never happened before. Luckily, they attached the 'offending' post so that I could see why they chose to do so. Well, this post was not even a recent one and it was taken wholly out of context (since it was even reported) as well. I was a bit perplexed - until I recalled some PMs I had been sent and the events of the day prior. I was warned in these PMs that a certain poster(s) was(were) suspected of harboring a huge grudge against those with whom he or she(they) has had an argument with. The people that had sent these to me had experienced exactly what had just happened to me. Namely, an argument followed by a misrepresented for the purpose of reporting post and then a warning or temp ban. It is my firm belief that this constitutes an act of harassment. Following someone around searching for any little thing that could possibly be construed as a violation to report it. It's a petty thing and not what I come here for. And so I am seeking some advice.

I already know that one piece of advice will be to simply place this person(people) on 'Ignore' - and that's something I have considered. The problem is that this will not prevent them from dogging me around these boards looking for anything they can misrepresent to the mods. That's the real problem. If anyone knows of any way to report this so that I can somehow have it stopped, I would appreciate the information. Thank you in advance.

Z_B
#2
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 8:28:52
ZB...
I have experienced the same thing...
There is really nothing you can do...
Some people just want to be offended, and indeed, go looking for ways to be offended.
Find out who it is and attack them and their posts every chance you get. They may become tired and stop...

I have a feeling there's not much I can do but I wanted to check. I cannot condone attacking anyone over anything, however. My problem is that a grudge seems to be held against me and my board philosophy prevents me from doing the same to anyone - regardless of their behavior. I made up my mind before I made my first post that this was how I would have to behave. I make it a point of pride to continue doing so.
#3
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 8:34:04 Meh, I'd prefer to call my position 'reasonable'. ;) At any rate, I have no problems with you, either. We've argued but so what? We've also had some good conversations and those are what matter. :D
#4
wrecan
Aug 05, 2009 8:41:47 You might try sending a report to Customer Service. Make the report as detailed as possible with links to any threads you might think are relevant and screenshots of relevant PMs.

I was being harassed by PM about a year and a half ago. I found that sending screenshots of the offensive PMs to CS did the trick.
#5
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 8:51:27
You might try sending a report to Customer Service. Make the report as detailed as possible with links to any threads you might think are relevant and screenshots of relevant PMs.

I was being harassed by PM about a year and a half ago. I found that sending screenshots of the offensive PMs to CS did the trick.

Thanks! Unfortunately, whoever is doing this isn't PMing me - yet. I'll do some digging and see if I can't find enough to send to CS. I do appreciate the help, wrecan. Thanks again.
#6
mudbunny
Aug 05, 2009 8:58:37
Thanks! Unfortunately, whoever is doing this isn't PMing me - yet. I'll do some digging and see if I can't find enough to send to CS. I do appreciate the help, wrecan. Thanks again.

If you still have the PMs of the people who were warning you about this person, take screenshots of them. At the same time, provide a link to the thread that the post was in and explain how it was taken out of context, and how you feel that it was done so deliberately.
#7
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 9:06:33
If you still have the PMs of the people who were warning you about this person, take screenshots of them. At the same time, provide a link to the thread that the post was in and explain how it was taken out of context, and how you feel that it was done so deliberately.

That's a good idea. Thank you. I'll definitely do this when I am at a location that'll permit it. I believe the 'offending' post was removed, but I still have the WotC email that contains it. Again, thanks guys. I knew posting my concerns here would give me something.
#8
Zherog
Aug 05, 2009 9:07:28 And just in case you don't know how to contact Customer Service: At the bottom of every page is a "Contact Us" link. That will take you to the Customer Service site. The login and password is the same as the one you use for the forums.

As wrecan said, be as detailed as possible. Include information about your temp ban, including the context you think was missing when the WizO came along and modded it. If you need to include screen shots of anything (such as a PM), be sure the attached file is a JPG image, not some other format.
#9
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 9:12:14 Thanks, Zherog. I'll keep that in mind.
#10
Seeker95
Aug 05, 2009 10:18:20 I would suggest that you send me a PM with the offending person's screen name and see if anything happens to them unrelated to your own actions. But I suspect that isn't the solution you're looking for.
#11
zombie_babies
Aug 05, 2009 10:19:58
I would suggest that you send me a PM with the offending person's screen name and see if anything happens to them unrelated to your own actions. But I suspect that isn't the solution you're looking for.

:D

Nah, I'd like to keep this as limited as possible. I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll just tackle this one on my own.
#12
spellwyrm
Aug 05, 2009 13:22:46 I must concur with advice previously given. Several months ago I was being harassed by a poster, merely over a matter of opinion. I tried explaining that I had no wish to argue our opinions, since neither was in a position to change how we felt. The "Harasser" in this case, kept insisting that I was "cowardly" and "deceitful", based on the assumption that I prefer to remain on the Invisible Mode setting, and that I would not "Come out and face me like a face in public."

Too say the least I was surprised and annoyed. I issued him a final warning that such harassment would be reported to Customer Service and the ORC Squad, with screenshots of both his offending text and public text. I never received a reply back, nor have I been trolled by this "Harasser" again.

I wish you the best and hope to find a way to overcome this problem. I would be most saddened too see you leave if this problem were to continue and you grew upset by it. You are a most level-headed poster; something this forum needs more of.
#13
Webster
Aug 05, 2009 21:15:57 I've stepped in an notified the ORCs of the situation.

Abusing the system like that can be considered harassement.

The report button is not an "I win" button. I've seen it tried before, and I'm sure people using that tactic weren't happy I wasn't falling for it. Sadly, it's not always easy to spot. But hindsight can be our friend in such cases.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 8:14:09	Hello all, I was looking for some help with a problem I seem to have. I don't know if there's much that can be done, but I thought I would see what the minds here could offer. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Without further preamble, here's the gist: Yesterday I logged into my email and found a message from WotC stating that my forum account had been suspended for 24 hours. I was pretty shocked as this has never happened before. Luckily, they attached the 'offending' post so that I could see why they chose to do so. Well, this post was not even a recent one and it was taken wholly out of context (since it was even reported) as well. I was a bit perplexed - until I recalled some PMs I had been sent and the events of the day prior. I was warned in these PMs that a certain poster(s) was(were) suspected of harboring a huge grudge against those with whom he or she(they) has had an argument with. The people that had sent these to me had experienced exactly what had just happened to me. Namely, an argument followed by a misrepresented for the purpose of reporting post and then a warning or temp ban. It is my firm belief that this constitutes an act of harassment. Following someone around searching for any little thing that could possibly be construed as a violation to report it. It's a petty thing and not what I come here for. And so I am seeking some advice. I already know that one piece of advice will be to simply place this person(people) on 'Ignore' - and that's something I have considered. The problem is that this will not prevent them from dogging me around these boards looking for anything they can misrepresent to the mods. That's the real problem. If anyone knows of any way to report this so that I can somehow have it stopped, I would appreciate the information. Thank you in advance. Z_B
#2 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 8:28:52	ZB... I have experienced the same thing... There is really nothing you can do... Some people just want to be offended, and indeed, go looking for ways to be offended. Find out who it is and attack them and their posts every chance you get. They may become tired and stop... I have a feeling there's not much I can do but I wanted to check. I cannot condone attacking anyone over anything, however. My problem is that a grudge seems to be held against me and my board philosophy prevents me from doing the same to anyone - regardless of their behavior. I made up my mind before I made my first post that this was how I would have to behave. I make it a point of pride to continue doing so.
#3 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 8:34:04	Meh, I'd prefer to call my position 'reasonable'. ;) At any rate, I have no problems with you, either. We've argued but so what? We've also had some good conversations and those are what matter. :D
#4 wrecan Aug 05, 2009 8:41:47	You might try sending a report to Customer Service. Make the report as detailed as possible with links to any threads you might think are relevant and screenshots of relevant PMs. I was being harassed by PM about a year and a half ago. I found that sending screenshots of the offensive PMs to CS did the trick.
#5 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 8:51:27	You might try sending a report to Customer Service. Make the report as detailed as possible with links to any threads you might think are relevant and screenshots of relevant PMs. I was being harassed by PM about a year and a half ago. I found that sending screenshots of the offensive PMs to CS did the trick. Thanks! Unfortunately, whoever is doing this isn't PMing me - yet. I'll do some digging and see if I can't find enough to send to CS. I do appreciate the help, wrecan. Thanks again.
#6 mudbunny Aug 05, 2009 8:58:37	Thanks! Unfortunately, whoever is doing this isn't PMing me - yet. I'll do some digging and see if I can't find enough to send to CS. I do appreciate the help, wrecan. Thanks again. If you still have the PMs of the people who were warning you about this person, take screenshots of them. At the same time, provide a link to the thread that the post was in and explain how it was taken out of context, and how you feel that it was done so deliberately.
#7 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 9:06:33	If you still have the PMs of the people who were warning you about this person, take screenshots of them. At the same time, provide a link to the thread that the post was in and explain how it was taken out of context, and how you feel that it was done so deliberately. That's a good idea. Thank you. I'll definitely do this when I am at a location that'll permit it. I believe the 'offending' post was removed, but I still have the WotC email that contains it. Again, thanks guys. I knew posting my concerns here would give me something.
#8 Zherog Aug 05, 2009 9:07:28	And just in case you don't know how to contact Customer Service: At the bottom of every page is a "Contact Us" link. That will take you to the Customer Service site. The login and password is the same as the one you use for the forums. As wrecan said, be as detailed as possible. Include information about your temp ban, including the context you think was missing when the WizO came along and modded it. If you need to include screen shots of anything (such as a PM), be sure the attached file is a JPG image, not some other format.
#9 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 9:12:14	Thanks, Zherog. I'll keep that in mind.
#10 Seeker95 Aug 05, 2009 10:18:20	I would suggest that you send me a PM with the offending person's screen name and see if anything happens to them unrelated to your own actions. But I suspect that isn't the solution you're looking for.
#11 zombie_babies Aug 05, 2009 10:19:58	I would suggest that you send me a PM with the offending person's screen name and see if anything happens to them unrelated to your own actions. But I suspect that isn't the solution you're looking for. :D Nah, I'd like to keep this as limited as possible. I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll just tackle this one on my own.
#12 spellwyrm Aug 05, 2009 13:22:46	I must concur with advice previously given. Several months ago I was being harassed by a poster, merely over a matter of opinion. I tried explaining that I had no wish to argue our opinions, since neither was in a position to change how we felt. The "Harasser" in this case, kept insisting that I was "cowardly" and "deceitful", based on the assumption that I prefer to remain on the Invisible Mode setting, and that I would not "Come out and face me like a face in public." Too say the least I was surprised and annoyed. I issued him a final warning that such harassment would be reported to Customer Service and the ORC Squad, with screenshots of both his offending text and public text. I never received a reply back, nor have I been trolled by this "Harasser" again. I wish you the best and hope to find a way to overcome this problem. I would be most saddened too see you leave if this problem were to continue and you grew upset by it. You are a most level-headed poster; something this forum needs more of.
#13 Webster Aug 05, 2009 21:15:57	I've stepped in an notified the ORCs of the situation. Abusing the system like that can be considered harassement. The report button is not an "I win" button. I've seen it tried before, and I'm sure people using that tactic weren't happy I wasn't falling for it. Sadly, it's not always easy to spot. But hindsight can be our friend in such cases.