:/ I literally made my account JUST now like I just finished the tutorial I was really excited to start a new pet website as I havent really had one since Neopets but I dont think Im going to be getting into this one after all. If this is how the community and admins are treating one and other by posting what appears to be PRIVATE conversations between friends onto this website in some sort of weird public shaming punishment event yikes I think Ill dodge a b ullet here and go back to neopets

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=105585&page=8#78 Author: Theentirelegend Time Posted: 3/24/2023 at 11:21 AM [quote=2699023] I'm def not saying banning without explanation would have been the solution, I agree that would have been shady - but I don't think the way it's been handled isn't. Once again, context is the problem. I agree with you that joking about swatting people isn't it - but also everyone makes mistakes and has bad takes once in a while. More importantly, I would argue that everyone has (or should have) safe spaces to be able to make jokes around people they trust and who know them well enough to understand that they are jokes and only that. I cannot stress enough that we don't have the context for these snippets of conversations. These comments could have immediately been followed with "nah jk y'all know I wouldn't do that" or any variation thereof. Again, I will reiterate that we don't know if that's the case. But we also don't know if it's not. The fact that whatever space these people had created for themselves to talk (and vent, which is normal and healthy) about their favourite pet site was invaded by staff remains. I don't like that, and I'm not sure why collectively we're supposed to be ok with it.

I agree that people shouldn't be instantly and permanently 'canceled' for one mistake, or one bad joke etc, but it sounds like these people had ample warning to modify their behaviour and they chose to escalate it. I don't even really have a problem with jokey death threats, but to me it crosses a line to reference something as specific as swatting, especially over something as petty and ridiculous as being annoyed about prices and/or gameplay on a virtual pet site. If they were like 'hehe I'm gonna feed him to my pet shark' or something like that, I'd be like, yeah, calm down, it's a joke, but the way it's phrased makes it hard for me to accept as a joke. Also a lot of comments seem to be glossing over the targeted harassment Faiona received, that definitely couldn't be interpreted as a joke.

I personally couldn't really care less about that aspect of it (that the messages are from another platform) because it doesn't affect me, lol, but I see why some people, especially perhaps if they've had bad experiences with unfair/biased mods before, are very uncomfortable with that. It's definitely not ideal, but I think when threats and harassment are involved, it kinda means their hands are tied to address it even if the bulk of it was offsite. Like how doctor-patient confidentiality is sacred only up to the point of someone being a danger to themselves or others.

As for the possibility of the claims of harassment and malicious sabotage of the game being false, all I can say is, eh, that'd be a lot of bother to go to, so I doubt it, lmao.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=105585&page=8#79 Author: Azaragnar Time Posted: 3/24/2023 at 11:26 AM streamers dont take money from games its really the other way around the game can make a lot of money from the person doing thier content especialy for this game since its smaller theres not a lot of creators so jsut two or three could go a long way no shots say swating theres no evidence provided to belive

Not true, I have watched some of the user's streams and heard them say more than once that they make some money from it. And yes, it is mentioned. I don't care if it's not technically a direct threat, bragging that your boyfriend has participated in doxxing and swatting, even if it's supposed to be a joke, is a perfectly reasonable reason for a ban on its own. Swatting is literally attempted murder, of course no site is going to want to set a precedent for letting people get away with those kinds of implicit threats, if only for legal reasons.

I, to some extent, understand not loving that offsite discussions are factoring into a ban, but when harassment is involved, I really don't see what else they can do. Much better than a mod just going 'oh well, sorry, can't do anything because some of the harassment took place on a different platform.' I'm also inferring that from the sounds of it there were more direct threats that Krin can't post evidence of without doxxing himself. People are free to question the validity of the allegations, but I personally am going to lean towards thinking they're true, for the simple reason that if they were unfairly banning people, they could have just banned everybody in the discord server/associated with the group and not allowed any of them to present their side of the story. The fact that friends of theirs are still here and allowed to protest the decision is enough to satisfy me that it's not a 'mods gone mad with power and dropping the banhammer on whoever they don't like' situation (which, I've personally never heard of happening in a community this size anyway. That's the sort of thing that usually only happens in tiny communities, like a few dozen to a few hundred members.)

Also, lol, christ some people's reading comprehension is truly shocking, re: the number of comments that don't seem to grasp that no one 'broke into' a private discord server, the screenshots were taken by a player who was a member of it.

I'm getting to the message you replied to me with- but I'd like to address this first real quick because I really don't see the need to be rude to one another.

"Also, lol, christ some people's reading comprehension is truly shocking, re: the number of comments that don't seem to grasp that no one 'broke into' a private discord server, the screenshots were taken by a player who was a member of it."

^ I never implied or stated that someone broke into their server. I said that someone or multiple people betrayed their trust, and I stand by that. It doesn't factor in whatsoever if they were invited into the group by its members or not. When something is said in a private group and not in a public setting, it's for a reason, and this person or people knew that and went behind backs anyway, and I think that's irresponsible, immature, and honestly a little bit sad because if you can't trust your friends then who can you trust :(

As an aside - I don't think the primary issue here is using off-site comments as a ban factor, but more that those off-site interactions have now been shared on site.

From what I've heard nobody had any warning.. they got a dm with a bunch of legal jargon and then woke up one day to find themselves banned and heartbroken by a community they gave so much to. The only ones I see being bullied here are those that can't defend themselves.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=105585&page=10#95 Author: Neytiri875 Time Posted: 3/24/2023 at 1:36 PM From what I've heard nobody had any warning.. they got a dm with a bunch of legal jargon and then woke up one day to find themselves banned and heartbroken by a community they gave so much to. The only ones I see being bullied here are those that can't defend themselves.

also

Thank you! I really feel like people aren't understanding the danger, and just focusing on the 'it should be private' part. And yeah, knowing them, they were too old to be just joking around. And I'm positive the truly bad parts weren't shown due to the dangerous parts that involved personal info. Not to mention, it has been stated several times, the info and pics came from concerned members in that group. It isn't like Krin and Fai hacked into discord to read these... I'm guessing it was brought to their attention once things like the harassing, stalking, and threats started to happen-not when it could be taken as a joke.


But that is a good idea, or maybe even just set up the themed pets for breeding? So they can still be used for the gene pool, but the money goes back to the site? It could definitely solve, or at least help, the gene pool and economy issue.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=105585&page=8#71 Author: Shadowized Time Posted: 3/24/2023 at 10:49 AM Being that i am at work and have yet to read all of the replies I can only say that i am highly disappointed in these members. To those who think it is unfair please think of how you would feel if you were in Krin andFaes position. Spreading personal info is very dangerous and not a joking matter and to even joke about ruining someones source of income is wrong. People need to growup.. and i say that knowing that most of those involved were old enough to know better. Their actions were petty and immature even if it was just joking. All actions have a consequence. My suggestion for people concerned over the gene pools is to maybe have them all set up for sale for a fair market price and the gold could just disappear which will helpto rebalance the economy. Idk if it is possible for krin to set that up but it is an idea. And i have lost my other thoughs thanks to coworkers so i will add any further thoughs later.

Thank you for finally understanding. People are trying almost to justify their actions, and that upsets me. If they are banned, they are forbidden. And for just reasons. Even if they were joking around, they were a part of it or did not speak up. I am pretty quiet, but if you don't speak up, it can create a mess for others. This is essential info to know so we can better protect ourselves. I make fan art and don't want to get harassed out of the gameplay.

Hmm. So this is a private discord? It's not publicly linked and you can't join without another member/admin of it vetting you? The venting channel is locked only to the people using it?

People have been killed because of swatting-it isn't just a prank call. If someone makes a call saying a specific person is armed, the police are much more likely to accidentally shoot an innocent person. Not to mention, other people in actual danger might need those wasted resources.