Stalkers and Alts

[Slayer76]

I have found myself on the edge in the site since I've been having issues with a certain person in the site. The person in question does not understand boundaries and keeps trying to mess with using alternate accounts and what not.

Is there a solution here !? Can blocking someone, also block all their alt accounts ?

 

[triplemoon]

Unfortunately blocking will only block the name they are using.
You can report any pm by using the report feature by clicking on cog top right hand corner of the pm so a GM can see the issue.
I also suggest it may be worth talking to a GM on site so they can advise and deal with the issue so you can get back to enjoying your chat time

 

[Slayer76]

Hey there. That's unfortunate to hear. Though I hope the techies can maybe work on something like this. I'm sure the moderators could find alt accounts if they want to.

On to the topic, it's not just about PMs or anything. The person constantly interrupts me or my friends day to day, tries to sabotage relationships or brings in drama. Sometimes, i just get tired of such things. Sometimes it's get too much to handle.

I'd love to talk to a GM about this. If you could point to someone in particular - who particularly handle such issues between users, then it could really be helpful.


Thanks, and I certainly hope maybe the tech team can help with blocking all accounts of a user

 

[Nixie]

If this person continues to harass you, make sure to report the posts and/or PMs as soon as it happens. While none of us who are site staff are okay with users being harassed or abused in any way, we need to see unedited proof that it occurred to be able to do anything about it. Just as users have rules they have to follow, so do we, and we can't action anyone based on word of mouth alone.

In the meantime, if you suspect they're using alt accounts or a VPN, you might want to put your PMs on friends only just so you can be sure that at the very least they won't be able to contact you.

 

[H_D]

Additionally: Build a record, keeping in mind that we can only respond to things that happen on the site and have no standing to do anything about what happens offsite. Take screenshots and do not edit them. Show us a documented timeline of harassment on-site and it will give us an easier time doing something about it.

The others said everything else.

 

[Slayer76]

Thank you for your replies. I'll start to document more of such interactions, and report any harassment in PMs.

The issue is, when people don't use words to directly harm us, but go behind people we date, plan to date, friends - and gives trouble to us that way. Blocking them in one account, they change their names or use a new account to come back and do the same thing again.

At one point, it might even make me hallucinate and mistake someone else for them lol.

Though I understand the current technical limitations, I hope we can find a solution for it.

On the other hand, I'll also continue to report any such issues to the mods. And keep in touch with someone.

 

[JamieJonez]

Additionally: Build a record, keeping in mind that we can only respond to things that happen on the site and have no standing to do anything about what happens offsite. Take screenshots and do not edit them. Show us a documented timeline of harassment on-site and it will give us an easier time doing something about it.

The others said everything else.

Does the site accept or does the site not except screenshots as 'evidence'? Because different GMs/Site Admins say different things to other site Admins/GMs, and sometimes the same people seem to say contradictory things about this at different times. The site needs to work out its policy on proof & evidence, especially for cases like this, involving alleged abuse or harassment. How about a definitive answer that the site and its 'officials' actually understands & sticks to with a consistent approach, @ChatMaster ? Preferably one more sophisticated than 'it's acceptable to us when it suits us to be but not when it's not' which, reading between the lines, seems to be the current policy.

 

[H_D]

Does the site accept or does the site not except screenshots as 'evidence'? Because different GMs/Site Admins say different things to other site Admins/GMs, and sometimes the same people seem to say contradictory things about this at different times. The site needs to work out its policy on proof & evidence, especially for cases like this, involving alleged abuse or harassment. How about a definitive answer that the site and its 'officials' actually understands & sticks to with a consistent approach, @ChatMaster ? Preferably one more sophisticated than 'it's acceptable to us when it suits us to be but not when it's not' which, reading between the lines, seems to be the current policy.

If you're asking if we accept screenshots as evidence of one particular itemized situation, then no. If someone pms you and threatens you for example, you would flag the pm and let us handle it that way.

Harassment, however, is a prolonged series of continuous unwanted contact. This involves you directly telling them not to contact you anymore, and then them subsequently ignoring that directive. If you show progression and escalation through the screenshots, it can be reviewed as a timeline. If you try to send us one singular out of context screen shot that only shows you two going back and forth, then no. If you're trying to demonstrate similarities in what you believe to be alternative usernames, they might also be useful.

Context matters is what I am saying.

 

[SouthernTuxedo]

A while back, report flags were not working and for that time period, we DID accept screenshots as evidence. However, now that report flags are fixed, we no longer allow screenshots. We do this for two reasons:
1. Report flags become part of the "paper trail" record. Its undeniable evidence right there in front of us.
2. Screenshots can be (and sometimes have been) edited/modified. Sometimes they crop out evidence that would incriminate them as well, but I personally have seen screenshots where they literally forge what someone else said, but didn't get the font quite right.

 

[JamieJonez]

A while back, report flags were not working and for that time period, we DID accept screenshots as evidence. However, now that report flags are fixed, we no longer allow screenshots. We do this for two reasons:
1. Report flags become part of the "paper trail" record. Its undeniable evidence right there in front of us.
2. Screenshots can be (and sometimes have been) edited/modified. Sometimes they crop out evidence that would incriminate them as well, but I personally have seen screenshots where they literally forge what someone else said, but didn't get the font quite right.

This makes total sense to me and is the way I've always understood it, yet a fellow mod is giving different advice and doubling down on 'it's acceptable to us at such times as it might be acceptable to us, but not when we don't feel like it'. The provision of contradictory information and advice isn't helpful to users, do people not see what I'm saying? Unless the real answer is 'its all about the luck of the draw and depends which mod you get', but I don't think that's quite true (or shouldn't be) either.

 

[SouthernTuxedo]

This makes total sense to me and is the way I've always understood it, yet a fellow mod is giving different advice and doubling down on 'it's acceptable to us at such times as it might be acceptable to us, but not when we don't feel like it'. The provision of contradictory information and advice isn't helpful to users, do people not see what I'm saying? Unless the real answer is 'its all about the luck of the draw and depends which mod you get', but I don't think that's quite true (or shouldn't be) either.

There are situations, such as a habitual cyber-bullying over multiple accounts where evidence needs to be gathered and gone over. Harassment can often be solved by simply blocking the offender. But if they're using multiple accounts to further that, then when you're able to compile all that evidence together to show the pattern and such... That can be a different story. Usually, at that point, you've gotten a particular GM or even someone higher to be aware of the situation and keeping the receipts for you, compiling the information as well. Like HD said, context matters.

 

[H_D]

This makes total sense to me and is the way I've always understood it, yet a fellow mod is giving different advice and doubling down on 'it's acceptable to us at such times as it might be acceptable to us, but not when we don't feel like it'. The provision of contradictory information and advice isn't helpful to users, do people not see what I'm saying? Unless the real answer is 'its all about the luck of the draw and depends which mod you get', but I don't think that's quite true (or shouldn't be) either.

Flag first, if we need more, we will ask. If we need screen shots, we will tell you and we will tell you what we need.

Put people who harass you on ignore. Nobody can harass you, if they can not reach you. If they cocontinue with other usernames, we can go from there.


Hope that simplifies things.

 

[ChatMaster]

Does the site accept or does the site not except screenshots as 'evidence'? Because different GMs/Site Admins say different things to other site Admins/GMs, and sometimes the same people seem to say contradictory things about this at different times. The site needs to work out its policy on proof & evidence, especially for cases like this, involving alleged abuse or harassment. How about a definitive answer that the site and its 'officials' actually understands & sticks to with a consistent approach, @ChatMaster ? Preferably one more sophisticated than 'it's acceptable to us when it suits us to be but not when it's not' which, reading between the lines, seems to be the current policy.

Admins could always receive screenshots.
That doesn’t mean what’s being sent will be accepted as factual.