Since when do people filing the reports get the ban?? (They fixed it!)

[HopelessMagic]

Ok, this is just an outrage! I just got a two hour ban because I reported someone for saying "<removed> you" to me. (I filtered it for the board, bird is the word if you follow me) I GOT THE BAN! NOT THEM! I immediately filed a complaint through contact us but I swear...what foreign moron read the report and decided the reporter should get frozen instead of the person actually saying it??? It HAS to be someone who can't read because that's just crazy.

I'm very disappointed in their customer service. You wonder why people can get away with this stuff for hours? Well here's one of the reasons! People on the other end aren't doing their jobs right.

The conversation went something like this. I'm in a trade room and the millionth person asks me if I want to trade my hat. Mind you, it clearly says in my signature that I'm not trading what I'm wearing. People just don't think to read or don't care. I don't know. So it begins...

HER: Are you trading your hat?
ME: No, learn to read. The signature says it all.
HER: <removed>you
ME: reported!
HER: I don't give a d###
ME: have an ice day
*click close trade*

It took them, no lie, about TWO MINUTES after my report to ban ME. I know that's what it was because the report said "<removed> you" is not appropriate language. But I never said it!! I'm so furious with them it's crazy. This is the only time I get to spend online and because someone pushed the wrong button or just straight out can't read, I have to find something else to do AND have a mark on my record.

They better remove this mark. I did nothing to deserve this but try to uphold VMK values. And this is how they rewarded me.

 

[cat_herder]

lots of hugs to you

 

[AvastPirateBen]

where here for ya hope.


i dont get it...for u saying what she did u get the ban...its almost like vmk got taken over by hostile terrorists that are brainless...

 

[sassymom]

That makes no sense at all. Sorry to hear that, I hope they fix it somehow and can remove it from your record. Things like that can make someone not report things in the future.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I'm sorry to hear this, friend. It is ridiculous and I hope they reverse this soon so it doesn't stay on your record.

Now, sadly I will say I'm not entirely surprised. I've heard quite a few people tell similar stories a couple months back; they reported someone and said word for word (in the report) what the offending player said. Then the reporter got banned and the offender got off scott free. That's why when I think it was Hula telling some of y'all to report things word for word, I really had to wonder about that. My guess is it's policy that you should report word for word (aka Hula is right), but there's one or two people monitoring the report feature that either, like you said, don't read or have no sense whatsoever or don't even know their own rules/guidelines.

Yet again, another example of the psycho players on VMK getting away with murder. Something seriously needs to be done to stop all this. They tell us to report things and it "bugs" Yavn if we don't, but who can blame people for not getting involved when stuff like this happens?

 

[HopelessMagic]

Sadly, those were my thoughts exactly. I will never use the report button after this. If there is a chance that I could be banned for reporting someone else's actions, I just won't report anymore. I think instead, I will simply leave the room and do nothing.

It shouldn't be this way but why should I risk my account for their gain? Maybe in the future if they get their act together, I'll reconsider. For now, I think I'll pretend the report button doesn't exist.

 

[HopelessMagic]

That's why when I think it was Hula telling some of y'all to report things word for word, I really had to wonder about that.

There's actually a flaw with that though. As I'm sure many have noticed, when you report something, you're restricted to the same limitations as you are in public. This includes not being able to say the same word three times in a row. If you're reporting a couple of lines, you can only say I said and she said twice. Not to mention, only two periods and only two commas. A line or two into the report, you may have to get creative just to get your point across. Instead of saying I, now you're saying me and instead of her, you're saying she and it looks like gibberish.

I'd love to tell them the conversation exactly as it was told but their system makes it impossible. They need to help us help them before we can effectively report anyone.

 

[TikiKrissy]

This includes not being able to say the same word three times in a row. If you're reporting a couple of lines, you can only say I said and she said twice. Not to mention, only two periods and only two commas. A line or two into the report, you may have to get creative just to get your point across. Instead of saying I, now you're saying me and instead of her, you're saying she and it looks like gibberish.

Forgive me if you already know this, but...
You can capitalize letters. So you can say I and I and i and i and She and She and she and she.
So that makes it less gibberish-ish.
Tiki

 

[Maleficent2]

I am so sorry Hope that this happen to you.

 

[HopelessMagic]

Seriously?? I've never really seen anyone do that and I've never tinkered with the word filter enough to notice.

 

[HopelessMagic]

I see the word in question was removed. I tried to use #s to filter it out except one letter, but I can understand why it was taken out completely.

Oh and my 2 hours seems to be up but I'll definetely be on their case about removing that mark. I'd take it up with the Hosts if I knew they wouldn't tell me to use the void that is the contact us link.

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Magic I am very sorry that it happened to you. I can understand how frustrating it can be. If it makes you feel any better, your ban now makes you eligible for the Bad Gnome Club!

 

[Laurabearz]

I am going to try and bring this to Hula's attention.... it goes against what she told us... What exactly did you say in the report? Just wondering...

But in the future, I suggest you NOT tell the person you feel the need to report, that you are reporting them. It only agravates the situation... Just report and leave..


((hugs))

 

[disvaclub92]

But in the future, I suggest you NOT tell the person you feel the need to report, that you are reporting them. It only agravates the situation... Just report and leave..


((hugs))

Hugs - I agree with Bears - never tell them you are reporting them - leave it as a surprise.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see where Magic said she told the person she was reporting them. She said have a nice day, closed the trade out, then reported them. Am I reading something wrong? Been a long day, so it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Billy Hill]

I got banned for a month one time because a player on freinds list sent me a message and they were like trying to give a phone # in the message. So as soon as I read it far enough to see that they were trying to give info I replied to their message saying that they can never give info and that I'm reporting them so I don't get in trouble about it. About a minute after I reported I got a pop up that said I was banned for a month for giving info. And all I did was report someone that tried to give me info. I used contact us and they took off the ban but it took weeks for them to reply and realize they messed up and banned the wrong person. And they didn't even say sorry or anything. Their email just said something like.. - We have reviewed your ban and removed it - and that was it. They could have said - Hey, and we're sorry you missed out on all the stuff that came out for the 2 weeks u were banend for no reason and here's like 3 of each item to make it up to u -. But there was nothing like that.

And what was even worse was when I got back in the game the player that sent me the message was still there and never got banned at all. I took them off my friends list and never talked to them again even when they like begged to be a friend again. I was so sad and mad that they banned me for nothing and didn't do anything to the player that caused it. And I thought about reporting that they never banned the other player but I was worried that they'd ban me again by accidnet so I never did. And now I don't hardly report very much because I'm afraid they'll ban the wrong person again. So anyway, I was bummed out about that deal when it happened. I'm over it now but reading this post reminded me of it big time.

 

[See.low]

I had a similar thing happen. I was playing pirates with Ricks and a player kept saying inappropriate things and finally dictionary danced his way into a report by me. Fortunately, we exited into the same lobby and I reported him. I didn't include the "he said, and then I said" because what he said on his own was enough. I did explain that while I personally could ignore it, there are enough young people that play this game who do not need to be exposed to language like that. Not more than a few minutes later I receive a warning from VMK staff talking about false reporting and how it will lead me to a ban. I am less inclined to report now after that which isn't right.

 

[HopelessMagic]

I did tell them I was reporting them. In fact that was the second thing I said to them LOL. I think it was out of frustration since I was already annoyed at the 5 people before her who asked about my hat and begged for items. But I doubt I'll be reporting anyone from here on out so remembering not to say it should be a piece of cake.

Bad Gnome Club!?! Thank you almighty Gnome Leader. I will serve you well.

What exactly did you say in the report? Just wondering...

Well I had no idea that you could say she and She and it would be different words. I thought you could only say the word twice and that was all. So when I wrote it, I had to start substituting words and leaving words out to get my point across. It went something like this:

"Was in a trade room. Girl asked for my hat. I said learn to read, the signature says it all. Not nice but still within guidelines. She said #### you and I said reported! Her say I don't give a #### and me said have an ice day, then closed trade."

That's not word for word, but pretty darn close. Either way, it should be blatantly obvious that I was the one reporting her. You'd think looking at the logs or clicking THEM would be the only possibly way to go.

Maybe the people breeze through these reports and when they get to the part where they have to pick the person to ban they sometimes forget who was who. I wish I knew.

I can't believe they let yours go for months before doing anything. That's crazy. If I was banned longer I'd be beyond furious. I'm not even sure what to call that. Unbridled rage perhaps? I'm surprised you didn't take a ride down there or something. I'd be on the phone yelling at someone or something. I'd be like...now you listen here...

 

[cat_herder]

I am going to try and bring this to Hula's attention.... it goes against what she told us... What exactly did you say in the report? Just wondering...

But in the future, I suggest you NOT tell the person you feel the need to report, that you are reporting them. It only agravates the situation... Just report and leave..


((hugs))

Yeah, I don't tell people I'm report them, I just do it.

I think a lot of "false reporting" comes from the fact some will say I'm reporting you, and the other party reports them first.

Dianne

 

[Goofy05]

Write to vmk using the "contact us" tool. Ask them to review your ban, but be polite! VMK staff does review bans. It may take a few days or so, but if they find you were banned unfairly, they will reverse it and clear your record.
I know you all want to listen to Hula's advice and report word-for-word, but I never do that. When I report someone for bad language, I simply state they are using bad language. Please use good judgment on who and when to report, as well. If you report everyone you feel is saying something inappropriate, and report people too often, you can be banned for abusing the report feature. It's why vmk stresses the "ignore" button. Please use it and only report the more serious offenses.
I'm sorry you were banned for trying to do the right thing, and don't let a two hour time-out stop you from reporting serious offences.