I can't say why of course, but the inclusion of potentially politically polarizing words (lesbian in this case) can get you squelched in almost any online game community.
Like I said, I knew the story was not for everybody, and am not really surprised that some people complained. But if the Lesbian Hellions joke can go on for several months on these boards, I didn't figure that a story depicting Lesbian Hellions would be "inappropriate" in the MA.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
The Lesbian Hellions thing is a forum in-joke based on a legendarily terrible character bio, and my guess is that very, very, VERY few players are likely to get the joke. Couple that with some people's automatic instinct to criticize without thinking while simultaneously missing the point (remember the flap about there being no minority actors in the movie Pleasantville?), and an arc with "lesbian" in the title is likely to attract complaints from people who won't play long enough to find out what you're trying to do. And you're going to get it from both sides.
If you appeal the ban and republish, you might want to reserve your arc description for explaining why people shouldn't instantly condemn it. Sad, but that's the world we're in.
Arc 55669 - Tales of the PPD: One Hell of a Deal (video trailer)
Arc 64511 - The Wrecking Ball
Arc 1745 - The Trouble With Trimbles
Arc 302901 - HappyCorpse
[ QUOTE ]
Some thought it was "gay-bashing", when in fact it is making fun of anti-gay propaganda, and the whole "recruiting" business. Some people with this complaint might not have played far enough into it to see that.
[/ QUOTE ]
I imagine this is why it would have been pulled. Or at least it sounds as if it's your problem. Someone offended by a mission's content may not play through the arc, instead opting to quit and report. As a result, they will not see that it's a play on the theme they percieve; they'll just experience the part that offends their values and beliefs. And this in particular is an issue that raises hackles.
Alternatively, the folks opposed to the issue usually base their stance on their beliefs and values. Once they see your ending, they might be offended and report the arc as such.
In essence, such a plot is a lose/lose. You're offending one side of a heated debate ealy on, and they won't likely play the rest. You're offending the other side at the end of the arc. In essence, the plot ends up offending everyone.
To be fair that arc did have a fair bit of suggestive content that was perhaps borderline for a T rated game. I didn't think it crossed the line, but I can see where the complainers are coming from.
In cases like this, it shouldn't be a surprise that the GMs prefer to err on the side of caution as well. I would say that it would be risky for you to republish the arc in its current form, since eventually enough people will play it and report it again for a GM to take a second look. If they have to remove it a second time, it sounds like you lose the slot for good.
I'm very disappointed that this arc was banned. I thought it was very clever and no more sexual than normal CoX content is violent. But of course, violence is OK and sex is bad.
VIRTUE: Ms Pris - 50 scrapper, Brai Master - 50 tank, Candi Pain - 50 scrapper
VICTORY: Little Bertha - 50 blaster
[ QUOTE ]
But of course, violence is OK and sex is bad.
[/ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately that's the facts of existence in the US. Wether you like it or not, ultimately you have to either accept it or accept that there may be consequences for not going along with it.
@Mindshadow
[ QUOTE ]
I'm very disappointed that this arc was banned. I thought it was very clever and no more sexual than normal CoX content is violent. But of course, violence is OK and sex is bad.
[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome to Planet Amerika.
[ QUOTE ]
To be fair that arc did have a fair bit of suggestive content
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure it had all that much more suggestive content than a number of bikini ninja arcs I've played and enjoyed. At least the Lesbian Hellions wore more clothes.
But those, of course, were heterosexually suggestive. And I'm not about to start griefing other people's stories with hypocritical complains in the name of equal treatment.
If that's what's going on, I'm willing - aye, eager - to raise a humongous stink about it.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
Probably is which is sad. Some people are going to have this reaction no matter how you try to frame the story for a wide variety of reasons and yes griefing is one.
The development team and this community deserved better than this from NC Soft. Best wishes on your search.
You probably got reported a lot just for having "lesbian" in the title. That's just the sort of "button word" that people are going to report, regardless of context or intent.
I know the joke and all, and I'm sad that this is the case in the US, but the political correctness militias won quite a while ago and continue to rule the country sadly.
[ QUOTE ]
To be fair that arc did have a fair bit of suggestive content that was perhaps borderline for a T rated game. I didn't think it crossed the line, but I can see where the complainers are coming from.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ever done the State's TF? Aeon Mission with the 4 Patron sidekicks. I wont ruin it for those that havent, but one of the AV's dialog ventures pretty deep in BDSM-land. And thats developer content. If the dev's can go that far, players should be given the same level of latitude.
Tanker Tuesday #72 Oct 5 @Champion
"I am not sure if my portrayal of being insane is accurate, but damn its fun all the same."
Welcome to the side effects of the over eager Fun police in the MA.
developers get to build farm missions and not get banned, too.
I ran this just last night. I did enjoy the arc, and was thankful to find a custom group that wasn't overpowered and a pain in the neck.
However I did think that the story could have been offensive to lots of people. It wasn't over the top enough to be immediately identifiable as parody. The story of a group of lesbian villains corrupting female heroes and turning them gay could easily be seen as inflammatory. imagine if it were the other way around. A bunch of gay male villains kidnap and overpower heros and turn them queer? Not a chance that would be allowed. Also, the "Lesbification" machines seemed over the top.
I did like the "toaster" joke. Although from a storyline perspective I was disappointed that my female hero was in no danger of being converted.
[SIZE=1][COLOR=Yellow][U]Virtue Heroes (Serenity's Children):[/U] [B]@Eek a Mouse, The Devil's Mark, Outlaw Sniper, Gas-Soaked Rag Man, Amazon Prime, Friday's Child, Hot Blooded,[/B][B]Flower of the Moon[/B], [B]Rouge Demon Hunter[/B], Stimulated Emission, Animatronic Wench, [B]Lennie Small[/B]
[U]Virtue Villains (Serenity's Orphans):[/U][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=1][COLOR=Yellow] [/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=1][COLOR=Yellow] [B]Eek a Rat[/B], [B]Bomb Blondeshell[/B], Babe Brute, Jeanne Dark, Fallen Angle[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[ QUOTE ]
I can't say why of course, but the inclusion of potentially politically polarizing words (lesbian in this case) can get you squelched in almost any online game community.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, the same used to be said for the word "negro" too.
Funny how ignorance never dies.
[ QUOTE ]
I can't say why of course, but the inclusion of potentially politically polarizing words (lesbian in this case) can get you squelched in almost any online game community.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, the same used to be said for the word "negro" too.
Funny how ignorance never dies.
I have to agree with those who think that merely the word "Lesbians" got your arc banned. (Had you called it a Lesbian Farm, you may have been banned sooner ... but not before it hit Hall of Fame Status.)
It reminds me of the Jerry Seinfeld episode where they constantly refer to people as gay, homosexual, lesbian, etc, but always add in the expression "not that there's anything wrong with that."
Remember, though, you're in good company. Progressive liberals are still fighting for public school books like "Rosie has Two Mommys" or some such. (And not all conservatives are extreme "radical right" conservatives ... but still have strong feelings on these issues, too.)
SO, ulimately, you took on a hornet's nest and got stung. (I'm always a little surprised that the developer's created the Superdyne drug, and had no problems with that issue. Then again, its their game so they get to make the rules.)
Meanwhile, there are real world forums where your social commentary would be welcome. Just not apparrently this one. 
But I don't think there's much to be done about it.
Guh, never got a chance to play it. Maybe crank up the sarcasm and republish.
After all, everybody knows if you want to turn people gay, you have to recruit them when they're in second grade.
I've written a short letter to the devs asking them to rethink their decision. I'd encourage other folks with concerns to do the same. However, I have some small problem. Who exactly should I sent it to? Do we know which dev-person is point on this issue?
VIRTUE: Ms Pris - 50 scrapper, Brai Master - 50 tank, Candi Pain - 50 scrapper
VICTORY: Little Bertha - 50 blaster
[ QUOTE ]
An arc of mine ("Monstrous Regiment of Lesbian Hellions, 27178) showed up banned last night. The notice said that it had been banned by a GM, for "inappropriate content."
...
It was my understanding that complaints automatically banned arcs after a certain number had been received, and that republication cleared the ban and flagged it for human review.
[/ QUOTE ]
My read of the situation is that people complained, the arc got auto-banned, you edited and republished, and the GM that reviewed the arc after republication decided the complaints were valid and manually banned the arc.
Not sure what you need to do at this point, but if the GMs think the arc is inappropriate, you may just have to pull it permanently (and work with them to clear the arc slot).
And for a while things were cold,
They were scared down in their holes
The forest that once was green
Was colored black by those killing machines
[ QUOTE ]
I've written a short letter to the devs asking them to rethink their decision. I'd encourage other folks with concerns to do the same. However, I have some small problem. Who exactly should I sent it to? Do we know which dev-person is point on this issue?
[/ QUOTE ]
I would send it to Niviene. This is a customer service kind of issue, not a developer issue.
And for a while things were cold,
They were scared down in their holes
The forest that once was green
Was colored black by those killing machines
[ QUOTE ]
I've written a short letter to the devs asking them to rethink their decision. I'd encourage other folks with concerns to do the same. However, I have some small problem. Who exactly should I sent it to? Do we know which dev-person is point on this issue?
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think this is a dev issue at all. I mean, I can see Customer Service getting guidelines from the developers with regards to farming missions, but I can't see the devs typing up content guidelines, or really having much say in the matter. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask someone, but you may want to get an answer on wether they can do anything about it before sending them a bunch of letters asking them to.
@Mindshadow
An arc of mine ("Monstrous Regiment of Lesbian Hellions, 27178) showed up banned last night. The notice said that it had been banned by a GM, for "inappropriate content."
While the arc had several complaints, from people who didn't like the story --- and some of the old complaints had been taken into account, and used as the basis for improvements --- as far as I can tell no new complaints had been registered. With the same number of complaints, the arc is now banned where it was not before.
It was my understanding that complaints automatically banned arcs after a certain number had been received, and that republication cleared the ban and flagged it for human review. This arc, though, was banned one day and clear the day before, without any increase in complaints. I have petitioned the ban, and gotten no substantive response. I can only conclude either that:
- The ratio of complainers to players has been changed; or
- The technology to pull arcs automatically was not implemented until yesterday; or
- The arc has in fact been reviewed by human reviewers, and filing a petition about it is just spitting into the wind.
My concern, simply is this, from Positron's most recent post:
[ QUOTE ]
Q) What if people who have a grudge against me complain about my arc and get it banned? Why should I permanently lose a slot over that?
A) The first time your arc is pulled because of complaints, you do NOT lose the slot. If you get an arc banned and you do lose the slot, your only option at that point is to contact Customer Support. They are the gatekeepers to the slots, and can give you your slot back if it was banned in error.
[/ QUOTE ]
If I republish the story, and it is reviewed (either again or for the first time) and determined to be "inappropriate", does that mean that I permanently lose a slot because the first ban was not "in error?"
This is not some exploit farm mission; it's a story that some players didn't like. As far as I can tell, there's nothing in it that violates the ToS. There is no explicit sex. Some thought it was "gay-bashing", when in fact it is making fun of anti-gay propaganda, and the whole "recruiting" business. Some people with this complaint might not have played far enough into it to see that. Some may not have grasped from the title that you'd be fighting Lesbian Hellions in the arc.
Other complaints were obviously meritless, like the one who claimed that "children" should be shielded from the mention of lesbians and gays. If this is the case, not only my story but a large number of super groups on my home server (Victory) are in danger.
In short, while the arc's perspective and humor may not be for everyone, as far as I can tell I did not clearly violate any explicit policy I knew of. The arc seemed to be generally well liked and positive feedback outweighed the negative. Even if several of the complainers zero-starred the arc, it still had a four star rating.
I fully acknowledge that the final decision is not mine. If after actual review the arc is determined by Paragon to be inappropriate, I'm prepared to take it down - if I still can. The current problem is: the current stated policy suggests that if you republish to seek review of an arc with complaints, and the complaints are found to be valid, you automatically lose a story slot, and will only get the slot back if the ban was "in error".
I have other stories I want to publish - at some point I'm going to have to start cycling them - and do not want to risk this. I need some assurance here that I will not be running this risk by following the stated procedure after a complaint-generated ban.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison