New /lfg channel: Good idea, but so much cross posting

As I expected, aggressive LFM spammers did not move from Help to LFG. Normal LFT/LFM traffic did move to LFG, but the aggressive LFM spammers simply doubled down on the spam, cross posting across both channels. This behavior results in flooding for anyone watching both channels. Even worse if they're also cross-posting to Broadcast, which they often do.

I propose the GMs restrict the channel access for aggressive cross posting LFM spammers. For example, ban them from /help. They will not self-limit the amount of disruption they cause, so external limits must be placed.

Why not just /ignore them?
Ignore lists are finite and temporary. On Virtue, the number of spammers intentionally doing this is large, and will eventually fall off the ignore list once it's filled.

So you want the GMs to ban everyone who LFTs in /help?
Sometimes players will get desperate and send a LFT message to help chat after trying in the LFG channel (even though it does them no good). They should not be restricted for an occasional lapse in judgement. Only players who habitually cross post LFM spam in both channels should be restricted.

But what if they're innocent?
In my experience, aggressive LFM spammers, without a single exception, were well aware of the disruption they were causing. And they didn't care. And they made those facts clear to me in hostile terms (Direct quote: "Deal with it."). Like RMT spammers, aggressive LFM spammers will cause any amount of channel disruption you allow them to, as long as it has any chance of getting them what they want.

So how will they get teams?
They should remain allowed to post in /lfg. Restrictions should only stop them from cross posting to every other channel. It's the flooding, not the content, that is disruptive, so reducing the volume, not muting, is the appropriate response.

So start using /ignore_spammer. That's what it's for. Of course no one wants to be the guy that files a petition so they choose to ignore that feature and expect the GM's to pick up the slack leaving them less time to help the players that actually have real problems that need solving.

Er... no. I'd rather not have GMs be sent to "police" the LFG or Help channels. I'd rather have them dealing with *real* issues.

See my Guides and Tutorials

It's been what, 24 hours?

I'm sure people will figure it out before too long.

I noticed that too. I'm thinking people are using chat macros because I have stood in Atlas park, prior to the LFG channel, and see people post in broadcast and not a second later post in the help channel with the exact same message, or vice versa. It is really annoying. And when I first logged in the LFG channel was already added to my help chat tab and noticed players posting in LFG and help at the exact same time. Yesterday it wasn't as bad. In fact the help chat was somewhat dead for a good part of the day compared to before with only occasional LFTs in it and people asking questions about the game.

I prefer to solo play most of the time and here is what I did to solve my problem: I created a new chat tab for LFG. I keep my top section of my chat on the help channel. This way I can see if there is a question I can answer when someone is asking for help on something and I don't see many looking for teams. If I am interested in seeing if anyone is starting a team for something I want to do, I can click the LFG tab and check it out.

I just ignore people who spam HELP... Who knows maybe by the time they get rotated off my ignore list..they will have learned by now.. if not.. Re-Ignore

The LFG chan seemed quite active yesterday on Freedom...and HELP seemed much less concerned with "lft" stuff... I did see a few people direct others to the new chan...and a few "Oh oops... thanks" comments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladiamors I love you, I Burnt the Toast!

1 thing I am getting tired of seeing.........

People in the help channel begging to be farmed, i.e. power leveled.

-I highlighted the messages by 1 player in the screen shot. Character names have been censored.-

ignore is your friend

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladiamors I love you, I Burnt the Toast!

First of all there is so many that can go on the ignore list. Second, at this rate, I would have to ignore half the people in the LFG channel because they are double posting in LFG and help. Like I said before, the messages show up simultaneously and I suspect they are using macros.

Examples from further playing today:





2 people almost back to back double posting in 2 channels, possibly with macros. (1 of which continued to keep double posting in both channels after I asked very nicely to post only in the LFG channel. )

<.<

First off, it is pretty simple to either copy and paste the message or just repeat the same message in a new channel (hit CTRL+UPArrow and you can scroll through your previous messages).

Secondly, it is a new channel and it is GREAT that people are using it and not just shunning the use of it.
Over time, the Help channel should no longer be used for such things.

Thirdly... "aggressive LFM spammers"??
I'm sorry, but this is making me laugh.
You tag them with this overly negative name and try and make a case about how terrible they are...
Now, I tend to solo most of the time, so I am not an Aggressive LFM Spammer... nor am I a sworn follower or beneficiary of theirs. However, maybe we could call them over-eager... if they really are being over-eager.

Also, cross-posting in appropriate channels is perfectly fine.
If you're ever a member of several global channels used for teaming and networking, you'll see plenty of it and it makes perfect sense. Not everyone is on or monitoring each of those channels.
Hopefully, and it likely will, time will move along and the Help channel will lose its improper designation as the Freebie/Premium lfg channel.
However, Broadcast and LFG will continue to be used with the same messages, I have little doubt of that.
And hopefully, those within player-made global channels will "spam" within those many channels as well as LFG and Broadcast.

Spam, spam, spam, sewer trials and spam, but without the spam, please.

Pressing up while chatting can enter a message you previously entered. If you're messaging in another channel, the previous message can be entered in it without macro's or copy/paste. There's still no excuse for spamming LFG in the help channel though now that there's a LFG channel. It should go away over time as people get used it. Give it about 3 weeks before demanding action.

But . . . but . . . the angry mob is here with their torches and pitchforks, and they have the tar and feathers ready to go now.



<sigh>

Okay you heard the man people. It's too early for this. Can everbody reschedule overreacting for June 25th?

If it's bothering the OP so much you could just remove the channel from your tab. It wasn't there prior to I23, so you wouldn't miss it.

I was doing this on the weekend - crossposting in broadcast and LFG for a sewer trial that I had ended up stepping up to lead.

I did this because it worked - I got more tells after a Broadcast message than after a LFG message.
The LFG channel is by default a non-attention grabbing blue that matches the hero UI, and only appears in your top pane. People arent used to monitoring it yet.

Hopefully in time this will shift, and most team forming will occur in LFG, but these things are a little bit organic. Until then, is it really that hard to put up with in return for an active pick-up group community?

In response to a couple of you (sorry don't know how to multi-quote) I never once mentioned broadcast in my posts on this thread. I have no problems with people LFG in broadcast.

2 reasons why I don't mind:
#1. Currently I am working on a praetorian doing all the missions in the 3 zones and my character is level 15. (those familiar with the going rogue population know what I mean )

#2. When doing missions I don't see any new messages in broadcast anyway, even if I AM monitoring it.

I monitor Help tab at the top and my created Rewards tab at the bottom. My bottom Chat tab is for Broadcast, Tells, Super group chat. (About 1/4 or 1/3 of the time playing I'm answering questions in Help to Help people, hence why I monitor it. )

Besides, broadcast is zone specific, not server wide like LFG or Help. I see no reason why it would bother anybody if say, they're passing through Talos Island and someone is using broadcast to see if there might be anyone else in that zone only, that may want to team up.

In regards to the "LFG being added to the help tab by default and some players don't know how to edit tabs"..........my concern was that these players may be more apt to "ignore as spammer" due to the double LFG/Help posts appearing in a single tab for them. And that would be unfortunate for them because they would not have those players available for helping them and it may be harder to find teams if their ignore list fills up with nothing but people LFG.

But I do agree with you guys: it will take a little time for things to be sorted out and players getting use to the changes.

Now if only we could have a Trade channel........

Put me down for not wanting to waste GM time on this.

Team leaders trying to get members not equal Aggressive LFM spammers.