While I believe the chat filter is un-necessary I do see the benefit of it because the younger fanbase. In this post I will go over a few Pros and Cons of this new chat filter to both players and staff.
Pros for the Players
-A younger fanbase can play with this new chat system, expanding the community.
-Provides an OKAY solution to spamming and "cursing"
Cons for the Players
-Less freedom of expression: (Ex. If you fall off in /warp pvp and type "FUDGE" no one will take you seriously.)
-Mistakes in the system: (now some word combinations and names are unable to be typed. Ex. If you were to say any word with sh at the end followed by a space then the word it, the game would detect you saying "sh it" as opposed to "Push it"
-(this one might just be my opinion) Chat Filter Bypassers: This is the most annoying thing I've ever seen. People who bypass chat filter just to say what they would have said in the first place are only as annoying as spongebob or not having a release date for the new prison.
The main problem is if you try to fix the mistakes in the system by making the chat more lenient you subject yourself to more chat filter bypassers and the more strict you make it to stop the bypassers, the less freedom people have. Lose Lose situation.
Pros for the Staff
-Easier Moderation: While us players would like to think the only reason the staff is ever on is to Moderate our chat, ban the hackers and assist us, its not the only reason they are here. Even though that tends to take most of their time they are still here to PLAY THE GAME just like us. This easier moderation would make it to where a lot of them can take less time busy and actually have some free time to play like they loved doing when they first started.
-Less Reports: I've seen quite a few reports based around mistreatment of chat privileges to bully, harass or annoy. This chat filter puts those to a halt by making them harder to do.
Cons for the Staff
-One of the only cons I can think of for staff is Chat bypassers.
-Another very minor one is, what if a staff member likes to have their chat unfiltered because it helps them to better see inside the minds of the players and helps to get to know them better. That in turn helps to build the community.
My Suggestion?
I only came into writing this post with one solution but have thought of one way better in the process of writing.
My first idea was to have staff be able to turn off chat filter with a command when they get on and regulate chat as normal. Of course there would be an auto-detector if staff were disconnected or they could turn it off manually before getting off. This would have chat be a much better (more normal) place but only when staff is on.
My second idea (the one I favor) is to have the chat filter as a default set to on but the players can pull up a menu using maybe /chat or /filter to access the filter and turn off all of it or just pieces. The "cursing" detector when on could still display the message but with a **** instead of shit. The spam detector would remove any identical or very similar chat messages said within the last *insert amount here* of messages. That way the older community that wants no chat filter can have no chat filter while the kids can still have their chat filter and the server would still be kid friendly. Sure this second option would take more effort to produce but would it be worth it?
Before I end I just want to say that this is meant to be a DEBATE POST so please don't just vote on the poll (make sure you vote on the poll though ) but put your opinion in the comments and if you think you can fix the idea better....
TELL US HOW.
I look forward to seeing everyone's opinion and as always
~Cheech <3
Pros for the Players
-A younger fanbase can play with this new chat system, expanding the community.
-Provides an OKAY solution to spamming and "cursing"
Cons for the Players
-Less freedom of expression: (Ex. If you fall off in /warp pvp and type "FUDGE" no one will take you seriously.)
-Mistakes in the system: (now some word combinations and names are unable to be typed. Ex. If you were to say any word with sh at the end followed by a space then the word it, the game would detect you saying "sh it" as opposed to "Push it"
-(this one might just be my opinion) Chat Filter Bypassers: This is the most annoying thing I've ever seen. People who bypass chat filter just to say what they would have said in the first place are only as annoying as spongebob or not having a release date for the new prison.
The main problem is if you try to fix the mistakes in the system by making the chat more lenient you subject yourself to more chat filter bypassers and the more strict you make it to stop the bypassers, the less freedom people have. Lose Lose situation.
Pros for the Staff
-Easier Moderation: While us players would like to think the only reason the staff is ever on is to Moderate our chat, ban the hackers and assist us, its not the only reason they are here. Even though that tends to take most of their time they are still here to PLAY THE GAME just like us. This easier moderation would make it to where a lot of them can take less time busy and actually have some free time to play like they loved doing when they first started.
-Less Reports: I've seen quite a few reports based around mistreatment of chat privileges to bully, harass or annoy. This chat filter puts those to a halt by making them harder to do.
Cons for the Staff
-One of the only cons I can think of for staff is Chat bypassers.
-Another very minor one is, what if a staff member likes to have their chat unfiltered because it helps them to better see inside the minds of the players and helps to get to know them better. That in turn helps to build the community.
My Suggestion?
I only came into writing this post with one solution but have thought of one way better in the process of writing.
My first idea was to have staff be able to turn off chat filter with a command when they get on and regulate chat as normal. Of course there would be an auto-detector if staff were disconnected or they could turn it off manually before getting off. This would have chat be a much better (more normal) place but only when staff is on.
My second idea (the one I favor) is to have the chat filter as a default set to on but the players can pull up a menu using maybe /chat or /filter to access the filter and turn off all of it or just pieces. The "cursing" detector when on could still display the message but with a **** instead of shit. The spam detector would remove any identical or very similar chat messages said within the last *insert amount here* of messages. That way the older community that wants no chat filter can have no chat filter while the kids can still have their chat filter and the server would still be kid friendly. Sure this second option would take more effort to produce but would it be worth it?
Before I end I just want to say that this is meant to be a DEBATE POST so please don't just vote on the poll (make sure you vote on the poll though ) but put your opinion in the comments and if you think you can fix the idea better....
TELL US HOW.
I look forward to seeing everyone's opinion and as always
~Cheech <3
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