[D] Mod Actions After Self-Harm Encouragement Reports

[United Calanworie]

I recently had a moderator explain to me the following after a GHR: "While the extreme flaming telegram you received was ample reason for the deletion of a nation, "I hope you kill yourself" is not a death threat. It was not a justification for banning the player from the site."

The telegram that was the subject of the GHR had quotes like "How do you sleep at night, because I want to know the best position to strangle you in your sleep," and "I hope you kill yourself and your friends because anyone who is friends with a person like you definitely deserves to die."

I'm surprised that this type of language does not warrant a removal from the site. How do mods treat self-harm encouragement? The nation in question was deleted, but is there anything that happens besides that? Also, is there any interest in a policy that would place self-harm encouragement as a DoS level offense? I myself believe that type of policy is badly needed if it does not exist.

That's all I have. Thank you in advance for your time on this. Any response will be appreciated.

[Reploid Productions]

A threat has to reach a minimum threshold of credibility to merit going straight to Delete-On-Sight; the sort that also typically means law enforcement is being contacted. Your average internet-tough-guy posturing as in the example you're referring to is worthy of a DEAT, but not a DOS fresh off a first offense. If the problem conduct continues, then report it and harsher measures will be taken for further rulebreaking behavior. If the problem conduct stops, then the original DEAT did its job and stopped the problem behavior.

People make stupid, implausible, and highly graphic threats online all the time. Very, very few of them are remotely credible. A threat is typically an instant-DEAT, with future escalations available if they don't catch the clue the first time that such posturing is not welcome here. In the vast majority of cases, the DEAT is plenty and the player learns and doesn't do it again; in that handful of cases where it isn't, the player is going to burn through their chances and earn a DOS in short order as they build up a record of rulebreaking.

[Nipponkyo]

If someone is making multiple consecutive threats like the offender mentioned in the OP and is also trying to encourage someone to commit suicide or engage in self-harm, I think that should warrant an automatic DoS.

[Reploid Productions]

If someone is making multiple consecutive threats like the offender mentioned in the OP and is also trying to encourage someone to commit suicide or engage in self-harm, I think that should warrant an automatic DoS.

That would fall under "continued rulebreaking", yes. At which point their overall history would be evaluated and put to a vote among the team per standard DOS procedure.

[Nipponkyo]

If someone is making multiple consecutive threats like the offender mentioned in the OP and is also trying to encourage someone to commit suicide or engage in self-harm, I think that should warrant an automatic DoS.

That would fall under "continued rulebreaking", yes. At which point their overall history would be evaluated and put to a vote among the team per standard DOS procedure.

When it comes to online interactions, no one really knows who they are really talking to behind the screen. For example, you don't know who I am, I don't know who you are. You don't know what my personality really is, I don't know what your personality is. I don't know if you are really a kind person or a violent person. I don't know if you are a strong person who can endure anything or if you are someone who is struggling and in a dark place.

The bottom line is that we don't truly know each other. Sure, some people will issue a threat in jest, but others will be very serious and actually mean to cause harm. We don't know this person so we can't really tell if he or she is serious. Likewise, if you tell someone to kill or harm themselves and others, there is no way you can truly know how they will react to it.

You might have some idea of these things if you physically saw the people involved and knew them, but in the online world, it is a more uncertain and dangerous game. At least, that is my opinion.

[Ashotu two]

/notamod You can only post appeals for Your nations and threads.

Mentioned in the Rules (one stop rules).
That post also falls under flaming, or another rule breaking action.
The mods probably won't take action

/sorryifthisismodspam

/Edit
Read more, Those were death threats.
Its also illegal. Im not sure why you want to revive this guy.

[Chingis]

/notamod You can only post appeals for Your nations and threads.

Mentioned in the Rules (one stop rules).
That post also falls under flaming, or another rule breaking action.
The mods probably won't take action

To quote a fellow mod:

The relevant parts are actually in READ ME FIRST: How to use Moderation, specifically (emphasis mine):
Leave the moderating to the Moderators.

We can handle mod matters just fine ourselves.