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It's a job
nobody loves, to drag that hefty bag of trash out to the curb. Well,
it's garbage night and you know your parents are going to make you take
it out. You avoid it as much as you can because you don't want to be
anywhere near the foul-smelling garbage that occupies the garbage can.
But soon enough it builds up and you can't ignore it. You have to
take it out or you will suffer its stench that is consuming the
household. Well, it's the same case here on Whyville. Not with virtual
trash, but with dirty, trash talking Whyvillians that are like those
flies around a McDonald's dumpster -- they're multiplying and taking over Whyville. Nobody has the heart to
shut them down. Well, this is BabyPowdr here, with a
simple and fair solution... fair in theory, at least, but who to choose?
Let's all
wander back in time to the days when Whyville was mostly swear-free. I remember there were a few rude people who were excessive with the bad
language, and others for whom it was a mild slip of the key. Or in context
to the conversation. But, even so, it wasn't minded. It's when people
started to swear AT people that problems really started to come around. So, what
did we do back then? Simply type in Warn *user screen mane* and they got a yellow X across their face. Then, if they did it again, someone else
could warn them, and give them a red X. Then, after three warnings, the
offending fellow was sent out of the chatroom. Well, that was mighty
fine until people started to abuse that system. In the end,
after many attempts to solve the problems, City Workers had to just take away swearing
completely. Hmm... good call, or no?
Now people can
deceive the system with punctuations, numbers, symbols... and what
happens then is that people see it and report for swearing. Well, guys, I hate to say it, but that's not what 911 report is for. Sure, you're
being helpful, but -- in all honesty, the 911 report tool was supposed
to be thought of like 911 on the telephone. for EMERGENCIES ONLY. I mean, you don't call 911 every time you fall off your bike, do you? (If
you do, you need to speak to your parents about some discipline measures....)
This is straight from the instructions in the callbox about the 991 tool:
"City Workers
will check the chat logs and investigate this case immediately.
Perpetrators of wrongdoing will be punished swiftly and soundly, but if
the report is frivolous or false, the reporter will be penalized..
Use this tool
when:
someone is asking for personal information like
passwords, phone numbers or home addresses.
someone asking to meet outside of Whyville, in real life
you believe someone is really an adult pretending to be a kid
someone using EXTREMELY lewd, offensive language that makes Whyvillians
feel scared, worried, or threatened.
Do NOT use this
tool to:
punish someone for swearing or cursing a few
times
win an argument
get back at an enemy
punish someone for saying something mean like "You're ugly."
report projectile fights "
There are other
tools, let me remind you. This is part of the main problem with
frivolous reports. You need to use the warn, vaporize, and silence
tools more often.
First- Warn.
I think that
warn is definitely the mildest of all three. I would advise
you use this tool when someone is saying rude things, more than once. Anything
from continually calling someone an 'ugly noob' to swearing. And, in my opinion,
it should be swearing in a bad way, not the occasional "what the hell?" or "oh
crap". Something bad like, serious name calling and stuff. Before you do it,
ask them to stop. If they won't, warn them.
Editor's Note: As I understand it, the Warn tool no longer works. You can check with City Management to make sure.
If you feel this is not
enough, click Vaporize.
Vaping a person
is totally okay. Don't be afraid to do it once in a while, or more often if you
need. I would say this is
for when you have asked people to stop, you've already warned them,
and yet they still persist. So vape them. They can't tell you did it,
but you can no longer see or hear them. I think, however, if they come
back into a room, you can see them again if you vaporize them normally. Permanent vaporize mean you can never see them again, unless you change it in
your address book. While people vaped, they
can still read your bubbles, but can't reply back because you can't see it.
But, if they continually come back after you vape them, it's time for
stage three -- Silence.
This tool is
mighty cool. You can silence people and never hear a thing they say,
until you unsilence them from your address book. I have actually never used it.
It's like the block on most chat services. (The main difference between this and
Permanent Vaporize is that you can still see them, so you know they're around.) But if it's called for, go
for it!
I am interviewing a good Whyvillian friend of mine about what he thinks we
should do. He came up with a neat idea, and we're going to expand on it.
BabyPowdr: Hi HolySock; mind if I interview you? It's about the changing ways of Whyville, and
what you think should be done.
HolySock: Sure, why not?
BabyPowdr: You have
been on Whyville for a while?
HolySock: Yes.
BabyPowdr: In all the
time you have spent here, what do you find to have changed the most?
HolySock: Probably the
way Whyvillians treat each other.
BabyPowdr: I noticed that, too. What has been, do you think, the biggest turn downhill
in terms of respect towards your fellow Whyvillians?
HolySock: The way some
people insult other Whyvillians by calling them 'newbies'. Or insulting
people because of their looks
BabyPowdr: Would you
say that bad language and hostility is a factor too?
HolySock: Yes, I think
that as hard as City Hall tries to stop bad language, it is still there. I also think that City Hall should punish those who substitute letters
in bad words, because it is still swearing.
BabyPowdr: Yes. It is!
But that aside, what do you propose gets done? A squad of trash talker-busters?
HolySock: Yes I think
that would have a huge impact, and maybe like the WSP get a special
tool to punish.
BabyPowdr: What if that
tool was given to people instead, with a longer 'lifespan' if you will,
at Whyville? That weren't usually in trouble and are active members of
the community?
HolySock: Yes, but what
if they abuse the privilege. I think it should be given to people that
show the qualities needed. But, unlike the WSP it should have a lot of
members. That way the majority of the time a member is on Whyville.
BabyPowdr: I agree -- that's why I say basically clean records... and someone who is ALWAYS on.
Well, thank you for your ideas, HolySock, I hope to talk to you later!
HolySock: No problem.
Well, there you have it. City Management -- we are asking you to please consider
this. Make a squad of Whyvillians with the authority to warn, kick from the
room, and even tape in the most severe cases, the ones misbehaving.
Choosing wisely may not be an issue -- there are many people who have
clean records -- but choosing those who will not abuse the privileges could be
challenging.
Well, thank you everyone for your time in reading this, and
please remember to use the tools wisely, and stop reporting things that
are not listed under 911 report. Oh, and it's not a crime to be ugly,
so people, please stop saying you are reporting me for being ugly...
it's not a concern.
~BP
Editor's Note: Please let
City Management know about these words that slip by the filter, so the filter
can be improved. Thanks!
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