So you want to be a troll
So you think you want to be a troll...
Perhaps you feel like you discovered a loophole in our rules and policies that allows you to offend everyone on the server all you want and they can't do a thing about it.
Perhaps you just like to be annoying because you think it's funny.
Perhaps there's someone on the server you dislike and you want to get back at them for whatever reason.
"Freedom of speech" is not a bug or loophole.
Our freedom of speech policy is intended to allow our players the ability to intelligently discuss freely whatever topics they like without being censored. To use whatever language they feel comfortable using without our staff having to police the words and phrases they might use in doing so.
It is in place because the server's owner believes in free discourse without censorship and because we do not want to be seen as a server that simply bans whoever we disagree with.
It is not intended as a means to be deliberately offensive to the rest of the server's community just for your own entertainment.
Our freedom of speech policy applies in-game only.
While you may have been attracted to the idea of trolling on MCO due to the server's policy of free speech, it doesn't make you truly untouchable.
- That freedom does not extend to our chat platforms, such as Discord, IRC, or Telegram.
- Most of those chat services have Terms of Service which do not allow the kind of language that is often employed by trolls.
- We already allow freedom of speech in-game. We have no intention of enduring abuse from four different directions.
- If you are a burden on Discord, Telegram, or IRC, expect to find yourself kicked or banned with little or no warning.
- On these chat platforms, you may be kicked or banned for *any* reason at all. If you've established a consistent pattern of trolling, you might get banned the moment you show your face on one of these chat platforms.
- Keep in mind that appeals for in-game bans MUST be conducted in public on one of these chat platforms. If you are already banned from them, you have NO recourse for an in-game ban appeal.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
While you will not be banned for what you say in-game, players and staff may respond through in-game means.
- You may be insulted in return, possibly even more rudely.
- Your character may be killed. Repeatedly.
- Your items may be looted from you. And not returned or replaced.
- Your mobs and pets may be killed. Repeatedly.
- Your unlocked chests may be looted.
- And many other possible in-game responses to your behavior.
Do not expect 'appropriate' responses to inappropriate behavior.
Whether or not you feel like the responses are warranted or appropriate, so long as you continue to provoke those responses, staff will continue to permit, and potentially even engage in, such responses and not consider you to be "bullied" but rather to be receiving exactly what you asked for. Talk shit, get hit.
Further considerations.
Should you break the rules in-game after having been a long-term troll, you may see what you consider to be unfair treatment regarding your ban.
- It is important to note that ANY breakage of in-game rules no matter how small warrants an immediate, permanent ban.
- We are not required to give out warnings before banning players who break the rules.
- It is solely up to the opinion and discretion of the responding staff members whether they should extend you the courtesy of a mere warning, or if they should proceed with your ban.
- If your behavior has been a constant thorn in our sides, do not expect to be extended any such courtesies.
So if you're fine with the fact that you may be:
- Insulted and killed repeatedly in response to your trolling, and staff does nothing about it,
- Banned from all the chat platforms,
- Banned in-game the second you slip up and break a rule,
- Unable to appeal your ban because you're not allowed on any of the chat platforms,
...then, by all means, try your luck.
You probably won't last.
It remains a fact that no troll has stuck around on MCO long-term. All have fallen by the wayside and been forgotten. You won't be any different.