Do something about this.

Ah, our weekly "Why is cursing not allowed if there's a Profanity Filter?" thread. I'd wondered when another of these would crop up. Feel free to consult my most recent response to such concerns, Bidalap, and please forgive me for quoting myself here -- it would be rather redundant to simply parrot myself each time this comes up again. With any luck, the passage below should explain our stance on the Profanity Filter:

Q u o t e:
What many players seem not to realise when they cite the Profanity Filter as reasoning why vulgar language should be allowed in World of Warcraft is that this feature exists solely as an additional layer of defense against behaviour that is already considered to be a violation of policy.

As using inappropriate language is specifically prohibited by the Terms of Use -- both to encourage an atmosphere in which players may be comfortable, and to uphold the Teen rating granted by the ESRB -- whether or not the reporting player is using their Profanity Filter is immaterial. The purpose of the filter is so that players who do not wish to view profanity may shield themselves from some of the more common terms, but that does not by any means suggest that they have waived their right to report players for what is a clear breach of the Harassment Policy.

Let's use an analogy; those are always fun:

Everyone has the option of wearing a bulletproof vest. Does that mean it's legal to shoot them, because they have less chance of being hurt?

The answer, friends, is a resounding no.

The act of firing a weapon at someone is still illegal, even though there are preventative measures that can be taken to avoid (or at least lessen) injury. Likewise, it's against our policies to use vulgarity, even though people can use their filter to avoid seeing it. Crazy world we live in, huh?

You claim to live in a "state of fear" because you're concerned about being reported for what is, by your own admission, a violation of our Terms of Use. I would urge you to reconsider the agreements you have made in order to play World of Warcraft, and how well those agreements are being upheld by your actions in-game. Rather than demanding to know who is rightfully bringing your inappropriate behaviour to our attention, perhaps it would behoove you to examine your own conduct when dealing with your peers; the issue here lies not in their desire to play in a friendly and constructive environment, but rather in your efforts to circumvent the policies to which you have, time and time again, agreed to adhere.

As for your complaints regarding the reporting system currently in place, it would behoove you to consider the fact that, in every instance of harassment brought to our attention via in-game petition, both sides of the conversation are examined; thus, being the "first to report" during a dispute in which both members are equally at fault does not absolve you of whatever breaches of policy you've committed against the other.

You refer to "justice" and then suggest that both parties must be "heard" for it to take place; if you're suggesting that we speak to each player and attempt to determine why they chose to violate our policies, this is unnecessary. Both have agreed not to use objectionable language in-game -- often multiple times, as one is liable for reading and adhering to the Terms of Use and End User License Agreement with every new content patch thereafter -- and the Game Master investigating the matter has no need for whatever excuses or justifications the guilty parties would offer.

I'm not sure what has given you the impression that bringing behaviour that you yourself have agreed is inappropriate for World of Warcraft -- personal beliefs aside, you have asserted that using profanity in-game is not to be tolerated with every patch you've downloaded -- is "childish," but the rules are in place for good reason. Not only do many people find vulgarity offensive and an encroachment on their own enjoyment of the game, but we are required to maintain our "Teen" rating with the ESRB. The fact that you seem to find cursing to be "mature" is immaterial.

Did you have any further concerns I can address, Bidalap? I doubt further "discourse" would prove fruitful, but I'm feeling generous today. :)

Q u o t e:
Why wasn't he punished? and why did the GM that sentenced the suspension not give me sufficient time to read what they told me i was suspended for?

We shall never reveal the actions taken against other players' accounts, Bidalap, so you have no way of knowing that the other player was not held accountable for whatever violations he or she may have committed. It's important to note, however, that not all breaches of policy necessarily result in a disruption of gameplay; this is largely dependent upon the number and severity of prior infractions, as those are used to determined the harshness of current repercussions. It seems you have a history of using such derogatory language, and this was taken into consideration.

As for the Game Master's conduct, it looks as though they directed you to read the e-mail sent to your registered address for more information; as violations of policy are never discussed in any detail in-game, this is all we'll ever say in such a situation. Additionally, there is no need to hold a prolonged conversation with players who have been found to violate our policies, as Account Administration is the only department with which account actions may be contested. I'm sorry if you felt that your removal from the game as a result of your behaviour was too abrupt, however.

And if you honestly see nothing the matter with the "imaginary" word you used, you would be well-served to reexamine your own conduct.

Please do not bump 5 month old threads, Shoap.