I am here to reach out to the moderators and ask from some objective insight on rule 8.1. as I feel there are some serious loop holes in it. Furthermore I would like to gain a better understand of this rule so I may be able to respect it properly.
I will break down what is specified in the rules and pose the questions I have.
Table of contents
Rule Part 1
Rule Part 2
Rule Part 3
Rule Part 4
Reports
Conclusion
Part 1
Rule 8.1: Use of Lobby kick/ban tools
The kick/ban tools are for use at the Lobby leaders discretion only.
Right off the bat we have this interesting sentence as an introduction to the rule.
Discretion (noun)
The power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice.
The quality of being discreet, especially with reference to one's own actions or speech.
At ... discretion (idiom)
As one wishes, any time as one sees fit, at one's pleasure, at will, whenever one wishes, at any time...
Conclusion: This says the lobby leader has the power/right to decide what a valid reason and time for a kick/ban is.
Theoretically speaking you could stop reading right here and conclude that we cannot physically break this rule.
But wait. There's more.
Part 2
Rule 8.1: Use of Lobby kick/ban tools
Lobby leaders are encouraged to be good hosts, respect other players and use these tools sparingly. Any abuse of these tools will be met with a lengthy ban. Some examples of Abuse of these tools includes things such as kicking all players who join, kicking players as an act of ill will, kicking players because you 'forgot to reserve' a slot, etc...
In this part of the rule we learn that the use of the kick/ban tools is in fact not at your discretion at all. It was just a joke.
This block of text is a contradiction to what is previously stated.
In fact there are strict guidelines and threats of lenghty bans for not following them. Aside from being encouraged to use some common sense we are warned about abuse and given a few examples:
- Kicking all players who join (I agree, logical)
- Kicking players because you forgot to reserve a slot (I agree, logical)
- Kicking players as an act of ill will (Erm.. I'll get back to this in a second)
Suggestion I feel could be explicitely listed/added to these examples:
- Kicking players because you forgot to restrict a slot (or kicking players because they don't have enough experience)
Part 3
Rule 8.1: Use of Lobby kick/ban tools
Contrary to this, it is acceptable for Lobby leaders to kick those players whom are constantly griefing them, or people they associate with.
This is where it gets really interesting!
We are not allowed to kick people as an act of ill will.
We are allowed to kick/ban people who are constantly griefing us, or people they associate with.
Arn't we always going to have some form of ill will (synonym: bitterness) when you kick/ban players that have been griefing you?
What exactly does griefing define in this context, anyway?
Gameplay related griefing? (Refusing to heal, stealing healthpacks, teleporters..)
Excessively provoking, insulting or otherwise harassing you vocally (chat, voice, mumble..)?
Does the above have to take place inside the TF2Center provided services/servers?
Part 4
In addition to abusing Lobby tools, excessively kicking/banning players is not allowed; as a general metric, indiscriminately kicking more than 5 players in one Lobby may be met with a ban.
Right after being reminded of the abuse, we are told we can indiscriminately (synonym: randomly) kick/ban up to 5 people without receiving a ban. This is a second complete contradiction.
The reports
The chat alone does not always give the complete story for a TF2Center admin to review a kick/ban tool usage as he only has the lobby chat log to work with.
How are we supposed to prove that we have a valid reason for kicking/banning somebody for "griefing" and avoid getting a CL ban for it?
Why do lobby leaders often receive a CL ban for banning one person while others, even though reported as well, get away with banning multiple people?
Conclusion
If one person that has actually been griefing or otherwise harassing you goes through the trouble of reporting you for banning them out of your lobby, you will still just about automatically be met with a CL ban for "abuse". Pls fix.
Disclaimer: I am currently sitting out a 2 week CL ban for banning somebody I feel I had the right to ban. This is, however, not necessarily an appeal or unban request.
Disclaimer: Yes, I realize that a big part of this rule can be replaced by "be nice and have some common sense", yet we still require a proper understanding of the rules/law so we can respect them.
Edited by Foxyfluff, 28 May 2017 - 11:17 PM.