Mrwatermonkey

[Demetrick]

To whom this may concern:

I am currently a player on the Bahamut server, FFXI, PC, and have been there since NA launch. A person on the server, Mrwatermonkey was banned yesterday. I have viewed countless screenshots from the conversations with the GM. It seems that there is a double standard being played. Countless times I have seen people cursing, yelling at someone with derogatory language. Not once has there ever been someone banned because of this. The reply from your POL support desk is "We regret that this has happened, and we will look into it. In the mean time we suggest you utilize the blacklist function in game". Now that is amazing to me considering one of our fellow player was just banned for the same thing. I will not even comment on the excesive downtime that your service has caused. It fits, that a company with an F rating with the BBB has such blatant disregard for their customers. Not only has the excessive downtime not been updated with reasons as to why, but now one of the most respected players on the server has been banned for a choice of words? Might I remind you that, your manual plainly states that there is, by default a language filter placed on the game. Only by your own act can that filter be removed. By removing the filter are you not consenting that you may see "Words" that could offend you? I am not saying that its ok to use certain words, but I do feel that it was a tad extreme to ban him for it. Can you imagine how uneducated the world would be if every child was kicked out of school for having a "potty mouth"? You have company's who are making money off of you, while blatantly disregarding your TOS. Yet you go after a customer who has remained loyal to you since the launch of the game here in the US. Does customer loyalty mean nothing? Tell me now so that I don't have to continue spending my money on your products as I have done for the last 13 years.

I am not the best angry letter writer, but hopefully it works

GG endo, cut and paste and send that back in, as my own, pardon the plagerisum (sp?) but strength in numbers.

[Tyche]

Just setup a date + time where 100+ people on bahmut ALL agree to call a GM saying Free MWM or some shit. It would be even better if you had 250+. anything less then 50 is crap.

Ill make a mule just for that...just come up with a date/time and post about 15 WPs

[Belkin]

You know how to cut to the core of me Baxtor.

But in all seriousness, that is good Endo

[Warthog]

My very first post on BG forums. Never felt the need to before I guess... I'm not a VIP on Bahamut, and I don't even play much anymore. Some of you may know me, others not. Anyway... to the point, MWM has always been a good friend to me, and at the very least EVERYONE here can do is voice your opinion. Here's mine. This was sent to mailto:[email protected], ws sent to MWM, and is to be posted here where the hierarcy of FFXI can see.

To: Square-Enix personnel; to whom it may concern,

This is written mainly for SE management, however any parties who feel this has merit is welcome to share and respond.

This letter is regarding a serious matter that occured recently. I am a paying customer of Square-Enix and also PlayOnline. I play [Final Fantasy XI] on the [Bahamut] server, and I've been informed of some unjust reprimands made to a friend and mentor of mine, Mrwatermonkey. This person has been banned from using his Final Fantasy XI account as well as the PlayOnline services for an unjustified reason. I am well aware of what the [Online Service Agreement] states about his offense, and I still disagree with your choice of consequence. Whether you realize or not, this game has impacted hundred's of thousands of peoples lives in more ways than just being a friendly pastime...

I know for a fact, without a doubt in my mind, that Mrwatermonkey loves his "virtual life" he has created in the FFXI/Bahamut realm.. Anything in life we spend countless hours a day on, is meaningful no matter what it is. He does not feel he's "just playing a game" when he's logged in..., and he certainly doesn't feel like he's "just playing a game" when he reasearchs game tactics, or commenting on game-related forums and linkshell forums. This person, Mrwatermonkey strives to be the best he can be... is there not honor in that? Does this not entitle him to at the very least, fair and just treatment. I hope he puts this much effort in all the things he does on a daily basis. I for one, wish there were more people like this in my life, and in the world as a whole. He has many friends as well as enemies in his "virtual world". In these times, it is both surprising and comforting to see both friend and enemy join forces to fight for a similar belief.

With HUNDREDS of days of playtime, high level crafting (including 100 maxed out Clothcrafting), 4 jobs to lv75 and missions and quests completed, including both the Rise of the Zilart and Chains of Promathia storylines completed. Mrwatermonkey is highly respected as a friend and a game collegue. In my opinion.... I think it is fair to say he is a "legend of the NA FFXI on Bahamut".

On a personal note. I was never very close to Mrwatermonkey. I was at one time a member in his linkshell on the Bahamut server for about 6 months. During that time, he helped me to be a better "player" by giving me pointers, as well as experiences I could not have done without an elite linkshell like the one he has created. And that has made all the difference in my "virtual life" we call Final Fantasy.

Why am I writing you ask? To ask for a reconsidering on banning Mrwatermonkey's account. To share one mans feelings on this matter. To give Mrwatermonkey the respect he deserves and to show him that people care. To illustrate my point that real life and "virtaul life" (FFXI) go hand and hand. And, probably most of all, to once again point out a victim to the Square-Enix dictatorship. Bring MWM back!!! I wouldn't be surprised that others leave this game due to disgust resulting from this childish, lame excuse for a reprimand. If you are reading this, thanks for your time.

My words, not to be changed:

David A. Passafiume
Warthog [Bahamut Server]
E-mail= mailto:[email protected]
AIM= ES99DP1

Even if our pleading to SE does nothing, which wouldn' be a surprise, I hope MWM has as smile, and knows he'll be missed... And to MWM: dont worry bro, we'll retire your number. =X

[Solund]

[removed broken link]

My GM liked goldfish scooping.

[Branwen]

Gil sellers mpk at every occasion = GM do poopykaka.
MWM says cock! oh noes! = GM Ban

did i miss something here? i mean was the guy who called the GM paying them somehow to get stuff done? all GM calls end in some shitty pre written crap.. then for once they do something? O.O

Good luck getting back on the game!

[Navia]

[removed broken link]

My GM liked goldfish scooping.

Gimp GM equipment, not a single white or blue border item

[Scratchbiskutz]

lol i rem last year u "mwm" getin banned for attemting to mpk celio at LoO after they tossed a bunch racist frases in /s out to everyone there.

sucks u got banned ._, sucks more its from the same asshats

[Rehont]

anyone have cleiocustoms website/forums address?

[Maren]

a

[Razz]

lets do a MWM protest, everyone gather and spam /em slaps SE. in lower jeuno, 8)

1. I can't login to FFXI

2. zoning to lower jeuno is asking to get disconnected

[Nikkei]

I didn't write a huge essay but I sent a small letter in stating that I also felt it was unfair to get banned for such a trivial thing when people do worse all the time. Figured I would just add to the pile everyone else was already building, good luck MWM.

[Rehont]

endo's point was a very good one


Why the hell are you gonna have a language filter if people can turn it off and then bitch cause they cant stand the language they are seeing, call a gm and get someone banned?

Does that make any sense what so ever?

This game is also ages 13+. By the time I was 13, I had heard enough words that nothing on this game would have surprised me. Come on SE, think for a minute!

[FiftySplit]

Goodluck mwm its night night time for me as again sorry about all this i will write a letter as well night night guys.

[Anthares]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ahamut/fag.jpg

BLAME THIS GUY!

[Razz]

OMG IF MWM GETS BAN I SLIT WRIST!

OH NOEZ!

How you can call orfie a fag for doing what he did is beyond me. You have to understand that MWM has done shit like this MULTIPLE TIMES to several JPs in the past. Oh and he has been jailed for MPK and other random fag acts.

[Anthares]

what he did was very gay, that's why i call Orfie a fag

[Marcatil]

endo's point was a very good one


Why the hell are you gonna have a language filter if people can turn it off and then bitch cause they cant stand the language they are seeing, call a gm and get someone banned?

Does that make any sense what so ever?

This game is also ages 13+. By the time I was 13, I had heard enough words that nothing on this game would have surprised me. Come on SE, think for a minute!

The entire cussing someone out/getting banned is stupid to begin with. First of all, there is a chat filter OPTION. That is automatically on Low when you first create your character. In order to see every word possible, you of your own consent and manual doing have to change the filter to not do anything.

This would imply that you agree and understand any and all consequences herein of doing such an action. I wonder if my aunt has all my uncle's old law books, there's gotta be some loophole about that ;o

On page 3 ;o

Seriously though, SE is asking for a huge lawsuit on the grounds of discrimination. There IS enough evidence to support it. Obviously this, also the consistent maintenance during NA time for the past month. That isn't an oversight either, so don't bullshit me on that. You can't oversight extended time periods and specifically throw them into a time frame predominant for the NA populous 3 times in a row. I'm sure you can find more evidance. Just seize their GM logs, anyone with half a brain could easily interpret outcomes.

Of course in attempt to do this I could see SE trying to play off it would be infringing upon confidentiality. Ok, valid point, but you could still censor the names of those who're the players, and not the GMs. Where you could clearly see who made the wrong decision. I'd also like to see the logs of complaints sent to SE, could pose an interesting turn of events.

Personally I think I've had enough grief with them at this point to willingly go through with the class action suit. Financially I couldn't remotely afford it to begin with.

[MrWatermonkey]

No Orfie was first JP I did that too.

[rahskala]

I just found a really interesting post that looks at a situation a lot like this from the CS side of things: http://blog.psychochild.org/?p=90

(Nothing personal for or against MWM himself, I just thought it applied to this discussion)