Comments on: More Trick than Treat? http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/ Everyone knows girls don't play video games. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:45:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: My Ghillie » More Trick than Treat? http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-390 My Ghillie » More Trick than Treat? Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:41:11 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-390 [...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptWhile the episode, Down the Rabbit Hole, did not feature a supernatural type murder through machine, it revolved around a killer who used the online game Second Life to access information needed to get to the intended victims. … [...] […] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptWhile the episode, Down the Rabbit Hole, did not feature a supernatural type murder through machine, it revolved around a killer who used the online game Second Life to access information needed to get to the intended victims. … […]

]]> By: Odanhammer http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-391 Odanhammer Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:57:05 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-391 Wow , i must say that was a very well written piece there. Enjoy that fact that it actually gets you thinking , course some will get carried away going hmm i wonder if that level 50 elf /paladin is really a stalker or not. But in all seriousness , i have seen this type of thing happen before. I recall someone i knew rather well abusing the trust gained on neverwinter nights . To the point proof was made , aka we tricked him into showing his real colors and ip banned him from the server. Of course i understand how easy it is to go out of your way. A few times in the past i have gone out of my way to find peoples address's i know when i hear something bad has happened. an example is that one of the females i talk to over the net, her grandma passed away and i asked one of her friends for her address and sent her a nice card. But again i can see how easy that would be to send myself and a gun. Creepy but its happened and will happen again. But on a positive note , two females i've talked to over the net have been great company. One i met at work and we started talking over msn. We ended up getting married and are having a child due in Jan of 08. The other i talked to for over 5 years and eventually met up and lost something but gained so much. So be warned , but don't be too secure, as you might lose someone you love. Wow , i must say that was a very well written piece there. Enjoy that fact that it actually gets you thinking , course some will get carried away going hmm i wonder if that level 50 elf /paladin is really a stalker or not.
But in all seriousness , i have seen this type of thing happen before. I recall someone i knew rather well abusing the trust gained on neverwinter nights . To the point proof was made , aka we tricked him into showing his real colors and ip banned him from the server. Of course i understand how easy it is to go out of your way.
A few times in the past i have gone out of my way to find peoples address’s i know when i hear something bad has happened. an example is that one of the females i talk to over the net, her grandma passed away and i asked one of her friends for her address and sent her a nice card.
But again i can see how easy that would be to send myself and a gun.
Creepy but its happened and will happen again.
But on a positive note , two females i’ve talked to over the net have been great company. One i met at work and we started talking over msn. We ended up getting married and are having a child due in Jan of 08. The other i talked to for over 5 years and eventually met up and lost something but gained so much.
So be warned , but don’t be too secure, as you might lose someone you love.

]]> By: Monique http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-394 Monique Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:59:23 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-394 Excellent post, I have nothing to add because it's my sentiments exactly. As someone who has had people breech the online -> real life boundaries, in various ways, I know exactly how scary it is. Excellent post, I have nothing to add because it’s my sentiments exactly. As someone who has had people breech the online -> real life boundaries, in various ways, I know exactly how scary it is.

]]> By: Leslie http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-396 Leslie Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:46:19 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-396 Odan - I've been in that same situation, where something has happened to someone you know, and you're able to pull up whatever info you need to show them you care. There was one incidence of a suicide attempt by a dear online friend, and we used what we knew to contact his parents. Thankfully they were able to get him the help he needed. I also know what you're saying in regards to your wife, and congratulations on your baby! I wouldn't be with my boyfriend now if it weren't for online gaming, and I really couldn't imagine life without him. It takes a lot of scrutiny to make the right judgments, and we're all prone to mistakes. I've made my fair share of them, truth be told. But, sometimes you are graced with good fortune and benefit greatly from online relationships - friends or otherwise. Monique - I wrote much of that with you specifically in mind. It saddens me to think you're not the only one I know with those issues in their past, since it's such a common thing - not necessarily all cases were severe, but certainly a lot of them have been. The cruelty and mentality of all the offenders just makes me sick. Odan - I’ve been in that same situation, where something has happened to someone you know, and you’re able to pull up whatever info you need to show them you care. There was one incidence of a suicide attempt by a dear online friend, and we used what we knew to contact his parents. Thankfully they were able to get him the help he needed.

I also know what you’re saying in regards to your wife, and congratulations on your baby! I wouldn’t be with my boyfriend now if it weren’t for online gaming, and I really couldn’t imagine life without him. It takes a lot of scrutiny to make the right judgments, and we’re all prone to mistakes. I’ve made my fair share of them, truth be told. But, sometimes you are graced with good fortune and benefit greatly from online relationships - friends or otherwise.

Monique - I wrote much of that with you specifically in mind. It saddens me to think you’re not the only one I know with those issues in their past, since it’s such a common thing - not necessarily all cases were severe, but certainly a lot of them have been. The cruelty and mentality of all the offenders just makes me sick.

]]> By: Tim http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-397 Tim Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:27:48 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-397 sometimes i wonder if people will ever realize that people are behind the screens. it;'s very easy to call someone a douche online but if you realized they were another person, it is hard. sometimes i wonder if people will ever realize that people are behind the screens. it;’s very easy to call someone a douche online but if you realized they were another person, it is hard.

]]> By: Leslie http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-398 Leslie Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:32:27 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-398 Tim - Absolutely right. A large amount of the respect we generally have for fellow humans is lost when that face to face connection is not present. Anonymity has its cons, this is for sure. I remember needing to expel a member of a guild for not adhering to (what we thought was) general common sense about being respectful to others. The reason for expulsion was on the grounds that when confronted about his behavior, he replied to us with the notion that "this is just a game", and he could treat anyone as he wished. I personally have issues being mean to even (non-enemy) NPC characters with personality, I can't really imagine mistreating actual individuals who exist outside of virtual reality. Tim - Absolutely right. A large amount of the respect we generally have for fellow humans is lost when that face to face connection is not present. Anonymity has its cons, this is for sure.

I remember needing to expel a member of a guild for not adhering to (what we thought was) general common sense about being respectful to others. The reason for expulsion was on the grounds that when confronted about his behavior, he replied to us with the notion that “this is just a game”, and he could treat anyone as he wished.

I personally have issues being mean to even (non-enemy) NPC characters with personality, I can’t really imagine mistreating actual individuals who exist outside of virtual reality.

]]> By: Magiz http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-400 Magiz Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:09:32 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-400 Great blog. You made some very good points. I'd have to agree with you. Keep up the good work. Great blog.

You made some very good points. I’d have to agree with you.

Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Scott http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-405 Scott Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:10:00 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-405 Great post Elle. As for account sharing and breaching of privacy, I think online game makers should just acknowledge account sharing occurs and build in some basic safeguards. For example, I know in Final Fantasy XI you have two different passwords. One password is used for logging into the game, the other is used for the settings area of your account where your personal information is kept. This type of system, while not preventing a malicious person from destroying your character, does prevent them from obtaining your personal information and disemminating it over the internet. As for the issues with females and ventrilo, I don't have anything to add. Great post Elle. As for account sharing and breaching of privacy, I think online game makers should just acknowledge account sharing occurs and build in some basic safeguards. For example, I know in Final Fantasy XI you have two different passwords. One password is used for logging into the game, the other is used for the settings area of your account where your personal information is kept. This type of system, while not preventing a malicious person from destroying your character, does prevent them from obtaining your personal information and disemminating it over the internet.

As for the issues with females and ventrilo, I don’t have anything to add.

]]> By: Leslie http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-409 Leslie Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:48:06 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-409 Scott - You're right, I loved FFXI's system. While it was a little annoying at first, remembering two passwords for separate control options - character and personal - in the end is worth it. Recovering your character isn't too difficult. Recovering your privacy is a beast of a different kind entirely. Scott - You’re right, I loved FFXI’s system. While it was a little annoying at first, remembering two passwords for separate control options - character and personal - in the end is worth it. Recovering your character isn’t too difficult. Recovering your privacy is a beast of a different kind entirely.

]]> By: CoriKyo http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-466 CoriKyo Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:39:13 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-466 I am always surprised by the information people (usually younger players) would offer me after they'd only known me a couple minutes. Their real names, where they lived, what they did for a living, all sorts of things. But yeah, I never think that some weirdo is going to hunt me down irl. I am always surprised by the information people (usually younger players) would offer me after they’d only known me a couple minutes. Their real names, where they lived, what they did for a living, all sorts of things. But yeah, I never think that some weirdo is going to hunt me down irl.

]]> By: ochigdor http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-586 ochigdor Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:24:31 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-586 Amazing post, odd but it never occurred to me that it was such a huge problem, yes.. I am a dumb ass for saying this because of my next statement. I have a few female gamer friends that have had stalkers and the like bother them so I feel stupid that it takes an article to get me to realize how large the problem can be. Well anyway loved the goblins reference. Amazing post, odd but it never occurred to me that it was such a huge problem, yes.. I am a dumb ass for saying this because of my next statement. I have a few female gamer friends that have had stalkers and the like bother them so I feel stupid that it takes an article to get me to realize how large the problem can be.

Well anyway loved the goblins reference.

]]> By: Ren http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-1593 Ren Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:46:52 +0000 http://girlsdontgame.com/2007/10/30/more-trick-than-treat/#comment-1593 As a female gamer, even WoW addict, I must say that being female does certainly get you more attention. Fortunately, I've yet to run into anything I couldn't handle. There was a MUD thing a while back where a guy was incredibly stalker-ish in his behaviors towards me. Fair enough, I was fifteen or so at the time and more than a little foolish. It involved him stalking me from place to place online that he knew I frequented. If I logged off the MUD to get away from him, he'd send me an IM msg, if that failed, it was off to IRC to hunt me down. Finally, if he couldn't get a hold of me, he'd call me and demand to know what I was doing. Yes, I had given this man (in his 30's) my phone number some time before when he'd come off as a great deal less crazy. I ended up severing contact with him when he threated to overdose on painkillers if I didn't marry his in-game character. Interesting times. Regardless, I have become much more responsible and mature since then. I do not post photographs of myself online, only a single person in the online community (boyfriend) has my phone number and only the closest of friends my surname. Do I feel at risk? No. Boys that decide to make pests of themselves are quickly, and effectively, taken care of. Ignored and whatever further handling is necessary (reporting to a higher authority and what-have-you). I've yet to come across a situation, as yet, where the reporting bit was necessary. As far as the being judged negatively because of my gender? I don't think it's happened, yet. All I get is astonishment that my gender matches my character's. That's about it. And, of course, boys who fabricate to other boys about my saying their tattoo was 'sexy' or whatever and then trying to join my guild. But, all in all, it's been none too bad. And I've certainly never been disregarded because of my gender. I let my gaming ability to speak for itself. Then again, I'm quite familiar with a rather large number of e-whores and wouldn't blame a guy for being weary, to be honest. As a female gamer, even WoW addict, I must say that being female does certainly get you more attention. Fortunately, I’ve yet to run into anything I couldn’t handle. There was a MUD thing a while back where a guy was incredibly stalker-ish in his behaviors towards me. Fair enough, I was fifteen or so at the time and more than a little foolish. It involved him stalking me from place to place online that he knew I frequented. If I logged off the MUD to get away from him, he’d send me an IM msg, if that failed, it was off to IRC to hunt me down. Finally, if he couldn’t get a hold of me, he’d call me and demand to know what I was doing. Yes, I had given this man (in his 30’s) my phone number some time before when he’d come off as a great deal less crazy. I ended up severing contact with him when he threated to overdose on painkillers if I didn’t marry his in-game character.

Interesting times. Regardless, I have become much more responsible and mature since then. I do not post photographs of myself online, only a single person in the online community (boyfriend) has my phone number and only the closest of friends my surname. Do I feel at risk? No. Boys that decide to make pests of themselves are quickly, and effectively, taken care of. Ignored and whatever further handling is necessary (reporting to a higher authority and what-have-you). I’ve yet to come across a situation, as yet, where the reporting bit was necessary.

As far as the being judged negatively because of my gender? I don’t think it’s happened, yet. All I get is astonishment that my gender matches my character’s. That’s about it. And, of course, boys who fabricate to other boys about my saying their tattoo was ’sexy’ or whatever and then trying to join my guild. But, all in all, it’s been none too bad. And I’ve certainly never been disregarded because of my gender. I let my gaming ability to speak for itself. Then again, I’m quite familiar with a rather large number of e-whores and wouldn’t blame a guy for being weary, to be honest.

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