Naming Policy

[Uberom]

This is sort of a spin off of Taxi Driver's posts in a previous thread regarding his ban. Apparently he was made to change his name, he fought it and ended up getting banned for insulting the staff. Obviously I'm missing details, but this is essentially what happened.

I think it is important to explain that it is not my intention to flame DEVS/GMS in this thread, unlike other threads that I have previously engaged in. I just want people's honest opinion. If you plan on flaming or trolling, just head back to Raren's thread. Thanks.

My question is: Why is there a naming policy?

For some names I would make exceptions. If you have a name that is openly offensive, for example one that contains the word "fuck" or something, then obviously it needs to be changed.

However, I don't see how a name like Taxi Driver is offensive? Why would a name like that be subject to the policy? It is my earnest opinion that a name change like this, trivial, takes something away from the community. I like to see clever names. It's almost a form of art.

If any of you can explain how that name is offensive in general, or offensive to you personally, please do so.

Even further, why enforce a naming policy on a private server? The DEVS don't make money from the population, so they don't have to cater to people's QQ offended meter. I've learned this through my own experience. Games like World of Warcraft have to enforce that kind of stuff because it all comes down to money, and probably legal aspects as well. (Terms of Service?) But why here? This population is filled with EQ addicted degenerates, myself included, and I think most of us give a fuck less if you have a clever, slightly racy name. In fact, I encourage it.

My personal experiences with Taxi were always extremely pleasant. Last summer, when I started on this server, I used to get ports from him ALL THE DAMN TIME. He was very active in the community. I actually had him on friends list. At the time, I was poor, but he always was grateful to receive any tip, no matter how small. I was also grateful that a druid would respond to my tells, knowing that his tip wouldn't be that great. I thought it was kind of funny having a druid named Taxi Driver porting you around Norrath. Very clever, kudos to him. For the record, I don't personally know Taxi. I am not a close EQ friend of his, or something along those lines. He just ported me enough to where I remember his name half a year later. For me, him being banned is a loss for the entire community.

Also, I have a personal experience with the naming policy:

I had a Rogue named Thieving Basterd. I thought it was pretty funny. Apparently my name was reported as being offensive. It is my belief that nobody was offended by my name, but rather offended at the fact I was using Pick Pockets in a group. For the moment, let's ignore that detail as its discussion would take the thread off track.

When the GM came to change my name, and I believe it was Rogean, he was very pleasant and patient. Kudos to him. I mentioned that my name was meant to be a first name / last name combo. Without the last name, my first name meant nothing. I asked if, because of this reason, I could just change my entire name. He agreed.

During our discussion, I asked why it was offensive and to whom? He didn't really have much of an answer, just that it had been reported by several people as being offensive. My main question to him was: How come IB can have "Basterds" in their guild name, but I can't have it as my last name? His response was something along the lines of "We haven't begun to enforce the naming policy on guilds."

.....right.

I'm not mad or anything, in fact I actually like my new Rogue's name better! Thanks, haters! But I do think its strange how a player named Thieving Basterd is offensive and therefore subject to name change, but a guild named Inglourious Basterds is not. And Taxi Driver? I'm lost.

:::SIDE NOTE:::

This goes out to the forum community. All you people who suck ass to the GMs need to stop. Your shit is weak. One minute your all friendly to the druid who's porting you around, but when he gets banned for something trivial, everyone jumps on the forums and slams him. This isn't an isolated incident, it happens daily. Quoting Uthgaard or Rogean in a thread, and then posting "YEA TAKE THAT" or something along those lines, doesn't make you part of the "in" crowd. You're still a fucking loser, and nobody likes you. All you kiddies need to get off the GM's dicks, stand on your own two feet, and speak your mind, not agree with theirs. Nobody wants to hear the peanut gallery chime in every time Uthgaard or Rogean makes a post.

You may be scared to abide by this suggestion, for fear that you will be banned or suspended. I can tell you from personal experience that this is very likely to happen. However, at least if you go down, you contributed something to the community. A voice, an idea. Not just a fucking silent dog cowering behind the GMs. They have 1000 people playing on their server, I doubt they need a bunch of fanboys and groupies to boost their ego.

In closing, just remember two things:
1. Community consists of players, not GMs.
2. Real *****s do real shit.