I've Been Banned/Suspended!

[spaints_1999]

You can write them at <[email protected]> but include the following information
1) Your account ID
2) The e-mail address associated with the account in question
3) The Date of Birth on the account (MM/DD/YYYY)

You may get this dreaded reply:
Due to the nature of the information, we have placed your account on a 72 hour hold. To regain access to your account after the 72 hours, please review and agree to our Terms of Use and House Rules here: http://disney.go.com/corporate/legal/terms.html.

We are concerned about your safety online, so exchanging personal information through Disney's community of web sites is not permitted. This includes information like your name, age, e-mail address, school name, phone number, or city of residence. In addition, any discussion of Web addresses or social networking Web sites where personal information is or can be posted or exchanged are not allowed.

Please take this time to visit our netiquette page at: http://home.disney.go.com/guestservices/netiquette to learn more about online safety and manners. Understand that this 72-hour hold serves as a reminder to promote a safer, more pleasant online experience for all Guests. However, keep in mind that further violations of the Terms of Use may result in account suspension or termination.

Thank you,
The Disney Online Team

[Red Nations]

I'm currently under one of those 72 hour bans. Never recieved the usual email that people get with a copy of the chat log explaining the reason for the ban. Over the past week I've made a few statements that were highly critical of the recent changes made to the game as well as game support and player feedback policy being ignored by Disney. Overall moderation policy seems to be very unbalanced in regard to players being arbitrarily banned for minor infractions, while players displaying harrassing or abusive behavior in the game are often let off with a minor warning.

[Maximvs]

Then request it using the info above your post... they must be able to show the proof of why they are banning you.

[Andrew]

Figures...they treat us all like little babies..
Just to let everyone know I did NOT take this suspension lightly....

BTW Sarah My dad called them, not me

[Red Nations]

I finally got through to the point where I was notified that I have to call them to get the account reinstated. The 72 hours are up tomorrow and I will call and find out the reasoning at that time. Here lately it seems that bans are pretty much being handed out arbitrarily often times without justification. Yes I am angry but I'm not gonna say how I really feel about it as that would probably result in a ban here as well.

[Andrew]

Well my parents got a hold of Disney...parents are kinda ticked and so am I. They are saying I am using Macro, and all of my friends KNOW FOR A FACT that I dont Macro...im just a teen I dont even know HOW to Macro, this is really unfair. Not sure if theyll even let me play anymore after this...my parents are mad at both Disney and me. While I can now access my account fine, because we have contacted them and my suspension has ended, im just not sure...but IF I do quit playing, you know I will always stay on POF

[ukebec]

That's really a shame Andrew. I'm sorry to hear that.

[Red Nations]

I'm reinstated and finally was able to get a copy of the chatlogs. I was banned for giving out contact info, However according to the chatlog I was not the one in the conversation who gave out contact info. The other party also got a 72 hour suspension. Apparently I was banned for using the word Xfire in the conversation, when asked if I used that IM system and my response was that I hadn't yet installed it. Looks like that was enough to get a ban.

[Frimbler Degree]

When you play the game for any length of time you naturally meet up with many of the same friends and guildmates. At some point the conversation, at least if you are an adult, moves beyond arrgh and pirates to how was your day and so forth. There needs to be a way for players, especially those in a guild to contact each other outside of the game. I was guilty of giving a guildmate my e-mail address. We had played together for several months when she dissapeared for several weeks. she re-appeared briefly to tell me she was having a problem pregnancy. I asked her to keep in touch. Her, her Husbands pirate, and there son's pirate have all disappeared now for a couple of months. I was guilty of caring for a guildmate! 3 day suspension--stinks!

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by Frimbler Degree

When you play the game for any length of time you naturally meet up with many of the same friends and guildmates. At some point the conversation, at least if you are an adult, moves beyond arrgh and pirates to how was your day and so forth. There needs to be a way for players, especially those in a guild to contact each other outside of the game.

I disagree.
I have played toontown for five years(almost six) and have never once given out any information.
I have never talked about anything other than the game or something relating to the game.

Why would you want to contact guild members outside of the game? There's no reason and if it's for personal information like email, etc..then that's not a good reason.

Disney is aware of all the dangers on the internet and has zero tolerance for anything other than something relating to pirates/toontown. If you talk about real life then it gets too personal. I have never wanted to talk about personal information in game or out to people on the internet. Why anyone would want to talk about real life in the game is beyond me. Talking about real life(my opinion) is something you can do to people who you know in real llife.

Most people get banned for silly things like giving out information or talking about real life. If that's the cause then maybe speedchat plus was a bad idea.

[Rackat]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

I disagree.
I have played toontown for five years(almost six) and have never once given out any information.
I have never talked about anything other than the game or something relating to the game.

Why would you want to contact guild members outside of the game? There's no reason and if it's for personal information like email, etc..then that's not a good reason.

Disney is aware of all the dangers on the internet and has zero tolerance for anything other than something relating to pirates/toontown. If you talk about real life then it gets too personal. I have never wanted to talk about personal information in game or out to people on the internet. Why anyone would want to talk about real life in the game is beyond me. Talking about real life(my opinion) is something you can do to people who you know in real llife.

Most people get banned for silly things like giving out information or talking about real life. If that's the cause then maybe speedchat plus was a bad idea.

From wiki:

In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is a group of players who regularly play together in a particular (or various different) multiplayer games[1]. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan also varies considerably, from a few weeks or months to several years. Numerous clans exist for nearly every online game available today, notably in first-person shooters, massively multiplayer games, role-playing games, and strategy games.

Why gamers join clans
Joining a clan places one within a social network which provides access to resources, knowledge, and help needed to accomplish many game related goals. In addition, banding together with like-minded players seems to fulfill a human desire for social interaction. Taken together, these two factors can vastly enhance the gameplay experience of many players.


Competition
Some clans focus on competition and may arrange recruitment, scrimmages and training sessions to reach their goals. For example, some clans only recruit skilled players who they think can help their clan win matches. It is common for a prospective clan member to be asked to prove their skill in a game, by taking a series of tests against current clan members in a private server. Some teams will also only recruit players who have a proven history with other successful teams, in order to prevent cheaters from joining their team.


Belonging
Belonging to a clan can enhance a player's game experience by providing them with a group of familiar people with whom they can interact. In some clans, the stated purpose of the group is to talk to each other that simply enjoy playing. When clans are not competing in formal matches, they often operate a looser, more relaxed server for their members and the public to play in.

Yep, can't see why anyone would form personal relationships from joining a clan or guild.

[ukebec]

I personally have several "real life" friends that play POTCO also. I see no reason, since I'm a part of their personal lives and they mine, for us not to be able to discuss matters that are important in our lives.

No, I have no intention of giving a stranger pertinent personal information, but if I want to inquire about the well-being of my friends or their families in Whisper mode, I see no harm.

[Frimbler Degree]

Originally Posted by Ben Swordmonger

I'm currently under one of those 72 hour bans. Never recieved the usual email that people get with a copy of the chat log explaining the reason for the ban. Over the past week I've made a few statements that were highly critical of the recent changes made to the game as well as game support and player feedback policy being ignored by Disney. Overall moderation policy seems to be very unbalanced in regard to players being arbitrarily banned for minor infractions, while players displaying harrassing or abusive behavior in the game are often let off with a minor warning.

I agree! never anger the Disney gods. but they do seem somewhat capricious and contrary.

[Nautical Nattie]

I was banned one time in the past but wasn't given any notice as to why i was banned, and it was certainly nothing truely deserving as i am a respectable player who doesn't go around giving out information they shouldn't, using language they shouldn't etc. But if you ask me Disney need to focus on the people who SHOULD be banned but always don't, or figure out that by linking accounts players can EASILY overcome a ban and access their pirate again for those 72 hours. However i wasn't aware that you could call them and inquire about this ban and possibly get it lifted, we need a way to explain ourselves But i never knew Disney also gave out just warnings, i don't want to find out that all the people i've reported for verbal abuse and bullying have just gotten a warning, and some people get banned with NO warning OR explanation.

[Red Nations]

Hi Nautical Nattie

I was quoted in my post above about people being given warnings. I was referring to cases where I have reported harrassing and verbally abusive players where I've stuck around when the Disney moderaters showed up only to scold them for their actions when their actions did warrant a ban. So yes the moderation policy is very unbalanced in regards to what they punish and what they let slide.