Ban Richter
There are many other facets to why I would love to become Demi-Pharaoh. Read my user page here. This page is specifically set up to deal with the most likely controversial Richter-ban policy.
Before we start I would like to state I have not been directly involved with most of the complaints against Richter and only have second- and third-hand information. Reputations, however, are generally earned and rumors have some truth to them. Richter is little more than a thorn in the side of Egypt. There has been public outcry for his ban made to most Demi-Pharaohs, and I look to soothe the people of Egypt. If I am shown that more citizens find Richter a contributing and helpful member of society this policy will be dropped entirely and immediately. I only seek action because of a perceived desire of Egypt. Richter is very obviously an intelligent player and is well spoken most of the time. I enjoy having discussions with him from time to time, but I think that his negatives outweigh his good points. He does not take constructive criticism, guidance or suggestions on being nice very easily.
- Richter has been banned from the game forums for abuse.
- Richter has griefed at least one player seriously.
- Richter has taken unilateral action in the theft of a guild at least once.
- Richter does not agree with the basic tenets of ATITD.
- Richter continually takes his "discussions" about how he has been wronged over the top and done so at length often crafting elaborate conspiracy theories.
- Richter's ideas appeal to some of the new immigrants and are damaging to those new players in Egypt.
- Richter takes time away from developers, GMs and other players because of his crying foul.
- Richter generally does whatever he can to be disruptive to life in Egypt.
- Petition ban of Richter is effective, but ultimately wasteful of a ballot for a tool that is already available to each and every DP.
Because of these listed reasons and more I believe it is in the best interest of Egypt to ban Richter should I be voted Demi-Pharaoh. I have no plans for the use of a ban in any other case, but I am not against it's use. Extreme cases, such as Richter's, are the only situation I have in mind, but I am open to other cases where a DP ban may be necessary.
"I'll sue the pants off of Teppy!"
This is the claim that Richter has made should he ever be banned from the game. If any players are timid about banning Richter because of potential legal repercussions on the game we all love consider these items:
End User License Agreements (EULAs) have been held as enforceable in several high profile and important cases in recent history.
Ummmm - What EULA? There's not even a Code of Conduct linked from the http://www.atitd.com pages, and hasn't been for six months. - MarvL
The EULA is under the Utilities->Billing Menu -EldradUlthran
In ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg it was held that an EULA which is only available after purchase and installation of software can be enforced as long as it can reasonably be shown that the user is aware of those terms and must explicitly agree to them.
In Hill v. Gateway 2000 judgement was expanded to explain that if there is a trial period where payment may be returned to the user that an EULA is even more reliable and enforceable. ATITD has a 24 hour trial period where no payment is necessary to play.
Richter has willfully and deliberately continued playing ATITD even though he seems to think that the EULA does not apply to him, or may not be enforceable by law. By agreeing to the EULA and continuing to play the game while consciously stating he is aware of the agreement he has made to be part of the community Richter has no legal footing should he decide to pursue that avenue.
If you'd like to learn more you can read this simple and short overview of a trial period and/or this overview of everything listed above.
Commentary
- Just what we need another liar for DP. Show the proof of any of the accusations you have made above. None of the above cases are applicable because there has never been a case where a player has been banned by other players when said player committed no violations of the TOS. Ban by rumor and slander although embraced by the petty dictators in this game will not prevail when put to the test. Trying to get elected at the expense of promising to ban a player for unsubstantiated rumors and accusations with no proof are grounds enough to NEVER consider you for DP.
- Today refa kicked me from the podium guild where I was personally invite to join by kaotika. There was no arguing going on or cussing he did it soley to show off and be an ass. This is just the caliber of childish individual you need as a DP. I ask you who is the greater Villian someone who intentionally sets out to harm another player with bans and kicking them from guilds or someone who gets demonized for pointing out the unfairness inherent in this game? I grief no-one but am constantly griefed by those who would presume that words in forums are behavior in game and worthy of a ban, the highest level of griefing possible. Think about that.
- You were kicked from The Podium because one of the popular cries of Egypt in your defense was "If you distrust Richter so much, why do you have him in your guilds?" This is no longer a question that can be posed of me. You may not have done much wrong in that guild today, but because of my guilt by association with you, personal insults towards myself and others, and slander towards other players you were removed. I am an Elder of that guild, and you are not welcome there by me for all of those reasons. You detract from it's purpose and focus. I'd like to invite you to ponder how many others would allow you to voice your opinions on their user pages. -- Refa
- I would say that this whole Anti-Richter debacle (particularly the ousting from a guild due to , of all things, guilt by association ) clearly shows Refa lacks the two fundamental necessities of an effective DP - personal emotional detachment, and the ability to resolve conflict in a non-disruptive way. If the guild in question was a open forum for legal discussion, and if (as mentioned by both Richter and Refa) Richter was not being disruptive within that guild, then his ousting seems to be simply pandering to popular whimsy. Further it reduces the guild from one of open public debate to private, popular debate. Having said that, if Richter had used the same language as his above posting in my guild chat, he would have been kicked, but as usual, no evidence or specific accusation has been made against him. Noobiehotep