Forced Name Changes

Uazole2 · November 5

Couple of curiosity questions. I had a top level character, that had been around for a long time, get hit with a mandatory name change. Aside from the fact that the character had existed with that name for an extended period, the name was not offensive in any way. Name got changed a while ago, but I am still a bit salty.

Question 1: who decides that a name is offensive? Question 2: If another player decides to report that they are offended by a name, is it automatically flagged? Question 3: aren't names screened during the creation process, shouldn't that be enough?

If individuals players can auto-trigger a name change, just by complaining, that seems open to serious abuse, and just plain wrong.

The Sorcerer character was named Magic-in-my-Pants. There are no offensive words in the name and literally every character in the game has magic pants, I just chose that name first. If someone took offence to that name, they have a strangely restricted view of reality. Strangely, other characters that I had named in a kinda rude way did not get flagged (Ware D'Fug Arwee), but i renamed them anyway.

Can someone explain the name ban process

Elsonso · November 5

My 2 cents...

Ok, the sorcerer name, even if an Argonian, is sexually suggestive, and even if that is not the intent. To suggest otherwise is being somewhat disingenuous. I assume someone reported it, rather than some ZOS person saw it or it got flagged in a search. I also assume that it only takes one report if ZOS agrees.

Naturally, whether it rises to the level of a forced name change is up to ZOS, and clearly someone there thinks so.

You were wise to rename "...Arwee", as well. I think it's a clever name, but there is some sensitivity to clever spellings of profanity here.

As for the "process"... All you can do is appeal, but while you wait, you cannot play. I would pin the likelihood of a reversal as "low", since this they claim that this stuff has already been reviewed by a human and that human made the decision. I would imagine that the appeal would have to cast a light on the justification for keeping the name that is larger than the justification for requesting a name change. Uphill battle.

Best guidance I have ever seen is to stay away from profanity, hate, and sexual references, no matter how cleverly disguised. If you do it, and you get caught, best to just do the name change and move on.

Lixiviant · November 5

Just wondering for the people who have suggestive names - do you have to purchase the Name Change Token or do you get a freebie?

Uazole2 · November 5

If you get specifically flagged, a few things happen. That one character gets basically banned and you get a free name change. You can not play them until you do the change. The mail note says that you will have problems if you are found to have other bad named toons, so change them. I used a token for Ware.

spartaxoxo · November 5

You can't make sexually explicit names or use word combinations to mask sexually explicit names. So basically, it shouldn't be sexual regardless if it's through innuendo or explicitly stated. Someone saw the name, felt it violated that rule, and reported it. ZOS clearly agreed it violated that rule and had you change it. I actually agree that it does violate that rule, personally. I think it's obvious innuendo. I also don't find it clever as it's an old and unoriginal joke.

I would not personally report it because I think the innuendo rule is kind of silly to begin with but I can also see why ZOS doesn't want overly explicit names and would rather just not deal with deciding which ones do and don't cross that line.

2.1 You may not create an account name, persona or avatar that is in any way discriminatory, sexually graphic, hateful, harmful, or excretory in nature. A name, persona or avatar that promotes self-harm, glorifies suicides or belittles physical or mental disability will be considered as harmful. You will not reference, claim affiliation or otherwise express sympathy with any hate groups. Any other names, text or chat that ZeniMax considers offensive is also in violation of the Agreement including the Code of Conduct.

2.5 You will not attempt to, use misspellings, phonetic spellings, homonyms, word combinations, or alternative spellings to mask inappropriate material in any communication on ZeniMax Services. This includes but is not limited to text, chat, voice, in-game messaging or any other medium of communication or interaction between users.

2.6 You will not transmit or facilitate distribution of content that is harmful, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive, vulgar, sexually explicit, defamatory, infringing, invasive of personal privacy or publicity rights. Hate speech is not tolerated at any time.

I'm quoting only the parts that I think are relevant to this thread but here's the code of conduct for your review.

https://account.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/code-of-conduct

allochthons · November 6

My understanding is that when you first choose a name, it goes through two computer-only filters: 1) is it already taken, 2) does it trigger the profanity filter. If neither is true, the name goes through.

Until another person actually sees the name and thinks it's offensive. Either another player, or perhaps a customer service representative when you submit a ticket.
That can take years, or it might never happen. Having a name for years before it gets reported doesn't mean it's an acceptable name. It just means it made it through the filters and no one reported it in the intervening years.

I would look askance at "Magic-in-my-Pants." I wouldn't report it, but it definitely wouldn't give me a positive feeling about that player. I would roll my eyes and hope they chose it as a teen. I have reported a few names I've seen on a player standing at a bank or a wayshrine, but only if they're *really* awful. The most recent was blatantly antisemitic.

OTOH, I know a person who had to change their PSN name from their *actual* real-life name, because it was suggestive. I don't think much of their parents, though.

spartaxoxo · November 6

User generated content differs from in-game content because players have full control over which in-game content they interact with. The same is not true or player content.

A parent can let their kid fight a dragon but refuse to allow them to quest in High Isle.

Rules about usernames empowers players to take control over their own content moderation. Names must be more professional and things you say in public chat channels have stricter rules than private channels or in-game content so that players can curate their experience and everyone can be comfortable while playing. This is also why we have the ability to disable chat.

And yes, minors are allowed in this game.

Gabriel_H · November 6

Uazole2 wrote: »

The Elder Scrolls Online is rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB with Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, and Violence.

The world is bigger than 3 countries. The game is marketed and sold in said bigger world, and is not a universal 18+ rating.

Syldras · November 6

Gabriel_H wrote: »

The world is bigger than 3 countries. The game is marketed and sold in said bigger world, and is not a universal 18+ rating.

Though that means that some countries deem things okay for 16-year-olds that other countries give an 18+ rating for. It's the same content that's rated, after all. It's just cultural differences in what's considered okay for which age and what not.

Here are the official ratings, btw:
https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/#de/answer/4721

SilverBride · November 6

This wouldn't be an issue if players just used names for names instead of phrases.

ZOS_CouchTato · November 6

Hey all, we've decided to close this thread down as it seems to have run its course and there has been a lot of reference to inappropriate content for these forums.

If you would like to appeal a Name action, please contact our support team and they will be happy to assist you.

ZOS_Hadeostry · November 6

Hello,

We removed multiple post that were against our Community Rules, most notably Inappropriate Content and Language and Cursing and Profanity. Also it was moved to General Help, as it's more of an account related topic.

I just want to reiterate what CouchTato mentioned, If you would like to appeal a Name action, please contact our support team.