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Tbagging should not be a bannable offense

XVestigeXx
XVestigeXx
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Basically the title. I'll start by saying I was not banned, it was a guildie I hardly know - but it moved me to want to spark a conversation here now that Zos seems more feedback driven, and after 7 years of me not voicing these opinions it would be nice to get it off my chest.

There is no reason to ban people for bagging. Its hateful and does actual damage to ban someone's account all because they bagged someone in-game. Alls it does is fuels hate, harm, targeting, and toxicity. Its a rule that puts unreasonable expectation on someone playing a video game to remember everyone who ever told them not to do it and to always be online and never block anyone for fear of a ban and losing years of time investment and money all because they crouched up and down on a body in a video game. Get rid of this rule. Get it out of our game. Its being weaponized by people who want to use non-real victimhood to get back at players that hurt their ego by deleting their accounts. Bagging is part of video game culture and it will forever be part of ESO whether you ban or not, it just sucks for the people who are blindsided by having years of their game time and monetary investment ripped away all because they bagged someone and that someone complained and reported it.

What if someone askes us to stop and 4 weeks go by and that someone does it again because they forgot that specific person's request? Do they get another strike leading up to a ban? should we have sticky notes on our monitor full of people we can't bag because they might report it and have us banned? Is that good for ESO? Does that make the game more enjoyable? No.

I have no problem personally stopping if I happen to bag someone and they ask me nicely to stop, but I do have a problem with bagging being a bannable offense because 99% of the reports are not for actual harassment but just because it hurt someone's ego like getting a touchdown and doing a victory dance. Zos does not need to be refereeing as its a waste of time and just creates toxicity and real world pain because it takes a harmless in game interaction and elevates it to real world harm.

It would be nice if there were no rudeness in the world, but unfortunately there is and trying to police it has caused more harm than letting it be. Its a part of video game culture, its not going away, yes I wish it had a different name and that people were nicer but its just literally crouching up and down, its not some heinous act. And the people who report it are the same who get mad and report emoting or standing on their body for 1 second too long. I don't like being bagged but I don't much care and neither should everyone else to the point that they want to report people and get them thrown off the game. I don't think its good for anyone ever to lose their account over it. It'd be like losing your account for using a curse word or giving the middle finger. If you flipped someone off on the way to work should you have your license revoked? No! (I have never flipped any one off by the way)

I understand that harassing someone and stalking them or purposefully and egregiously hunting one person down like stream sniping I get that being bannable, but bagging and emoting on a body should be removed from the CoC as being considered harassment or bannable as it does the opposite of what the CoC's goal is. You should not be banned for bagging or emoting whether its 1 time or 100 times over the course of time and normal play.

The people who report others for bagging just want to weaponize this awful rule as a way to hurt others! Its literally enabling a much worse problem! I am calling on ZOS to get rid of it! And reinstate every account banned for bagging!
Edited by XVestigeXx on August 14, 2026 2:30AM
  • Bguk
    Bguk
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    Duck for the incoming lock!!!
  • Treeshka
    Treeshka
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    If i remember right this action only becomes problem if the other person specifically states that they do not want to be bagged. They can either whisper or send in game mail i guess.
    So basically if a person does not want you to do it, you should not do it. It goes for every other aspect of the game.
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    Bguk wrote: »
    Duck for the incoming lock!!!

    If they do, they're just proving my point
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    Treeshka wrote: »
    If i remember right this action only becomes problem if the other person specifically states that they do not want to be bagged. They can either whisper or send in game mail i guess.
    So basically if a person does not want you to do it, you should not do it. It goes for every other aspect of the game.

    How easy to send that message after the fact and then report them doing it from before the message was sent
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    If a player wanted to target another player who was bagging them, how easy would it be to intentionally let them kill them, bag them, screen shot several instances of it, then whisper them that they don't want to be bagged, screenshot the whisper, then report them with the whisper message and all the screenshots of the bagging as if the one reported just didn't listen?
  • Bguk
    Bguk
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    I agree with you. Ironic how killing a digital person is ok, yet a digital tbag is not. It's just these threads go nowhere fast.
  • Radiate77
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    There are literal emotes designed to taunt people, and a T-Bag emote…

    Would you get banned for using these?
    If not, why is it bannable to t-bag someone?

    This is especially strange on Xbox, given the Halo culture that popularized it as a means of getting in the head of your opponent so they play worse. It’s an actual strategy used in competitive gaming.
    Edited by Radiate77 on August 13, 2026 7:40PM
    Founder of New Age Crusade, the #1 Battlegrounds guild on Xbox NA
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    Bguk wrote: »
    I agree with you. Ironic how killing a digital person is ok, yet a digital tbag is not. It's just these threads go nowhere fast.

    Exactly! I guess we will see if its the same old Zos or if they are open to community feedback about it
  • Radiate77
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    Treeshka wrote: »
    If i remember right this action only becomes problem if the other person specifically states that they do not want to be bagged. They can either whisper or send in game mail i guess.
    So basically if a person does not want you to do it, you should not do it. It goes for every other aspect of the game.

    If I don’t want people to queue up to Battlegrounds with 20k health, and feel my time wasted and disrespected by their actions am I allowed to ask them to raise their health, and if they don’t comply, would my reports lead anywhere?
    Founder of New Age Crusade, the #1 Battlegrounds guild on Xbox NA
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    Radiate77 wrote: »
    There are literal emotes designed to taunt people, and a T-Bag emote…

    Would you get banned for using these?
    If not, why is it bannable to t-bag someone?

    This is especially strange on Xbox, given the Halo culture that popularized it as a means of getting in the head of your opponent so they play worse. It’s an actual strategy used in competitive gaming.

    Good points!

    It kinda makes me realize how we got updates like U35 in that it just doesn't make sense at a foundational level, and then Zos wouldn't listen to feedback about it at all. I hope they listen to this as I think it would be a good litmus test to see how changed and feedback driven Zos really is vs just being the same Zos that doesn't listen to our feedback as this has been a sore spot for a long time
  • Militan1404
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    I sometimes gets accused of tbagging becouse i press to hard on the d-pad on my ps5 controller when i get carried away. Would be stupid if i got banned becouse i hit crouch button on accident.
  • Melivar
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    I don't understand why people get upset by it, heck I would never even notice as I am either looking at the death recap or for a place to respawn depending on the mode.

    However the rules are the rules and everyone should just be adult enough to follow them just like running the risk on a speeding ticket.
  • driosketch
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    Bguk wrote: »
    I agree with you. Ironic how killing a digital person is ok, yet a digital tbag is not. It's just these threads go nowhere fast.
    One is part of the game, while the other can be argued to be directed at the player.
    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Its more hateful and does far more damage to ban someone's account all because they bagged someone in-game. Alls it does is fuels greater hate, more harm, more targeting, and more toxicity.
    Sure, but I feel like this is only acknowledging half the toxicity. It's takes two to tangle. Personally I don't care if I'm on the receiving end, just PvP'er things. But I'm also not risking my account to do it to others.
    Radiate77 wrote: »
    There are literal emotes designed to taunt people, and a T-Bag emote…
    Wait, is their an actual Tea bag emote? Does it work in Cyrodiil? I remember when they disabled the Salt Bae emote in PvP.
    Main: Drio Azul ~ DC, Redguard, Healer/Magicka Templar ~ NA-PC
    ●The Psijic Order●The Sidekick Order●Great House Hlaalu●Bal-Busters●
  • RaikaNA
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    From a woman's perspective, there is nothing wrong with teabagging in a virtual world. When I get teabagged, I don't feel like I'm being violated because the characters I play in the game are not my actual physical body. When someone punches my characters in the game... I cannot feel it in real life... Sure, when I'm PvP'ing out in Cyrodill and after I die... it does bring out some emotional feelings, but that's just normal. Nobody enjoys getting defeated in battle.

    Sometimes getting teabagged by enemies does annoy me, but most of the time I laugh about it.

    I think people can be a tad bit sensitive about what goes on in a virtual world.. The developers should not reward this kind of behavior.

    If anything from the perspective of a woman.. repeating the vampire questline to gain the vampire skill line makes me a bit uncomfortable, as I keep being reminded of what Molag Bal did to the questgiver.
  • Melivar
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    Not a T Bag emote that I am aware of that's just crouch, but several other similarly fitting options are available.
  • XVestigeXx
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    Melivar wrote: »
    I don't understand why people get upset by it, heck I would never even notice as I am either looking at the death recap or for a place to respawn depending on the mode.

    However the rules are the rules and everyone should just be adult enough to follow them just like running the risk on a speeding ticket.

    Except this rule is a bad rule that should be changed, and unlike speed limits, this rule is not clearly stated outside of being buried in some code of conduct somewhere that nobody reads. It'd be like speeding on a road in some city with no speed limit signs and then being arrested because you didn't look up the local law and read what the speed limit was for that particular road even though its "clearly stated in our local lawbook and available to everyone".

    There are good rules and bad rules. The bagging rule is a bad rule and makes me not want to support the game because it falls on the totalitarian side of things and I hate that
  • Melivar
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    And while I don't necessarily agree but the T Bag has a bit more or a sexual harrasment angle than other taunt options and IIRC that's ultimately why it is not allowed once requested to stop.
  • XVestigeXx
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    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Its more hateful and does far more damage to ban someone's account all because they bagged someone in-game. Alls it does is fuels greater hate, more harm, more targeting, and more toxicity.
    Sure, but I feel like this is only acknowledging half the toxicity. It's takes two to tangle. Personally I don't care if I'm on the receiving end, just PvP'er things. But I'm also not risking my account to do it to others.

    Why is Zos interjecting themselves in a feud between two players like they're a ref? if it doesn't rise to actually illegal things or slurs in zone chat or something, why should zos care?
  • XVestigeXx
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    driosketch wrote: »
    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Its more hateful and does far more damage to ban someone's account all because they bagged someone in-game. Alls it does is fuels greater hate, more harm, more targeting, and more toxicity.
    Sure, but I feel like this is only acknowledging half the toxicity. It's takes two to tangle. Personally I don't care if I'm on the receiving end, just PvP'er things. But I'm also not risking my account to do it to others.

    I am bad at commenting on here, I messed up quoting you
  • kevkj
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    I don't think anyone should be banned for teabagging, but if you already know you can get banned for it and still do it then that reflects just as much on your lack of guile to do similar but non bannable acts to get under your opponent's skin and/or your lack of self control in something as low stakes as a videogame (or you are some misguided soul who believes this act of defiance makes you a free speech champion).

    This is just like excessive celebration penalties in sport or teachers banning specific jokes in the classroom. It's a waste of enforcement time of course but if you just can't help but break the rule then eat the consequences proudly instead of whining.
  • Divine1976
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    I don't like it, but would rather live with it then have an overly censored environment
  • DoofusMax
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    Personally, I think teabagging should have died back with Halo CE and it's a kind of juvenile move 25-ish years later. I don't find it egregiously offensive, but some do. There is a pretty well known (and unnamed) YouTuber who apparently thought it would be funny to bag me in Cyrodiil a few years back (no idea if they were streaming at the time) and I still think they're a bit of a *** (censored feminine hygeine product) because of that, but that's about all the grief they earned from me. They're welcome to think it's funny and I get to have a poor opinion of them going forward. But if someone tells them "don't do that to me" and they continue to do that to them, then yes, that has crossed beyond juvenile and moved into harassment. That can and should have consequences.
    Edited by DoofusMax on August 13, 2026 8:10PM
    I'm fresh out of outrage, but I could muster up some amused annoyance if required.
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    RaikaNA wrote: »
    From a woman's perspective, there is nothing wrong with teabagging in a virtual world. When I get teabagged, I don't feel like I'm being violated because the characters I play in the game are not my actual physical body. When someone punches my characters in the game... I cannot feel it in real life... Sure, when I'm PvP'ing out in Cyrodill and after I die... it does bring out some emotional feelings, but that's just normal. Nobody enjoys getting defeated in battle.

    Sometimes getting teabagged by enemies does annoy me, but most of the time I laugh about it.

    I think people can be a tad bit sensitive about what goes on in a virtual world.. The developers should not reward this kind of behavior.

    If anything from the perspective of a woman.. repeating the vampire questline to gain the vampire skill line makes me a bit uncomfortable, as I keep being reminded of what Molag Bal did to the questgiver.

    I could not agree more. I have always found the vampire questline and Molag Bal really disturbing even though I am a man. I hate those sort of disturbing crimes so much it just kind of stains my mind and I can't let it go because of how much it bothers me especially since I have irl friends who have gone through that torture.

    Yet we have it in game in a repeatable quest but bagging is bannable
  • Dalsinthus
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    Melivar wrote: »
    Not a T Bag emote that I am aware of that's just crouch, but several other similarly fitting options are available.

    I believe the teatime emote is what was being referenced:
    https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Collectible_Emotes

  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    DoofusMax wrote: »
    Personally, I think teabagging should have died back with Halo CE and it's a kind of juvenile move 25-ish years later. I don't find it egregiously offensive, but some do. There is a pretty well known (and unnamed) YouTuber who apparently thought it would be funny to bag me in Cyrodiil a few years back (no idea if they were streaming at the time) and I still think they're a bit of a *** (censored feminine hygeine product) because of that, but that's about all the grief they earned from me. They're welcome to think it's funny and I get to have a poor opinion of them going forward. But if someone tells them "don't do that to me" and they continue to do that to them, then yes, that has crossed beyond juvenile and moved into harassment. That can and should have consequences.

    I wholeheartedly disagree
  • BagOfBadgers
    BagOfBadgers
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    Summary of past and future comments on a sliding scale;


    "It doesn't bother me giving or receiving & I should be able to do it to everyone everywhere".

    "It is what it is, I don’t give out any T’bags and laugh when I get them".

    "I’ll let one slide but ask them to stop by mail, as they're playing offline so can’t whisper them".

    "It’s SA".


    I don’t give any out in any PvP BUT if I’m in a non pug Trial and depending on the player (some don’t want it, not a problem, respect and all that) I do.

    I think ZOS has a good balance , e.g. if you ask a player to stop and they don’t then action will be taken.
    Proud member of the "One shot boss, wipe on trash" club.
    Believe in the KISS priceable "Keep It Simple Stupid".
    My Dyslexia makes the forum the true Vet HM for me.
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Melivar wrote: »
    And while I don't necessarily agree but the T Bag has a bit more or a sexual harrasment angle than other taunt options and IIRC that's ultimately why it is not allowed once requested to stop.

    Killing another player is a bit homicidal is it not? which is worse? Homicide or SA?

    Sexual Assault apology

    No it is not. They're both terrible irl but if we are allowing one in game and then banning people for bagging people which is not SA in any way shape or form, how are we not hypocrites? Accusing others of SA for bagging people is even more ludicrous than accusing others of being mass murderers for killing people in the game
  • AdonisJorge
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    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Melivar wrote: »
    And while I don't necessarily agree but the T Bag has a bit more or a sexual harrasment angle than other taunt options and IIRC that's ultimately why it is not allowed once requested to stop.

    Killing another player is a bit homicidal is it not? which is worse? Homicide or SA?

    Do you see any game that your main objetive is to SA as much people as possible?

    You didn't answer my question, which is worse? Homicide or SA? Bagging isn't even anything near SA in gaming culture

    Is irrelevant, you are comparing a game theme common that only some "moral panic" people attack (games with murder) to a crime that is viewed with disgust on almost every culture and is not accepeable not even in war (it is considered a war crime)
  • XVestigeXx
    XVestigeXx
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    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Melivar wrote: »
    And while I don't necessarily agree but the T Bag has a bit more or a sexual harrasment angle than other taunt options and IIRC that's ultimately why it is not allowed once requested to stop.

    Killing another player is a bit homicidal is it not? which is worse? Homicide or SA?

    Sexual Assault apology

    Thats so offensive that you even say that! I hate SA! I have seen what it has done to my friends! How dare you even insinuate that! You should be ashamed!!
  • AdonisJorge
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    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    XVestigeXx wrote: »
    Melivar wrote: »
    And while I don't necessarily agree but the T Bag has a bit more or a sexual harrasment angle than other taunt options and IIRC that's ultimately why it is not allowed once requested to stop.

    Killing another player is a bit homicidal is it not? which is worse? Homicide or SA?

    Sexual Assault apology

    Thats so offensive that you even say that! I hate SA! I have seen what it has done to my friends! How dare you even insinuate that! You should be ashamed!!

    Then think more before making nonsense analogies
This discussion has been closed.