A few thoughts on server policies

[War Pig]

I can think of some valid reasons why observers would be kicked or banned:

1. They are disrupting the players, or the game.
2. They are providing game intelligence to players.
3. They are attempting to draw players away to some other server.
4. They are taunting, belittling, or annoying others.
5. They are skewing or subverting the polls.
6. They are also playing with a different callsign.

None of these things were done and still a ban.
Odd thing is I've seen people do these things and still not a ban.

-Zehra

With all due respect, I do not believe you are being 100% truthful. You were NOT banned from any mainstream server for merely "observing". PM me the name of the admin who banned you, and I will get their side of the story.

[macsforme]

So after all that, the issue is not one of vague rules, but of a highly specific instance where you were told not to do something and you did it anyway?

To quote a film that I like, "Comprehension is not a prerequisite to cooperation." The server owner doesn't need a reason to impose a special condition on you. I may not personally agree with that condition, but I also don't know what went on that led to this condition being imposed on you. Be a good citizen, and you won't have to deal with these extra restrictions.

[Zehra]

With all due respect, I do not believe you are being 100% truthful. You were NOT banned from any mainstream server for merely "observing". PM me the name of the admin who banned you, and I will get their side of the story.

I think observing and chatting on more than one server was officially permitted sometime until someone thought it wasn't permitted.
So probably a few random things like this happen every once in a while or more often than I think of.

-Zehra

[Zehra]

So after all that, the issue is not one of vague rules, but of a highly specific instance where you were told not to do something and you did it anyway?

To quote a film that I like, "Comprehension is not a prerequisite to cooperation." The server owner doesn't need a reason to impose a special condition on you. I may not personally agree with that condition, but I also don't know what went on that led to this condition being imposed on you. Be a good citizen, and you won't have to deal with these extra restrictions.

The server owner has the rights and is able to make any rules basically on their server.
As long as they don't violate any of the items listed below.

Code: Select all

Public Internet Servers and the "list server"
=============================================

The bzflag project offers a public server listing service that allows
players to find servers to play on. This service is run for the
benefit of the project. As of Version 2.4, BZFlag servers that wish to
be listed on the public list server must provide an authentication key
that ties the server to a specific global user. This is done to
provide contact information for players and project
staff. Authentication keys are automatically generated at
https://my.bzflag.org/listkeys/


Notes on "CHEAT" servers and network abuse
==========================================

While the license for BZFlag certainly allows users to run any server
modification that they wish or to modify the code in any way, we ask
that people do not publish or host "cheat" clients or servers to the
general public for use.  We also expect that users will abide by basic
usage guidelines of reasonable and tolerable behavior that are not
detrimental to the game's heritage of a fun gaming environment for
all.

We understand the desire to expand, modify, and improve the game and
its sources including the ability to test out new features publicly.
These modified clients and servers generally provide some advantage
over unmodified clients and are generally discouraged for widespread
use.  As such, we ask that anyone wishing to host or otherwise
participate in a game that involves a modified client or server to
register under a different network protocol than the current public
release by modifying BZ_PROTO_VERSION in the src/date/buildDate.cxx
file.  This will let modified games be played and prevent modified
clients from being used on public unmodified servers.

Any individuals that are found to be contributing to abuse of the
public services being provided may be subject to bans or other access
restrictions.  Abuse generally consists of any disruption to one of
BZFlag's network services including denial of service attacks,
spamming of BZFlag web sites or servers, disruptive gameplay on
multiple public servers, intrusion attempts, password sniffing, or any
other behavior that is deemed inappropriate.

The BZFlag project administrators reserve the right to remove public
listings of any game servers for any reason whatsoever, including
removal of servers or banning of individuals that do not follow this
request.  Similarly, the BZFlag project administrators also reserve
the right to limit access or otherwise block any players from public
service access at any time.  These actions may include the suspension
or removal of global accounts and limiting access to the web site
services including web site services, list server access, forum access,
and any league resources.

In general, the entire network is provided by the community for the
community as an entirely volunteer and contributed effort.  We ask
that all players recognize and respect the time, effort, and resources
involved and that we're all generally here to have a good time.

Best thing to do is to try to enjoy the game.

-Zehra

[Bullet Catcher]

If there are any constructive suggestions in this thread, they are cleverly concealed in the nearly 3000 words Zehra has contributed. Enough. Before I lock this thread I get to make the last comment:

Nearly all of the server owners are satisfied with the degree to which their rules (if any) are precise or vague, and with the consistency that admins enforce the rules. I know this is true because they would make changes if they weren't satisfied. BZFlag players who can't deal with that reality are going to be unhappy; we don't have to let them make the rest of us unhappy, too.