Anonymity on the radio and the problems caused by it

[Cdls]

I am still not seeing how any of this is actually ruining the game as a whole though. Yes, the radio is annoying when people try and troll it. The problem there is whether it is OOC trolling, or IC trolling. OOC trolling is prohibited and should be reported, IC trolling, while annoying, isn't an exploit.

If we are looking to rid the game of things that annoy us, or remove 'troll tools', then we should get rid of:

weapons
tools
communities
speech
notes
doors
windows
ability to name things
sex
animals
*reserve the right to add to the list


Not being an ass or anything, but the game is full of things that can annoy people.

[Swingerzetta]

I haven't seen anything complained about as much as radio misuse. It doesn't annoy me much, but obviously it's something that bothers a lot of other people. I've never heard people complain about the existence of tools or speech.

Also, it's a bit hard to guess whether a disruptive radio user is acting in character or not. Really, unless they specifically mention non-Cantr things, like, computer games or something, a case can always be made that the disruption was in character.

I suppose that basically what you're saying is that something being an annoyance to most players is not a good enough reason to make changes to it.

[Cdls]

I suppose that basically what you're saying is that something being an annoyance to most players is not a good enough reason to make changes to it.

Actually, not exactly. A lot of changes come about because the previous versions caused an annoyance somehow. Revisions are made, and it becomes better overall.


What I am saying is that the annoyances being caused are not an exploit, and I refute the claim that it is ruining the game.

[SekoETC]

An analogy: The radio on Cantr is like an anonymous forum. Those tend to get trolls just because there's no one to stop them. It's like /b/chan. Most forums tend to require registration of members so that people who cause disturbance can be banned. Of course it doesn't stop people from creating multiple accounts, but people are more likely to trust known accounts and take newbies with a grain of salt. For example here on Cantr forums, anyone with just one post is viewed as a potential spambot, unless their first post is particularly meaningful and clearly on topic.

The problem with comparing Cantr with real world radio is that even though people might learn to recognize and separate certain voices in real world, there are still sometimes going to be people who sound disturbingly much alike, so that you're listening to the radio one day and you could swear this person talking sounds just like your old school buddy, except they were introduced with a different name. Or you call someone for the first time and are shocked how much they sound like some other person, with only a slight difference. Whereas in Cantr the only way to mistake people with each other is if you haven't named them yet, or have named two people the same and they're also the same age and sex.

[SumBum]

I think the major difference with the radio "misuse" versus other "annoyances" is that there's no way to stop it. If a char is being annoying in your town, you can do something about it. There's no way to police radios within the game except in populated towns (even then someone could build one in a private residence and do as they please). That situation makes people more willing to be asses on the radio because the know they won't get caught. If there was even some vague indication of their location then maybe it would cut down on some of the annoyances.

The problem with a triangulation suggestion that requires cooperation between multiple locations to pin-point a transmission's origin is that instead of the radio being cluttered with some douche thinking they're funny, it'll then be a flood of "who has what coordinates on this ass?"

[Melodianme13]

Personally I think the radio is fine the way it is. Yes it is annoying. But there are more than one frequency. People have gone to private frequencies before. Or... Don't sit by a radio? Or maybe just ignore it. I nearly always have a character sitting by the radio. Sometimes she responds to what she hears with an "Oh my! That is awful!" Or "Aww.. That's too bad." Kind of mentality. And other times, she just zones the words out because she is sleeping or working or just not paying attention to it.

Anyone has the right to use the radio, whether it is for something valid or... not. Yes it is easy for it to be misused and obviously it is and can be annoying but we don't have to read everything that is on there. We don't even have to stay by the radio.

[kicking jay]

I think the major difference with the radio "misuse" versus other "annoyances" is that there's no way to stop it. If a char is being annoying in your town, you can do something about it. There's no way to police radios within the game except in populated towns (even then someone could build one in a private residence and do as they please). That situation makes people more willing to be asses on the radio because the know they won't get caught. If there was even some vague indication of their location then maybe it would cut down on some of the annoyances.

The problem with a triangulation suggestion that requires cooperation between multiple locations to pin-point a transmission's origin is that instead of the radio being cluttered with some douche thinking they're funny, it'll then be a flood of "who has what coordinates on this ass?"

And then a huge trollhunt ensures as a handful of people from every town converge on a single location, bringing more with them as they go - especially if the larger towns put bounties on troll's heads. Probably entire villages would be sacked by overzealous hordes of pissed off listeners and people trying to get the final shot in, and whole wars start as the powerful allies of those villages are summoned by the survivors.

Holy crap that would be awesome.

[Cdls]

Holy crap that would be awesome.

Especially if it was the troll in question who organized it, and then seeing the opportunity of everyone being distracted, creates a troll empire while everyone is busy hunting!

[Bmot]

The problem with a triangulation suggestion that requires cooperation between multiple locations to pin-point a transmission's origin is that instead of the radio being cluttered with some douche thinking they're funny, it'll then be a flood of "who has what coordinates on this ass?"

I think all suggestions about triangulation so far have at least given a direction of the original transmission, which would make it possible to know the difference between a troll and the real person, which would at least end the smurfs impersonating other people.

I mean, if you have a conversation with someone which you know by a triangulation device is at a certain distance or direction, you know the other voice coming from another distance or direction is not the one you should be listening to.

For me, that's by far the most annoying thing on the radio, the fact that you can't hear the difference between an impersonator and the real person even if you're in the middle of a conversation.

[saztronic]

I honestly think the complete anonymity on the radio is ruining the game, leading into tons of asshattery.

I have nothing to say on this topic, but I would like to take a moment to applaud this use of the word 'asshattery' and strongly encourage its creative use by all members of the forum community.

Also, Tons of Asshattery is officially the name of my new band. Look for our debut album this fall, with accompanying tour in the spring.

[kicking jay]

The problem with a triangulation suggestion that requires cooperation between multiple locations to pin-point a transmission's origin is that instead of the radio being cluttered with some douche thinking they're funny, it'll then be a flood of "who has what coordinates on this ass?"

I think all suggestions about triangulation so far have at least given a direction of the original transmission, which would make it possible to know the difference between a troll and the real person, which would at least end the smurfs impersonating other people.

I mean, if you have a conversation with someone which you know by a triangulation device is at a certain distance or direction, you know the other voice coming from another distance or direction is not the one you should be listening to.

For me, that's by far the most annoying thing on the radio, the fact that you can't hear the difference between an impersonator and the real person even if you're in the middle of a conversation.

I'm pretty sure that between directionless triangulation and being able to recognize voices (that aren't muffled), we'd be good. However, I fully support a (very expensive, complicated) device that would give a rough direction of the signal. However, making this ability on all radios, is, I think, not a good idea.

[Bmot]

The problem with a triangulation suggestion that requires cooperation between multiple locations to pin-point a transmission's origin is that instead of the radio being cluttered with some douche thinking they're funny, it'll then be a flood of "who has what coordinates on this ass?"

I think all suggestions about triangulation so far have at least given a direction of the original transmission, which would make it possible to know the difference between a troll and the real person, which would at least end the smurfs impersonating other people.

I mean, if you have a conversation with someone which you know by a triangulation device is at a certain distance or direction, you know the other voice coming from another distance or direction is not the one you should be listening to.

For me, that's by far the most annoying thing on the radio, the fact that you can't hear the difference between an impersonator and the real person even if you're in the middle of a conversation.

I'm pretty sure that between directionless triangulation and being able to recognize voices (that aren't muffled), we'd be good. However, I fully support a (very expensive, complicated) device that would give a rough direction of the signal. However, making this ability on all radios, is, I think, not a good idea.

I think either of those would work, weather it'd be direction, distance, or voice recognition...

I never said anything about making it on all radio's, though

[Alladinsane]

On further reflection, I am not in favor of any of the suggestions.

I used to listen to stupid 'shock jocks' on the radio and alot of times it was 2 or 3 people doing the voices of many.
Some were good, and some were weak Stern-like one trick ponies.
You could detect some facets, a few you could not.
People can change their voices, talk through muffling cloth, create background noise etc.
Honestly, I think that perhaps this whole discussion is based on a rant.

We either have radios or we don't.
--------------------------------------------------------


Of course those are merely suggestions and my own humble opinions.

Be well

[bnlphan]

I wouldn't be opposed to removing radios altogether and have a courier business boom but I'm sure I am in the minority on that so would it be possible to change it so location is given with broadcast.

You hear from radio frequency 100 Boat: Friendly Trader "Hello is anyone listening in Klojt? This is Captain John of the Friendly Trader.

You hear from radio frequency 100 Locale: Klojt. "This is Klojt, what do you need?"

You hear from radio frequency 100 Vehicle: Trollmobile. "Im a troll!"

[ObsessedWithCats]

Maybe an optional setting on each transmitter to broadcast its location, and another setting on each receiver to not pick up messages which don't include the location?

I'm a bit stuck on how the radio would know where it is unless the person who builds or uses it tells it, in which case they could lie, but maybe we could use a longitude and latitude system (so you can only imitate someone in the same location, and you can head in the right direction to find trolls) which radios determine from magnetic fields of the Cantr-world's planet or something? Not very scientific, but just as logical as the ice-cream crank. People would get used to which co-ordinates are legit radio users, and be able to find anyone who broadcasts where they are and ignore anyone who doesn't.