BBO abuse policies: are they enforced?
#1
Posted 2010-June-01, 19:07
I recently sent an email to the same address about an instance of abuse, and was likewise ignored.
What good does it do stifle any discussion and direct people to send all such reports to that address if the BBO staff will simply ignore those messages? Is the abuse policy enforced at all?
My complaint, which was ignored, involved having been labeled with a vulgar appellation by a BBO user who, I found out from friends later, is apparently notorious for repeated offenses of frivolous director calls, badgering opponents to speed up play or bidding when there is plenty of time, and also vulgar namecalling of the type I had to endure.
I thought there was some kind of "zero tolerance policy" for that stuff. If so, how can the person in question still be allowed to play on BBO, given a history of repeated offenses?
#2
Posted 2010-June-02, 00:51
If you do answer the automatic message, someone in the abuse department will do something about you request. However, they never say what they do; you will only get a message that the case is opened and another one when the matter is closed. One of the possible actions they take is ban that user for an appropriate amount of time.
Karl
#3
Posted 2010-June-02, 05:22
http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...=30285&hl=abuse
Robert
#4
Posted 2010-June-02, 05:33
You are implying that each message sent to the abuse address is somehow determined to be spam or not even before they send the immediate spam-defeating automated response to which a person must reply so that the message can be determined to be spam or real. That doesn't seem to make much sense.
Even if that is truly the case, then the hypothesis presumably is that each of the two very different messages I sent to the abuse address were both independently somehow determined to be spam immediately, even before sending the automated response. That could only mean their spam filter is severely flawed, if it categorically threw out two different messages, both of which were legitimate, and not spam at all.
#5
Posted 2010-June-02, 08:50
I have also learned that, in a few instances, i should not have contacted them, and am now expert in which battles to choose. :-))
I do not complaint to find a resolution to my problem, i complain about behaviours which will affect other players.
Privacy is a big item for bbo, so their policy of not revealing which specific action was taken is understable, ie, there is no public trial of offenders.
Some may even correct their ways and fit into some corner of the bbo community.
But you will not be successful if your aim is to start some kind of public trial.
you have done your part to report the abuse.
consider yourself lucky you are not the one who has to process these complaints.
play bridge, be happy.
#6
Posted 2010-June-02, 19:20
The fact is, all Abuse complaints are read by at least two people, one of them is me and the other is the head of our Abuse department. We take the action we feel is justified by the reported abuse. This can vary depending on what the abuse is all about - a one-time slip in courtesy or at the other end, something from a habitual abuser who has been warned before.
There are times when we (Abuse and I) feel we need advice from the big guys - Fred and Uday. They are always happy to give us their input and advice - and trust me, we use it.
The actions we take can range from a reprimand, either personally or by email from one of us, to the most severe being an 'off with his head' meaning we don't want the person to ever darken our door again.
I know that not getting feedback from us can often equate to 'they don't do anything' but I hope you can take my word for it that this is not the case at all. And I hope that you will feel as we do, that protecting our player's privacy is more important than letting you know that Nasty Nick got his comeuppance.
Because, really, he does.
Jacki
![:lol:](http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
#7
Posted 2010-June-03, 03:37
Because after the comment suggesting that emails sent to abuse will receive the same automated spam-defeating instant reply (which didn't happen for either message I sent) that a person gets after sending an email to support, I'm STILL not sure you guys even received my complaints. As far as I can tell, there WAS some problem with you receiving them, so perhaps you never did!
I can live with not knowing exactly what you did to the person in question (though it seems very odd that such a person is still around actively playing in BBO after hearing she is, apparently, notorious for bad behavior), but not even being sure you even RECEIVED my complaint is another thing altogether.
#8
Posted 2010-June-03, 09:15
#9
Posted 2010-June-03, 14:10
#10
Posted 2010-June-03, 15:02
![:)](http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
#11
Posted 2010-June-03, 15:50
dmsJack, on Jun 3 2010, 04:02 PM, said:
So, sounds to me as if your spam filter is catching the automated replies, since they are, ..., automated! Next time, check your spam file.
My two cents from a total newbie.
#12
Posted 2010-June-03, 17:02
#13
Posted 2010-June-04, 23:11
One day there could be a serious need to examine with scientific methods how anger has influenced thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, then wasted valuable time of online bridge game.
When that day comes I guess online seminars issued by professionals about anger management group treatment plan might work well.
I believe many people in need of learning to analyze, how to identify an anger episode.
Any form of online ban could not serve psychological first aid for stress disorders.
#14
Posted 2010-June-05, 06:07
One of my very young junior friends did get a three year ban. His friend got two year, for lending his computer to the abuser. Reason? He said "You bloody beginner" or something like that, to a wellknown expert player.
Of course nothing proper nor thrue, but three years was of course rather juicy for that.
Afaik there was no other incidents, and the boy also definitely denyied there was any, when I talked with him. I believe him, as he never had any bad manners when I played with him nor kibitzed as I often did at that time
So I, being one of BBO´s junior mentors - and his too, did wrote a polite letter to Abuse asking what happened and if something could be done. (yes, I got through this spam-defence mentioned above).
No answer. No answer to the copy either.
Although more of us mentors did acted. One heavy weighter, an US National( i think), did talked with Abuse (Uday?), and did got this ban on them youngsters lifted. I presume against a promise to talk seriously with them boys. As they did told me they had in fact such a serious talk with this mentor.
All in all, they did get in the end one week ban each when the ban got lifted after everything was said and done. Which is just about a harsh, but proper and good lesson.
But our BBO lesson is. One big shot can get you three year ban practically just like that, and another big shot - can see to get it lifted, almost with the same ease.
I do love BBO and the people online, and I do love the staff which is usually doing a great job helping us enjoy. Im online almost every day since several years.
But some of my heart did sunk down here...
![:(](http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Many homeless cats seek a home.
Adopt one. Contact a cat shelter!
You too can be an everyday hero. :)
#15
Posted 2010-June-05, 06:27
Jacki is working with me to try to figure out why the messages don't get through.
I am willing to take their word for it that abuse complaints are taken seriously and are dealt with, albeit in a covert way. But first I gotta figure out why my complaint didn't get through to them in the first place.
#16
Posted 2010-June-16, 00:47
#17
Posted 2010-June-16, 18:13
#18
Posted 2010-June-16, 22:32
barmar, on Jun 16 2010, 07:13 PM, said:
Why would a a direct link from the "News" be not a good idea if this information is in some manner made available to members? I think it is the perfect place, once a month maybe.
#19
Posted 2010-June-16, 22:54
#20
Posted 2010-June-17, 23:00
peachy, on Jun 17 2010, 12:32 AM, said:
barmar, on Jun 16 2010, 07:13 PM, said:
Why would a a direct link from the "News" be not a good idea if this information is in some manner made available to members? I think it is the perfect place, once a month maybe.
The news is mostly used for upbeat stuff: hyping new features, player of the month, meeting Yellows. Talk about abuse doesn't really promote anything.
I'd just put a permanent link in the Help menu. So the information is easily reached, but not in your face.