Be anything you want, except a slave
by Alphaville Herald on 12/02/04 at 12:50 pm
Maxis has been moving against certain profiles in the BDSM community of late — in particular those which indicate that a particular user is a slave of another user (an example would be the relation between AVH readers/contributors Maria LaVeaux and her slave, Toy). Some accounts have reportedly been suspended for using the “slave of x” phrase in their in game profiles. After one member of the BDSM community sought clarification, a Maxis representative has responded that this is not because of an objection to the BDSM lifestyile, but for the following rationale: “if an “undertone” was clear and somehow promoted “slavery” in some way then we would fall on the side of caution and ask that the comment be removed as Slavery can be a rather debatable, objectionable and touchy topic with several ethic and racial groups. The comment would not be removed because of lifestyle choice (Or I hope not). ” Full letter follows.
Hello (RL Name),
Thank you for contacting TSO Game Support.
I’ll try to provide more clarity by using your examples. If sim B petitioned in and there was nothing directed towards sim B and there was nothing objectionable about the material on Sim A or Sim C’s profile then no action would be taken. A profile which directs no comment towards another and contains no objectionable material would also not be actioned. As to the final question, I’m not privy to what “was” in the profile or what was discussed between the parties involved but if an “undertone” was clear and somehow promoted “slavery” in some way then we would fall on the side of caution and ask that the comment be removed as Slavery can be a rather debatable, objectionable and touchy topic with several ethic and racial groups. The comment would not be removed because of lifestyle choice (Or I hope not).
Try to remember that children under 13 with parental consent may play the Sims Online and though a parent should monitor their child it is very easy to search and find names while in game, read those profiles and then report them. The only advice I can give which has always worked for everyone is; Consent. Make sure your with people who consent with chat topics, comments, actions, role-play and events. Especially in a house which is open to the public where anyone could come in at any time.
I hope that this clears up some of all the questions you have but if not please just ask.
Answers to most questions may be found at: http://thesimsonline.custhelp.com/.
Yours truly,
GM Spada
The Sims Online
EA Player Relations
Maria LaVeaux
Feb 12th, 2004
If i am reading GM Spada’s letter correctly
the terms “Owned By XXXXXX” or “Slave of XXXXXX” are not in and of themselves Barred by TOS and a third party complaining regarding such entries would be disappointed at TSO’s response.
It would seem to me then to be one of two Probable Explanations in the Incidents referred to.(To my Knowledge only two such cases have occurred)
One:
A Maverick game monitor, who acted upon a complaint before gaining either full facts of the D/s relationship, or clarification of EA’s policies on alternative lifestyles.
Or,
TWO:
There was perhaps MORE in the Bio’s than the simple statement “Owned By…..” that could have been construed either as an attack on a particular ethnic group or a direct attack on the complaining party.
In the first case. Ea would Unlikely make any attempt to “Make Whole” the players after such a penalty was levelled wrongfully. More likely, they would Quietly correct the game Monitors perception while publicly supporting their descision as a case by case Judgement call.
In the second case, Some History of Harassment WAS alluded to between the complaintant, and the D/s Couple. it is most likely that, In view of Claim, and counter claim, something in the Bio was thrown into a negative light by the conflict. In the GM’s judgement, Better to remove it and be safe.
It Appears the D/s Lifestyle choice, If Clearly consensual is NOT subject to attack by TOS, and even Plainer that, Since the term Kajira Has never referred to any known ethnic group the Gorean way of life falls completely outside GM Spadas description of an Area of concern.
“Try to remember that children under 13 with parental consent may play the Sims Online and though a parent should monitor their child it is very easy to search and find names while in game, read those profiles and then report them”
A Thirteen year old would in all likelyhood not get past my door long enough to ask an explanation of the term. An Explanation that would take some time Due to the complex nature of the Kajira’s relationship to their Master/Mistress.
A thirteen year old complaining to Maxis,”S/He keeps calling her Avan’shea.” would probably be met more likely with the On Line equivilant of a blank stare than any other action.
It appears that “Slavery” in the context of the BD/SM relationship is NOT threatened.
Mistress Maria LaVeaux
Owner of my Precious girls, toy, elly, and juli
Harvey
Feb 12th, 2004
It appears that “slavery” itself may not be threatened; the advertisement of such status may well be.
Lola
Feb 12th, 2004
I guess, thinking in very broad terms, that the phrases, “I am a slave.” or “Slave of RandomSim” or “In Slavery” could (again this is in really broad terms) possibly offend African-Americans, or other ethnicities. It’s not pretty but in the very PC world we live in, it makes sense that they might do this. I don’t agree with it at all, but if we don’t know exactly what the offending profile said, it’s hard to say if EA was exercising selective persecution, or just trying to avoid issues of racisms and lawsuits.
Dyerbrook
Feb 13th, 2004
I don’t see proof that “Maxis responded that this is not because of an objection to the BDSM lifestile”. In fact the actions were probably taken against the players *because* of their sexually explicit and violent lifestyle involving slavery of other human beings. Slavery is not something to be joked about. Thank God Maxis has finally taken action at least in some fashion (it’s merely a token gesture hardly affecting the whole community), in this game with 13 plus in it.
And no, I’m not the one who filed this complaint, nor are my spoofing friends. I was surprised as anyone else that Maxis would fasten on the slavery aspect of these profiles, and I wouldn’t think they’d have a hook, under the TOS, necessarily to ban a player for these references to slavery. But because it’s slavery in a sexually explicit manner involving violence, they have been able to move. I’m sure it has absolutely nothing to do with African Americans at all, that’s just wishful thinking on the part of the dommes and doms. Move on.
toy
Feb 14th, 2004
once again dyer speaks out and knows nothing about what happened other than he has read here
its still lack of communication skills, one has to ask and listen in order to communicate, not lecture people
toy
Lady Julianna
Feb 14th, 2004
I was waiting for you Dyer and you did not disappoint me. I am only surprised it took you so long.
You are predictable.
Donna
Feb 14th, 2004
Good news! Go Maxis/EA!
BDSM sucks!
TSKELLI
Feb 14th, 2004
It really didn’t have to do with BDSM/Gor, it had to do with the specific words used. In the numerous posts from EA GMs (they received a goodly number of inquiries from members of the community) the upshot seems to be that while Maxis of course reserves its right to do pretty much whatever the heck it wants to relating to the TOS, the issue here had to do with the words “slave” and “owned” (which has an undertone of slavery) and the idea that certain ethnic groups may find these words offensive (as unrelated as their use is here to those concerns). Looking at the various notes in their totality, it seems to have been a fairly narrow issue relating to the non-Gor use of these words, and none of the notes i have read from EA GMs suggested that the Gor/BDSM context was a relevant factor. In fact, at least one note indicated that the “lifestyle” issue was not the issue at all.
kelli
Dyerbrook
Feb 14th, 2004
Once again, could you provide the precise quotes from these exact communications from Maxis/Ea.com? Because we don’t believe you. We have only your word on this. And it cannot be trusted.
TSKELLI
Feb 14th, 2004
i cannot be trusted now?
~kettle looking over at black pot and smirking~
in any case the critical letter, Dyerbrook, is the one noted and quoted in the lead article above. There are others as well, perhaps others would be willing to share them .. i will not share them because they were not communications with me.
kelli
toy
Feb 15th, 2004
awwwww how cute, dyer has a cheerleaderr now
toy hates to burst your bubble donna but EA has backed down because they were wrong 
the BDSM community thrives and grows 
toy
Dyerbrook
Feb 15th, 2004
Hmm…interesting that Tskelli cannot come up with these communications, nor can others. Maybe because they don’t exist, or don’t say what you imply they say. The letter you already quoted in no way explicitly states that Maxis/EA has removed references to slaves and owning because of concern about offending African-Americans. You’ve put that spin on it.
BTW, I realize I’ve been terribly remiss, given my belief that slavery is abhorent and that consent is dubious when expressed by the BDSM crowd, in announcing that I am refusing to continue talking to a sub/slave, and yet continuing to debate a domme/owner, as if a domme owner is free, and her sub isn’t free, and a free person in a free society can talk to an owner as if they are inhabiting some kind of free sphere still. How terrible of me! That was just due to pure thoughtessness on my part. That’s going to end right now. Good-bye Maria. I do not condone slavery in any form.
Lady Julianna
Feb 16th, 2004
Dyer, why would we hand over information about anything which we have shared in a private forum to you? We know from experience you would twist the data and turn it inside out so that EA staff who responded would not recognize what they had said.
And frankly, I am not interested in your opinion about it.
Oh I know.. I’ll save you the trouble of your witty and intellectual response… “Lady J is an ass.” There, I have done your job for you. Now you don’t need the information.
Lady Julianna
Feb 16th, 2004
I just know you’re going to have trouble with this one Dyer. Let me put it another way.
You have asked for private correspondence between members of our community and EA. The answer is simple… No.
Now go choke on it.
Maria LaVeaux
Feb 16th, 2004
The persons directly involved have posted Maxis’s communications to them on another site along with what they believe to be the Bio entries that EA objected to. the site deals woth with alternative lifestyles and perhaps Dyer might find it disturbing BUT if asked, and with uri’s permission, i will provide the site link so you can read it first hand. The letter above appears to be Maxis/EA’s final say on the matter, and one which proves the preceding comments and communications DID indeed exist.
But again, We have seen Dyer has a problem at times with simple linear thinking and therefore, this bit of logic may be lost on him.
Maria.
Dyerbrook
Feb 16th, 2004
Guess what Lady J, choke on this. I already reviewed your “private” site as the URL was sent to me. I didn’t see a single communication that proves the point that Maxis intended the ban on “slavery” to be a bow to sensibilities of Africa Americans. You’ve been blowing too many bubbles.
toy
Feb 18th, 2004
toy can only assume that you read the site dyer and saw only what you wished to see. very much like your misrepresentation of the stratics thread about BDSM..
flara kajira toy
Maria LaVeaux
Feb 20th, 2004
Dyer;
“BTW, I realize I’ve been terribly remiss, given my belief that slavery is abhorent and that consent is dubious when expressed by the BDSM crowd, in announcing that I am refusing to continue talking to a sub/slave, and yet continuing to debate a domme/owner, as if a domme owner is free, and her sub isn’t free, and a free person in a free society can talk to an owner as if they are inhabiting some kind of free sphere still. How terrible of me! That was just due to pure thoughtessness on my part. That’s going to end right now. Good-bye Maria. ”
I think i hit a nerve here.
Roughly Translated, Dyer can no longer offer any Valid debate on his position so he shall cease to debate all together.
Mistress Maria LaVeaux Bows and sheaths her Rapier keen wit as her opponent concedes defeat and retreats to lick his wounds.
My toy, There was never any hope of Dyerbrook answering your questions. Not because he felt himself above you (Though he will tell that to himself in a Vain attempt to preserve his own ego) but because your questions cut to the very Marrow of his arguements and he indeed had no answers. Faced with the Hypocracy of this paper thin Veneer of superiority, Dyer chooses not to continue debate, but rather, to turn tail and run.
A final (I hope) word for the very estimable Mr. Dyerbrook; I DID warn you chere, as follows.
“Chere,, I would have thought you had had enough humiliation from the last thread, why don’t you take your Moral Majority of One, and find a more surmountable “Sin” you are just not intellectually up to this one.”
You should have Listened from the start and saved yourself the Embarassment of crawling from the fields with your empty and unconvincing cries of “I am Too Good to continue arguing with you”
I don’t buy it and neither i think does anyone else.
Your worthy Opponent.
Maria LaVeaux
Thang
Feb 26th, 2004
Mr. Dyerbrok have you ever heard of Safe, Sane and Consensual? Sir I pass on my RL accomplishments but I am sane enough to exert my civic and parental rights without supervision, as an adult. So if I say I want a Master or a Mistress in TSO (this is a game, roleplay, remember), that I want to be owned, of my own free will, who are you to question that? I have never ever been ill-treated in all the months that I have been a member of the Rose Thorn community. On the contrary, people are more polite and considerate than in vanilla community. I suspect your issue about “slavery” could well be a front for something else “that dares not speak its name”. BDSM is about love, a love freely given, freely received, shared and treasured, the end of aloofness, this XXIth century disease…