I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding a recent encounter with a Game Master (GM) in the game, which I found creepy and unprofessional.
During this interaction, I was teleported into a small, dungeon-like setting and subjected to an RP scenario that was non-consensual. The GM appeared in the guise of an ominously cloaked and intimidating figure, wrapped in the shadowy shroud of a FFXIV villain in what can only be interpreted as a developer created power-fantasy. This scenario, in combination with the power dynamic involved and the weird, deliberately creepy environment, was unsettling, and more concernedly, carries sexual undertones which I find gross, unnecessary and inappropriate.
While I understand that role-play may be a part of the game’s interaction with players; this does not extend to coerced, forced, or non-consensual RolePlay encounters with other people. I want to make it clear that I do not consent to being forced into any RP scenario, especially one involving uncomfortable power dynamics with another user in a dungeon setting with even remotely sexual/fetishistic undertones. The nature of this encounter made me feel violated, disrespected, and emotionally unsettled. Though I do not condone, I might expect this style of overt, forced power-fantasy from edgy teenagers; but certainly not official company representatives. Such scenarios are not only do nothing to further the goals of legitimate in-game moderation, but they also serve to undermine the trust and validity of a company which I should hope is claiming to act professionally and in good faith. This type of forced role-play exchange is, at best, juvenile and, at worst, constitutes or resembles sexual harassment. I am formally declaring that I felt sexually harassed by this exchange.
Going forward, I kindly request that all future communication with me be handled in more traditional and professional manner; either through email or in-game messages, or any other form of in game contact which does involve weird, creepy and unnecessary RP and/or power-fantasy elements with another user. I reserve the right not to engage in RP encounters with other users, this includes GMs.
Please communicate with the GM team that future attempts to forcibly engage this account in non-consensual RP with another user will be considered sexual harassment. I am obligated to reasonably withdraw or extricate myself from social interactions which I perceive as harassment. Preventing a client-side exit from the game creates a captive audience to the interaction, ergo; Should this scenario happen again: The harassment will be recorded, and the FFXIV program will be immediately terminated through my operating system. I will not engage in, interact with, or otherwise be an audience to unsolicited and non-consensual RP encounters.
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During this interaction, I was teleported into a small, dungeon-like setting and subjected to an RP scenario that was non-consensual. The GM appeared in the guise of an ominously cloaked and intimidating figure, wrapped in the shadowy shroud of a FFXIV villain in what can only be interpreted as a developer created power-fantasy. This scenario, in combination with the power dynamic involved and the weird, deliberately creepy environment, was unsettling, and more concernedly, carries sexual undertones which I find gross, unnecessary and inappropriate.
While I understand that role-play may be a part of the game’s interaction with players; this does not extend to coerced, forced, or non-consensual RolePlay encounters with other people. I want to make it clear that I do not consent to being forced into any RP scenario, especially one involving uncomfortable power dynamics with another user in a dungeon setting with even remotely sexual/fetishistic undertones. The nature of this encounter made me feel violated, disrespected, and emotionally unsettled. Though I do not condone, I might expect this style of overt, forced power-fantasy from edgy teenagers; but certainly not official company representatives. Such scenarios are not only do nothing to further the goals of legitimate in-game moderation, but they also serve to undermine the trust and validity of a company which I should hope is claiming to act professionally and in good faith. This type of forced role-play exchange is, at best, juvenile and, at worst, constitutes or resembles sexual harassment. I am formally declaring that I felt sexually harassed by this exchange.
Going forward, I kindly request that all future communication with me be handled in more traditional and professional manner; either through email or in-game messages, or any other form of in game contact which does involve weird, creepy and unnecessary RP and/or power-fantasy elements with another user. I reserve the right not to engage in RP encounters with other users, this includes GMs.
Please communicate with the GM team that future attempts to forcibly engage this account in non-consensual RP with another user will be considered sexual harassment. I am obligated to reasonably withdraw or extricate myself from social interactions which I perceive as harassment. Preventing a client-side exit from the game creates a captive audience to the interaction, ergo; Should this scenario happen again: The harassment will be recorded, and the FFXIV program will be immediately terminated through my operating system. I will not engage in, interact with, or otherwise be an audience to unsolicited and non-consensual RP encounters.
Continue reading...