English

there is no place in this game for bullying and/or acts of intimidation.
how one person choses to play their game should not concern you at all.
you have no right to inflict your views upon them and attempt to change the way they play their game just so it fits your ideals.
threatening another player(s) using the guise of roleplay is cowardly and childish. 

your roleplay may be that of a 'bad guy/girl' but that is absolutley no excuse to abuse another player, be it using calm words or otherwise.
if you have an isssue with someone or a group then you discuss the issue like adults and not with blackmail or threats.
you talk through the issues and come to an agreement. if an agreement cannot be reached then you simply walk away. you do not inflict your views on someone whom is not playing the game the way you want them to.

of course, if the person is breaking rules then inform the powers that be by all means.

intimidating people is bad.
using roleplay to hide behind is bad.
implying that you are going to make someone's life hell is bad.
it's very easy to roleplay and not be a complete tool.

Couldn't agree more, and excuses like "it's how they are" or "that's what the ignore button is for" are poor responses to excuse bad attitude.

At least in my mind, where excuses are made to avoid confronting the issue, allows the problem of bad attitude to fester and grow, thus making Atys a worse place to be :)

For any player that is being subjected to bullying et al please be prepared to have documentation of incidences when you file a ticket. Screen caps (for harassing text) or screen vids (for actions over time) work. Your word versus that of others does not. Remember a CSR was not present at the event so you will need objective factual documentation. e.g. a screen cap or short video of a player aggro dragging on you at the point of attack is inconclusive. A video of you running a lengthy zig zag pattern away from a player with an aggro train who follows your every move is harder to dispute as a "random mistake". Be prepared for delays or inaction but be diligent. Players or groups that play a "griefer" style of play tend to not focus on one particular individual. And it might take numerous tickets from multiple players over a length of time for any sort of action to be taken by the CSR's. Also keep in mind that in certain zones (PR et al) one is tagged for pvp and one should be prepared.

Be aware of misunderstandings. Not everything that is felt like bullying and is hurting like bullying is meant that way. Sometimes there are clashes of cultures, people believing to be entitled to what they feel isn't but harmless teasing.

Language barriers play a role as well. People fluent in English but not native speakers may be mistaken as compatriots and subjected to attacks which are sounding funny to those familiar with tough jokes but offensive and hurting to those who are not.

Sure, being respectful and considerate will always avoid such clashes. Yet some cockiness may arise just out of fun and not be meant as an offense. When confronted, people easily tend to dig in and revert the blame. Try to deescalate.

My impression is that there are no really destructive trolls and abusers around. Some people may behave like assholes at times. But maybe that seems so to others and is not meant to hit in the way it actually does. Be reluctant with tickets, and if you do, document them well, and be prepared to discuss the problem with the defendant.

I do not plead to tolerate and forgive everything. Personally I do not forgive easily. Right for that reason I am also hesitating with accusations.

Or maybe it's just a difference in tactics. For instance, I once tried to help a GL and HO from another guild trek one of their junior members by dragging 3 Kinchers away from them, allowing them to pass. Had they left well enough alone, they would've had a hole to run through while the Kinchers tried to chase down a crazy Tryker.

Instead, the GL nuked one of the Kinchers, forcing me (with the other two Kinchers in tow) to try and wrangle the wayward bug before it ripped their face off. Of course, that didn't end well, but I couldn't apologize at the time as I was trying to run my alt in for rezzing while they went on a loooong rant in Uni about how I dragged agro on them because I hated them, their nationality, and their guild.

A difference in tactics led to considerable bad blood. Tempers flared as the result of a simple misunderstanding.

That can well happen inside a guild too, Gidget. Miscommunication / lack of communication can be a bitch, especially if the conditions are stressful already. "I was just trying to do X", "but we thought you were doing Y so we reacted in this K way that ended up wiping everyone". GG and try again when everyone is clear-headed.

Back to the topic at hand:

Roleplay is part of the gameplay, so while it can't be used as an excuse to bully you, it can and it should nonetheless be used as a tool. Yes, people can roleplay against your character and call your character names because of your differences in beliefs. What they shouldn't do is focus exclusively on you or repeatedly harrass you in private. Call you a fool once, at a public gathering? Fairly ok.

I'd just add that topics like this are mostly with no use if they're not calling out names. People who don't obey the rules still know them, they just don't like them. Personally I would only make such a topic if I felt that csr reaction was not satisfactory.

Interesting mix of views, which I think are mainly less relevant than the original point being made. Think we need to perhaps remember that views and opinions are generally subjective, as are prsonal experiences, whereas the original point being made was based on principle.

In principle, no one Homin has any free pass to dictate how anyther Homin chooses to 'play a game' and role play is, in my mind, just another poor excuse to disguise poor manners or lack of respect for others.

To display the point, if I chose role play as an excuse for attending the next meeting and sitting burbing, shouting and trolling the meeting how many would accept that it was merely role play?

Intimadation, bullying and threatening are not role play. They are unacceptable, overly agressive and frankly disrespectful styles of game play that I think we all have a responsibility to outlaw.

Unless of course, we don't mind the game we all love losing subs whilst 'People' vote with thier feet :)

+1 Bubba
(But can I still say Kill all Matis? - With a couple of exceptions ofc)