News 5 33 - Interfering with scripting policy violators

NEWS article 5-33:

Dateline 4/20/2009: INTERFERING WITH SCRIPTING POLICY VIOLATORS

While we understand the frustration of seeing someone you suspect to be in violation of our policies against experience gain while unresponsive to the game environment (AKA, "AFK Scripting"), it is not the role of the player base to enforce our scripting policies. If you encounter someone suspected of violating this policy, you should REPORT the individual and move on. That's the extent of your involvement in the matter.

No player is required to respond to another. You can talk to a suspected scripter until you are blue in the face, but they do not have to respond to you. Just because they choose not to do so, does NOT mean they are scripting. Likewise, after you have reported someone, we are not going to come back to you and say "Yeah, Bob was scripting. He lost 10% of his skills." The result is not your concern, it's for us to handle.

It's also dangerous for YOU to interfere with a suspected scripter. Not only do you run the risk of interrupting their scripting, thus making them compliant with our policies and letting them get off free, but you put yourself at risk of earning an Official Warning for Unconsented PvP or Game Disruption, depending on the circumstances.

Policy matters are for staff to enforce, and too frequently of late the waters are being muddied by third parties involving themselves. Going forward, if you interfere with a suspected policy violator, you will be held accountable for your actions and can earn an official warning. Please follow the guidelines here.

Even if you don't see someone onduty in WHO, you should still follow this procedure. Often, but not always, there are staff members around that aren't actively on a referral/assist shift. REPORT the suspected scripter and move on. Your part is over.

Thanks!