AChat Forum
Support => FAQ => Topic started by: Lover on July 17, 2017, 03:40:57 PM
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Note:
Though I, Lover, has posted this, the credits go to Cassi, who has written most of it. Thanks Cassi :)
Introduction
AChat is a social game. This type of game is based in social interaction between users. When we talk about social interaction in online game, many things can happen. We will know persons and create relationships in game. We can have good moments with virtual friends, but we can have problems and conflict with some persons inside the game.
Sometimes these conflicts can generate aggressive or hostile practices in game like cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, cyber-harassment, online deception and game defamation. These practices are beyond of any type of sample social problems you can face in game. Because are work of haters, trolls, stalkers and online sociopaths. To help you in these cases, we will give some information about these problems, the cyber predators in game and how protect yourself against them attacks.
One thing you always can do BEFORE something has happened: Be careful with any kind of private infos! Do not give your real name, email, phone number (skype), facebook, instagram, password, pics... Nobody can stalk you, if he only knows your Achat name.
Activate "Save chatlog" in game settings. Then you always have a copy of the offendings somebody has done.
If somebody starts attacking you, set this person on ignore immediately. Don't discuss, don't answer - every kind of reaction is encouraging this person to continue. If you are together with other people, of course nobody should give any kind of feedback. Don't think you can talk with them or try to understand their behave - they are nuts and all they wanna do, is hurt other. A "normal" person never will understand this.
Talk to other people - also in forum. You are not alone here and probably you aren't the first person who is attacked by this one.
Cyber-Bullying, Cyber-Harrassment, Cyber-Trolling and Cyber-Stalking
Cyberbullying and Cyberharassment
Cyberbullying or cyberharassment is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic forms of contact. Cyberbullying has become increasingly common. Bullying or harassment can be identified by repeated behavior and an intent to harm. Harmful bullying behavior can include posting rumors about a person, threats, sexual remarks, disclose victims' personal information, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), exclusion (intentionally and cruelly excluding someone from an online group) or defamatory false accusations, ganging up on a victim by making the person the subject of ridicule in online forums/games/medias, hacking into or vandalizing sites about a person, and posting false statements as fact aimed a discrediting or humiliating a targeted person. Cyberbullying could be limited to posting rumors about a person on the internet with the intention of bringing about hatred in others' minds or convincing others to dislike or participate in online denigration of a target. It may go to the extent of personally identifying victims of crime and publishing materials severely defaming or humiliating them.
A frequently used definition of cyberbullying is "an aggressive, intentional act or behavior that is carried out by a group or an individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself." There are many variations, such as the National Crime Prevention Council's more specific definition: "the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person." Components such as the repetition of the behavior and the power imbalance between the bully and victim, and their applicability to electronic harassment, are debated.
Cyberbullying is often similar to traditional bullying, although there are some distinctions. Victims of cyberbullying may not know the identity of their bully, or why the bully is targeting them. The harassment can have wider-reaching effects on the victim than traditional bullying, as the content used to harass the victim can be spread and shared easily among many people, and often remains accessible for a long time after the initial incident. The victim is also sometimes exposed to the harassment whenever they use technology, as opposed to traditional harassment where the bully often must be in physical proximity to the target.
Several US states and other countries have laws specific to regulating cyberbullying. These laws are designed to specifically target teen cyberbullying, while others use laws extending from the scope of physical harassment. In cases of adult cyberharassment, these reports are usually filed beginning with local police. Research has demonstrated a number of serious consequences of cyberbullying victimization. Victims may have lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of emotional responses, retaliating, being scared, frustrated, angry, and depressed. Individuals have reported that cyberbullying can be more harmful than traditional bullying.
The terms cyberharassment and cyberbullying are sometimes used synonymously, though some people use cyberbullying specifically to refer to harassment among minors or in a school setting.
CyberTrolling
CyberTrolling is a common form of bullying over the Internet in an online community (such as in online gaming or social media) in order to elicit a reaction, disruption, or for their own personal amusement. Internet trolls intentionally try to provoke or offend others in order to elicit a reaction. Trolls and cyberbullies do not always have the same goals: while some trolls engage in cyberbullying, others may be engaged in comparatively harmless mischief. A troll may be disrupt either for their own amusement or because they are genuinely a combative person.
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is a form of online harassment in which the perpetrator uses electronic communications to stalk a victim. Cyberstalking is considered more dangerous than other forms of cyberbullying because it generally involves a credible threat to the safety of the victim. Cyberstalkers may send repeated messages intended to threaten or harass their victim. They may encourage others to do the same, either explicitly or by impersonating their victim and asking others to contact them.
CyberStalking is a continuous process, consisting of a series of actions, each of which may be entirely legal in itself. It is important to draw a distinction between cyber-trolling and cyber-stalking. Research has shown that actions that can be perceived to be harmless as a one-off can be considered to be trolling, whereas if it is part of a persistent campaign then it can be considered stalking.
Stalking online has criminal consequences just as physical stalking. A target's understanding of why cyberstalking is happening is helpful to remedy and take protective action to restore remedy. Cyberstalking is an extension of physical stalking. Among factors that motivate stalkers are: envy, pathological obsession (professional or sexual), unemployment or failure with own job or life; intention to intimidate and cause others to feel inferior; the stalker is delusional and believes he/she "knows" the target; the stalker wants to instill fear in a person to justify his/her status; belief they can get away with it (anonymity).
The US federal cyberstalking law is designed to prosecute people for using electronic means to repeatedly harass or threaten someone online. There are resources dedicated to assisting adult victims deal with cyberbullies legally and effectively. One of the steps recommended is to record everything and contact police.
Confronting the Cyber Violence
When you suffer or witness a cyber violence episode (cyberbullying, stalking, trolling) in the public areas of the game (the meeting places) is important save the chatlogs to use like a proof of the attack.
To keep the chatlogs save you must select this option in your game: In Partner search screen, Room or Meeting Place you must click in the wheel icon. In the options menu select “Log all chat messages”. Now all your chatlogs will be saved in a TXT document format. If you will need some proof, you will have.
Reporting Cyber Attacks
Many social media sites, as well as other sites where cyber bullying may be rampant have their own instructions for how to report the bad behavior. This should be your first step when you witness bullying behavior among users of the site. Following the guidelines for reporting to the website will ensure the case is handled properly. In some cases, this may be the only step you need to take because the website will complete the other steps for you. However, there are situations where you may need to take more action than simply alerting the website on which the behavior occurred.
Report to Achat Support
If you was a victim or a witness of Cyberbullying, it´s time to report the bullying behavior. You must go to Achat Website in the section “Support”, or just follow the link: http://www.funnyadultgamesplay.com/support-form/
The support page have a web formulary to make your report. When you submit your report, be sure to submit copies of chatlogs and any screenshots you have as proof. The Achat Staff will look into the situation and exercise the appropriate resolution.
Report to Law Enforcement
More serious cyber bullying issues should always be reported to the proper law enforcement agency to ensure they can take any appropriate actions against the bully. Some of the behaviors that may require you to make a report to law enforcement include:
- Threats of harm
- Child pornography
- Stalking
- Hate crimes
If you will be reporting the issue to law enforcement, you may have to do so in more than one location. Your first step should be to contact your local agencies. Someone in the cyber crimes division will know the appropriate steps you will need to take after the first one, if any. Sometimes your local law enforcement agency will handle the rest for you.
Why You Should Report Cyber Bullying?
It is obvious that victims should report the bullying behavior so they can get relief from this type of behavior. But if you aren’t on the receiving end of this behavior, why should you consider reporting it as well? Cyber bullies may not attack every person on a website, but it can have a negative impact on the overall feel of the site. If problems persist, it can even be cause for getting smaller websites shut down. Regardless of the size of the website or the threat of shutting it down, everyone should do their part to report cyber bullying to make the Internet a safer place for everyone. No one deserves the negative treatment bullies often dish out.
Cyber bullying has become a growing problem that could potentially grow out of control, especially if individuals don’t take the right steps to stop it. Unfortunately, many individuals simply don’t know what they can do about the problem. This makes it extremely important to learn how to report cyber bullying. When you understand the proper steps and the potential outcomes for reporting this type of behavior through the appropriate channels, the act of cyber bullying can be slowed down. While there may never be a way to completely eliminate cyber bullying from the online world, reporting the behavior whenever you see it can slow down the individuals who are participating in the behavior. Over time, those individuals will either get the message or no longer be allowed to participate in certain websites.
Ignore the Cyber Criminals
Cyberpaths, Cyberbullies, Cyberstalkers and Internet Trolls feel sadistic glee at the distress of others and gains gratification from provoking others into engaging in adversarial conflict. The best action against this cyber criminals is don’t have any type of contact with them. The Achat game have a option “ignore” and can be accessed in the meeting place area or search partner screen. One person in your Ignore List cannot send messages, invitations or establish any contact with you. Use it and don’t feel the Trolls.
It’s very common for victims to feel a hunger for revenge. The desire for justice is well-founded. The desire for revenge, however, is self-destructive. It eats victims alive, makes them dwell on the painful past and, ironically, keeps them emotionally attached to the cybercriminal, even if in a negative sense. So victims must do what they can to get legal way, when appropriate, but not foster feelings of revenge. Living well is the best revenge. If the victim has been successful at implementing no contact, I would continue that policy and, if possible, act as if she/he never knew the cybercriminal and like he or she was never a part of one’s life.
More Info about the theme…
http://cyberbullying.org/
https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/
http://www.ncpc.org/topics/cyberbullying
https://www.netsafe.org.nz/
http://cyberhelp.eu/en
http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/digital-issues/cyberbullying
http://www.pbs.org/video/2315538546/