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8216: [MUD-Dev] Re: Psychopaths

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From: "Ola Fosheim Grøstad" <olag@ifi.uio.no>
Newsgroups: nu.kanga.list.mud-dev
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 10:10:45 +0100
References: [1]
Organization: Kanga.Nu
Koster, Raph wrote:
> The statement was made before that violence will occur on your mud even
> if you don't support a combat system. The classic case to point to is
> the LambdaMOO case described so well in Julian Dibbell's article "A Rape
> in Cyberspace"--a link should be in the FAQ. This sort of violence is
> also completely impossible to block using the flag you described above.
> :(

Why are developers so eager to embrace the more hysterical/stereotypical
writings on muds? (Dibbell, Bartle...)

The so called "virtual rape" can for sure be prevented by providing a secure
identity and secure protocols. It is a problem which can be solved by
design.

Some problems cannot be fully solved by design: people threatening to commit
suicide, pedophiles, homophobiacs, racists, sexism.  That is, people
projecting a disturbing image of a physical self.  People distracting other
players from the fun.

Problems which can only partially be solved by design: persistent harrasment
communicated indirectly. (hanging up postings, rumours...)

--
Ola