The Fate of Account Thieves (Portgas&co)

[Kaios]

I bet the large part is his penis hehehehehehe

[Potjeh]

What do you think that punishing people accomplishes? (Not being sarcastic or snyde, but rather genuinely asking)

Deterrent. People won't abuse if there's a chance of it backfiring.

[sabinati]

Could atleast delete my old account, "noaah". They use my combat alt's daily which I personally find to be disgustingly, "over the top", as if stealing the accounts and killing them isn't enough.

did you actually ask for your account back

[noaah]

Through email, PM, and posting on the forums, yes .

[Aerocross]

What do you think that punishing people accomplishes? (Not being sarcastic or snyde, but rather genuinely asking)

Just like in real life, it's not about what punishment physically "accomplishes" so much as it is about typifying a principle. If someone takes away something of yours that can't be replaced, is punishing him going to get it back? No, of course not. However, that doesn't mean punishment has no meaning. In choosing to belong to a group of people, whether we're talking about a society or a game community, you've also chosen to adhere to the social contract of said group as defined by its rules. Thus, when someone decides to not only disregard but spit in the face of that social contract, what he is essentially saying is "I do not want to be a part of your group and have no interest in either respecting its obligations or receiving its protection." In other words, his resulting exile (in ancient times) or imprisonment (in modern times) is not tyranny or an arbitrary exercise of power but the natural conclusion of his own decision to turn his back on the group to that he belongs.

Some people who were phished got their characters back safe and sound. Others weren't as lucky (see: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=23730&start=140#p296597). Their lost time can't be replaced, and punishing the people responsible isn't going to get it back. But is punishment an appropriate response in this particular situation? Absolutely.

I agree that rashly intervening before considering multiple views and possible outcomes is a bad idea, but taking action as of this moment wouldn't fall under the category of a rash intervention. This topic has gone on for some thirty pages; dozens of players have weighed in on the issue, and no one has come out in support of the account thieves. A few people, including you, have said that the victims bear a measure of responsibility for choosing to download a suspicious client--and that's true. That's why more than a few of the people who lost hundreds of hours of work in their characters are going to have to deal with it. But has anyone said that the actions of the account thieves were justified? That their actions were laudable and in line with the rules of the game and the spirit of the community? Really, the question being weighed here isn't whether what they did is correct but rather the severity of the punishment they deserve. For my part, I feel they should receive one in line with the nature of their actions and not go off scot-free, because to do nothing would not only empower those who played unfairly but is also fundamentally unjust per the reasoning I have provided above.

[sabinati]

Through email, PM, and posting on the forums, yes .

yes, i saw the other thread, did everyone else you know get their accounts back?

[noaah]

Only one person I know got there account back. I know of some 15 or so who got them stolen, though.

[burgingham]

J
What do you think that punishing people accomplishes? (Not being sarcastic or snyde, but rather genuinely asking)

It stops them from repeating this.

Again: If I leave the windows to my house open while I go on holidays then yes I am an idiot and will get robbed. Nontheless the person robbing me will get put behind bars and not get a pat on the back, people telling him: "Heh, good job you did showing that idiot not to leave his windows open."

Can you not see people are pushing it with their knowledge about your absence? All they need to see is that the fist of Jorb stil exists or this will go on and on.

[painhertz]

J
What do you think that punishing people accomplishes? (Not being sarcastic or snyde, but rather genuinely asking)

It stops them from repeating this.

Again: If I leave the windows to my house open while I go on holidays then yes I am an idiot and will get robbed. Nontheless the person robbing me will get put behind bars and not get a pat on the back, people telling him: "Heh, good job you did showing that idiot not to leave his windows open."

Can you not see people are pushing it with their knowledge about your absence? All they need to see is that the fist of Jorb stil exists or this will go on and on.

Phishing for passwords using an engineered client can't be easy and by definition only works until it's found out.

[Sarchi]

So Jorb, if someone were to post African Midget Clown Furry Shemale porn on the forums, they shouldn't be punished?