Since /vote mute is supposed to be a moderation mechanism to mute a player who is being particularly obnoxious or abusive on public chat channels, I think there should be a minimum amount of chat messages sent by the target of /vote mute in order for it to take effect.

Something reasonable like require 10 chat messages sent on public channels in the last 10 minutes.

This could reduce the /vote mute feature's potential for abuse as a retaliation to say, blowing people up, conquering stations, winning skirmishes, or just used as a greifing weapon against players that a group of others don't like.

-1 It just gives gives an abusive person a way to avoid getting vote muted.

-1

Compared to most of the game, /vote mute is a paragon of exquisitely perfect functionality.

-1 to requiring at least 10 chats within 10 minutes. That's just plain dumb. It would mean that all the bigoted shitwads would have to do is wait two minutes between their messages, or send burst chats in spurts of no more than nine and then wait ten minutes before repeating.

I wouldn't really have a problem with requiring at least 1 chat within 15 minutes, on the other hand.

-1

That's a silly suggestion ARF. /vote mute isn't only an anti spam command. Think just a bit and you'll quickly see how many offensive and discriminating things you can put into 9 messages...

just STOP vote muting each other, jesus christ.

Someone called my name?

I think it was your dad

-10
Even though I got muted (once) I really don't like this idea

Would you like it if the person you muted is shouting dick messages on 100?

Don't shout dick messages on 100

I'd really like to be able to PM someone while muted though (Only one person)

That's the point I'm trying to make here. Someone who's shouting dick messages on 100 is going to easily meet a public message quota and the /vote mute will work.

A chat moderation feature can be used to shut down someone's private communication even if they're totally silent on public channels.

Hey this pirate keeps blowing up my guildmates, let's /vote mute him so he can't coordinate with his guild.

This guild of bandits keeps taking over the conquerable station I want and I can't beat them via normal gameplay means. Let's /vote mute them all!

Am I seriously the only person here who thinks this is abuse?

I see the potential for abuse that you are trying to avoid Arf, but I also see the limitations of the proposed solution. If this type of abuse is occurring, I think the proper course of action is a ticket to the devs for investigation so the offending parties can be identified and punitive action can be taken.

I agree with Savet. To me, the utility of being able to mute somebody who is spewing nothing but filth even at a rate of less than one chat per minute is worth the risk of people abusing the feature. If you are seeing abuse happen with no corrective action from the devs, then what you should be doing instead is creating a thread suggesting that the devs become more harsh to violators. If that's even happening.

If you just don't want to see someone's chat, you can always use /ignore "name"

If you just don't want to see someone's chat, you can always use /ignore "name"

Except there's a psychological urge called "curiosity" to entice you into un-ignoring someone. Fact: people have a deep need to know what others are saying about them.

It would be more helpful and honest to admit that the current system has flaws and apologize. Not that you can do much about it given your limited dev resources, but it would bring some emotional comfort and relief to the innocent, wrongly punished victims of the system.

lol

I never realized how joyless that joker was! :)

It's true what you say joyless. I can think of at least one disgruntled old kitty who pretends he has me on ignore ;)

-1

I have often vote muted players on their first statement, because I don't want to hear their second statement. Not in 30 seconds, not in 15 minutes, not in the next two hours.

Except there's a psychological urge called "curiosity" to entice you into un-ignoring someone.

It isn't "curiosity", it is "fear". Fear of what may be said behind your back. If your reputation and self worth are based on meaningless "rhetoric" alone, then you have much to fear. If you have a reputation and self worth beyond chat channel 100, then you have nothing to fear. Refusing to ignore a troll is a strong signal that you have no self worth beyond "rhetoric", and that the only game you are playing is chat.

Who here can claim to have been vote muted more times, or for longer duration, than me?

vote mute is only a serious sanction against those that depend on chat for conflict. These are the very players that most need to be muted.

I can afford to be vote muted. I can afford to ignore and be ignored. I will still shoot you.

Shut up and shoot something.

My reputation and self worth *definitely* extends past Channel 100!

To Channels 4357 and 444 at least. ;-)