Public Complaint - Jace_x vs RedSprite
The basis of the complaint I am looking in to, is that the user "Jace_x" publicly alleges that Redsprite, Senior Administrator, has falsely accused him of misrepresenting his age and gender, and banned him for three days as a result. He states publicly, that he is going to "report" RedSprite:
[00:54:25 12/08/24] <Jace_x> red sprite you are getting reported
As "Jace_x" has publicly made this allegation against RedSprite (in #Lobby, starting from 00:48:42 on 12/08/2024) it is therefore only fair and appropriate, that the findings of my investigation and the response that follows, are also made public. I therefore post them here for all to see.
The Allegation
In summary, the user Jace_x is contesting the fact he was banned for 3 days, for logging in as an 18 year old female user, under the nickname Nicky89. He states that it is "people chatting shit". He then goes on to publicly tell RedSprite that she is "getting reported".
The #Lobby logs for this are pasted at the bottom of this page should anyone wish to see them.
My Findings
My first step in investigating his complaint, is simply to check from an objective perspective, whether or not the allegation is factually true - and if indeed any female nicks have ever joined from the IP address used by Jace_x.
I have obviously had to redact the IP addresses for privacy reasons, but recent server logs, show the following:
[23:52:07 16/07/24] *** Notice -- Client exiting: Nicky89 ([email protected]*2.*.74) [Has left Chatterbox UK] 18/F/Bristol
[23:53:49 16/07/24] *** Notice -- Client connecting on port 6667: Jace_x (5****[email protected]*2.*.74) [clients] 40/M/Leeds
Essentially, the indisputable and provable facts are as follows:
1) At 12 minutes to midnight on 16 July, the user "Nicky89" came online, as a guest, giving an age of 18 and location as Bristol. Redsprite's admin plugin alerted her to the fact this was the same IP as a regular user. She said to him "Maybe you should try logging in under your usual name - you know, the blue name you usually are".
2) "Nicky89" then responds by saying "I was carrying out an experiment".
3) 4 minutes later, the user Nicky89 logs off. Just over 90 seconds later, the user "Jace_x" then connects, and logs in.
4) What is worthy of note, is that the IP address for "Jace_x" and "Nicky89" are absolutely identical.
5) Other characteristics, such as browser stamp, are also identical between both Jace_x and Nicky89.
I am therefore entirely satisfied, not only on the balance of probabilities, but even beyond any reasonable doubt, that Jace_x has unquestionably logged in using a female / teenage nickname.
Conclusion
The complaint against RedSprite is NOT upheld in any way, shape or form.
She has used sound judgement in banning a user who normally presents himself as a 40 year old male, for logging in as an 18 year old teenage female.
Misrepresenting age and gender is clearly a documented breach of our terms of use. Cases like this are especially concerning, where a middle aged man poses to be a teenage female. Although I am not alleging Jace_x himself had any sinister motive, we know from our own experience that the motives for most grown men pretending to be girls, are particularly sinister, and inherently present a number of risks.
Jace_x was particularly lucky it was RedSprite acting as decision maker in that moment, because had I caught him behaving in this arguably predatory manner, his ban would have been considerable, if not permanent. We take a zero tolerance approach when it comes to child protection, and stopping misrepresentation (for whatever motive) is a paramount part of that.
Her decision however, has been made, and the ban served, so I will not change or overturn that.
This does however, leave me with the question of how to address his "complaint".
Based on the evidence found, he has without question logged on as an 18 year old female. I impose no penalty for this because the ban is already served.
I do however feel that Jace_x has a case to answer in respect of his conduct in #lobby in the early hours of 12/08.
He knows without doubt, that it was him POSING AS A TEENAGE GIRL, yet, he has continued to deny it through dishonesty, lying, and trying to cover it up and detract attention. The element which frustrates me the most, is his (public and vocal) threatening to "report" RedSprite, despite knowing deep down she has done absolutely nothing wrong. I perceive this as not only childish, but also malicious.
Our staff (particularly Red) work hard for little reward, and do not deserve such public slating / threats for simply doing their job well. I have no option but to send out a message that this petty, playground nonsense will not be tolerated.
Jace_x therefore gets a further 3 day ban for making an dishonest and false allegation against staff.
I also note from the logs in #lobby in the early hours of 12/08 that he was abusive to other members, in breach of our Terms of Service and Community Standards. In particular calling a user a "gimp" repeatedly. This attracts a further, additional 24 ban.
Outcome: Jace_x is banned from Chatterbox UK until 1600 hours GMT on 16th August 2024.
Any attempts to circumvent this ban by using a different IP, VPN software, etc, will result in an immediate, lifelong ban with no right of appeal.
There is also no right of appeal to my decision. This is a private website and I have the final say on who I want here, and who I don't.
On this occasion I will not pass details to any child protection agencies, as the user Nicky89 was connected only for a brief time and no children were approached. However, a permanent note will be made on our systems in respect of his account, and the fact he has misrepresented his age. If there are any further such incidents, the authorities will be notified.
[00:49:49 12/08/24] <Jace_x> oh yes why aint i banned?
[00:49:55 12/08/24] <Jace_x> dots i actually wasnt lol
[00:49:57 12/08/24] <+dots1113> you were
[00:50:00 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> You got caught
[00:50:05 12/08/24] <+dots1113> I saw you l get removed
[00:50:05 12/08/24] <+iris117> Yes I do 😈😈
[00:50:05 12/08/24] <Jace_x> if i was why am i here
[00:50:06 12/08/24] <Jace_x> doh
[00:50:12 12/08/24] <+dots1113> I dunno...
[00:50:18 12/08/24] <Jace_x> exactly dots
[00:50:18 12/08/24] <+dots1113> maybe should have been permed
[00:50:27 12/08/24] <Jace_x> get your facts right before you mutter on :0
[00:50:36 12/08/24] <+dots1113> I have my facts straight
[00:50:48 12/08/24] <Jace_x> NoRegrets just people chatting shit as per
[00:50:51 12/08/24] <+dots1113> you were prtending to be a 18 yo female.. and were busted
[00:50:54 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> You didn't get a perm ban
[00:50:56 12/08/24] <Jace_x> clearky you dont dots1113
[00:51:22 12/08/24] <Jace_x> jeeez a fair few muppets in tonight
[00:51:35 12/08/24] <Jace_x> must be the muppet show
[00:51:35 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> There's no fight he got rumbled
[00:52:01 12/08/24] <+dots1113> oh well.... red has his numbeer
[00:52:11 12/08/24] <+dots1113> she knows
[00:52:17 12/08/24] <Jace_x> dots1113 great welldone lol
[00:52:27 12/08/24] <Jace_x> now go and take your meds dots1113
[00:52:29 12/08/24] <Jace_x> :)
[00:52:34 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Oh my
[00:52:38 12/08/24] <+dots1113> already did.. now STFU
[00:52:43 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Lol
[00:52:44 12/08/24] <+onlyme> That’s not nice lol
[00:52:53 12/08/24] <Jace_x> awww she blocked me
[00:52:54 12/08/24] <+dots1113> me? probably now
[00:52:56 12/08/24] <+dots1113> not
[00:53:03 12/08/24] <+dots1113> just not in the mood for his bullshit
[00:53:08 12/08/24] <Jace_x> dots1113 its fair to say you are radged
[00:53:29 12/08/24] <&ChatterboxUK> You had a 3 day ban, Jace_x. And your evading names were muted - cause as much as you thought you were hiding at the time... didn't work.
[00:53:42 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Hahahaha
[00:53:48 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Owned!
[00:53:53 12/08/24] <&ChatterboxUK> So it wasn't bullshit, you did have a ban for logging in as an 18 yr old female.
[00:53:55 12/08/24] <Jace_x> so a perm ban went to a 3 day ban?
[00:54:00 12/08/24] <+dots1113> tty chatterbox.... when hes ready to apologize to me.. let me know... right now hes not on my screen
[00:54:10 12/08/24] <&ChatterboxUK> Who ever told you it was a permanent ban. Cause I didn't.
[00:54:22 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> No one said it was perm
[00:54:25 12/08/24] <Jace_x> red sprite you are getting reported
[00:54:27 12/08/24] <Jace_x> :)
[00:54:34 12/08/24] <+dots1113> I didnt say it wwas perman3ent.. I said maybe he should have been permed
[00:54:34 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Just keep digging Lucy looo
[00:54:41 12/08/24] <&ChatterboxUK> I shall wait for a laugh then.
[00:55:03 12/08/24] <Jace_x> so will i red sprite :)
[00:55:16 12/08/24] <ClarenceTheeHedgeHog> Hahaha so rumbled
[00:55:34 12/08/24] <+iris117> I don’t think it a good idea to threaten a powerful mod jace
[00:55:56 12/08/24] <Jace_x> powerful?
[00:56:00 12/08/24] <Jace_x> oh no
[00:56:03 12/08/24] <Jace_x> damn
[00:56:29 12/08/24] <+iris117> You laugh now but wait till you get perm banned 😂😂
[00:56:50 12/08/24] <Jace_x> by who lol