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From: ant@zimage.comANT (Ant)
Subject: Re: How not to start the day
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Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

> So, Steam locked my account today.

> And why not? After all, I posted an incredibly suspicious (their
> words) comment the other day. It was a response to a review on their
> storefront. I forget what the game was, but that review basically
> said: 'don't buy this game, even if its on sale, even if it looks
> good, it's not worth it.'

> So I replied: 

>    "It's true. I saw the game. I saw the pretty graphics. I saw 
>     the negative scores. But I also saw it was on sale and I 
>     thought, 'it couldn't be that bad'. I was >< this close to 
>     buying it. Then I saw this review... and I put away the 
>     credit card. It's like you knew me. Thank you for saving 
>     me $40USD."

> (that's my content, quoted in full, that Valve found offensive)

> As you can see, it's no surprise that Valve locked the account of
> somebody who would say something so dreadful. I'm lucky my NNTP
> provider doesn't cancel my account for repeating it here, even if it
> was a first-strike by a long-time customer, content provider and
> probable 'whale'. Truly heinous stuff, right? Worthy of immediate
> locking somebody out of their property. 

> Obviously I'm being sarcastic. But I think I'm due to some cynicism
> given the stupidity of Valve. It just reinforces my belief that
> companies like Valve have way to much power over their customers

> (similarly, Riot games has threatened to lock people out of their
> accounts for posting or saying stuff off-platform outside of their
> purview. That's right; do something offensive on Facebook and they'll
> keep you from playing League of Legends)

> It's not so much a problem of these corporations trying to police
> their platforms. With all the misogyny, homophobia, and racism out
> there, it's a necessity. But it's the ham-handed, algorithm-led,
> shoot-first/investigate-never methodolgy they use. They just depend on
> computers to do it, rather than pay for moderators, and trust that
> these algorithmic decisions are correct. And then rather than
> correspond with the offender first, they just take the nuclear option
> and yank the account. It's wrong in every aspect. 

> I contacted customer support (which is to say, I clicked on a link and
> got redirected to a box where I could type out a comment). I politely
> requested that Valve investigate the incident and re-instate the
> account. I fully believe they will do so. The comment is so patently
> inoffensive that I have no idea why it even triggered an algorithm    

>     [maybe it was the use of the "> <"  to indicate proximity?]

> But it's annoying that I have to jump through these hoops and that a
> black mark is now permanently associated with my account.

> And it's made me distrust Valve --and their DRM-enforced control over
> my property-- just a little bit more.

Valve locked mine for posting about a free game. They did not like that so I had to stop. :( Thanks God for usenet! :)
-- 
"Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." --1 Corinthians 12:3. Superman & Lois' finale was emotionally good!
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