You're right... the fact that this even needed to be said is incredibly idiotic. 

Now I don't know the ins and outs of how this came to be so I won't try discussing that but I do have to ask though, why was this not a straight DD? Considering that all other future ones will be terminated. 

I think it's disgusting that this was even needed. 

While there are often are users who will disagree with some of the reasoning behind DD's, I genuinely can't understand how people could object to a DD over something like this. To hold somebodies playing account to ransom to make them break staff protocol is a pretty gross form of bullying and it's something I'd be very surprised if any of the user base was actually willing to publicly support. HD give up their time and energy for nothing to help MR out, for players to hold their playing accounts hostage for that is fucking horrible.

I'll be honest, from what I've read I'm stunned this hasn't led to a DD. I'd have thought actions like this are nailed on for them more than many we've had in the past that have stuck.

I think Maria hit the nail on the head with what she said.

We have a 0 tolerance towards people threatening a staff members playing account in attempts to bullying them into doing something on a staff level. 

then that should be an automatic DD? nobody regardless of rank could argue with that, the HD's dont need to put the time and effort in that they do. for this to even happen is beyond ridiculous, where would it end if everyone could walk away from that? will he walk away scot free but anyone else doing it die from here on out?

who in their right mind would hold a playing account hostage to force a HD to help them and not expect a DD?

this i think is one of the rare cases that it should have been a straight away DD and the only ones who would disagree are probably the ones who would obtain the DD

im in the same boat as Maria

at the end of the day the game should be enjoyable and as stress free as possible surely. helpdesks not only keep us forgetful buggers in the right they also help and keep new players here thats their purpose, but they have the god damn right the same as us to be able to enjoy the game without that crap

And here we go the first person to jump on the lets just disagree with whatever Squishy says. I'm really concerned that people are blinded by loyalty that they feel rules can be overstepped just because they like the person overstepping the rule. 

I have to disagree with Squishy. Just on the fact that DD'ing someone will lead to people moaning and whining. It opens up Admins to a lot more people moaning and whining about everything in an attempt to protect themselves in future 'complications'.

I just hope thats not the case if the current course of action is followed.

On a quite different topic, AGAIN, I don't see why administrator feels the need to change units, ranks, or any other data related to a character by hand for such kind of cases.

You either think the action of the player is worth a warning, and you jail them, or you think it's worth death, and you kill them. Starting to manually change their units for example, is wrong on many levels.

It feels not only as a low blow, as in "I can't/don't really want kill you for that, but take that in your face nonetheless", but administrators messing with characters' data should only happen as a last resort, like with a nasty bug or else. And especially not when it is highly unnecessary or that there is absolutely no apparent reason for it.

Moreover, if administrators start to modify things out of nowhere for no apparent reasons... Well, what would prevent someone to think it happens at other times, for other things ? It benefits no one to see such kind of punishments happen. Just stop.

It should be very clear and less case by case, at least in the punishments : warning, jail, death or ban. And not a some units removed for one,  a rank removal for an other, a gun penalty for a third one, etc.

Just make it easier and transparent for everyone.

Don't threaten a Helpdesks real account over Helpdesk matters, that sounds fair and logical. 

I guess the destiction needs to be made on whether you are joking around with your buddy or joking around with helpdesk. For instance, something might be fine to say to your co-worker that you are also friends with outside of work, but inside of work it might be considered inappropriate, sexual harassment, or so on. 

The point I am making here, do I need to speak to all helpdesk that I am and have been friends with outside of game as an Admin at all times? Where is the line drawn? The argument can easily be made that this was a joke between friends that was taken as a threat between a powerful godfather and a helpdesk. The question I then ask is, why was it taken so seriously? I've lost count of how many times Ace has said he will jokingly kill my account and a lot of people can say the same. Mark it on down with salty, trucked, tier 1 and goat squad. 

wanna joke around with someone do it on their playable account, it was wrong at the end of the day, lucky hes still alive