Feral Heart

I wonder what it's like to be this game's target age and see this happening.

Time to look at this thread again after many months of rolling in the dirt

 only have 1 new thing to add:

We moderate language in-game a lot easier because Google Translate seems to pick up on key words moreso sentences, so we can identify the use of a cuss word without actually knowing the full sentence and take necessary action based on this. What we cannot do is translate full-blown paragraphs on the forums and expect the translations that Google gives us to be completely accurate.

This is, actually, why I personally feel a little spicy about moderators vs non-english speakers. Would I say non-english speakers are fully demonized? Nah, not in the slightest, but here's a funny story:

I speak both French and German respectively, and while almost no one in my main group of friends is fluent, or even close to learning either language, I like to poke at them using both. This is usually teasing, or in a way unique to ourselves, I say the most absurd things I can possibly come up with.

One day, in the Grounds, I was doing this with a friend of mine, and that day, I received a warning. A very funny warning, and while I wont name what mod gave it to me, it was certainly something that made me feel slightly dead.

I was warned to stop talking about gore and graphic violence in local chat, because everything I was saying was being translated on the spot. That, to me, was funny, particularly because I was

actually talking about meat. lunch meat. the type of meat that you eat.

This arised both at the fault of Google Translate's failure, and also some bad context said mod applied wrongfully. The word I used was Fleisch. Now, flesh in english is a very gross word. In German, Fleisch is less.... Fleshy.

The point of this is, one, even in  game I dont trust Google Translate as a viable tool, as it cannot detect word context and, most importantly, slang. Secobdly, this "Big Brother" attitude really does lead to rude moments, like the one I just told.

For one I'm hopeful and happy with the agreement I've gotten, since like I said before, I think it's a very good idea. I am also glad to have gotten opinions and support from moderators.

That said, if this idea is pending and truly has a good chance of being implemented....





ON FERA LA FÊTE ET LES ANGLOPHONES NE SONT PAS INVITÉS

If an International Board is made, I do not see such a desperate need to put people in positions of "daycare supervisor"  mini-mod, when really, instead, the act of reporting still exists, in game and in forum. When I see something inappropriate in a biography in game, I report it, privately and in a note to a moderator because I know they fail to check those things despite the nasty stuff people write.

If I were to step into the hypothetical International Board, and I opened a German or French thread, and I saw that spicy slang the staff could not translate, I would link and specify it to a mod. I would offer a translation as to why it is against the rules, and be on my way. I myself would not have to step in and cause a ruckus personally in that ~classique dreaded mini-mod fashion~  It would be just as reports are handled in game.  Even though this may not be assuring, in a healthy group of people, everyone who has read the rules will think "yes, this is reasonable" and know what to do when the rules are observed being broken. Thus, I don't really think I'll be listing anyone to nominate for a potentially unnecessary position quite yet, though I understand your concern. Having existing mods be speakers is a plus, either way.

My final point is that, to have some faith in the kids who would post there. I'm sure a board for players primarily making threads to find their friends in game (or a tutorial on how to install Mass Markings for my poor Quebecois buddy who can't figure out why all the animals are white!) will have slow and manageable activity, and wouldn't instantly become a cesspool. Knowing there ARE existing rules, and people watching regardless of having a shiny badge that means quite nothing, it would be the calmest board on the site.

Finally, I really do like the added bonus idea of adding a language option to the text on the site itself. A drop-down option with a few common languages are enough, and that would translate the log-in page, news screen, home site, and forum. That those foreign players stuck on the game to warm up to the site itself. That would be the very icing on the cake.

"Foreign Languages
This is an English based website, therefore you are required to have a basic knowledge of the English language, at least on the forum. This is to avoid confusion and miscommunication with the staff and with other members. If members are continuously spotted talking other languages, warnings will be given."

- Official Forum Rules

This has been buzzing in the back of my mind since had read it, and it hasn't quite fit in my monkey brain right, especially now. One of the big requirements for MOTS, or even being noticed by the moderators in general, is an active forum record. Immediately foreign players, such as the massive Slavic group of Feralheart members or the spanish-speakers who also play in considerable numbers,are barred off from being a "true" active contributee to the Feralheart discussion. Foreign players are, by this rule, punished for not fitting in.

Likewise, even if it is argued that the staff will have no value of a separate international board, it would be a place for players who speak other languages to locate each other and meet up in-game. That way, international players will feel more comfortable and have more friends to their access.

In short, all I am simply suggesting is a board section like "News & Updates" "Help & Rules" etc etc for threads in foreign languages to be placed. Several other forums, for games or for literally anything else, have done this in order to allow non-English speakers to participate. It would be incredibly valuable to the site and would help younger foreign players (or foreign players in general) feel more comfortable.

That was my TEDTalk, thanks for listening.