Guide to Nick Abuse [.NET]

Recently there's been alot of questions regarding this topic, and it is not an easy topic to cover. I also realised that the rules page doesn't do a really good job of explaining this, so I'll explain it clearly here.

What is the original purpose of /nick
The original purpose of /nick is to function the same way a nickname does in real life, which is to shorten one's real name. It's much easier to call someone Will than William, Bob instead of Robert. Same thing with Skyblock. It's much easier to call me blaq than it is blaqdeaph.

What is nick abuse
Nick abuse is when you use /nick for any of the following purposes:
1) To impersonate another player without their explicit consent, for ANY reason. It doesn't matter if it was for a prank, or to prove a point. Eg. Doing /nick blaq if you're not the real blaq. Explicit consent means you need to have screenshots of them agreeing to allow you do so - it does NOT mean that just because they haven't said no, you can do it. And it certainly means that if they tell you to stop, you have to do it immediately. Impersonating players also includes changing your nick to something similar if your intent was to impersonate them, Eg. /nick blag to look like blaq.
2) To impersonate another player for the purposes of bringing disrepute to that player Eg. /nick blaqIsDumb, or promoting SPAM to them, Eg. doing /nick blaq, then saying "Msg me if you want free diamonds"
3) To impersonate mods or admins, Eg. /nick CypriotMerks etc
4) To impersonate famous Minecraft players, Eg. /nick SethBling, /nick vechs etc
5) To impersonate the server, or use reserved words like /nick Broadcast, /nick Console, /nick PwnFilter etc
6) Impersonating Ranks by doing /nick [Skygod] <name> or [Donor] <name>
7) To perform illegal activity, such as spamming, scamming, trading, griefing etc.
8) Using inappropriate, offensive or culturally insensitive words in your nick, Eg. /nick f*** /nick n*****, /nick hitler
9) Nick abuse is nick abuse when a Mod says it is, whether or not it's mentioned in the rules above. Failure to follow a Mod's directions at any time on the server is a bannable offence.

What can happen if you nick abuse
1) Usually Mods will give you a warning, but multiple warnings can result in a ban, perma or temp
2) More serious nick abuses (Eg. Admins) can be a temp ban instantly.

What to do it someone nick abuses you
1) Tell them to stop - both in PM and publically and screenshot it!
2) If a mod is on (do /realname mod to check), tell them, if no mod is on, report it on the forums page

 

Good guide. Hope that people will read this, there has been a lot of confusion about nick abuse lately.

 

I know it says .Net in the title, but it's the same for .Org.

 

Sorry, I only play on .NET, so I can't speak for .ORG, but I'm happy if a Mod changes the title to reflect .NET and .ORG

 

I've seen a nick abuse where the people nick abuse then change their nick or do /nick off and so no one can catch them.

 

Very nice

 

Move this to guides how to ? :3

 

Moved to correct location.

 

I read through it and couldn't find it, it can also be used to disregard a player e.g. EnderDragonIsGei or something like that.
Nice guide

 

True, although it should fall under #2, about not bringing disrepute to a player. Thanks for the info though, I updated the post to make it more explicit

 

Just giving this a little bump since there may have been recent and ongoing confusion about the matter.

 

Nice guide!

 

Nice guide

 

Please add that impersonating a certain Donor Level is also /nick abuse.

e.g., /nick SkyGod, /nick Donor100, etc.

 

#1 isn't allowed at all.
Even with consent you have to have admin approval on it, as it causes problems with same or very identical names.

Might wanna fix that one up, the rest are fine.

 

Says the person walking around with SLGMichelle?

But seriously, if you get permission from someone to use their name, then the victim can't turn around and complain later, remember, there's also #2 to #5 that covers rule breaking and illegal behavior etc, which isn't mutually exclusive from #1

 

It prevents that from happening in the first place, otherwise problems occur.
And I included the admin approval in that for a reason ^_^

 

Done, although doing /nick SkyGod or Donor is pretty obvious, doing it for rank impersonating is considered illegal, and is added

 

Yea, we can't ban for every /nick activity and need to allow for some latitude for creativity on the server.

From what you're saying "even with admin approval it can cause problems", your name has the potential to cause problems, might want to change it

 

The admin approval would completely void out that problem, as said admin would be apparent of any problems that could happen.
But ye, my nicks sexy.