[highlight]Preface[/highlight]
Grab a tea people. This is a long post and you'll need the caffeine.
Below are my opinions and mine alone. I understand they aren't necessarily in line with the Forum definitions and when the question has arisen, I have followed the forum rules where they were more strict than my own.
The writer:
- has had to delete items due to trading with subsequently banned forum members
- have questioned/reported items
- won't trade/MP with people if I have a bad feeling about them - and there are some on this forum
I think the reason there are so many differing views on this is because whenever the question arises, it is always coloured by many factors
- the reputation of the forum member
- length of time before discovery
- whether the user knew the item was haxxored
- the actual item
It's harder to say to someone who has earnt trust and respect "delete everything" when they were unknowingly using a hacked item. I wouldn't say that what I have written below would never be coloured by the circumstances; I would be a liar if I did. Take the below as generalizations and get back to me if you want a specific opinion. :wink:
[highlight]My definitions[/highlight]
OBVIOUSLY HAXXORED
Something which just cannot exist in game EG +45 to Amazon skills
It is obvious the item is non-legit but you still used it. (I will not get into a commentary about if you are stupid enough to accept this you should be fed to Corpse Spitters)
LESS OBVIOUSLY HAXXORED
Something that exists in game but has been 'created' EG wrong ilevel
POSSIBLY HACKED
Perfectly legit-looking item but from someone who is subsequently banned for duping/hacking
TAINTED
Perfectly legit item that has been found while using haxxored, less obviously haxxored or possibly hacked
[highlight]Delete me, I suck[/highlight]
Obviously haxxored items - I don't expect a disagreement over this one
Characters using obviously haxxored items for a long period of time
Items found using a character using obviously haxxored items
Characters knowingly MPing with characters using obviously haxxored items/less obviously haxxored items
To delete or not to delete these are the questions
1) Less obviously haxxored
2) Tainted items by using less obviously haxxored
3) Characters using less obviously haxxored
4) Possbily hacked
5) Tainted items by using possibly hacked
6) Characters using possibly hacked/tainted
7) Characters MP'd with characters using haxxored/less obviously haxxored
8) Characters MP'd with characters using possibly hacked/tainted
9) Items in the same stash as haxxored/less obviously haxxored/possibly hacked/tainted items
1) Less obviously haxxored
I would say this has to go because it isn't real item.
2) Tainted items by using less obviously haxxored
I would have to say if the item was being used unintentionally then the items found by the use of that item are legit and do not carry any taint. Many of you will disagree; certainly the forum rules disagree. But this is my opinion. And the crux is 'unintentionally' and 'less obviously haxxored'. If you *know* it's hacked, or if common sense should be ringing a few alarm bells, then I would say that falls into the delete me I suck category. But while we are talking about legitimately found items while unintentionally using something that looks kosher, I say it should stay.
3) Characters using less obviously haxxored
If the character used that item 'in good faith', IE without knowing it was not a real item, I think the character should not be deleted. If the item in question can exist in game but you happen to make a bad trade then as far as I can see, you could have easily traded from X who had a legit item than Y who didn't. You weren't to know. Swap the item to a legit one and move on.
*Can I just state that while I have been using the words 'unintentional' and 'in good faith' that does NOT mean you haven't got to use common sense. If you can't be bothered to engage even one braincell, then IMNSHO you are as guilty as an intentional hacker.*
4) Possbily hacked
To me this very tricky.
All of the items I have had to delete looked perfectly legitimate. Atma readings posted in trade threads without any screams from the members. They could be legit. They were questioned because the origin of the item was someone who was later found to dupe runes/hack. The forum stance is delete them. My personal view is if they don't look hacked they shouldn't be deleted. There is enough of a technical knowledge base here to spot dodgy items. Personal experience probably colouring this as the items I 'lost' were low/mid range so they probably were legit. I can see why the forum says delete everything under question but on this point I disagree particularly where ilevels/fingerprints etc look perfectly fine.
5) Tainted
It's six degrees of Kevin Bacon, really.
If you find something while using a possibly hacked, IE perfectly legitimate looking item, I think it should kept. There is no proof the item in use is hacked so I my eyes (if not the forum) the items found should not carry any taint.
6) Characters using possibly hacked/tainted items
I think this is really where the magots come out.
Erish was my rabies/fury Druid. He used a Ribby (which Erish up'd) and Gores from CoS who was later banned. The items look legit. The Mod decision was keep the character but delete the items. Which I did. From above you will see I disagree with deletion of the legit-looking items and must therefore, agree with keeping the character. Where is Erish now, you ask? Deleted. My choice. I lost the connection with him. My decision would have been the same if I could have kept the Ribby and Gores. (Erish wasn't using the items for long which is why I thing the Mod ruling was to keep him.) There is no logical reason to delete a character in this situation.
7) Characters unknowingly MP'd with characters using haxxored/less obviously haxxored items
I cannot in all conscience say to someone who has done NOTHING wrong "you must delete your character because X is a *I want my mummy*". Yes they may have gained experience but I cannot punish someone for the stupidity of another. Same caveat as above regarding engaging a brain cell.
8) Characters MP'd with characters using possibly hacked/tainted
Absolutely no penalty in my mind. Nothing is proven.
9) Items in the same stash as haxxored/less obviously haxxored/possibly hacked/tainted items
It's in the same stash. It doesn't carry the bubonic plague, your items won't suddenly all become +21 to Assassin skill levels modded. Delete as stated above and move on.
[highlight] Rollback[/highlight]
If you have the ability to rollback your characters and stashes to prior to an issue, then you should do so. However, I would prefer a TOTAL rollback. IE all characters and all stashes, not just the affected one. My resoning is it is easy to forget an item found/moved. If you haven't moved the character then nothing is lost and if you have it is simpler just to bring all characters back to the same point. However; if you have MP'd/traded the impact on others is to be considered.
[highlight] End note[/highlight]
This is all subjective. The forum rules are really the lowest common denominator. What the majority will accept. Some of us will have tighter standards, others much looser restraints. Providing we all know what to expect from each other, it really doesn't matter what our personal opinions are. Play by the majority or don't interact. Although a little more common sense and consideration for others would remove 95% of these problems, IMNSHO.
[highlight]Credits/Notes[/highlight]
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IMNSHO - in my not so humble opinion
OMG - have I just agreed with Serdash? Someone help me ...