There is a cardinal rule of the muck that I believe has been ignored far too much lately: "treat all other players and staff with respect." Perhaps because it's buried at the end of the rules page, or perhaps because there is a lack of understanding about what that means.

What does respect mean?

The dictionary gives a somewhat unclear definition, so I'm going to give my own.

• Understanding that on the other end of the computer screen is another human being with feelings and faults, and not expecting perfection from them.
• Recognizing that others have a right to their opinion.
• Treating others in ways that won't make them feel uncomfortable, even if you don't like them or agree with them.

What doesn't it mean?

• You don't have to be everyone's friend. It's perfectly fine to not like someone or disagree with someone. Where it crosses the line is when you use that as an excuse to disrespect them or make them feel unwelcome. Remember the adage: "If you can't say something nice, don't say [anything] at all."
• You don't have to tolerate harassment. If someone is consistently or unapologetically bothering you, they aren't respecting you. This should be brought to the attention of the wizstaff.
• You don't have to walk on eggshells. If you inadvertently offend someone, apologize and move on, and avoid that topic around them in the future. If the other person will not let it go after the apology, then ask the wizstaff to intervene.
• You don't have to avoid people you don't like/disagree with, as long as both of you treat each other with mutual respect. Again, if one feels uncomfortable  in the other's presence, bring it up with the wizstaff.

What will the wizstaff do if there's a problem?

• Does the other player know you feel this way? If you can't answer "yes" to this question, then the first thing we will do is sit both of you down in a wiz office to talk while one of us observes. We believe the best way for people to work things out is by talking directly with each other.
• Are you involved, or did you just witness it? If you're just a witness, encourage the players to resolve their differences, talk with a wiz, or let the matter drop. If this does not resolve matters and they are causing difficulties for other players on the muck, bring it up with a wiz.
• Even if the other player knows, we will still likely start off with a mediation session with you and the other player to discuss the situation.
• If the other player continues to harrass you after mediation, stiffer penalties will be enacted at our discretion, including
  • Sending a warning to the other player.
  • Suspending the other player for a period of time not less than a week.
  • Banning the player indefinitely.

• Keep in mind that respect is a two-way street. Harassment from a player does not authorize you to harass them. If we find that you have taken matters into your own hands, you may also be subject to penalties.

I hope this clarifies my position on this matter. Thanks for playing NIMHmuck!