Re: PBEM Cheating, how to deal with it?

From: freejack@oo.com (freejack)

Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Jim Flanagan (flanag19@eos.net) wrote:
: I would like to start a discussion on how to deal with cheating in PBEM
: games. I have a specific problem in mind, but I would like to keep this
: discussion general in nature.

: Here is my problem in broad language: I am currently hosting a list of PBEM
: players, and it has been brought to my attention that a specific player is
: cheating. I'd just like to pose some questions, throw out some ideas, and
: get some feedback.

: Is there a general procedure for investigating and authenticateing these
: actions?

Just be up front about it and ask the player about whatever actions you
think may have been cheated.  At least give the player the benefit of the
doubt, as you would expect the same.

: If a player is proven to have actually cheated in a game, what action
: should one take?

Never play with that person again.  Not much else you can do.

: Should active measures be taken to prevent this player from cheating again?

See above.

: What sort of resposibilty does this place upon a list administartor like
: myself (and of course possible abuse of that power).

If you are 100% sure, the just ban them and leave it at that.  Tell the
other players that the person just dropped out due to other commitments.

: Would any public action bring down a flood of "well as long as your at it,
: I know such and such cheats all the time"?

Depending on your players, this could very well occur.  It's best to
avoid this kind of hassle, after all you just want to run a game, not be
the judge for a ton of other accusations.

: If I was to assemble and post a list of "persona non grata", would that be
: an abuse of my power, not to mention fruitless?

Assemble it for your own use, sure.  Post it?  I wouldn't, without solid
proof you could very well violate defamation of character laws. :)

: Should there be some kind of three strikes and your out rule, giving people
: a chance to reform their ways?

Just think of how long they could have been cheating before they were
finally caught.  Chances are they already have done this before.  Why give
them more opportunites to betray your trust, as well as the trust of your
fellow players.

If you are feeling very generous, tell the player that if he apologizes
to all the other players, and every one of those players agrees, the
player may have a second chance.

: Please post your ideas and experiences. Please keep them general in nature,
: without nameing names. Thank you.

Scott Rutter - freejack@oo.com

References

PBEM Cheating, how to deal with it?
Jim Flanagan <flanag19@eos.net>
Thu, 14 Mar 1996 00:00:00 +0000