PLEASE SEE UPDATED SILENCING POLICY HERE. **** WHAT IS A SILENCE? When a player is silenced, their ability to communicate through public channels in the game is disabled. Developers, Moderators, and members of our Support team issue a silence when a player violates the game’s Terms of Use. WHAT CAN LEAD TO ME BEING SILENCED? Spamming in a Single Channel Posting the same or similar messages 3 or more times in the space of 5 minutes. Spamming in Both The Pub and World Chat Posting the same or similar messages 5 or more times in the space of 5 minutes. Spamming as a Group Posting the same or similar messages 5 or more times in the space of 5 minutes by different individuals with the intent to disrupt chat. Encouraging spam-type messages to disrupt chat. Inappropriate Content Posting obscene, pornographic, excessively violent, harmful, or sexually explicit content. This includes using emoji’s to create inappropriate art or messages. Bypassing with Intent to Harass Intentionally circumventing our chat filters to post a message aimed at another player for the purpose of harassing them. Normal bypassing/swearing is allowed. Harassment Posting messages or engaging in actions that discriminate, promote hate, violence, or advocate hatred or discrimination against individuals, groups, races, cultures, or organizations. Impersonation Falsely presenting yourself as a moderator, a member of the development or support teams or another player. False Information Spreading false information with the intent of misleading other players or disrupting gameplay. This includes public accusations. Personal Information Soliciting personally identifying information in a public channel. This information consists of First Name, Gender, Age (17+), State / Region / Country. Posting your own City / Address / Workplace, School, Phone Number, or Third Party Contact Information. Sharing or exposing the personal information of others. Claiming to be below the age of 17, or soliciting individuals under the age of 17. Third Party Content Posting links to referral programs or other third party applications not created by A Thinking Ape. Soliciting or Showing Interest in In-Game Transactions Advertising account selling, trading, gifting or sharing, as well as responding to these. Transactions of any type involving any non-game currency (including, but not limited to real-world currency, gift cards, credit transactions, and cryptocurrencies) are not permitted and is subject to action at our discretion. Encouraging Abuse Encouraging other players to post content in violation of our Terms of Use. Intentionally creating a disturbance, flame, or troll. HOW DO SILENCES WORK? Silences operate on a tiered system. After a player has been silenced, they will move up a tier, and the next silence they receive will be of a longer duration. However, after a player has been unsilenced their silence Tier will decrease by ONE for each 30 days they go without an additional silence. Tier 1: 1 day Tier 2: 7 days Tier 3: 30 days We reserve the right to deviate from this policy at our discretion in extreme situations. HOW CAN I APPEAL MY SILENCE? If you have questions about a silence given, you can contact Support directly through in game help. Please note that you can be silenced for anything that we determine to be inappropriate in our public channels (world chat, walls and status messages). For more information, please view the Terms of Use. HOW CAN I REPORT INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR? If you would like to report any incidents of inappropriate behaviour in public channels in PIMD (world chat, walls, statuses, usernames, club names and descriptions), please message Support through in game help. In your message, please mention the usernames of those involved, what was said, and when and where in game it occurred. Please note that private channels (such as PMs, gift notes and club chat) are not moderated in the same way. For these, it’s best to block the player (for personal communication) or speak with your club (for club chat). Some club roles can also silence members for 1 hour in club chat specifically.