Summoner name violating terms of use?

ultimate chad·Nov 20, 2017·6 votes·1,087 views

Hello guys!

I frequently use player support to get answers to my questions regarding league, everything went fine until now. I contacted player support recently and the support guy answered my question, but in the end of his message, he included that my summoner name violated terms of use and that I would be prompted to change it next time I log in.

My name : Gin N Jews

I'm coming to you forum because I think that my name doesn't violate the summoner code in any way, shape or form. It consists of a mere pun (Gin N Juice, Gin N Jews sound the same) and I have recieved many great input while in game that my name was funny.

What do you guys think? Is mentionning a nationality in the form of a pun violating the summoner's code?

Thank you all very much and I wish you all the best!

25 Comments

ChermorgNov 20, 20176 votes

Well, the Terms of Use say that Riot is the sole determinant of whether a name violates the ToU or not, so considering they have told you that it was, then yes, it is.

That being said, personally I agree with them - you don’t know how that would be taken by someone, especially given the history of that race/religion. It is usually better to err on the side of caution to avoid causing any potential issues in the game when you should be focused on winning. Due to the potential for the name to cause issues, that’s likely why they’re changing it. Political issues, religion, and race have no place in League imo.

ultimate chadNov 20, 20173 votes

Wow! thank you for the quick answer. I appreciate it.

That being said, I undersand your point of view, I just wanted to make it clear that it did not "violate" terms of use as the name in itself is not diffamatory, nor does it show hatred towards any race whatsoever. It mentions a race and this is, in my humble opinion, not attacking it. The employee that chose to change my name did it because HE found it offensive, NOT because it violated any terms of use. Is this correct?

If it is the case, then I think we have a problem here. What can I do, do you have any idea of who I can talk to to explain my situation?

Thanks in advance.

ChermorgNov 20, 20173 votes

I don’t think something has to be outright attacking something to be potentially inflammatory or offensive. As you’ve noted, people talk about your name, and that’s not always a good thing, even if the talking is not negative. A name continuing “Jews” - especially as a pun - has a high potential to offend people, and that’s a problem.

Further, simply the fact that Riot says it violated the Terms of Use immediately puts it in violation of the ToU - that clause is in there that Riot can determine if something is offensive or not, and if Riot determines it offensive then it’s in violation. Regardless, that’s semantics at this point as I think you agree they have the right to change your name for whatever reason they want.

You’re welcome to submit another support ticket and ask why your name was changed, but I don’t really think you have much of a case - it may be intended as a pun but just the fact it uses “Jews” as part of a pun has a high potential to cause problems.

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

The thing is I have encountered Riot employees in my games and they did not say a thing, I have also asked for help of the support team many times, with this name, and no one flinched. My point is my account is being renamed because one guy out there thought it was offensive. My point is also that naming a race should not be something that could be flagged as offensive. It should be celebrated! Being jewish myself, I really took that move as a "You can't say Jews in here. That word is not welcome." And that offended ME.

ChermorgNov 20, 20172 votes

I don’t think it’s necessarily flagged as offensive but simply because it could cause issue. It may not offend someone, but it has the potential to, and that’s likely why it was changed.

That being said, you could always ask them why the name was changed and see if maybe they would reconsider.

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

Thank you. I politely asked them and I am waiting on a response. My guess is I will still get nothing out of it because that's how things are, which is confusing me a lot. My people should not be offensive to anybody out there, that is absurd!

ChermorgNov 20, 20171 votes

I did want to add that I upvoted this as there are Rioters that patrol these boards and maybe one of them will respond with either further clarification or assistance :)

Oh Me So OrnnyNov 20, 20175 votes

Just say you identify as a person with a name that don't violate the terms of use because in 2017 how you identify > reality. Problem solved your welcome!

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

Thank you. That is my whole point!

Who is TaliyahNov 20, 20173 votes

I have seen worse names that actually violate the terms or are just straight up sexist or disgusting.

Oh Me So OrnnyNov 20, 20173 votes

People are too damn sensitive these days.

SalamencęNov 20, 20173 votes

Jews in general are a pretty touchy subject for obvious reasons so I would recommend just keeping the word out of any online name you make.

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

{quoted}

Jews in general are a pretty touchy subject for obvious reasons so I would recommend just keeping the word out of any online name you make.

As I said, I am myself jewish, I think it should not be something people are afraind to talk about.. what year are we in?! Again, the name is a pun and not in any way diffamatory (I did not appeal to violence or hatred in any way by picking this name, you understand?)

Popstar BulmaNov 20, 20173 votes

if i am reading this thread correctly, it would appear that only the rioter that did the name change found it offensive, not all of riot as a whole, so you should have a solid case here

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

{quoted}

if i am reading this thread correctly, it would appear that only the rioter that did the name change found it offensive, not all of riot as a whole, so you should have a solid case here

Exactly! Thank you.

Popstar BulmaDec 13, 20171 votes

hehe np :3

This Is Your DadNov 20, 20173 votes

I did not know what Gin and Juice was so I might assume it was some hide under the table racist remark. That's just why you've been reported, I don't necessarily agree with it.

ultimate chadNov 20, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Anti Teemo,realm=NA,application-id=ZGEFLEUQ,discussion-id=EYocGeLx,comment-id=0008,timestamp=2017-11-20T19:08:01.139+0000)

I did not know what Gin and Juice was so I might assume it was some hide under the table racist remark. That's just why you've been reported, I don't necessarily agree with it.

It is a drink, but yeah just seeing the word makes people offended apparently, i don't understand!

Jo0oNov 20, 20172 votes

It doesn't offend me, speaking as somebody that might be offended. Though, of course, I have no idea what your intent is with it.

Nobody's ever suggested that MY name is offensive.

ultimate chadNov 22, 20172 votes

Hello again,

Update: I finally recieved my response from the support tech.. really evasive. I felt like he was trying to get rid of me without answering my question. The worst in that was that again, I have contacted support many times and even had rioters in my games but this time, asking my question to THIS guy lost me my name and I feel clueless. Image of the response attached.

https://imgur.com/AFDSIhk

Lesson we learned today guys : if you ever have a question with league, why don't you ask someone else than support techs because they might do something else with your account because they feel like it. So disappointed. That day, I simply should have held on to my question and not asked support. Oh well. It's a trap. What can I do about it? Write a support ticket? Haha.

~~Thanks riot.~~

WolfChasesNov 20, 20171 votes

My name is refered to Kindred sibce I mained them long time ago and they are still my favorite champion because of their Lore. They are death. I was affraid that my name is against the rules but I haven't recieved any warning.

NoblewindNov 20, 20171 votes

Sometimes it doesn't matter, if you get reported by a number of people and your name has a buzz word like Jews in it, you're going to get negative attention. You can spend time frequently dealing with that or just change it

ultimate chadNov 20, 20172 votes

{quoted}

Sometimes it doesn't matter, if you get reported by a number of people and your name has a buzz word like Jews in it, you're going to get negative attention. You can spend time frequently dealing with that or just change it

A buzz word? Do you think that if my name was Gin N Christians it would have had the same attention? Then why get scared as soon as you see the word Jews?!

Edit : I'd like to point out that my name change wasn't issued because of reports, i asked a question to riot via the support ticket module and while i did that, after a couple of (really polite I was not ranting about anything) messages the employee added, out of the blue, to the end of his ticket "I also saw that your name was violating ToU, next time you log in to your client you will be asked to change it".

NoblewindNov 20, 20172 votes

No you're not wrong it wouldn't and no I don't think you should have received the attention you did, I'm simply pointing out that's what will happen to you if you use that name. You can't deny the term Jew can incite the types of discussions your post calls for in the first place. You can argue with people whether that's right or wrong all day but it won't change that fact. Again, not saying it's right because I actually agree with you, but I'm sure even if you asked for the name change request to be reversed, you'd likely hear about it again down the road.

Modl Ryden lNov 22, 20171 votes

I'd argue that just because you yourself are Jewish, as you have stated in replies to this post, not all people of the Jewish community would want to be classified or called out as a Jew.

The same argument applies to people who sling around the racist N-word. Just because you're of that race doesn't make it okay for you to call people of your own race that same slang/racist word. Not all of them like to be associate themselves with it.

I myself am from an Asian background but I don't go around calling other Asians, whether they I know them or not, '%%%%%s'. Or mockingly talk as if I can't pronounce L's and replace them with 'R' sounds.