[Resolved] Ban Appeal

In-Game name: vomit
Time of Ban: 15:49
Date of Ban: 04-28-25
Steam ID: STEAM_0:0:127818886
Reason for Ban: Inappropriate Spray
Additional Comments:

Hello, I received a permanent ban for a spray I considered to be inoffensive and universally funny. The spray depicts Donald Trump being advised by Hitler to donate a trillion dollars to Israel. I doubt I have to comment but the picture is obviously aimed to be a joke. Originally discovered in an Asian forum, where I must say there are no Nazis and the like beside very rare Indian newcomers, the image was considered to be hilarious by everyone. In my experience of sharing it no one has mentioned it to be repulsive, instead people on TF2C commended it. I wish the judgement to be reconsidered or, most importantly actually, I receive a reasoned discretion here in an answer. Thank you.
The image in question:

Your appeal has been received, we'll review the details and the information you've provided and get back to you with a decision, usually in 2-3 days.

As a pre-emptive comment though:

where I must say there are no Nazis and the like beside very rare Indian newcomers, the image was considered to be hilarious by everyone

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You may want to re-evaluate that statement. The symbol used as Hitler's halo is a well-known neo-nazi symbol/dogwhistle (and entirely unnecessary for the joke - someone made a deliberate choice to insert it when creating the image). I suspect it's also the primary reason your spray (and you, as a violation of server rule #3) were banned.


~Vintage

Yes, the symbol is well known but that exactly is why it should be made fun of. There are countless instances where it is put to ridicule. See one below.

Though now that I reverse searched it there indeed was an instance of it being shared by a "fascist friend". Still, I don't find the image not to be undervaluing either of the individuals, it makes them both look absurd.

Regarding the rule three: I have not been aware of it, yet I don't think it should apply to political humor. Simply hiding something wrong and punishing it is reinforcement by mistake and fear. Instead it should be tackled with words and acknowledged as wrong through understanding. In this way the topic does not become isolated in the mind of the individual who is vulnerable to it - it does not become a taboo.

While I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiment that there is value in "reclaiming" or ridiculing such racist symbols to dilute their meaning and effectiveness... a game server is not the place to be doing that, and this would impose an unfair burden on our staff, whom are already doing a generally thankless volunteer job. I'm not going to ask them to also have to spend time and not insignificant quantities of energy sorting out what constitutes such proposed "acceptable" use of these symbols. The people that do use them maliciously do so in bad faith and therefore will attempt to use every possible excuse to get away with it, both causing drama and wasting the time of those that need to handle it.

Hence, we have a blanket rule that such things are not allowed, with no exceptions. After doing this for over a decade, I've stopped entertaining those who attempt to rule-lawyer things in bad faith, and this is one of the easiest ways to shut that down. They are game servers and intended as a place for people to have fun and escape from all the societal problems in the real world. They are not a personal soapbox.

That does not mean we don't take context into consideration when it comes to appeals such as this, which is what we are currently discussing.

It's also worth noting that our EU servers are in Germany, where most such symbols are illegal, and this also contributes heavily to our reasons to blanket-ban them in our community.

~Vintage

I understand. I must also apologize for causing you legal trouble, I didn't know. I have nothing more to argue about.

Hello I said a lot of bad things and I'm sorry for it. I swear if you unban me it won't happen again.

Rachilla said:

Hello I said a lot of bad things and I'm sorry for it. I swear if you unban me it won't happen again.

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Please follow the instructions and make a properly formatted ban appeal of your own instead of hijacking someone else's thread.
This is not the first time you've been directed to those instructions and if you keep ignoring them you'll get banned from the forums too.

Thanks for your patience.

We've discussed your appeal, and unfortunately, owing to:

• the legal issues of such symbols in Germany
• Our clearly stated rules and consequences for their use (which have been in place for some time now), and
• our staff's discomfort with having them used in any capacity on our servers,

we are electing to decline the ban appeal at this time. Please note, however, that under the circumstances, your permanent ban is not necessarily a permanent ban from our servers. Per posted policies, it is eligible for re-appeal one year from the date it was issued, on April 28, 2026, at which point you may make a new appeal and we will re-consider the circumstances and in many cases will grant a second chance.

Thank you for your understanding.

~Vintage