HP Community > General Discussion > Post Reply
HP staff can read your private messages
 Lollygag March 5th, 2013 3:16:53am 38 Posts |
I think it's only fair that this should be made explicit to the players of this game. So I'm doing it. They can read your messages. So don't say anything you wouldn't want read in court. =p I honestly think it's a massive violation of our privacy. We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
  Samantha - see page to know who to contact directly!March 5th, 2013 2:27:15pm 4,333 Posts |
Lolly, this is nothing new. Nor is it a secret. It even says this in our TOS:"By agreeing to the Horse Phenomena Terms of Service upon joining all players understand that there is no expectation of privacy, and that all communications made by a player or received by a player on the site may be monitored, preserved, and disclosed by Horse Phenomena and retrieved and used by Horse Phenomena at anytime in the events that, but not limited to, a player must be temporarily and/or permanently removed from the site, any form of legal action needs to be taken against a player, and/or a player has been reported for breaking any rule that we have instated."I'm sorry you feel your privacy is violated, but this is for everyone's safety. We only do this when someone is breaking serious rules or we are worried about cyber bullying, cyber stalking, or possibly especially when we have reports of someone making overly sexual/explicit comments towards them (and are making them uncomfortable) since these are things we are required to report to the police. Admins have ALWAYS been able to see messages so myself, Sola, Blitz, and Adranth. It is not a feature for regular mods.To All Players: You should ALWAYS be careful what you say in HP messages. Don't have private or personal conversations here, and follow the rules. We don't condone talking off of the game in messaging or on Facebook for privacy and safety reasons (since if something happens on AIM we can't help you), but seriously be careful of what you say on HP. It's a game with young users and you never know who you're talking to on the other side of the screen. |
Lollygag March 5th, 2013 10:15:39pm 38 Posts |
It says so in your TOS, but your privacy policy (the place where people would normally look for information regarding their privacy), intentionally leaves that paragraph out I guess hoping that people will not read the TOS (they don't). In fact the privacy policy says "Horse Phenomena recognizes your privacy." Yep. I guess it does. It bothers me that unpaid mods chosen pretty much at random have access to my messages. They should ONLY be available to you, difficult to access, and ONLY when absolutely necessary. I've run forums as large as this site before and if I had sneaked oh AND BY THEY WAY we can read your "private" messages very easily into the TOS and intentionally left it out of the privacy policy people would have been rightfully infuriated. I don't know why you've bothered writing this long response if it's common knowledge. We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
| Samantha - see page to know who to contact directly! March 5th, 2013 11:16:27pm 4,333 Posts |
In the U.S., where HP is run, the only laws regarding privacy policies are COPPA (which is regarding children under 13 and online safety), HIPPA (which pertains to heath institutions), and The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which is regarding the sharing of financial information. Except in California where they have passed some extra laws.The purpose of a privacy policy is to tell you how we are going to collect and use your personally identifying information (legal name, PayPal records, IP addresses, contact information, etc.). Basically the information we ask for or purposefully collect from you. Anything you post on the website of your own accord (such as messages, talk, things you post on your home page, etc.) is not a part of that - you're responsible for NOT posting your own personally identifying information or sending it to other players though messages. It wasn't "intentionally left out" of the privacy policy, we're not hiding anything, it's in our Terms of Service.Not to mention, you do have to read the TOS when joining (whether you did or not is really on you). It does say in there that we can read messages and I was under the impression that most players knew that we did since it's been done in the past. We don't hope ANYONE will just not read the TOS, like you've claimed above. We frequently ENCOURAGE people to read the Terms of Service so they know what's in it and follow the guidelines we've set fourth.Regarding who can see messages specifically, only the admins can see any message (which as I said above is for everyone's safety), regular mods can only see messages you send them or report to the mod panel. It's always been this way. And if it makes anyone who is concerned feel better, all mods have signed legally binding confidentiality agreements. To be frank, Lolly, if you're not happy with who can see your in-game messages, then don't use them, or don't play the game. |
  blitz✊🏻I am not afraid to walk this world aloneMarch 5th, 2013 11:21:43pm 6,483 Posts |
Recognizes your privacy in the sense that we're not about to give out everyone's email or contact info from upgrading (which Sam only has access to anyways) to a third party, not about messages that you send that should still be abiding by HP's rules to begin with. We have always stated that you should be reading the TOS. When you join, there is even links to both them and the rules with check boxes stating that you agree to abide by them. It is every player's responsibility to read them. If you don't after agreeing to abide by them when you joined, that is your problem. Admins are the only ones who have access to your messages, as it has always been. Moderators don't. Privacy Policies are actually part of the Terms of Service and most websites aren't required to link to them separately (but do for convenience). RE: the common knowledge comment...it always has been, always probably will be. For something that is common knowledge, one could also ask why you decided to broadcast something already out there. Also informative is this: http://site-reference.com/articles/privacy-policy-examples-templates-generators-and-how-to-write-them/  |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 12:25:48am 38 Posts |
Why do you care if it's common knowledge. Did you read the TOS when you joined? Answer honestly. We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
 Audacious & Blitz [Andalusians] March 6th, 2013 12:29:11am 558 Posts |
I personally can honestly say I did. If you (general you) didn't read the TOS and agreed to them that's YOUR problem not ours. Clicking that little box saying you read and agree to them means something, whether or not you actually bothered to read them. |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 12:33:43am 38 Posts |
Obviously *I* read both the TOS and the privacy policy or it wouldn't concern me because I wouldn't know. :pI don't think it's typical though and, like I said, I think it's a little bit disturbing that the privacy policy omits the paragraph about HP having the right to read people's messages and I think Sam should consider inserting it. We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 12:51:49am 38 Posts |
I'm rather taken aback by the response to this thread. Why are you guys so upset that I am attempting to discuss something that is related to the game and is *supposed* to be public knowledge?I mean it sort of looks like you *don't* want people to know, which I don't think is actually the case. We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
| blitz✊🏻I am not afraid to walk this world alone March 6th, 2013 1:09:07am 6,483 Posts |
I can't speak for others, but I myself am not upset. I am a bit confused, however, as to why you say you were attempting to discuss something publicly that is public knowledge, and yet the way you worded the initial post is in a "reveal to the world a big secret" peek behind the curtain negativity, almost as if you were calling out Sam and the rest of us for lying to everyone. |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 1:14:19am 38 Posts |
I think you're misreading it. The topic is just... what the topic of the thread is.I'm talking about it because I don't think that people are all that aware of it and I think it's an important thing to know. Seriously. Don't you? We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
 м e м o я i a. March 6th, 2013 1:44:12am 314 Posts |
I'm honestly not worried about it- that's the way HP can regulate appropriate game play and safe gameplay etc.And Sam can't be on 24/7 hence the mods are there at all different hours.If you don't want people reading your messages don't type anything offensive, or chat with players on IM or something? |
| blitz✊🏻I am not afraid to walk this world alone March 6th, 2013 2:02:35am 6,483 Posts |
I can understand why you think it is important to know. Maybe you didn't mean to come off as blunt as you did in your initial post? idk.Either way, us admins don't read your messages for giggles. We read them to investigate scams, money theft, etc. We've also used it in the past for cases of stalking and pedophiles. We don't go looking for ways to use messages to ban people.We also go into messages to get rid of those pesky ghost ones.It's also been mentioned in the news 3 times since the game opened, so it has been out in the open for quite awhile.Honestly, most people don't seem to mind when it's the difference between proving their money was stolen/linking it to the thief and not...Unless you're giving us a reason to go through them by breaking a rule, we probably won't ever see the contents of your inbox. |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 2:39:25am 38 Posts |
I don't see how I could put it any other way though. I mean it is what it is.I suppose I should have said "ATTN. HP STAFF CAN READ YOUR MESSAGES AND THEY DO IT TO KEEP YOU SAFE FROM CREEPERS," but that seems sort of superfluous. Honestly I'm not *worried* about it, I've just encountered *several* people who didn't know and they were sort of alarmed. I just like transparency. :) We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
 Farewell's Paint Horses {I'm getting there} March 6th, 2013 2:49:03am 1,033 Posts |
I understand what lolly is saying most people didn't take the time to read the TOS and she is just trying to alert those who didn't so that they understand that they are being monitored but only if they are suspicious. |
| blitz✊🏻I am not afraid to walk this world alone March 6th, 2013 2:55:16am 6,483 Posts |
-shrug- If anyone asked me if we can read messages, I would have told them. In fact, when investigating stuff mentioned previously, I have mentioned it. We aren't hiding anything. |
Lollygag March 6th, 2013 3:07:24am 38 Posts |
You guys think I'm suggesting that you're hiding it. That's the problem here. That is why you are all upset(or whatever). I am not suggesting that. I just think that it should be *more visible* in fact I think a little notice in messages would be great.Also: I personally don't like it, but I'm a privacy freak. Since I'm aware of it I can act accordingly. Other people, however, and as I said there are a lot of them. Cannot act accordingly because they don't know.Should they read the TOS? Yes, but people *don't* typically. If you read the TOS for every website you ever signed up for on the internet you would spend 78 working days out of ever year doing so according to one study: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/terms-of-service-agreements-are-rarely-read-let-alone-understood/article6837198/ Another study found that only 7% of people read the terms and conditions when they are *buying* something online. It's safe to assume that even less people read the TOS for a free site they are signing up for. That's why I think this information should be more visible. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/11/terms-conditions-small-print-big-problems We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom We are the Pardy Pardy Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pardy-Pardy We are the Pardy Pardy We shake it boom boom |
м e м o я i a. March 7th, 2013 12:18:14am 314 Posts |
Lolly when I read your headline I perceived it as you thought HP was hiding the matter- which now after reading the posts I know your true intentions lol.We can't always control how things are perceived d; |
 • BlackFire • March 8th, 2013 12:25:47am 307 Posts |
I don't really care that admins can read my msgs. Only because technically any person who logs into the account who I am messaging (eg to train for them) can read them anyway. Plus I take anything I dont want read to aim of fb :P |
 aveera 🥑 coding is open March 9th, 2013 4:10:09am 267 Posts |
I trust the admins to do what is necessary to keep the game safe and fun. I don't think anyone of them would ever read my messages just to do so. I doubt Adranth or Blitz, or any admin is going through my messages to see if I talk bad about them or anything.I also agree with BlackFire. I occasionally have trainers and I know that anyone of them could read through all my messages if they wanted.I think the reason people responded badly to this thread was because of your tone in the first few posts. You made it seem like Sam was hiding this from players and it almost sounded like you were attacking Sam and the admin.In one of your first posts you say "It says so in your TOS, but your privacy policy (the place where people would normally look for information regarding their privacy), intentionally leaves that paragraph out I guess hoping that people will not read the TOS (they don't)." However in another post you say "You guys think I'm suggesting that you're hiding it. That's the problem here. That is why you are all upset(or whatever). I am not suggesting that. I just think that it should be *more visible* in fact I think a little notice in messages would be great."When you say they "intentionally" leave it out, you're saying they are purposefully hiding it. You later say that you weren't suggesting that they were hiding it....I think the better way to have gone about this would have been to post in the suggestions thread saying something like..."I have noticed that a lot of players don't realize that the admin can read their messages. I think it would be a good idea to post something in the news making it clear or add a paragraph about it to the privacy policy."That way you'd be making your suggestion without the negatives. It would get a better reception and maybe Sam or one of the admins would consider the announcement or adding it to the privacy policy fixing the 'issue' you present. |
 † M.arixel † March 9th, 2013 4:29:03am 440 Posts |
I promise this is relevant to this conversation.*hugs everyone*:D |
