cross-posted from: https://ttrpg.network/post/27970929
Recently the server staff received an e-mail telling them to moderate the Discord server and the server chat on what they deem to be "appropriate."
Below is a message from owner of the server.
Free Speech Under Attack
Dear friends, I don't often post announcements of this sort, but I feel it's very important for you all to know what's currently going on.
From the very start, over 15 years ago, one of the key founding principles of MinecraftOnline has been free speech. What started out as an uncontroversal, common sense policy, has proved to be a cornerstone of this increasingly unique community. As time has passed and Western society has wavered back and forth in its political leanings, free speech has repeatedly come under attack for political reasons. It has now become common to see arrests for posts on social media in countries such as Britain and Germany, in the name of political control, which have overtaken the numbers even of traditionally totalitarian countries such as China and Russia - a truly dystopian nightmare for freedom of expression and personal liberty.
Throughout this decade and a half of change, MinecraftOnline has held steadfast to its libertarian principles, and remained an oasis of freedom and openness in an increasingly closed and controlled internet. That is, until now.
Microsoft, through their subsidiary Mojang, have issued an ultimatum to MinecraftOnline. We have been told to do away with our free speech policy (which long pre-dates Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang), within 7 days, or face a a permanent block. If that happens, nobody will be able to play on MinecraftOnline again, and the 15-year history of this beloved server will come to a sudden and bitter end. The full email we have received today, signed facelessly only as "Mojang Enforcement", is included below.
The email makes extremely vague claims about "harmful interactions" and "harmful comments", and we are asking Microsoft to clarify what specific interactions and comments they consider harmful. In the meantime, please spread the word, share this info on social media. Defend free speech.
-SlowRiot
Really goes to show how much a headline can sway the narrative.
Oh no, the oldest minecraft server? How could Microsoft do this? Microshit bad!
I didn’t even need to read anything from Mojang or Microsoft. As soon as I saw the Owners statement I knew this was bigots complaining about not being allowed to be shit humans wherever they like.
“Free speech under attack”, “ultimatum”, “libertarian principles”. “Oasis of Freedom and openness”? Really? These guys are sad that Microsoft won’t let them use official channels to say the n-word anymore.
Looks like they are allowed to continue being bigots, they just can’t use Microsoft’s official systems to do it.
The malignment of anyone supportive of free-speech with 'obviously they're bigots' is a really dumb take that plays into the hands of oppressive governments.
Considering their examples of 'free speech under attack' being the UK and Germany - places that have absolutely stomped on Palestine-support protesters over the last few years, I think your assumptions could be completely off base.
They are not using Microsoft's official systems at all - this is an expensive self-hosted services that they run, so maybe, instead of jumping to comment and saying "I don't even need to read Mojangs statement" you probably should next time.
Free speech doesnt mean you can selfishly say anything you feel like. Humans are social creatures, words are real and have meaning and impact. Clearly the admins of this server can't tell the nuance of that, and are just petulant children upset someone told them they were hurting other people and should stop.
~~Ahh the nuance is killing me!~~
Edit: wrong person
Not sure where your second quote comes from, but I'm sure you really showed me or something.
His first comment
That was my guess but I didnt say that so it seems odd paired with something I did say. Doesnt matter much either way though, have a nice day!
Fuck I thought you were him. Sorry
Sense when did Microsoft become the "speach police", I'm all for them shutting down problem accounts when they're reported, but their place isn't to patrol the chat like a physco mother reading all her kid's texts.
No one is forced to play on a Minecraft server, if you don't like the people there, you can leave and find somewhere else.
Corporations are only after profits, they'll moderate based on whatever's popular at the time and doesnt hurt their profits. Look at all the gambling/pay to win servers they don't shit about.
Isn't this just terminating their official partner status? I'm pretty sure they can still run their server, just not be an official partner.
The email threatens IP/Domain blacklist.
Is this even doable on Microsoft/Mojang's side, given that the server runs a rather old version? Does the game client not directly connect to the server, or does it phone home to check against a blacklist first? Did that feature exist on the older server/client version?
It was added to the game in 1.9.3r2 then moved it to their Netty library. It's speculated that it could affect older versions but I haven't seen anything concrete.
I'm not really sure, but I assume "if there's a will, there's a way".
Connecting to private servers has to connect somehow on Microsoft/mojang's side at least for skins.
the top comment has further emails where MConline clarifies that they do not have partner server status
You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain [of free speech].
The fact that they don't point to all of the political arrests and disappearing of people in the United States is interesting. Yet they are concerned about free speech.