This is how getting violated can look like in VR

[benny_a]

Please have a look at the invasion of personal space, virtual groping and general creepiness that goes on here:

It's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-Md56jK9Y


No endorsement at the language used but image how this feels and how ill-equipped people can be to put a stop to this.u

 

[doop_]

What is going in the the picture, cannot really tell

 

[Parfait]

 

[Zomba13]

What is going in the the picture, cannot really tell

From the video Handibot and guy with viking helmet start "tickling" the streamer while he giggles uncontrollably then quits.

 

[cubicle47b]

That was very weird.

 

[Zaventem]

This might work better as a video, it looks like a haply image to me.

 

[Moldiver]

I see Handibot is still up to his old tricks.

 

[SprachBrooks]

No endorsement at the language used but image how this feels and how ill-equipped people can be to put a stop to this.

By taking off the headset?

 

[killatopak]

That's perfectly normal.

I fully expect vr to unleash man's inner potential for weirdness.

 

[agent00]

wtf?

 

[Maximus P]

oh, i see the picture is a video.

I was looking at this for about a minute trying to see what was wrong before clicking.

 

[agent00]

This might work better as a video, it looks like a haply image to me.

click on it. it's a video

 

[benny_a]

oh, i see the picture is a video.

Oh sorry I adjusted the OP

 

[Moldiver]

Just saw it's dasMEHDI lol, he'll survive.

 

[Tregard]

By taking off the headset?

Feels like this is akin to the solution of just switching off your computer if you're experiencing harassment online. Obviously VR isn't quite as all encompassing as that, but it's not something that solves the problem.

 

[benny_a]

Just saw it's dasMEHDI lol, he'll survive.

To me the target is immaterial to what is being shown.

 

[doop_]

From the video Handibot and guy with viking helmet start "tickling" the streamer while he giggles uncontrollably then quits.

Sooooo whats the problem here ?

 

[spekkeh]

Was he laughing or crying I can't tell.
Seemed like he was laughing uncontrollably, which is hardly harassment. In fact the guy had such a weird nerd voice it kind of came off as joke trolling.

 

[Moldiver]

Also 'Handibot' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KZHZhYKyFg

 

[jediyoshi]

The streamer chimed in on reddit where the video took off

https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/com...irtually_violated_by_a_weird_guy_and/dbavf69/

 

[Bad_Boy]

Lmao

 

[Tregard]

Is Handibot just a person? I remember them from the Giant Bomb video and they're still a complete mystery to me

 

[Übermatik]

That was fucking bizarre.

 

[Violet_0]

the combo of the freakish face and that voice is too much to handle

 

[pinkurocket]

In this particular context it's funny and just weird, but if someone else more sensitive gets into a situation like this it can turn out really bad. Like, it's online bullying taken to a new level. The weird touching and groping is just ... why would they even go there. It's kinda disgusting.

 

[SeeNoWeevil]

That was really unpleasant.

I definitely agree this is worse than traditional online abuse, but I'm still not sure it's a good idea to use words such as 'violated', 'groping' and 'personal space' etc. Those IRL are way worse and shouldn't be slung in the same category.

 

[gfxtwin]

I can see this triggering someone, but gotta admit, I laughed at how intensely and increasingly uncomfortable it was. Might be a different story if the person streaming it wasn't laughing and was genuinely freaked out though.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Personal space in video games?

Reminds me of the tyler tweet
https://imgur.com/l6CTcf9

 

[Juice]

I really hope the recent spate of (completely unacceptable and despicable) harassment we've seen in the gaming community online thanks to Gamergate will give game publishers pause when they create virtual worlds, at the very least in the form of self-protection (blocking/muting) but hopefully moreso in moderation and codes of conduct that can lead to bans.

I am not particularly hopeful.

You can't simulate "real life" without community controls. Real life is full of mechanisms to enforce social contracts. From informal ones (walking away) to formal ones (police). A VR world can have the same components, but they'd come at a cost, and they'll only benefit a small percentage of users (the same reason we police are a public service).

Not sure where that will leave us, but at the very least when VR is in this phase of very limited player agency, players who are harassed will often be literally trapped, lacking free movement or an ability to get away from a virtual attacker. "Just take off your headset" works as a last resort, but if it's the only tool available you'll just end with a vicious cycle of increasingly toxic communities.

 

[benny_a]

That was really unpleasant.

I definitely agree this is worse than traditional online abuse, but I'm still not sure it's a good idea to use words such as 'violated', 'groping' and 'personal space' etc. Those IRL are way worse and shouldn't be slung in the same category.

Sure. Maybe the thread title should've been something that shows more that it's harassment by mirroring virtually to what is traditionally violation of personal space or something.

 

[Oppo]

OP i think you might be kind of reaching here.

"violated", really?

ever taken the subway during rush hour?

even PS Home had controls for this man

Second Life tho. you could legit get swarmed by flying dicks there

 

[Kingpin Rogers]

Feels like this is akin to the solution of just switching off your computer if you're experiencing harassment online. Obviously VR isn't quite as all encompassing as that, but it's not something that solves the problem.

I don't think there's any real solution to be found, there's always going to be assholes. Taking off the headset allows you to leave the situation or move to a different server where hopefully there will be better people.

 

[tenderbrew]

Violated? What?

A little dramatic.

 

[Fret]

.

 

[daviyoung]

what a horrible voice

 

[Kikorin]

This was weird and fun at the same time, maybe was the streamer laughing so hard, the shitty graphics or I don't know what, but this video is so strange.

 

[GoldenCrow]

I really don't like things in my personal space in VR especially if they appear out of nowhere but that was just funny, so creepy though especially with that voice.

 

[hohoXD123]

"You can't teleport? That's too bad little guy"
"You're just a baby boy. You don't know any better."

Then proceeds to "tickle" the streamer. Not sure about violated, but it is pretty damn creepy.

 

[Ban Puncher]

Handibot Lives

 

[Auto-Reply]

Handibot Lives

Heard Jeff subscribed to his youtube channel... have not yet verified that or tried to search for it myself.... I mean... it's handibot.

 

[hodgy100]

Guys having your personal space invaded in vr feels just like someone is there breathing down your neck. Just because it's not real doesn't make it feel not real.

I played some raw data with a friend of mine and we freaked eachother out by being in each others personal space. It was only ok because we are good mates and understood it was a laugh for us two. But I would be really freaky if it was a stranger.

By taking off the headset?

Are you ok with people being bullied out of hobbies or certain areas?

yeah lol, its quite obvious this guy is a troll. its funny. I can see it being pretty bad if the person wasnt laughing though, however if you don't laugh when a floating doll man tries to touch you then I don't know whats wrong with ya

So it's ok if you are out somewhere and someone gets all close to you and tells you that you are just a baby you don't know better then proceeds to tickle you?


Luckily recroom has some real good anti griefing settings you can set up a teleport safe zone so people can't stand near you and you can make it so their hands disappear if they go near you. I assume the streamer here just didn't have these on. Still it's a good example of the kind of issues we are going to see in social vr games.

 

[Ban Puncher]

This is today's equivalent of people getting scared of an oncoming train on a cinema screen in the 19th century.

 

[Rygar 8 Bit]

hes going to be sent back to the dumb dumb factory

 

[eot]

As someone who hasn't tried VR, that video doesn't seem that bad to me. I mean, I'm sure it's different with the headset on, the video just doesn't convey it.

 

[zoukka]

I guess people who don't think you can be groped online also think you can't be insulted or harassed verbally online.

SMH.

 

[Fret]

.

 

[A Serious Man]

Shawn Elliott, is that you?

 

[benny_a]

As someone who hasn't tried VR, that video doesn't seem that bad to me. I mean, I'm sure it's different with the headset on, the video just doesn't convey it.

That's unfortunate. I've tried it and I think this video is pretty terrible.

Of course I don't assume the victim in this is a streamer nor a guy that easily hurls insults at others and seemingly handles unpleasantness with laughter.

Imagine this happening to a person that is more easily victimized.

 

[jem0208]

I guess people who don't think you can be groped online also think you can't be insulted or harassed verbally online.

SMH.

Verbally? Absolutely. There's no real difference being verbally harassed virtually or in person.

Groping is a physical action though.

 

[T.O.P]

That was fuckin hilarious