Whenever there's IC mixed up with OOC it's always a mess. All GMs can do is damage control so we ask that the players/guilds involved stop all interaction, like with a two-way restriction order. If they break it, they get punished. Listening to both parts' explanations is only part of the process. It's easy to hide one's actions as IC but that doesn't mean there is no intention to harass. That is why you should never let these situations escalate. Most harassment cases we've seen are pure immaturity at play. Someone trying to get back at someone else because they left their guild or stole their mob. It's childish and a waste of everyone's time and energy. However, we are not about to be less strict in dealing with them because they ruin the gaming experience of the community and because every now and then more serious harassment issues may arise.
In order to determine intent, we can see if a player ignores another one's request to stop following them around, walking through them, competing for mobs, etc. We can see report logs and observe the situation. We talk to the players involved and review their history (previous issues with other players, etc.). Harassment is not dealt with lightly.
I cannot comment on the examples given by theirah in a previous post because they are out of context but I am sure there is much more to them than just the facts stated. However, if a player is not enjoying someone else's RP or is even feeling offended by it, they have the right to move on to something else. Does this mean they can /report immediately? No. You can report someone's RP when they break the Language and Content policy: no profanity, no explicit sexual content, no RL drug use. However, spitting and uttering IC insults do not automatically fall into that category. What the player should do is state their reluctance to participate and only if this wish is not respected should they report and file a petition. This has nothing to do with the plot but with not respecting another player's rights.
In the scenario posted by Ligh: if you wish to RP that you take over a mine, don't be surprised if people don't join your RP. You cannot force it on them. They are free to ignore you or declare that IC they are not really there. However if they interrupt your RP and start interfering with your IC actions, you can and should report them. One thing is to ignore another player, another is to disrupt their RP.
Now, back on topic: Have you filled out the survey yet?
