From the eyes of a new player, freecop

[The_Wolf]

Hello, dear SA:MP players.
Since there has been a lot of discussions that SA:MP lacks roleplay and SA:MP has problem with this and that, I decided to go there and play for a week, without anyone knowing who I am and what I was doing.

I was using a "firstname_lastname" nick and a completely new account, from which nobody could understand it is me. I will not mention my nick while I was doing the research, but I am sure some would figure out who it was, since I almost revealed myself a couple of times.

Here is what I experienced...
1. I got called three times in private message "noob" by regular player.
2. I was a couple of times disrespected, treated like a lower form of life, by a regular.
3. I was told what to do in roleplay situation, like I was a "dog" and had to do exactly what I was being told, else I would have been called a non-roleplayer or again a noob.
4. I was never abused by an admin or insulted by an admin, when I requested help several people helped me very kindly, which I thank them for.
5. Some players guided me in what to do (in a polite way) when I was a freecop, how to suspect, how to use my police rights, etcetera.

My conclusion...
I think that the problem with freecops is that regular players are treating them like NOTHING. Like a bulgarian tale says: "What you called for, you shall recieve" - if everybody treats new players (and especially freecops) like garbage and underestimates their skill, ability and creativity it is normal that they will abuse, deathmatch and then leave server.

It is VERY important the way how you would treat the freecop, how you would talk to him, act with him and roleplay with him. Telling someone what to do in roleplay, yelling at him, insulting him and ignoring him would only cause more trouble rather than solve any.
If you give respect - you get respect, this is the situation. If you respect the players and don't treat them like garbage, they will not abuse you or deathmatch you without a reason.

You should understand why the most important rule in server is to respect other players, because this creates harmony and understanding between players and makes the roleplay more fun, not only fighting and trying to "own" the other guy, which is completely stupid. If you want to go on server just to argue or create big fights - just go and fight with someone in real life, not ruin the atmosphere in server and interrupt other people's fun...

I have made a couple of more conclusions and I would rather keeping them for myself, but one thing I also saw. Server has not changed, scripts has not changed, players changed. I saw that administration is doing their best to keep the situation in server calm, nice and friendly. Some regulars fought a lot over main chat, I once decided to involve myself in an argument over main chat and a player started telling me that he is playing more time than me and knows all, while I am a new player and don't have any idea about community.
This is not a correct attitude in my eyes, players should not parade with the fact they've played longer and are regulars...

:ps: By the way, I saw some freecops that were roleplaying better than me even, having in mind that I am a roleplayer since almost two years and I have a lot of experience. My point is that if you give them a chance, they could prove they are worth being involved in a roleplay situation and a good one...

[Bilbo]

True words, Agent.

I think that the problem with freecops is that regular players are treating them like NOTHING. Like a bulgarian tale says: "What you called for, you shall recieve" - if everybody treats new players (and especially freecops) like garbage and underestimates their skill, ability and creativity it is normal that they will abuse, deathmatch and then leave server.

Yeh this is everyday for several cops, mostly because of the "rare" new freecops, who have DMed, abused as a freecop, just because they haven't known how to play on this server. This has eventually caused the "fear" in several police officers, that they ignore them, refuse to roleplay with them and don't help them if they ask for it.

[Hess]

I agree with you there. I often see that people try to avoid freecops, rather than help teach them the basics and how to RP. To be honest, there are many freecops who are at various levels and understanding, but many players seem to have the impression that all freecops are abusers and don't know how to RP just because of their status/rank. So even though a certain freecop might be a great RPer, players will have no respect or trust in him just because of his rank? Well that's from my observations (and Legend's) anyway.

[Gird3r]

I actually regret having run away from a freecop once, but I was stressed, on taxi duty. And felt unfairly treated.

You do however, learn new things everyday. Right?

[smey]

Hello, dear SA:MP players.
Since there has been a lot of discussions that SA:MP lacks roleplay and SA:MP has problem with this and that, I decided to go there and play for a week, without anyone knowing who I am and what I was doing.

I was using a "firstname_lastname" nick and a completely new account, from which nobody could understand it is me. I will not mention my nick while I was doing the research, but I am sure some would figure out who it was, since I almost revealed myself a couple of times.

Here is what I experienced...
1. I got called three times in private message "noob" by regular player.
2. I was a couple of times disrespected, treated like a lower form of life, by a regular.
3. I was told what to do in roleplay situation, like I was a "dog" and had to do exactly what I was being told, else I would have been called a non-roleplayer or again a noob.
4. I was never abused by an admin or insulted by an admin, when I requested help several people helped me very kindly, which I thank them for.
5. Some players guided me in what to do (in a polite way) when I was a freecop, how to suspect, how to use my police rights, etcetera.

I have made a couple of more conclusions and I would rather keeping them for myself, but one thing I also saw. Server has not changed, scripts has not changed, players changed.

The points you listed, I'm sure every free cop experienced them, even if they started playing today, last week or a year ago. I got called 'noob' dozen times during my free cop stage, or not 'suitable for investigation', .. . So that hasn't changed IMO.

Which thing has changed (again IMO), is the relation between cops and non cops. As cop I find that their are to many gangs, and I can believe that gangs find that their are to many cops. Both is true, and both sides got to do something about it. You got abusing free cops, but you also got abusing gang members..

[Oliver]

Hm.. I remember when I was a freecop, some people told me to f*ck off when I tried to pull them over. Then I suspected them and they started shouting ABUSE! in /p.
However, there are also lots of friendly and good players here (like Nexxt).

However, I can be a douche sometime. If I act like that, then I don't care who I bitch at. I don't see a huge difference between a newbie and a regular. Like Legend, I have seen freecops who roleplay WAY better than some of the regulars. (Plater, Andy as a freecop.)

There are 2 kinds of newbies:
Those who ruin roleplay and don't listen to people and those who want to learn and play.

I have tried to go "undercover" also, but most of the times I have failed.

I didn't get called "noob" once when I was a new player, though.

[Nexxt]

However, there are also lots of friendly and good players here (like Nexxt).

LOL, Thank you.

Legend, that is one of the reason why I like to be SAPD Academy Teacher

[Bianconeri]

i dont think im one of the person in your story, not good or bad side,
personally i dont say noob to persons, unless they abuse as hell
if there is someone asking for help i do help him if im near him,
not often but still

and a freecop that /su or pull over,
is always seen as abuser for some reason

[Proxan]

i dont think im one of the person in your story, not good or bad side,
personally i dont say noob to persons, unless they abuse as hell
if there is someone asking for help i do help him if im near him,
not often but still

and a freecop that /su or pull over,
is always seen as abuser for some reason

Exactly , doesn't matter if he is right or wrong... people will still moaning and saying abuse...

[Mangus]

Of course the freecops will get treated like idiots when there are many cases that there are freecops acting like idiots..

For example:

On day 1, someone shout in the /m: Pull over now or i shoot!!!!!!!!!!!!

You pull over, they suspect you for speeding, and they shoot you on the spot.

On day 2, a freecop is chasing you and he shouts in /m: Pull over, or I will use lethal force!

You pull over and get ticketed a 100 for speeding.

Without thinking about it, your mood changes to the worse and your subconciousness reacts on the freecop, even though he did nothing wrong. You connect two things that are bad for you, without them having anything to do with eachother. The freecop from day 1 made you angry, and when another freecop on day 2 ticket you, you get angry at him too, with some emotions that came from the situation with the freecop on day one.


--

I personally don't think that people hate freecops as in them being freecops, it's simply just pissing you off when you get "abused" five times by the same freecop. I don't like the option for every player to become a cop, and it has to do with the players that make freecops look bad.

When you call a freecop that did a small mistake "Fucking freecop", you don't call an officer or even higher that makes the same mistake "Fucking officer" or anything like that. It's easier to accept it, for a reason I don't know, but maybe it has something to do with that you don't want to be pissed off at, or they to be pissed off at you, a known player from [AV], [WS] or anyother known clan, or people that you know are popular.

--

I also think that the copban in RS4.0 might solve a bit of this problem, since freecops that has no idea on how to make the police work can get their rights to work as one removed.

Marco_Stracci, once a freecop, but not again.

[Tovenaarke]

Its hard to say, but your desicsion was not that unexpected...
And thats not good...

By the way, I saw some freecops that were roleplaying better than me even, having in mind that I am a roleplayer since almost two years and I have a lot of experience. My point is that if you give them a chance, they could prove they are worth being involved in a roleplay situation and a good one...

Please, all read that one very careful!!

[Bianconeri]

some new cops come from other RP server and do it good,
there are enough promising freecops,
but sadly enough also a lot of abusing freecops
as magnus said: copban will solve a lot
but the bad times will be reminded more then the good one,
also if you see someone RP good as cop, light blue,
everyone think: cadet, since they see freecop cant be good,
so every good cop is at least cadet

i dont say its wrong to hate some freecops,
the big abusers which i really hate too,
but dont see them all as the same, freecops can be good also


:ps: whats wrong with $100 fine for speeding?

[The_Wolf]

Once again I will say it - Call for shit and you will recieve shit! How do you know that those freecops were not already provoked, called noobs and even deathmatched by other players?
This is also a point of view, freecops start feeling "small" in community and ignored, so they start abusing and shooting people for money so they could become more rich, more famous and respected.

Everything that happens and all of their actions are provoked by a reason or a person, do not forget that! If he shoots you, don't shoot back, try to explain him that it's not correct and he should not do it...

During this week I've played, I made a lot of friends among freecops, many of them excellent roleplayers and good personalities on server and even outside it, I chat on MSN with some of them...

[Voodoo]

When I was a freecop once, and then sus'ed someone for ramming me and not obeying traffic rules, he just shouted "omg omg abuseabuse!!!please unsus!!". I didnt said anything cause I thinked if this player cant RP and take punishment, then screw him, its his problem.
So it's basically comes automatic: If a freecop sus'es you, then its abuse. Not for all, but for some.

[The_Wolf]

When I was a freecop once, and then sus'ed someone for ramming me and not obeying traffic rules, he just shouted "omg omg abuseabuse!!!please unsus!!". I didnt said anything cause I thinked if this player cant RP and take punishment, then screw him, its his problem.
So it's basically comes automatic: If a freecop sus'es you, then its abuse. Not for all, but for some.

Yes, some of the regular players actually take advantage of their status (senior in the community) and admins trust them more, this way they avoid freecops' suspection.