Today we’re going to explore the unfair business practices of GaiaOnline. This is not unfamiliar territory to me, as I used to be employed by an equally nefarious company of the same nature, with a GM team that was just as thick-headed and small-brained.
I liked (past-tense) GaiaOnline, first of all, because it was cute. It was a social hang out place for kids and teens, but I didn’t do much socializing there. Probably because I’m 27 and not a kid. I just liked dressing up my avatar (just like Second Life, only more cartoony/anime) and maybe do some character portraits for people. I wanted a character portrait of my own avi, so I set up an art contest.
I had done it before, and it ended well, and everything. This is done in the forums section of their website.
After a while, I decide to set up another art contest, but some times goes by and I don’t get too many interested parties. I think I had three entries after two months, and just decided to cancel the contest and give those three entrants all equal prizes of Monthly Collectible envelopes that I have a bunch of.
I thought I made it clear that the contest was canceled, and that was my mistake that I readily admit to. I don’t log into Gaia for another six months or so.
After that period of time, I get a message saying my account was banned for scamming. Scamming!? Me???
As it turns out, the art contest had been left open, and people entered, and complained at my lack of response, and so on. The problem is that I was never contacted about it. I was “PMed” (Private Messaged) via the website, but no one sent me an email outside of the website to tell me there was a problem. And then I was banned, and now their policy says that I need to remain banned instead of dealing with these disgruntled people.
So, I think their business practice is thoughtless and base by not having contacted me directly prior to the banning, and after trying to get through to their GM team about the issue where I wasn’t actually contacted, they remain stubborn with their decision.
GaiaOnline is a website for children, and they’ll treat you like one even if you aren’t. It’s not worth the trouble anymore, and so I’m writing here to partly vent and partly warn.
It’s upsetting to know you’ve been banned like some criminal when you really haven’t done anything wrong.
GaiaOnline. You suck.
