Topic

Petty theft with a poopy prior

Nevermind that the most profitable activity in the game is literally scooping shit. What is frustrating me right now is the way the batterflies just drop that brown gold straight to open ground for any wandering dung-burglar to come up and steal!

There I am on a good feeding streak with nobody around, standing in my big pile of turds, when suddenly some butthole (names removed to protect the guilty) enters the street, stops to see my treasure pile, and starts rudely helping himself. I begin to protest that I caught him brown-handed and not to take my stuff. Not a single word of apology comes from behind that shit-eating grin as he quickly leaves the street.

A game built in the spirit of the web, fundamentally flawed by the nature of its players.

Posted 97 days ago by scragz Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • or the expectations of its players?
    Posted 97 days ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That stinks!
    Posted 97 days ago by Mablem Tiipot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ...... as a fellow guano-miner, I too would find this behavior appalling.  Correct me if I'm wrong here, though, but doesn't guano get locked to you if you are standing on (in) it? 

    If it doesn't then that's a problem right there.  It should, theoretically, be locked to the person making it, just like things are locked when we drop them and stand on them.

    My sincerest sympathies, scragz, on the poop-tastic behavior of [name redacted].
    Posted 97 days ago by Grem Sketch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I often worry about this, in my preferred poop-grinding spot. I often have a nice big pile around me as I bang on enter, feeding the batterflies until their faces are stuffed. When I see another glitch approach, I am often worried they'll help themselves, but no one ever has, that I can tell. I'm sorry that someone did that.
    Posted 97 days ago by Aliera Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, this really needs to be looked at. Guano is not locked and I've had the same thing happen feeding batterflies.
    Posted 97 days ago by Lucille Ball Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You feed batterflies and get guano, you have a huge amount out there, someone comes and grabs them? 

    No offense, but you should have picked them up as you were making them. You're level 52 so you have been playing for quite some time. You should have known if someone sees something they want somewhere, they will take it if it's not bolted down. It's been like that since people first started putting stuff down and others swiping it.
    Posted 97 days ago by Some_Random_Guy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ive seen quite high level players stealing guano when it was terribly obvious that folks were there to farm it.

    Dont go making a huge pile, make some, scoop. Repeat.  Dont give someone the chance to be an asshole, because they will do it and not think twice about it.  Thats why they are assholes.
    Posted 97 days ago by ☣ elf ☣ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ah, thanks for the clarification.  I always assumed it was locked.  Will have to be more careful going forward.  If only we had a way of flinging poo at someone trying to horn in on our territory....

    Edit:  it is a sad state of affairs when "don't give people a chance to be an asshole" is the most effective defense we can think of....
    Posted 97 days ago by Grem Sketch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hopefully TS can use the model of sloth spitting to fix this issue, where being close to them puts the product in your bags automatically. Seems like a fairly simple solution, but what do I know. xD
    Posted 97 days ago by Misanthrope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I never let the pile get *too* big but it doubles the collection time to have to pick up each one of the poops as it gets "released". Why can't they just defecate into my open, loving hands? The sloths have it right.
    Posted 97 days ago by scragz Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hopefully TS can use the model of sloth spitting to fix this issue, where being close to them puts the product in your bags 

    you can't not be close to batterflies though, can you?  Personally,  I think you run the risk of stuff being nicked... that's part of the joy of batterfly feeding.  You've got to balance getting into a rhythm and minimising risk of theft
    Posted 97 days ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh, I'm not sure, I don't do it too often. But you're probably right, they fly to you when you click them, right?

    It's just an odd function that you don't really see in the game that much, where an action doesn't result in a product in your bag xD I guess you could see it as a positive, unique to batterflies, but the majority of people seem to think it's a bad thing, so the prospect of changing it seems reasonable at least.
    Posted 97 days ago by Misanthrope Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That's why I pick up my guano almost instantly.

    While we're on the subject, I wouldn't mind an easier way to get guano (sloth style).
    Posted 97 days ago by Electric Wizard Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I do the same thing get a massive pile of guano going but as soon as I see someone else come on the street I start picking it up, don't want anybody snatching my poop.
    Posted 97 days ago by Zwitter Subscriber! | Permalink
  • but the majority of people seem to think it's a bad thing
     

    no, the  majority of people in this thread don't like it because it impedes their collection of something very profitable.  

    I'm sure the majority of people would like it if we could still use Camera Mode to brush foxes,  but we can't. 

    Or that we could still make cheese instantly

    Or that No-No didn't reduce how much img we earn

    Things can't be limitless and endlessly easily,  otherwise there'd be no game, we'd just be imagined and WIN.
    Posted 97 days ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have been wondering if the new Glitch mafia is centred on the guano trade since the herb loopholes were closed. It just makes senses to me that nobody else should be able to take my guano. It would be like someone stepping between me and a pig to grab the meat I just nibbled or sloths and snails or chickens and... you get my point. This has happened to me and generally I figure that a mistake was made, I've done it myself but on some occasions, its clearly intentional. Please prevent other players from stealing my hard earned guano Tiny Speck.
    Posted 97 days ago by Grackle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Huh, well if I see someone farming, I of course leave their obvious pile of poo at their feet alone (and in fact I assumed that was player-locked. It totally should be), but I assume any random plops elsewhere on the street are fair game, as the cantakerous, ill-hygiened creatures do poop all over the place whether one feeds them or not - hope this is acceptable etiquette. 

    FWIW, I despise feeding batterflies, so chances are excellent I'll eventually be the one buying your entire harvest.
    Posted 97 days ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you were harvesting all the trees in a street and leaving the harvest on the floor until you got to the end of the street, then you probably wouldn't be surprised if someone had picked the stuff up before you returned to it.

    When I feed I pick up as I go, as someone entering the street may not realise they are not 'free' random poops.   Sometimes I see 'free' poops and if there is someone nearby I ask them if it's their poop (!) some don't ask though, just grab.
    Posted 97 days ago by Miss Parsley Subscriber! | Permalink
  • New skill, presumably to be made very difficult and/or expensive: the ability to lure a batterfly or 2 to your home street. This would solve the matter pretty well, though I get the devs wanting to have certain plants and animals remain free-range. 
    Posted 97 days ago by Epilady Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the random guano around, so I wouldn't ever want to see that changed. It's a nice surprise like finding a drink or emobear up in the trees.

    That said, I would like it if guano gotten by purposely feeding batterflies would go into your bags or something. I pick up my guano between each feeding (or maybe 2 or 3 if the batterfly doesn't go far and there aren't any people around). I'm just not going to take the chance.
    Posted 97 days ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think I wasn't clear enough before, I would like it if guano I received from feeding batterflies went right into my bag just like all the other things we harvest. I generally pick a single spot to harvest from and do not run around leaving it on the street. The person who took my guano took it from between my feet and there were only 4 or 6 because I usually stop to pick up in between feedings. It would be nice if the change that was made to piggies to allow us to feed them a stack of a crop to get seeds was also done to batterflies. 20 guano for a stack of meat would certainly make the whole thing faster and not having to worry about someone stealing it would be more fun.
    Posted 97 days ago by Grackle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not as fond of the idea of guano going directly into our bags (or feeding in stacks, for that matter), but I do support the idea of it being locked to us.
    Posted 97 days ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • guano is too powerful to be made that easy, in my opinion
    Posted 97 days ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes, you are right, it would be a better idea.  My post was just saying how I think of it, stuff left around (for whatever reason) will disappear.

    There was a bug for a while when the sloths came out, people who ran in front of you when the sloths spat would get your snails.  The one and only time I have lost it on Glitch was when someone did this twice.  Result.  Demure Miss P chasing the offender around two streets and splanking them twice.  I feel embarrased admitting this but it was kind of funny afterwards and my husband was in hysterics as he doesn't often see me annoyed :D  tl;dr, yes, I do understand that its really annoying to have the stuff you are spending time and resources gathering swiped.
    Posted 97 days ago by Miss Parsley Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well, either locked or in the bags would be nice. It doesn't really matter to me which it is. They're the same as far as I'm concerned.

    I'd like stack feeding too, but I don't really expect it to be made that easy, since it's more of a luxury item. It's not that important to me anyway.
    Posted 97 days ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If it went directly into our bags, we would know that the guano sitting on streets is not generated by feeding, so there'd be no confusion.  Of course, I'd rather have a batterfly of my own, fluttering around my yard, cursing my existence.  My current method of guano gathering involves frequent scooping and waiting for other players to go away before I start to feed the bats again.  It's fine for now, but it won't work well as soon as there are more players.
    Posted 97 days ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If this doesn't get changed, we can at least think of how it is easier now with the one-click pick-up (if you don't have the option on, I do recommend turning it on for batterfly feeding - it's very helpful).
    Posted 97 days ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh yea, I do wait for others to go away, as well, glum.

    And yes, it's sooooo much easier with the one click pick-up.
    Posted 97 days ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Guano IS easy, if you know the trick. I can harvest 400 guano in 15 minutes, I timed it earlier this week. But it does mean that it goes on the floor and gets picked up when the batterflies manage to escape my clutches.
    Posted 97 days ago by Aliera Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That is too bad.  May I suggest trying a different approach to this: "" I begin to protest that I caught him brown-handed ""?

    Instead of catching someone or accusing them of taking your stuff, you might consider trying 'notification'.

    I have found that a statement such as 'I just dropped those by mistake' or 'I'm just straightening out my bags' or 'whoops, those were poops I just collected' might get a better response.

    You could also consider following those statements up with something like 'Would you mind returning them?' or 'would you mind returning the ones you picked up from my collection?', although there is no guarantee they will return anything.  And, how could they be sure the exact number they picked up elsewhere compared with the exact number they picked up at your feet?

    I think it could be best to let them keep what they took (to not ask for anything back).  Granted, they probably know that a giant pile of guano at one Glitch's feet is not just stuff that was dropped, but that doesn't mean they aren't willing to stop collecting it once it is pointed out.

    Just my two currants.  It has worked for me in both directions.  When I was very new, someone was surrounded by items of every nature.  I had just figured out you could pick things up off the ground and I really wanted those items, especially the buns.  Buns took a lot of work to make--collect grain, chop it up, then cook up a bun...phew!  The player said in local "I'm just organizing my bags."  That was it, no major explanations, no threats, no accusations.  I said something like OK and went on my way.

    It could work...just saying.
    Posted 97 days ago by Minkey Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 3 or 4 guano is hardly a big pile of turds
    Posted 97 days ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ Miss Parsley - +1 for the splanking. Good on Ya! Always carry a plank.

    +1 for either "locking in" or "direct deposit" for guano. But keep the "random" drops, please.

    It's interesting that when you feed piggies for plops, they aren't locked in or direct deposit. They could be scooped up by another player - but I've never heard of that happening. Perhaps because they aren't as valuable.
    Posted 97 days ago by Patricia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well, that and generally people don't get their piggy plops out in Ur. I'm sure most do it at home, where their crop gardens are. Some probably get them at the community crop gardens, and some probably get them while on other people's streets (like the crop resource routes). It's not the sort of thing you need without a specific "right now" reason or need to stock up so much.
    Posted 97 days ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Quite a long time ago I had piggy plop taken by a passing Glitch. I was young and had just spent every currant I had buying my modest little treehouse in Groddle. I didn't have anything as fancy as backyard pigs and had to get my seeds from wild piggies. Those three tomatoes I lost trying to get seeds for my new garden were a substantial fraction of my worldy goods and I was traumatized. I started feeding piggies furtively, at the ends of dead-end streets, grabbing up the precious plop as fast as possible. I watched the map and if another player appeared I ran for it, looking for another safe location to feed piggies. Eventually I was able to hog-tie a wild piggy for my yard and I never fed pigs in the street again!
    Posted 97 days ago by Lucille Ball Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Guano farming is a lonely business. I have to work like Zwitter and pick up everything right away if there's anyone else on the street. The last time I was gathering guano someone actually came and stood right under the batterfly & me as we were mid-feed, waiting for me to make the brown gold rain down. Talk about yer stinky Glitchen ...
    Posted 97 days ago by Aleph Zero Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I had this happen (just once) and I actually said something to the player and they hadn't realized what was going on and gave it all back. It was surprising and really nice! Not that that is likely to happen every time. Or even often.
    Posted 97 days ago by Pixel Dirigible Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have had that happen before, Aleph. When I notice someone come onto the street, I wait until they pass to start feeding again, but sometimes someone will just come stand on me when they realize I'm probably there to feed. If they stay very long, I'll just go somewhere else for a while.
    Posted 97 days ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh poop.
    Posted 97 days ago by HAVOK PEW SUMMERS Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Did you suggest this in the ideas section?
    yes, it's shitty this happened to you but live and learn eh?!? I regularly see ppl with a big pile of guano at their feet and think how easy it would be to scoop it up (but I don't).

    looks like a game suggestion/idea to me. otherwise you're just looking for sympathy?!?
    Posted 97 days ago by Arietty Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would like to use this opportunity to apologise for once doing this to someone. I was trotting along through a cavern, eyes open for naturally occurring guano. Saw one. There was a glitch standing a few pixels away. I thought, "ooh, grab it before he does!"

    I had 1) momentarily forgotten that you can feed batterflies for guano -- I don't usually bother. 2) momentarily forgotten that the little cartoon screen pictures are real world human beings.

    I was a street away before I noticed the message calling me out as a thief. I tried to apologise, and offered to trade back, but he'd evidently blocked me. I went back to the spot and dropped twice what I'd stolen and have felt awful about it ever since.
    Posted 97 days ago by Omphale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I usually play with the keyboard out in Ur and so I jump to reach things like butterflies or items above me. Once jumped to try and view the info of a player who had lots of Guano at their feet and was asked if I'd just taken their Guano (after they picked all of it back up). Good times.

    To be completely honest, though, in a game where things are fundamentally free to take if they're on the ground, the onus of not... leaving your stuff on the ground where people can take it is entirely on you. Not that it isn't rude to take things from people regardless, or to wreak havoc on people's home streets just because you can (e.g. killing their trees, taking their crops and not replanting, etc) - but still, if there are no rules against looting in place it can't be considered theft per se. Rude as heck, but not quite theft.
    Posted 97 days ago by Makai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A small but significant percentage of players take everything not nailed down. Generally just out of greed / lazyness, but sometimes even to grief another player. So, this is no shock.

    But keeping ones guano just isn't that hard. Don't let a bunch pile up, and when unknown glitchen show up, pause for 30 sec -- those just wanting to scavange will move on, actual farmers with their own feed will set up and go to work. I've had perhaps 0.2% of my guano stolen.

    I'd much prefer TS spend its time rebalancing the cooking recipes (stoot said "soon"!!), or locking down placement in towers, than making guano farming a few % safer.
    Posted 97 days ago by Sturminator IX Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like this thread for the statement "guano is far too powerful..."
    And also for all the in-context swears.

    Gather and guard your black gold while ye may...

    I also agree with Der Sturminator's comments.  Genau, Herr Sturm.
    Posted 96 days ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I sympathize scragz and others who posted. Guano collecting is when I feel least glitchy.

    As soon as someone enters I madly start picking up. Normally with a prempitve hello and "are you going to use the batterfly" or "watcha up to" as I hope and wait for them to leave. Making them uncomfortable with my chattyness. Hoping that yes they see my pile of poop and think of me as a person not as a pile of pixels. For those who say "pick up your poop as you go" you probably havent mastered batterfly control. I can normally feed for 180 poop without stopping. Unless someone walks in or chat gets interesting.

    SIDENOTE: TS, I'd like to feed 1 and pick all as a default...in pretty much all situations. Since we got preferences and all.
    Also, 'spirit of the web' lol the spirit is douchebaggery without consequences...just like here ;)
    Posted 96 days ago by M<3tra, obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I always say "You know you're stealing my poop. That makes you a poop thief :) "

    I've had exactly one person who didn't give me back my poop at that point.

    And that's of the (admittedly a WAG) .2% that was ever in any "danger" anyway. I don't think it's a big deal-- spam Enter until the batterfly gets away, pick up poop while waiting for the next one. 

    Just my $,02, 

    --Me
    Posted 96 days ago by SchWM Subscriber! | Permalink