Hope this is ok here, but I have recently attempted to comprise a list of commonly-seen errors/ban messages for those "I have a VAC ban" threads where users have no ban visible on the profile, and it sometimes takes them a page or two to post the message they are seeing.

This is maybe confusing to them or somehow they don't understand, as they often take so long to post the message. So I have made a list to maybe cut down on that and hopefully help them and the forum users to cause less stress and frustration in asking for the message.

Here it is so far. I am trying to keep it short for less confusion, but feel free to suggest any additinos and also, copy and paste this as you wish, to maybe help anyone in such a situation.

Pick the exact message or "ban" from the list below, please. DO NOT guess, if you are unsure.

1. "VAC was unable to verify your game session"
2. "Disconnected by VAC - You cannot play on VAC secured servers"
3. "Global Cooldown - Majorly Disruptive"
4. "Global Cooldown - Minorly Disruptive"
5. "Global Cooldown - This account is permanently untrusted"
6. "You have launched the game in insecure mode"
7. "You have been banned from this server"

If somehow it is none of the above, then post what you saw in exact words instead.

I brought this up to the good Spawn of Totoro the other day. I asked that even though much effort was taken to get the requirement from posting to searching changed, was there any way we could maybe just suggest to get the requirement totally removed about the forums ?

I get the value in attracting people to the community, and also, showing them there is a way to search discussions, which is very valuable unto itself.....(we all know if people used the forum search more, many things could be answered without more threads on the same topic/question).

But still, I totally agree, as it seems to be getting worse again, the spam posting and it being their first post.

Spawn just told me there were outdated guides still around that still state "posting" insteald of "searching", and that at this point, it would not matter much anyway to suggest to have it removed....people would still spam.

I wonder if there is not a better way to attract users to the community forums and teach them there is a search feature, but surely Valve already considered other possibilities.

I don't really mind much the random posts here and there, but when they actually create a thread, that is totally inconsiderate of others needing help or having legitimate discussions, as well as making more work for the moderators in the forums to clean up. Those threads take up needed space where a user could have a thread getting help instead.

Just my two cents, guys. Thanks.

Thanks, Boss. That is excellent advice. I know I can also use at least a little 'user moderation' myself with my replies there. I try to not do that either, give attitude unless they insult others or lie as you mentioned.

It's great to be reminded though, as you just did above. I do appreciate that.

So if this is ok and on topic here with this thread, I would like some help/opinions from you guys if you will. If not, I will happily delete it and apologize for being off topic. Seems relevant to helping in the VAC forum, as we always want to give the correct information, and pass that on.

This thread I am linking my reply from came up just recently....and here is my reply to it....

http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/discussions/forum/9/1458455461488512365/#c1458455461489016568

So the trading and market restrictions page does not get specific about what game the VAC ban applies to. It seems clear that any VAC ban will result in the restriction.

VAC Ban

If a VAC Ban, cooldown or overwatch ban has been registered on your account, you will no longer have access to the CS:GO store, or be able to make trades for CS:GO items, and you will no longer receive item drops.

Steam Support cannot remove a VAC ban.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1047-edfm-2932#vac

However, another user there seems to say otherwise, and that he/she gets item drops for CSGO still, even with a VAC ban on record.

Is the support page wrong, or am I missing something ?

BossGalaga and The Great Escape...you guys are too kind. I am humbled by your posts, and have actually said the same about you both. The good Boss seems to be very good at finding evidence of their "stories" being untrue, among other VAC investigative talents he has.

The Great Escape.....I have told you before how I thought you have a very well-worded and structured posting style. I can understand your feelings as of late, as to what you mentioned above. I have felt the same way.

This group, as well as friends in it, will help us all to be better forum users..no doubt. This group was a great idea. I hope I can contribute value here.

Another good thing about the powerful Vampiric entity guarding the realms of the dark side (VAC forum) is that those "get rekt" users posting that unproductive nonsense are dealt with if they really become a problem. I am glad to see that.

And interestingly enough, those posts are misinformation, as sorts. Because as we know, not every user that has a VAC banned account is an actual cheater. It's hard to get the right information passed on sometimes, as you can be quickly attacked and labeled a defender of cheaters because of people's short-sightedness.

But that is how it is when one tries to be the light-bringer and simply try to tell the facts. Sometimes they are the ones persecuted against more than the cheaters themselves. Thanks for reading.

Originally posted by BossGalaga:

It's a classic but should only be used in extreme cases of stupidity. :P

Exactly, and its not like those are in short supply in some cases, right ? LOL

Just kidding......

But yes, to keep the value of that one high, only to be used in extreme cases.

This has got to be my favorite one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0

Originally posted by BossGalaga:

What gets me is that there's a thread on the VAC forum right now titled, "What is VAC, and why cant I play CSGO" and I don't understand how so many people can post threads like this when the VAC information thread is pinned at the top of the forum and before creating a thread, you have to be blind not to see the pinned thread. It's mind-boggling. :/

I totally agree, good Boss.

You know what I think "some" of it is ?

These days, texting is the new "in" thing. Even when a phone call would take literally seconds, some people would rather type on a tiny keypad and text a message that takes minutes sometimes to do. Sure there are times when this is better than a phone call.

Point is, I think some people just like to type and get the attention and being "cool" to make a thraed. I think it sometimes is literally as simple as that. They just want to post something. Sure, places like "off topic" would be better, but there you get just simple posts and not a real discussion on anything of value sometimes.

Just my thinking. Thanks.

Originally posted by BossGalaga:

Sometimes, the best thing to do is just give them the standard/relevant support link and let them figure it out themselves, especially if they're flaming people because they don't like the answers.

That is mostly the problem that we all know about, getting to read the information. I mean, just imagine a thread that goes like this...

"I have read the pinned thread on VAC bans and all the linked pages from that one, too. I have some questions, please......" (questions follow)

Just imagine how that would be. Of course, I am only talking about the ones that don't really understand the cause, and not the ones only trying to worm their way out of the VAC ban.

Thanks again, guys. I don't want to take up too much of this thread but appreciate the support and friendship in the community very much.

Originally posted by The Giving One:

I have a feeling that his ban wasn't due to sharing though.

That's the thing...he admitted to sharing the "profile" when it had only one game on it, and with a friend.

I then asked him to use the VAC Wizard link to check if it was family sharing or phone number sharing. When that showed it was neither, I told him it would have said so if those were either of the causes. Then he said something like all VAC ban messages are the same and I had no idea what I was talking about.

Surely he meant "account" because he kept calling it a "profile" and of course the reference to having a game means it was an account. Then when I mentioned account sharing on the side, after answering on topic with the VAC ban, it went a bit sideways from there.

My main thing is, I let all the misunderstanding get the better of me, trying to reply before knowingly the thread would be locked at any moment.

So what you guys said here will help me to adjust in the future. This group and this thread were great ideas. Thanks.