Blizzard is "Definitely Listening" to Real ID Feedback

[Psydney]

"Players can continue to read the forums anonymously regardless of whether they choose to post in them."

This reminds me of a Barbie doll fracas some years back, when a new series of talking Barbies said, among other things, "Math is hard!" Some mothers weren't happy having that particular lesson drummed into their daughters; when they requested a different talking doll they were told that it was too hard to guarantee a doll that didn't include that phrase but...they were more than welcome to exchange it for a doll that didn't talk at all.

Don't like it? Be silent then. Anyone else find that a little...disturbing?

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Someone needs to take a little time-out. See, a company can do whatever they want on their own forums. Much like we can request that you maintain a polite and respectful attitude when debating no matter the issue, particularly when speaking to staff.

You probably should've just trimmed out what you didn't read.

If you'd read my post, you'd realize you just fell into the same pattern described near the end of it.

Not to mention... that whole "trolling = whatever I don't like" thing. If Andy Chalk were a troll, I would've made his fucking week with that post.

Thats just a couple reasons why this issue is idiotic.

Now, precedence, ideas. If it was some small forum in the middle of nowhere talking about this, no issue. Except its blizzard. Even if only 1% of their subscriber/user base posts on the official forums, thats, at the very least 100,000 people. Meaning its larger than this place likely will ever be (thank god). The fact people are even considering this is problematic. Its like the internet's own version of the patriot act. Remove established rights for the sake of combating a very, very small group of people who will, in the end, simply circumvent any sort of additional countermeasures. Especially if they realize "john smith" makes them essentially undetectable.

Also, you should really get out of the habit of threatening anyone who tears into your employees. You aren't moderators being attacked for moderation issues, you're editorialists posting opinion.

 

[John Funk]

Someone needs to take a little time-out. See, a company can do whatever they want on their own forums. Much like we can request that you maintain a polite and respectful attitude when debating no matter the issue, particularly when speaking to staff.

You probably should've just trimmed out what you didn't read.

If you'd read my post, you'd realize you just fell into the same pattern described near the end of it.

Not to mention... that whole "trolling = whatever I don't like" thing. If Andy Chalk were a troll, I would've made his fucking week with that post.

Thats just a couple reasons why this issue is idiotic.

Now, precedence, ideas. If it was some small forum in the middle of nowhere talking about this, no issue. Except its blizzard. Even if only 1% of their subscriber/user base posts on the official forums, thats, at the very least 100,000 people. Meaning its larger than this place likely will ever be (thank god). The fact people are even considering this is problematic. Its like the internet's own version of the patriot act. Remove established rights for the sake of combating a very, very small group of people who will, in the end, simply circumvent any sort of additional countermeasures. Especially if they realize "john smith" makes them essentially undetectable.

Oh, I read the whole thing. My comment had nothing to do with the context of what you were saying and everything to do with your tone. If Andy had been a troll, maybe you would have. But he is not, and that sort of tone is against our forum guidelines.

Disagree all you want, but be polite about it. Recognize that your opinions are not the end-all-be-all of the world, and that maybe, just maybe someone might hold a view contrary to yours, but that doesn't make them a troll.

I'm not going to repeat myself, because this has nothing to do with the discussion at hand - and everything to do with how you're discussing it. Argument over.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Oh, I read the whole thing. My comment had nothing to do with the context of what you were saying and everything to do with your tone. If Andy had been a troll, maybe you would have. But he is not, and that sort of tone is against our forum guidelines.

Disagree all you want, but be polite about it. Recognize that your opinions are not the end-all-be-all of the world, and that maybe, just maybe someone might hold a view contrary to yours, but that doesn't make them a troll.

I'm not going to repeat myself, because this has nothing to do with the discussion at hand - and everything to do with how you're discussing it. Argument over.

Awesome. Now you're repeating the core of my arguments back to me while claiming to have read my post.

*scratches head*

Thing is, there is no discussion here. Theres "oh I have nothing to worry about *posts real name* ooo I'm being progressive!" then people against it. Thats frustrating, to say the least. Especially when the initial article contains a completely inflammatory/polarized/trollish blurb. Then people are threatened for reacting in turn.

Trolling isn't nearly as widespread as anyone likes to think it is. People are just shitty. Removed from the threat of physical repercussion, they get shittier. I'll laugh when this turns the blizzard forums into a ghost town. I'll laugh it gets applied elsewhere.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Well you can't change the name on your account, but luckily I'm not an idiot and never use my real name for that kind of thing. Obviously Blizzard was going to use your personal information to make money at some point.

 

[ItsAPaul]

If they're still going forward with the idea, they really aren't. Like I've said, they might as well just axe the forums and save money than use this idea.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Sorry, Blizzard, but it's going to take more than just "listening" in this case to satisfy your community. It's going to take you reversing your decision....and we are still waiting.

I honestly, truly hope Blizzard is wise enough to reverse this. If not...well, I'd rather not think of the consenquences.

 

[Lucifron]

Oh I'm sure they're listening, just like they listened to us when they yanked LAN for SC2. Tsk.

 

[BboyTeddyBear]

time to start a business revolved around searching people's information for them to find any tidbits regarding their name so that they can go to that place and try and remove it

 

[Shilkanni]

I don't think it's a good move but...

I am pretty sure they know it will massively reduce the traffic (down to <5% of what it is now) on the official forums and I think they're okay with that.

 

[Treblaine]

Bullshit, I am defending the completely defensible (not actually, just admitting my opinions are divided because I can see pros and cons - is that 'defending' these days?), because as you seem to have forgotten it is their forum and their rules. This is like a dress code at a restaurant: If you want to wear shorts and flipflops, you can get the food to go, you just can't sit down and eat. They can set whatever rules they goddamn want. If we made it so that everyone posting had to have an avatar praising Barack Obama, and barred everyone else, that would be our prerogative and everybody else would be perfectly free to go elsewhere.

As I said, anyone who refuses to believe that there could be positives to this, or who refuses to believes that there could be negatives to this, is willfully deluding themselves one way or another and has some sort of an agenda to push.

I fail to see how it is a completely different environment. It is an environment for people to discuss game-related issues, and I use it as a source for news posts here somewhat often.

I don't want to get into all of my arguments right now (for and against) because it's monday's column but really. Let's rein in the raging hyperbole and look at this seriously and rationally. This doesn't just go for you, but for everyone.

(I hoped you'd see the lighter side of all the legal speak and not take it literally... certainly not get offended)

The "it's their forum, they can do what they like" is a TERRIBLE argument as it's just saying that because it is possible then it is permissible when no reasonable logic follows that rationale.

I have already explained (and many others in MUCH greater detail) that this is not just "some other forum", this forum is the CORE of Blizzard's community. It is where changes are discussed, where players meet, the tactics are debated but most of all in the comfort of their adopted persona. This world they don't take to work, into the rest of their lives and the rest of their lives cannot get in.

They cannot go elsewhere if they want to have the same community and interaction with Blizzard developers and staff. And if they did all leave it would cripple the community. This is a BAD IDEA! Actually, can it even be classified as an idea? Idea implies a certain amount of intelligence and foresight, this has to be an accident, a colossal fuck up caused by an edict by someone who should never have been given decision power in this matter - as like a monkey pulling random switches in a nuclear power plant - they have no idea what they are doing.

Worst of all this sets a precedent, like so many other things Activision-Blizzard will be tempted to expand it if they don't meet enough resistance and other companies may follow suit. We NEED to nip this in the bud, it is an irrelevant conversation talking about the benefits when they cannot possibly outweigh the negatives.

John Funk (if that is you real name), you have been a great contribution to The Escapist as to spite being really annoying at times you really should be commended for so reliably taking up pariah causes. I believe you defended IW's abandonment of Dedicated Servers? You really force us to narrow down EXACTLY WHY we object to these things.

You're still wrong of course.

But your spirited defence only forces us to make our arguments to be even more sound.

[sub]I hope you don't see me as aggressively confrontational, this just friendly banter to me[/sub]

 

[Kandon Arc]

Do people still believe this policy is about removing trolls? I hope not. It's increasingly obvious, from statements from both Blizzard and Activision, that this is preparing the way for full facebook integration. And if you think that this is going to end at the forums, then I'm willing to bet that you'll be surprised down the road.

 

[Wicky_42]

Well, and in game chat, if what I discern through the corporate double-speak is accurate. Oh, and presumably if you add anyone as a friend. Or maybe if someone else views your friend list. Maybe you'll still have a profile on the forum, much like I appear to have about a thousand WarCry pages despite never knowingly having used that part of the site, just as part of creating the BattleNet account to play online.

No, in-game chat and friending are both still completely intact without RealID. You won't be able to speak to your SC2 playing friend while you're in Icecrown Citadel without it, but you can still play the game.

Ah, I see. So it's for Blizzard's unified service, rather than in-game systems? What about friends list - I mean, I presume that there are community features beyond cross-game chat - how far will that potentially spread your RealID? What other personally identifiable information will be linked to this?

 

[Mr.Kitetsu]

they shouldn't of done in the first place
idiots

 

[Treblaine]

Someone needs to take a little time-out. See, a company can do whatever they want on their own forums. Much like we can request that you maintain a polite and respectful attitude when debating no matter the issue, particularly when speaking to staff.

And if not, you aren't welcome here.

Funny how that works.

Wow... you ACTUALLY use the "we can do whatever we want in our company" as JUSTIFICATION!!!!

"Fuck the Privacy of our fans, I'm a big shot and I wanna copy Facebook for the big money"

(Just because you can... doesn't mean you should)

 

[yoyo13rom]

Fake sounding names? So if your name is ACTUALLY Jack Mehoff, then your screwed?

They probably use the "search phone book, and call said X and ask him if he plays Wow, telling him there may be a shiny new weapon for him is does" method. It never fails. + After 2-3 searches I think they can call it a day.

 

[Keava]

Someone needs to take a little time-out. See, a company can do whatever they want on their own forums. Much like we can request that you maintain a polite and respectful attitude when debating no matter the issue, particularly when speaking to staff.

And if not, you aren't welcome here.

Funny how that works.

Oh. John, as much as i would prefer to discuss all the difference between us in how we see some companies, Blizzard especially, with a beer at a pub i must strongly disagree with that statement.

Sure in theory a company can do whatever they want on their playground, but you must also realize that companies don't pull out money out of their... hats. Every action of a big company, especially one that is present on the stock market has to always take in account how their action will be seen by wider public.

You know how some sportswear corporations get bashed every now and then for using the factories where children get forced to work? You know how Google was bashed for not opposing the Chinese government when it came to censoring searches? Every action provokes reaction. Being a company that provides service to wide community, you have to consider the community's well-being, because in the end, it is them who feed you. Cross some lines and you may fall very quickly.

Forums are one of the tools that let's you build an image of your business. It is in best interest of any company to moderate them as well as it is possible. You can't exactly make it your personal playground and play god, because it will hurt your image. At best case scenario you won't be able to lure in new customers as easily, at worst - you may start loosing big part of your current ones.
You are expected to provide safe and pleasant environment for those using your service, you don't really have any right to force them to be like you, maybe they suffer from cases of paranoia, maybe they had bad experiences with their personal info being revealed, maybe they want to hide from someone from their past that hurt them. You don't know it, but you should always assume the worst case scenarios. It is called responsibility.

As many people already said i won't accept the argument "You may just not use the forums", because i had several experiences with Blizzards customer support. While some things could be handled easily in game in case of restoring items/character or through e-mail in case of restoring my password, whenever you submit a bug report or have a technical issue you will be pointed to forums, you can't count on answer through e-mail or phone. And that's not even the community building, which should be the priority from what i understand from Blizzards talk. They want to tighten the community while pretty much forcing out a part of it.

EDIT: Seeing as you are quite on the benefits weighting on this topic, John, consider this thing: Even a single person having issues because of such decision renders all the possible benefits irrelevant. No amount of trolls removed from b.net forums is worth one honest customer getting hurt.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I wonder if the other Raoul Moat's in the UK really want to have their real name on the WoW forums.