Blizzard Nixes Plans to Require Real Names

[The_root_of_all_evil]

What about people who simply want increased accountability online? I've seen more than a few of them.

I'd be more interested to know why they want that level of accountability. People here know me under this name and anything I say that's offensive is often picked up by others. That solves that part. My IP address will denote me trying to use a different name.

To take an example from here, would any of our known trolls be any better if they had their real name? I sincerely doubt it. In fact, it might even be a proving point.

However, would certain other people feel fearful that their real life could be invaded by their alternate life online? Almost certainly. Even if you have no reason to fear real-life reprisal, the fear is still there; especially if you are a vulnerable group of society.

Thirdly, how are Blizzard even going to check if it's their real name? How many people are going to get banned purely because their name sounds made up - or that the name is actually of the credit card holder, and the 13 year old swearing from behind it isn't actually MajorieThompson.

And finally, what happens to those people with unfortunate names? I don't believe any of the other Raoul Moats or Michael Ryans or Mohammeds actually want their inbox piling up with hatemail.

For the few cases of troll-removal, this would cause huge disadvantages to those that prefer their online life separate to their real life. A clear case of using a bazooka to kill cockroaches.

 

[Fearzone]

I host a website about mountain biking where my actual name and city I live in, and also email, is available to all, and no biggie, only good things have come from it. Gaming isn't generally regarded as mountain biking though, I'm just being real, and what games I play and when is not something I choose to share.

 

[Beastialman]

Dang, now who will know my name is Smith Smithyson.

 

[Kelethor]

you stopped digging your hole blizzard, and i'm proud of you for it.

 

[Dastardly]

I think it's a bit disingenuous to assume that everybody who is for it is either in a conflict of interest or missing information. That poisons any potential debate before it can even start. "Either you're against it, you're biased, or you're ignorant" isn't a very healthy starting point.

What about people who simply want increased accountability online? I've seen more than a few of them.

While I'm in agreement that it's a bad way to define the terms of disagreement, I think there are some bits of information that are being missed here.

Making a tool available in no way guarantees correct use of that tool. Every tool that you give the "legitimate users" is also made available to the trolls. When that tool is something like an IGNORE button, that's fine. When that tool is PERSONAL INFORMATION, there's a problem.

See, you can use that name to identify trolls across games, yes. That makes it useful to the legitimate user. But now, anyone who wants to troll you (but doesn't want to risk forum exposure) can now use your ACTUAL name to find new ways to do it. Potentially worse, they'd have access to the names of PARENTS who are account holders for their children. And to top it all off, the troll can get that information without having to GIVE the same--I don't have to reply to your post, I just have to not like you enough to use your name to find you in some way, and I can snipe from the shadows of anonymity.

Basically, it's your classic double-edged sword. This forces you to ask "Can the GOOD that can be done with this tool possibly outweigh the EVIL that can be done?" I'd say not. If ONE PERSON has their identity stolen or their personal lives messed with because of an in-game grudge, and that tampering was the result of information gained by knowing their real name, the whole system needs to be shut down.

The desire for more accountability is a noble one, to be sure. Uniting all of a person's activity under a FORUM NAME is fine. Their REAL NAME doesn't need to enter into the public arena, nor does their account name or personal e-mail address. Any misbehavior on Blizzard property can be instantly traced back to that account, and steps can be taken. The offended party has all the same protections this "real name fiasco" hoped to provide, but without having to expose themselves to unjust retaliation.

Cryptic already does this with STO and Champions. It's super-easy to spot someone and take care of business. Just copy the good idea and move along.

 

[Drejer43]

YES!!
I can still be a jerk.

Not that I want too, but its nice to have the option you know.


Also I wouldn't mind reading that column John

 

[Nazz3]

Would it have been that bad? You could have just typed any name you want...

 

[Keava]

Would it have been that bad? You could have just typed any name you want...

Not if you signed up with a real name those 5 years ago. You would have to call them, and ask through their phone billing service to change your personal info, not to mention you then loose any opportunity to recover your account if it would get hacked.

Not to mention it would render the whole deal even more useless in the first place...

 

[zehydra]

I'm surprised at the amount of people here who seem to be against online anonymity. Why are you all so eager to give up such an incredible power?

I'm tired of acting scared of the internet and its 'ills'. I wanted to see the Real ID experiment carried out and see the results.

I'm not afraid of my own name.
My name is Scott Gillan and I approve this message.

It's not about being afraid of your name, it's about being afraid of people being able to find you. You from Ohio?

 

[Ne1butme]

I'm surprised at the amount of people here who seem to be against online anonymity. Why are you all so eager to give up such an incredible power?

I'm tired of acting scared of the internet and its 'ills'. I wanted to see the Real ID experiment carried out and see the results.

I'm not afraid of my own name.
My name is Scott Gillan and I approve this message.

It's not about being afraid of your name, it's about being afraid of people being able to find you. You from Ohio?

Nope, not ohio, just 49 more states or several hundred more countries to go until you guess correctly.

 

[MDSnowman]

Listen, this is like limiting the right to free speech because some people use it to spew racist/sexist/homophobic crap.

Yes, some people abuse the anonymity of the internet, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to give up their anonymity as a result. People should be allowed to have their anonymity on the internet.

The solution here is for Blizzard to hire more moderators for their forums. If they were patrolled liked some forums were, and people trolling on level 1 alts knew they risked getting their accounts put on probation or suspended there would be nothing to talk about here. The only reason you see some people willing to throw away their anonymity is because the Blizzard forums are the seven level of hell. Fix that fact by moderating the forums better and you won't need to infringe on anyone's privacy.

 

[Calatar]

Second, don't you think that seeing people canceling subscriptions is, in fact, getting feedback from the community? "People are so strongly against this that they're canceling their subscription" is in fact the strongest negative feedback anyone could possibly give. I think that's definitely listening to the community.

It's listening to the sound of money, that's for sure. Corporations don't just do the right thing unless that factor is involved. Can't say for sure, but I speculate that Blizzard wouldn't have changed its policy if it didn't affect its profits or PR. Case in point: Starcraft 2 LAN. Outcry, but no change in plans. (Not nearly as big of a deal either, but it's an example of NOT listening to the community when it isn't profitable for them to do so.)

How much credit does Blizzard deserve for doing the right thing by stopping the wrong thing they were doing, but only because they would lose money if they kept doing it?

 

[Lemon Of Life]

Good. I don't use the forums, but my name is unique, as far as I know, and if I used it anyone could easily track me down, which I wouldn't be comfortable with.

 

[Sartan0]

There are other issues involving WoW as I understand it. Something to do with real account name information being exposed to add-ons already.

This is not over.

http://www.wow.com/2010/07/06/security-flaw-allows-addons-to-expose-full-real-life-names-witho/

Ah, this is what I was thinking of.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Sweet, I can go back to buying Starcraft 2 again.

 

[T3chn0s1s]

I like all of the sudden, "Blah blah vocal minority" stuff going on here. I don't think major news sources slamming you really constitutes a vocal minority thing anymore. "Protection Paladins shouldn't have crusader strike in cataclysm, don't base line it" is more a vocal minority issue. Heck, there have been no fewer than four major discussions on the escapist alone about this.

Oh well.

I'm glad they saw reason, and hope that while they're backpedaling they take the time to read through and go, "Holy shit, they're right! Steam, Impulse, Gamespy, Mplayer, Heat... All of these social gaming outlets have done what we're wanting to do but with a username! Screw being innovative, let's just go for what WORKS and doesn't get us all sued when a murder voids our EULA!"

 

[Uber Waddles]

Fuck the Blizzard Forums. Honestly, that would've been a great idea. This decision practically supports John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad theory.

Lets put this in a hypothetical sence.

HYPOTHETICALLY, I am a famouse musician for a band most people on these forums have probably heard of. Now, I have no problem HYPOTHETICALLY addressing my hordes of adoring fans, but after a while it gets tiresome. When I log onto WoW, its to have fun. Not spend 6 hours wading through fan-mail and having people aggrivate me.

HYPOTHETICALLY, I just broke up with my CRAZY girlfriend, who knows I play WoW. Im not looking foward to the threats I'm going to recieve.

HYPOTHETICALLY, someone I hate plays the game; they can annoy me now.

HYPOTHETICALLY, I get in an arguement; you post my Name on an Internet forum and I get harassed.

I could go on... Some people want to be annonymous. Its the appeal of the internet; you can say whatever without backlash; for better or worse. Personally, I know people who play WoW that I dont wanna associate with, I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

Moderaters decrease trolls; this just was SCREAMING Abuse in some way

 

[Valencrow]

Honestly I'm happy blizzard listened to it's fans.
I'll admit that there was only one logical reason for opposing Real ID. The fact that some employers won't hire WoW players.
Personal I don't care who knows I'm a WoW player and prominently display it on my face-book,but if I did care what others think about my hobbies I would feel the same way they did. Until being a WoW player has no effect on your livelihood Real ID has to be optional.

Still It would have been nice to finally be rid of all the trolls. How much you wanna bet they are actually middle managers.

( to any who doubt http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/88188-Job-Recruiters-Told-Not-to-Hire-WoW-Players
)

 

[zehydra]

I'm surprised at the amount of people here who seem to be against online anonymity. Why are you all so eager to give up such an incredible power?

I'm tired of acting scared of the internet and its 'ills'. I wanted to see the Real ID experiment carried out and see the results.

I'm not afraid of my own name.
My name is Scott Gillan and I approve this message.

It's not about being afraid of your name, it's about being afraid of people being able to find you. You from Ohio?

Nope, not ohio, just 49 more states or several hundred more countries to go until you guess correctly.

damn. No you're american, I know that much. Lol, how about, Illinois, Indiana?