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Blizzard Entertainment is about to undergo a pretty interesting social experiment with its rabid users. The acclaimed developer is going to force message board users to list their real names alongside their pseudonyms, starting with StarCraft II and eventually rolling into World of Warcraft and Blizzard's classic games. On the forums, at least, anonymity is no longer going to be an option.
It's worth reading Blizzard's lengthy explanation behind their decision, which is tied to their Real ID system. Real ID is an optional feature in the newly updated Battle.net that introduces additional social features, such as cross-game chat. It's also going to become a requirement for forum posting.
Here's the crux of Blizzard's argument:
"The official forums have always been a great place to discuss the latest info on our games, offer ideas and suggestions, and share experiences with other players -- however, the forums have also earned a reputation as a place where flame wars, trolling, and other unpleasantness run wild. Removing the veil of anonymity typical to online dialogue will contribute to a more positive forum environment, promote constructive conversations, and connect the Blizzard community in ways they haven’t been connected before. With this change, you’ll see blue posters (i.e. Blizzard employees) posting by their real first and last names on our forums as well."
As someone who's worked towards dismantling their Internet nicknames in favor of, um, my real one over the past few years and as a reporter that deals with commentators often (sometimes frustratingly) hiding behind an Internet veil, I'm quickly tempted to applaud this decision, hoping it will cause people to think a little bit before spitting venomous rhetoric. At the same time, I understand the privacy implications, especially as it relates to identity theft and the unfair targeting of female users.
Thanks to Facebook, Twitter and other socials services, we live in a world that's going increasingly public. There's public pressure to make your ideas and activities public. This is simply an extension of that. Are forums the first step towards a similar approach in Blizzard's own game worlds?
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Uldum
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/2 0100707
a comic that makes fun, basically saying real trolls will still troll, guess we will find out.
IMO this won't stop "trolling" or "flaming" and instead perhaps fuel targets for them. A blizzard employee already challenged the forums with this resulted with his personal info appearing on 4chan and all over the WoW forums within minutes.
What this WILL STOP is CONSTRUCTIVE threads/post from happening from 18+ years old that want to be open to a job in the near future. Employers do in fact google/pipl search potential employees to learn more about them. And the sad truth is not all employers see gaming as a plus, even if the search leads to all constructive helpful well thought out and written posts. This change will effectively put any gamer that posts on the first page of a google search. We all can't have a dream job like Patrick were having gaming and contributing to an online community as a hobbies is seen as a definite plus. -this is the reason why I will not be posting on any Blizzard forum after the change is put into place. You can argue they still won't know for sure that is me, sure, but that thought will be in the back of their mind when they review my application.
Protadin
If a trolled person gets pissed off enough, what would stop them from (as we've established) tracking said person down and say, ending their existence? We're all aware of the different triggers that cause mental stress, anger, etc., and the wild lengths people can and will go to get revenge or have a fantasy realized.
I don't even use my real last name on Facebook, and that's for friends. So. I'm really not liking this idea.
Sorry, to say, it had better be an option, and NOT forced on us. If not, I suppose those of us that don't want psychopaths at our doorsteps will not use your Forum services.
Just because someone has a real name, doesn't mean the trolls and conflict are gonna just disappear, not even over time. It's never ending. Just as there are vehicles driving on the highways, there are trolls trolling on the internet. Stop trying to be a hero and save us all, when we don't need saving.
SarcasmoJones
I doubt that breaking anonymity for all will solve anything and could produce real-world consequences for virtual differences of opinions. I think that this is a dangerous move on Blizzard's part.
polyestersunshine
As a female player, I try to keep my gender hidden to cut down on harassment. It can be pretty brutal, and I really don't like the whole full name thing. It's pretty creepy to get facebook friend invites from creepers who find out you're a girl playing a "man's game". Now I'm afraid they won't just be spamming my facebook, but my doorstep too.
shiro11
I find it funny that Blizzard is basically using the excuse that this is for stopping trolls and spammers when in reality it's them trying to make all their products into Facebook 2.0. Which isn't surprising since that they just signed a deal with Facebook.
People have said for awhile that Activision is making the rules now at Blizzard and now I finally believe it.
BentFish
I apologize for adding a link to another website in this comment post but it is extremely relevant. Recently a Blizzard employee decided to support the decision and posted his real name and this was the result.
http://wowriot.gameriot.com/ blogs/Americans-are-bad-at-gam es/Real-Names-on-the-Official- Forums-New-REAL-ID-function?gr _i_ni
It should also be noted that after this happened, he locked down his facebook account and changed the default profile picture. There are also accounts on the original forum post stating that people are calling him to send a message that RealID is a terrible idea and I couldn't agree more. I don't want this happening to me or any of my friends.
I want to play Starcraft 2 and I want to play this game with people. I have no intention of marrying any of them and have no need to know any ones real name. RealID on the forums is a HORRIBLE idea and has made it so that I will never post on the Blizzard forums again.
Zrow89
kind of reminds me of the good ole days in the news... where a source HAD to have a name and credibility..... now news casters and reporters can make up anything and say it came from "a source in the wherever." People gotta take responsibility for what they say. I'm for it.. maybe not EVERYONE being able to see a full name... maybe just moderators and the blizzard employees themselves... because it does only show up when it's a response to them anyway.
vaajtswv
Time to create a imaginary brother and borrow his account.
Timcago
Starcraft 2 Beta final phase is up and running!
Apsalus07
This is colossally stupid. Starcraft is the most competitive video game ever made. Have you seen videos of Koreans playing this game for 45 minutes straight performing 400-500 clicks per minute? They're drenched with sweat at the end.
What is your opponent just happens to be a sore loser? A sore loser pissed enough to come to your house and kill you over what he may perceive as cheating?
westpusher
Just skimmed through the Terms of Use for Blizzard's Battle.net accounts\forum use and what do you know. Nothing against the rules about disclosing your real identity in fact it is an option they offer. In addition to this I did manage to catch all the parts detailing the fact that you have no claim and no ownership over said account.
That being said, I honestly think that this is another case of people not knowing and not caring what is actually taking place. Instead, they desire to be engaged and upset about something so they will pursue this until Blizzard cuts them off. There is nothing wrong with what Blizzard has done as long as you don't mind being responsible for what you say directly to a Blizzard employee or someone else replying to the post. It does not have to be tied to your account or characters. The consideration for minority and female characters is that you will all be treated the same way by the company. If you think this is unfair then unfortunately you are under the impression that Blizzard should isolate you or give you more anonymity because you either are not white or male. Isn't it fun when people say sexism and racism is in the past but, when you put people on even ground they go straight back to it.
I seriously never thought I would hear female players being upset that other players might find out that they are female and they are afraid of being victimized, apparently I am naive. Best way to fight being stalked is to show that you are not confident that you have protected yourself enough to avoid it. Better yet, hide behind a mask of concern for players whose ethnicity may be considered a "minority".
Humanity really has not moved very far beyond mob mentality. Then again the "Tea Party" they had in Wasington D.C. was a fine example of that.
Anarok
I think this is a decision that has not considered female or minority players.
CH1CK3NCH4S3R
this is such a bad idea, its going to be wows downfall. the blizzard forums have exploded ever since they announced this, maybe 1 in 20 people think its a good idea. Only a few hours after the blizzard moderator posted his real name, people tracked down his ful address, postal code and phone number. Since then, he has cancelled his myspace ,facebook and phone. I cant wait for some ninja looter to get stabbed to death because someone can now track him down.
CH1CK3NCH4S3R
first!
talikarni
If I ever play a game that goes this route (I refuse to become a WOW drone), I will shut down every account and connection with that game available.
Requiring real names will only make people create real "fake" names. Alonzo Alvarez could be known as Jeff Smith... so this requirement never really makes any sense.
talikarni
If I ever play a game that goes this route (I refuse to become a WOW drone), I will shut down every account and connection with that game available.
Requiring real names will only make people create real "fake" names. Alonzo Alvarez could be known as Jeff Smith... so this requirement never really makes any sense.
Atavax
This is not the cyberbullies or the trolls' doings; this is blizzard's fault, no one elses. I doubt the reason they are doing this is to discourage trolling, i doubt it will actually decrease trolling, if anything it will escalate it because noobs will use their real id's and trolls and troublemakers won't.
Psalmy
So random people on the forum have a way to find your phone number and place of residence. That means they can hunt down and kill you. Maybe you shouldn't post things that would make people want to hunt down and kill you? Of course, there are extremist (like the french stabbing), but they managed before this policy change. The pressure of consequence has always been important for the function and respect of society, maybe this isn't a bad thing?
*four days after the changes go live there are several strings of murders across the US*
Or not.
asteroth
This aint right for many reasons, the reason why I use a pseudo name is not only for anonymity but because its inpersonal. If I trow hate at someone at a game, Im hating that caracter, not an actual human being. When most people create a character/avatar its not them, but a caracter, persona they want to impersonate, after all its a GAME. I played wow and wanted to create a friendly silly tauren but that doesnt mean im the same person in real life, what if I want to create a evil/nasty character, does that mean Im evil/nasty person to?
So yeah its a forum but its another outlet for the game, I should be just the same caracter there, A-hole or not.
Posible double standard? dating sites, but its already creepy anyways.
TheGreatPuma
There is nothing to applaud here. The pros are limited and the cons are numerous. Privacy issues, identity theft, harrassment, account theft through social engineering--these are just the first and most obvious problems with identifying yourself online. Exposing your users to this much risk in an effort to curb trolling is irresponsible at best.
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