Blizzard’s decision to ditch a proposed plan to force message board users to use their real names has generated considerable debate, and while a large number of gamers saw their outrage directly influence Blizzard’s policy proposal, reader blindsideofthesun brought up what is arguably the best argument for requiring forum posters to use their actual names:
My only argument for their decision is that the use of real names would force people to think a bit more before posting some of the bullcrap that makes it onto message boards, and throw some form of accountability for ones actions into the ring. Imagine a place where you have to really come up with intelligent arguments, and wouldn't be able to simply change your forum name every time you get booted for inappropriate behavior/flaming.
Which do you value more: anonymity or accountability?
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 29
122
Randeh
First: It's not like Battle.net is linked to your birth certificate. You're more than able to just put Butts McHole as your name on a Battle.net account and then they'll call that your "Real Name". You can even go back and change your name: log into BNet, go to change Contact Information, BAM totally new identity displayed on Real ID.
Blizzard just tried to make it seem like it was somehow supernaturally linked to you actual birth name by always writing your "real first and last name" in their posts instead of "your listed BNet name, which you can easily change."
Second: It won't stop trolls. Just create a system for a unified forum account display / name (one per WoW account) that lists all of the characters on the account AND recent posts by that user when you click on that name. That's still all the supposed accountability this was going to bring to the forums, and it can be done without revealing people's names.
thesilentmole
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/p ost/686259/the_girl_who_will_c hange_the_internet.html <- I think this is reason enough that anonymity needs to go away and people need to be held accountable for their wods.
tehblessed
Why would anyone go the extra mile to make that connection without ill intent? The internet with real names is just as anonymous aside from those few people who are willing to take it too far.
Claiming that using real names will get rid of trolling goes hand in hand with admitting people will take problems they have with people beyond internet disputes, otherwise there are no new implications of their reputation. That seems like something nobody should be okay with just to get rid of a few annoying/immature posts.
Either trolling will not be affected, or everyone would be affected negatively regardless of their posting intent.
Atavax
the whole point of forcing people to put up their real name is the make them fear what people will do to them in real life after reading their posts on the forum....
efrainc84
I honestly don't think that is what the majority are worried about, but that statement is strictly opinion
Atavax
efrain, what are you trying to prove? are you trying to prove that no harm can come from posting your real name on a internet forum? because 4chan has done plenty of harm to plenty of people who have posted their real names on the internet
efrainc84
@Diremike I actually read your statement quite well and it was a simple question. Since you seem to know the demographic of g4 users aren't capable of using my or any name to any advantage, I was just assuming with your vast knowledge of the possibilties of having your name public you could truly convince me otherwise that is all. In your 1st statement Please don't ask someone to reveal their name and then all of a sudden come to this realization that people who are capable of using names for an advantage don't come to G4, wouldn't that mean that statement is kind of pointless since you know your on G4?. Thanks for the link. You accidently put a space in the link, just helping you out.
salamander27
I'm obviously not highlighting anything new here...but honestly, attaching my real name to a post on any forum wouldn't change its content.
Think about any forum you frequent. You can easily associate 'trolling/harassment/angry old guy comments' with character names or avatars or whatever that person is using to identify themselves already.
I think the anonymity argument really relates to users choosing who they let or don't let have their real names or any other 'personal' information. I believe that Blizzard was attempting to try something that they genuinely hoped would expand customers' social network and experience outside their gaming while also attempting to secure more brand loyalty for future purchases. I don't think ppl would mind having the option, but don't force me to do it.
mrpandaman27
I tend to lean toward more of the accountability side.
Atavax
blindofthesun released his real name in the other thread where the OP took the quote from
Diremike
@efrainc84 No, I thought that was obvious from my first post but maybe your a little slow.
Go over to the chan's and dare someone to find your personal info with just your name maybe, let me know how that works out for ya.
But also feel free to see what happened to a few Blizzard employees with just their first name: http://asnowstormbyanyothernam e.blogspot.com/
MxxPwr
Anonymity. Are celebrity thoughts and actions any smarter because people know who they are?
Atavax
any person that is in favor of mandatory use of real names in forums inorder to promote intelligent debate is incapable on intelligent anything...
Diremike
@efrainc84 No, I thought that was obvious from my first post but maybe your a little slow.
Go over to the chan's and dare someone to find your personal info with just your name maybe, let me know how that works out for ya.
But also feel free to see what happened to a few Blizzard employees with just their first name: http://asnowstormbyanyothernam e.blogspot.com/
meh_siah
Anonymity is hard to say aloud.
Things that should be or meant to be left anonymous:
1. people who give to charity.
2. alcoholics.
3. that famous quote-ist. - Anonymous
Ikarus
That user's comment is the 1 solid pro for implementing the system, vs the 10+ significant cons. And even that pro isn't 100% solid. Some trolls are going to be confident that no one is going to find them and stalk them or punish them in any way, which may be true. Hopefully. For a lot of people, this won't change how they post on the forums.
KevinJames23
I would also like to add that accountability, as far as forum posts goes, comes down to how well moderated the forums are. Trying to force users to be self-regulating only seems to suggest that the owners of the particulair forum can't control their users very well, which is a bad sign to begin with. I've been on plenty of forums that have remained anonymous but stayed very mature because anyone who posted flame-bait or something even remotely hinting as such would get banned no questions asked. Most forums just aren't strict enough. Trying to force users to be self-regulating is just a lazy approach to not doing it yourself.
If you don't want people trashing your house, don't let them in to begin with. It's your house, after all. Trying to force them to behave is just silly.
efrainc84
@Diremike I revealed my name, are you one of those pc gamers on G4 that can show me what you can do with my name?
KevinJames23
Anonymity to many seems to be a "basic right" of the Internet. While obviously that's not true - becuase webspace is owned and therefore technically "private property" - it is nice to think that many web-owners will respect the "unspoken rule" of keeping user data, within legal restrictions, anonymous amongst other web users.
While I certainly can't force a web domain such as Blizzard's to respect my wishes to remain anonymous, I can certainly opt out of participating in such a community to begin with. Needless to say, I won't be posting on Blizzard's forums anytime soon.
Onikinou
Accountability.
Displaying 1–20 of 29
122