While everyone here at G4 had a very nice Blizzcon, enjoying very elaborate costumes, cool tournaments, concerts and the general good fellowship of fellow gamers at the show, a performance by "band" Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain and a video shown to close out Blizzcon 2011 had a decidedly different, sinister vibe.
The video shown toward the ending of the show is remarkable in its offensiveness and stupididy. In it, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, member of the band Cannibal Corpse as well as Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain, has some choice words for The Alliance, describing the World of Warcraft faction with dripping anger and slurs against homosexuals.
While the curses were bleeped at Blizzcon, the video still offended members of the Alliance, gay people, and anyone who has a functioning human brain. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a guy named "Corpsegrinder" is offensive and stupid, but still, click the cut for the entirely NSFW video.
It's not just the video, either. Members of the Alliance report being physically intimidated at Blizzcon, and even being assaulted for their choice of faction.
I understand it's kind of fun to pretend that the "rivalry" between Horde and Alliance is real, but this guy (and other guys like him) is just ridiculous. I think he really takes it seriously. And who at Blizzard thought showing this was a good idea? Or asking this guy to perform? Like gay people don't have enough trouble without people like the meathead above hurling insults at them? Like anyone who plays a video game needs to feel like crap because the prefer the look and lore of the Alliance over the Horde? Even if you try to excuse it by saying you're "just kidding."
Anyway, because of the uproar, Corpsegrinder has apologized by issuing a statement reading:
"Hey guys, we read and heard all the feedback from BlizzCon this year. The Corpsegrinder bit was never intended to be taken seriously. We are sorry that we offended anyone; everything at our shows is just meant in fun. Thank you all for speaking up. We’ll definitely keep this in mind for future shows. Our humblest apologies, Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain."
As a former member of the Horde, I'm embarrassed. I always considered the Horde faction to skew slightly older and more intelligent than the Alliance, but I haven't played WoW in a couple years. Maybe things have changed?
On a related note, when I was a teenager, I used to like punk rock and hate heavy metal, even though both forms of music sound very similar, and both groups dress in unconventional ways. Once someone challenged me on this, and I really thought hard about the difference between the two musical forms. Here's what I came up with:
Punk rock is smart people acting stupid, while heavy metal is stupid people acting smart.
There are plenty of exceptions on both sides, but the video above proves my basic point.
Update: Just kidding, metal-heads; you guys are awesome.
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
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thetrailerjockey
who cares how old it is? The point is language like that shouldn't be tolerated at all. like it or not everyone on this planet is a human being and no one should be put down for their choices. it's not okay, it was never okay, and it never should be okay to use words like that jokingly or seriously.
it baffles my mind that blizzard would even show this edited. and anyone who shows the same intolerance that he does on this thread is no better than the guy in the video.
And to all of you indifferent people: try stepping into the shoes of someone struggling with their sexuality. i bet you can't even fathom the inner turmoil that they face because people like him throw hate speech around like nothing and people like you enable him by standing by without speaking up. they know that most people won't accept them, people as close to the person as their own parents, simply because they are something different. it's who they are, and they're being crucified for it. how is that fair?
to bitch about a music joke just makes me sad for the human race, no one has died because someone compared punk to metal. people are killing themselves because of how intolerant others can be because they see death as a better option than facing you people. I hope that makes you feel good.
I'm a straight male, I'm an ally, and I will always be an ally. I encourage anyone with half a brain to do the same. we may have our disagreements as a people, but we're all on the same team.
crocodilius
I'm alliance and i hate the night elf stealth too. God damn flag campers.
It's also heavily implied that blood elfs are a homosexual race choice as well.
I'm smart enough to know this is some guy with
bad music who's just running his mouth.
Probably plays a DK too.
I also have to say The Ramones weren't acting stupid,
they're pretty dumb.
Gabtraf
This video is old, and hell I played both Horde and Alliance and I laughed my ass off.
CareyGrant
Stay Classy, Blizzard!
What... has all that time in your Scrooge McDuck Moneybin clouded your common sense and decency?
Is this really the calibre of person you want to showcase to all the world/interwebs as the face and voice of your "typical" WoW player? Some Henry Rollins wannabe suffering from delusions of adequacy? (Note: Henry Rollin's is The Man)
Yeah, this really makes me want to drop nearly $ 200 dollars a year to play with charmers like this guy.
MT_Obsidian
Hahaha--this guy is from the metal band Cannibal Corpse. He has been hardcore offending people with that band since 1995 and doesn't give a crap what other people think about what he says. Of course he's going to say offensive things! The worst part is that everyone is taking him seriously!
C'mon, guys, lighten up. It's not meant to be a serious monologue about how he actually feels about other players. This is just his act that can also be seen with Cannibal Corpse--offensive shock value. It doesn't reflect ALL metalheads or really anyone else's opinion at all.
geomancer21
Yeah, i can't really be offended by that. sounds like a typical over enthusiastic fanboy to me. seen plenty like him all over the place. plus he didn't seem entirely serious, just S talking. I agree with the "people needing thicker skin" sentiment.
roscobot
Ok the end made me giggle a bit. I can see where people would get offended. I can also see where the thicker skin needs to come in. Bleh.
jhr
He sounds like a twelve year old on Xbox Live.
Knives39
in the past years im sorry to say this but there are alot of metal fans that have gotten worse. which is one of the reasons why its becoming more unpopular with every year. its forces people to go to horrible artist like lord gaga....i have gone to metal festivals for the past 5 years and eat year the fans get more and more disrespectful. im not saying all of metal heads are like this, but they are slowly becoming like this guy.
Metalhead980
This video is really old.
I remember watching this on youtube...
All of a sudden everyone has an issue with it?
SonyNmbrOneGuy
I use to BS around with a buddy that was horde and we'd go back and forth over how terrible our respective factions were, and which community had the most A**holes.
I'd say things like Blizzard hands out 100 gold a week to all hordies just to fill up those empty servers.
He'd hit me with preteen nerds and dudes playing female characters.
I'd come back how aweful Shamans were (back in 05')
He trash paladins
I'd complain about the complete cluster F UnderCity and Thunder Bluff are.
He'd jump on the Night elves.
I'd laugh at his PVP gear (Horde only won 2 of the 3 BGs back then)
He'd say good look waiting six months for that MC gear to finally drop (again, back then..it took months of raiding to get epic gear that was half as good as starter gear in Burning Crusade O.o).
All of that was just good natured ribbing. The dude in the video uses homophobic slurs to be funny, but really just sounds like an ass.
I'd like to punch this dude in the face...
greeknerd
What I really found offensive was Stephen Johnson saying "punk rock is smart people acting stupid while heavy metal is stupid people acting smart". I always thought punk rock was stupid people acting like elitist snobby tools. There are exceptions to this rule but your post proves my point.
escherfied
We all say and do dumb stuff on a regular basis. The only reason this is an issue is someone got it on video. Everybody is guilty of using derogatory words to describe something we dislike. I agree that George should have chose his words more carefully, but he has the right to say whatever he wants. However, I will not let you compare Punk to Metal Mr. Stephen Johnson. At least metal requires a knowledge of how to play an instrument.
Slymoose
This was amazing, people need to grow a set and stop crying. If you don't like it don't watch it, get up and do something else for 3 mins.
Madbagofhorses
Has anyone who's complaining actually played World of Warcraft? There are 10 of him to every 1 NOT-him kind of player in the game. That's roughly the ratio of ignorant jerk-offs to level-headed people in the world. 8-9/10 people I meet in my day to day life I end up avoiding if I get to know them (and so avoid most anyway).
It sucks to see that he was given a microphone and a camera was focused on him. The filth he spews though is your average street grime that everyone has to deal with. Tell him he's an idiot, sure... but that's about all the resistance you can hope to put up. There's just too much of it.
yogi_bear_rules
you have to be kinda retarded to play Warcraft these days anyway..... especially with their new Pokemon phase coming up.
i know its not true but can we just stereotype this as every Warcraft player ever? after all nobody(exaggeration) will be playing after guild wars 2 and swtor.
hitman899
he may not have life
hitman899
sure i may dislike gays but i dont spread it. but this guy is a over WEIGHT DUDE WHO NEED TO KEEP he is fat mouth closed and he sounds retarded
the6malediction
"Punk rock is smart people acting stupid, while heavy metal is stupid people acting smart."
So your basic point is to condemn all of heavy metal as idiots based on one video. I feel that this is a very closed minded idea. Metal is all about the shock and awe for fans. They speak about the topics that no one else will, religion, murder and so on. Not only that but also the fantasy aspects of games like WoW and others. Whether it be a song short song about death or a 15 minute epic based on a novel or event in history. Just because Corpsegrinder called some alliance some harsh words doesn't mean every heavy metal band is like that. Most are nerds just like us. So saying that Heavy Metal is dumb people acting smart definitely does not fit. Corpsegrinder is a devout Horde player, voicing his opinion about the opposing faction which all WoW players have done. Yes he is probably an idiot but this doesn't reflect the thousands of others that share his career. As to the showing of the video at Blizzcon, definitely shouldn't have been done i agree that much.
destryrofall
Im just confused as to what that even accomplished. Does he represent the Horde? Why show that at BlizzCon? I'm fairly removed from this subject, but even if it was supposed to be "tongue-and-cheek," it really wasn't humorous in any sense of the word. That sad, sad man.
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