Blizzard not so faaaabulous
Blizzard's response to the GLBT debate is an interesting one. I actually do understand Blizzard is in a tricky position, but dear jeebus what lame-ass marketroid came up with this? They respond that “topics related to sensitive real-world subjects — such as religious, sexual, or political preference, for example — have had a tendency to result in communication between players that often breaks down into harassment.” So essentially, “we think our players are a bunch of dumbass half-wits who will break into a poop-flinging fight at the first sign of something they don't understand. This argument has been used for ages to justify discrimination. It's the classic “she was dressed like a slut, so of course she was raped.”
Now having spent a little time in World of Warcraft myself, I would have to agree that a large number of WoW players really are poop-flingers who can't even spell tolerance, let alone practice it. But if I were one of the few non-gold-farming players left in WoW, I think I would be insulted by this response, no matter how I felt about GLBT guilds. And what about the Christian WoW guilds? Will Blizzard shut them down too?
So suck it up WoW players. Blizzard thinks you and your faggoty white uniforms can't handle the truth.
February 3rd, 2006 at 11:28 pm
I hope I don't offend too much here, but I really hope this point gets across on this argument as wide as possible. This debate has gotten to be insane.
Why is there such an outrage and suprised reaction to this? Is it because everyone forgot how Blizzard(Vivendi) acted with the bnetd thing in favor for their latest shiney toy (WoW). What the hell? I thought we established some years ago that Blizzard sold out to a profit mongering monster (Vivendi). Given that homosexual partners (even in game where straight partners can pretend to be gay) are a very small percentage of the population, and homophobic people are the larger percentage…is anyone really surprised that they would defend the larger portion of the fee paying populace? This isn't some grand civil rights movement here, this is a purely profit driven move. Please wake up everyone, go outside, live life, turn off the video game, and if you are really offended by this behavior…for god's sake fight this battle where it means something…IN REAL LIFE…not in some stupid video game. I mean for christ's sake…this is a battle at the highest level of courts in the US with the president trying to ammend the US constitution to ban gay marriages and people are crying foul at a video game? GO OUTSIDE! People wonder why nothing gets done to stop these sorts of things from happening in real life…while so many people spend their time and energy screaming about how their virtual worlds are being oppressed.
February 4th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Don't you think the two (supporting civil rights in-game and out of game) are not mutually exclusive? I think just because people are trying to further tolerance and acceptance in a gaming context doesn't mean they're not out in the real world furthering the same thing.
You wondered why there is such outrage and surprise. You make a good point, but at least for me there is no surprise. Only outrage.
And I do agree that people need to become more involved in real-life. Even if it's just to send a check to Habitat for Humanity, the UNCF, or the charity or cause of your choice. But do something. (Habitat for Humanity is my pet charity. If you can't think of a good one, HfH is a great choice.)