Blizzard Forums to use real ID name

[Calax]

From the Euro forums we have a string of blue posts that give a LOT more info than the ones in the US forums

 

http://blue.mmo-champion.com/t/13816838128...-forum-changes/

 

That just links to the developers posts, you can get to the actual thread there, but I'm not sure you want to sift through that many pages of stuff to find anything good

[213374U]

It think it

Edited July 7, 2010 by 213374U

[Hurlshort]

After a bit of effort, it is actually really hard to find myself on the internet. The problem is there are just too many people that have my name. I tried to narrow it down to no avail. I'm not even on that Spokeo thing.

[Serrano]

I bet Funcroc could find you, if he hasn't already I mean.

[Morgoth]

Well good then I don't post on Blizzard forums.

[Purkake]

Is that so mr Hans M

[Morgoth]

That's not a very typical Austrian name you know.

[Purkake]

Who said you had a typical Austrian name, mr M

Edited July 7, 2010 by Purkake

[Morgoth]

Give it up man, you'll never find out my real name!

[Purkake]

Maybe not, but I can just keep calling you mr M

[Jackalmonkey]

If I'm seeing this correctly (and I may not be), what we're looking at is an entire subset of people for whom anonymously posting on the Blizzard forums doesn't really seem "optional," and refraining from said activity presents a significant enough lifestyle change for them to be aggravated. It's quite a spectacle.

 

A little ironic that this [sea] change is ostensibly to the detriment of trolls: I'm not a proper troll, but I reckon that if I were, I'd be giggling myself crapless at the multitude of nerds sobbing over this policy.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Since you think it's not a big deal though, why don't you go onto Blizzard's forums and post your contact information as well.

 

 

**** no, there's no way in hell I'm going to give Blizzard my real name (not that I play WoW or use Battle.net, so there'd be no reason to register there in the first place). Also, as far as the moderator's information goes, shouldn't those doing the harassing be punished, if they have actually broken laws that is, and not the person who did nothing but post information? If he actively encouraged the harassing that's something, but if he merely posted the information to prove a point and did nothing else I'm not sure if the Employee could do anything but force him to take it down (provided there was a good reason, say harassment).

Edited July 7, 2010 by Deadly_Nightshade

[Kaftan Barlast]

Anonymity on the internet should be a right. If you're drunk/angry one night and write something stupid somewhere under your own name, thats going to come up with a simple google search for years afterwards. Its like every phone call you ever made was recorded and accessible to anyone with a computer. That might have disproportional consequences like not getting a job you applied to because the recruiter googled you and thinks you're a douch.. or a girl turning you down cause because she googled your name etc. etc.

 

Just the other day a swedish blogger was arrested for "hate crimes" because someone who accidentally stumbled on the blog didnt like a nazi-related joke he wrote to his friends and called the cops. Just a tiny thing like that can have a major impact on your life. If that guy gets convicted so that goes on his record, he wont ever be able to get a job, rent an apartment or join a political association.

 

 

 

 

Sweden is part of the EU, which has a rather strict legislation on personal data protection -- so, quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that as a private citizen, your income or criminal record (!) are freely available to me just from your name... unless you make them public yourself.

 

Part of our special deal for signing up with the EU was that we could keep our policy of openness regarding official documents, info and so on.

[LadyCrimson]

That update makes their stance a lot clearer....they could have posted that in the first place. I still have my personal reservations, but I will grant that if anyone can make a popular entertainment activity where real names are required (vs. work or government etc) a more commonplace, non-feared trend, than it would probably be Blizzard. I also went and looked, and they do have an ignore user feature now, so that's good.

 

From what I understand, RealID in the game itself can be 'turned off' by turning on the parental controls, as well as the fact that you don't have to accept any 'friends' in the first place, so it affecting privacy while actually playing isn't an issue. However that will automatically shut you out from the fora as well (it won't circumvent that aspect). And it's not just WoW, it's SC2 & eventually all their games.

 

Some have been speculating that this could be the start of some future revenue generating model (w/a desired side-effect feature)...Activision/Facebook/Blizzard, social networking etc...I'm not convinced of that, but it is curious.

[Mamoulian War]

It's a myth that just from your real name anyone can find whatever they want about you. I could give my real name, and I guarantee you, save for some useless facts regarding join/leave dates on my military life there's nothing about me on the 'net, because I make a point of keeping my personal data, well, personal. I'm not even on the phone directory.

 

And I guarantee you that some russian or chinese teenager seeking a way to get bonus to his pocket money, would easily get all your information from the "secure" web with proper targeted datamining, if he thought you are worth the trouble...

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

On balance I'd trade my anonymity for knowing who a few 'certain' folk were on here. I can comfortably stand by everything I've said, if I had to. I doubt the same is true for all.

 

Like Lord of the Flies really just being Feargus Urquhart in disguise?

 

Man, would that **** with my head.

That's nightmare fuel right there.

 

Maybe Volourn is actually Avellone, too.

[Oner]

That's nightmare fuel right there.

 

Maybe Volourn is actually Avellone, too.

Why you gotta do this to me dude?! D:

[entrerix]

That's nightmare fuel right there.

 

Maybe Volourn is actually Avellone, too.

 

 

wow i just threw up in my mouth a little

[Calax]

I think that blizzard may end up recinding this change given the publicity and the stupidly large amounts of negative reactions to it.

 

http://kotaku.com/5581209/blizzards-real-n...ns-in-an-uproar

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, This is the Internet. Facebook and Myspace etc let you CHOOSE to release your name (and most people do) which helps when you're showing off your pictures etc. However, WoW's forums are not a location where you want real life to interfere with what is (ultimately) an escapist activity. You don't want to go onto your realms forums and see your boss crying out because your character stole something from him in the game, and (as has been pointed out in the gigantic thread on their boards) if people post on the forums, then they open themselves up to prospective employers saying "We won't hire you because of your online habits."

 

I understand their original intent for this, but removing the "wretches" when you could just ban their account from the forums for constant trolling (but not the game) by forcing people to release what many consider to be personal information on the internet and thus open themselves up to real life consequences for playing something that has such negative stigma is not the way to go.

 

IMO blizzard has basically just singlehandedly killed their forums, and probably angered the ESRB a TINY bit given the amount of complaints they're receiving at this point.

[Mamoulian War]

Ok, i found this video linked to one of the discussion about realID

 

I do not know why, but I can easily imagine few people being able to do the same ****

 

[Oner]

Activision: Glad you could make it, Blizzard.

 

Blizzard: Watch your tone with me, Bob. You may be the boss, but I

[Thorton_AP]

Since you think it's not a big deal though, why don't you go onto Blizzard's forums and post your contact information as well.

 

 

**** no, there's no way in hell I'm going to give Blizzard my real name (not that I play WoW or use Battle.net, so there'd be no reason to register there in the first place)

 

Point epically missed. Post your name and info here if you'd prefer. I wasn't talking about you sharing your information with Blizzard. But rather, with a large internet community that you just condoned for posting this man's personal information all over the internet for all to see.

 

 

Also, as far as the moderator's information goes, shouldn't those doing the harassing be punished, if they have actually broken laws that is, and not the person who did nothing but post information? If he actively encouraged the harassing that's something, but if he merely posted the information to prove a point and did nothing else I'm not sure if the Employee could do anything but force him to take it down (provided there was a good reason, say harassment).

 

Hey, if you're okay if someone posted all of your information for all to see, then that's your own prerogative. I have a feeling you wouldn't be, and if someone did this to you and it resulted in harassment, you'd be none-to-pleased about it.

[Mamoulian War]

Hey, if you're okay if someone posted all of your information for all to see, then that's your own prerogative. I have a feeling you wouldn't be, and if someone did this to you and it resulted in harassment, you'd be none-to-pleased about it.

 

I wouldn't, and that's why i do not post on any forums under my real name... I do not want any asshat to datamine all information about me which can be obtained by legal means and post it there, here or anywhere else on TEH INTERNETZ!!11ONE

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Post your name and info here if you'd prefer.

 

Several people on here know that and I've posted links that have my real name before (I'll not re-post them but feel free to dig through the archives if you want to find it).

 

 

Hey, if you're okay if someone posted all of your information for all to see, then that's your own prerogative.

 

Did I ever say that? All I'm saying is that it's not illegal in itself and thus your hope of legal action is misplaced.

[Thorton_AP]

Hey, if you're okay if someone posted all of your information for all to see, then that's your own prerogative. I have a feeling you wouldn't be, and if someone did this to you and it resulted in harassment, you'd be none-to-pleased about it.

 

I wouldn't, and that's why i do not post on any forums under my real name... I do not want any asshat to datamine all information about me which can be obtained by legal means and post it there, here or anywhere else on TEH INTERNETZ!!11ONE

 

Are you condoning and supporting the actions of the guy that did? (I also didn't ask you, but hey, since you've volunteered).

 

Be honest (even though it's the internet and you can just make **** up as you want): What are your thoughts about the guy sharing the information about the Blizzard Employee? Do you feel vindicated like he is "fighting the good fight?" Because you can just as easily get this guy's name from the instruction manual. But I have a feeling it'd be different if THAT is where someone found his name.... Wouldn't it?