Blizzard just LOL'd at privacy

[Modelworks]

My buddy is a pretty vengeful guy. Someone did basically nothing to him, I don't even remember now - probably beat him to a named mob, so my buddy spammed the shit out of him in tells, made a macro to /tell him and finally the guy put him on ignore. Then my buddy started sending in game mails over and over - at the time you couldn't block them. And finally he got banned. But don't think for a second he wouldn't have browsed the forums for a real name if he knew he could, just to keep going.

Then he needs help as he will likely be in trouble in the future. People with that temperament usually end up in jail.

I just do not see why getting someone 1 step closer to calling you or your family up to screw with you over some game is a good idea and you will never convince me otherwise. You just have to accept the fact that at least some people don't want their personal info out there specifically in an area where trolls are known to congregate.

If I thought that because I played a game the other players would get so mad as to come after me or my family then that is a game I wouldn't play. These are games not requirements for life. I think the problem is people just don't know when to walk away. My brother has that problem. There was a situation where he had to evict a tenant for lease violations and all he had to do was tell the tenant 'I don't want to rent the home anymore so you need to leave'. Instead he goes on a rant about how they were not allowed to do xx, and they broke this rule, and do you think you can do this to my property. Solved nothing, he got upset, ruined his day.

 

[Rebel_L]

I cant think of a single benefit to showing real names on an online game forum. People primarily interact inside the game where they are generally not known by their real names. I call several people that I know from games by their in game names not their real ones even outside of the game. In fact distancing the forums from the characters I think lowers the accountability of trolls. Do people care if some stranger thinks they are a jerk, I know I dont. If some stranger on the street stops and calls you a jerk is that really going to affect you? People who know you and to whom your name means anything will likely not change their opinion of you based on posts from a game forum. I would guess that trolls talk about their trolling with friends and laugh about how they got people so upset anyways so I doubt there would be any real revelations there.

So if it dosnt bring people closer together (I imagine unless they still show characters while posting its will actually make getting advice more difficult because you can no longer see the character that backs a post for the people who do post on their mains, but you get a persons real name which has no ingame meaning) and it dosnt actually hold people accountable because I cant see why people would care more about what some stranger thinks of their real name vs a made up name so long as it isnt associated with ingame activities (no to mention you can always claim it was some other john smith not you). Then what does it do. Well it gives the semi industrious a much easier way to threaten people with out of game consequences for ingame actions and it has the potential to hurt the reputation of people for something they had no part of because their real name is the same as someone being an ass online. If someone got really angry at Rebel L I know that they arnt going to run into a guy while shopping named that and be angry at some other guy with the same name.

And just for a side note, ask the servers of the restaurants you frequent sometime if the name on the tag is their actual name... you would be surprised how many restaurants dont put real names on the tags to protect their employees from getting harassed off the job and those tags dont even show last names. (well at least here in edmonton its pretty common, I guess I cant speak for other places)

 

[Modelworks]

Why do they need to post to see our names? Why do *we* need to see their real name to ban them.. Blizzard still knows the real name of the account that got banned and can prevent that real name from ever owning a cd-key again if they wished.

That is something to take up with blizzard. I can't see the need to display the real name if the only reason is to enforce bans. The only reason I can see for it is it would make people more careful how they post, but if they wanted to keep the name private they could still enforce the bans but they might have to do a lot of them because people will likely continue to abuse others in post.

 

[NoQuarter]

That is something to take up with blizzard. I can't see the need to display the real name if the only reason is to enforce bans. The only reason I can see for it is it would make people more careful how they post, but if they wanted to keep the name private they could still enforce the bans but they might have to do a lot of them because people will likely continue to abuse others in post.

But you're the one who suggested us being able to see their real name as a means to ban them when that is *not* the case since Blizzard handles the bans. And the accountability reasoning holds no water. If you troll under your Alias tied to your account, you get banned. If you troll under your Real Name tied to your account, you get banned. Either way the repercussions are identical to the offender.

You are saying there is a greater stake because their real name is known to the community however. The only thing this can mean is you fully expect the real name of the user to be used by the community to troll him in real life. A 'reverse' troll could go completely overboard. It's just not information anyone needs.

Then he needs help as he will likely be in trouble in the future. People with that temperament usually end up in jail.

Possibly. He's belligerent in real life as well but not so much or so often as to get in trouble with the law. If he had your phone number he'd use it, if you lived nearby he might even drive by. He's smashed a dude's windshield in and shit in the car for some lame reason. He actually did get confronted over his online actions back when he was a teenager and he socked the dude good. Either way.. you say he's the type of guy that ends up in jail, so why give him your real name when you know the stupidest offense in game can set him off?

Hell I've even run into guys that I'm sure would troll me over nothing. I led a group to do 2 quests, 5 of us needed both and 1 guy only needed the 2nd quest. He got pissed when we decided to do the quest we all needed first, and trolled me for 2 days, and refused my help for the quest.


Course.. all that said, I don't play MMO's anymore and this is all principle.

 

[FragKrag]

i grew up trolling those forums

:<

 

[techforums]

A lot of the responses are comical.

 

[Modelworks]

But you're the one who suggested us being able to see their real name as a means to ban them when that is *not* the case since Blizzard handles the bans. And the accountability reasoning holds no water. If you troll under your Alias tied to your account, you get banned. If you troll under your Real Name tied to your account, you get banned. Either way the repercussions are identical to the offender.

I repeated what blizzard said is their reason for using real names.

You are saying there is a greater stake because their real name is known to the community however. The only thing this can mean is you fully expect the real name of the user to be used by the community to troll him in real life.

No I am saying a real name accomplishes two goals while hiding the real name only accomplishes one. If they show the real name people are more likely to police themselves and they can still ban those who get out of control. If they hide the real name then people will likely continue to act out but they can still ban the account.

Possibly. He's belligerent in real life as well but not so much or so often as to get in trouble with the law. If he had your phone number he'd use it, if you lived nearby he might even drive by. He's smashed a dude's windshield in and shit in the car for some lame reason. He actually did get confronted over his online actions back when he was a teenager and he socked the dude good. Either way.. you say he's the type of guy that ends up in jail, so why give him your real name when you know the stupidest offense in game can set him off?

I wouldn't be around someone like that. They are the type that likes to drag everyone else down with them and are not happy unless everyone else is miserable too. The good thing about people like that is they are not very patient so taking the time to hunt down someone is rare.

 

[coloumb]

Just curious - is your "real name" on the badge you need to wear at Blizzcon? I forsee a lot of "Jay and Silent bob strike back" incidents if that's the case...

The example of being able to search for information about someone online is exactly why this is a terrible idea.

Eh - maybe I'm old school where I think games are a way for me to get away from the daily crap that real life dishes out. Maybe today's gamers are more connected and don't care if people know their real name?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Just curious - is your "real name" on the badge you need to wear at Blizzcon? I forsee a lot of "Jay and Silent bob strike back" incidents if that's the case...

The example of being able to search for information about someone online is exactly why this is a terrible idea.

Eh - maybe I'm old school where I think games are a way for me to get away from the daily crap that real life dishes out. Maybe today's gamers are more connected and don't care if people know their real name?

i am also hoping you can put down something similar - not that i post on the blizzard forums anyway. i frequently use Duff Man (oooh yeah!). but using a real name from a billing name/address is just insane and has privacy issues written all over it.

 

[techforums]

I'm not worried about this. I want to see after it has been rolled out before I can judge. The people at the wow forums tend to overreact a lot

 

[NoQuarter]

No I am saying a real name accomplishes two goals while hiding the real name only accomplishes one. If they show the real name people are more likely to police themselves and they can still ban those who get out of control. If they hide the real name then people will likely continue to act out but they can still ban the account.

What exactly is the reason having their real name shown would provide an incentive to act responsibly?

The good thing about people like that is they are not very patient so taking the time to hunt down someone is rare.

You're right he is not patient at all. That's why the simple precaution of not providing him your real name would deter him immediately.

 

[BoberFett]

I wouldn't be around someone like that. They are the type that likes to drag everyone else down with them and are not happy unless everyone else is miserable too. The good thing about people like that is they are not very patient so taking the time to hunt down someone is rare.

Taking the time? What time? It took me a few minutes to find your home address.

 

[40sTheme]

I'm going to register as Dick Pound.

 

[Aikouka]

Just curious - is your "real name" on the badge you need to wear at Blizzcon? I forsee a lot of "Jay and Silent bob strike back" incidents if that's the case...

The example of being able to search for information about someone online is exactly why this is a terrible idea.

Eh - maybe I'm old school where I think games are a way for me to get away from the daily crap that real life dishes out. Maybe today's gamers are more connected and don't care if people know their real name?

I think it's just your first name.. I'd have to look at my old one.

 

[JSt0rm]

I think somebody with a big paycheck over there decided they wanted to do the web 2.0 social network thing lololol. Fail.

 

[SunnyD]

It is in the EULA of most software. A lot of it states that a minor cannot install it and that if it is a minor that they must have parental consent to do so.
Falls under the parent owns pc and the internet account so they are responsible for how it is used. I assume the blizzard thing would make the posting under the parents name though they haven't made it clear how they will verify the posting names.

Forgot to add that technically a minor cannot legally install any software that has a eula or TOS on install without parental consent because a minor cannot enter into a contract without the parents consent.

K, I'll buy that... only if we realize that most EULAs are unenforceable and generally contain provisions that make them illegal.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Now this all makes sense. They're trying to appease shareholders...

"Q u o t e: Can ANYONE here come up with a solid business plan as to how this will ever make Activision any money? Honestly, I can't foresee any way this change would do anything but cost their company money.

Because they're integrating with Facebook and expecting Facebook users who aren't subscribers to become subscribers. "

 

[Modular]

This is the worst idea ever.

Some people say big deal as they watch their freedoms and right to privacy get tossed out the window, I say no way.

You know what the easiest way to boil a frog is? Heat it up slowly. This is only the beginning of what they are going to do. Before you know it, every game company will be putting this stuff out there in the name of social networking. There is no reason for it and all it can lead to is unwanted invasion of privacy. People on the internet know me as Modular, and that's the way it needs to stay.

 

[shortylickens]

K, I'll buy that... only if we realize that most EULAs are unenforceable and generally contain provisions that make them illegal.

Bingo.
Its already been held in many courts that a EULA is NOT a legally binding contract.

 

[shortylickens]

I wondering if that thread is the fastest growing in the history of the intarwebs. If i did my math right they've averaged 21.6 posts per min for the past 7 hrs.

It makes sense. You could make a solid argument that Starcraft 2 is the most anticipated game in history.

 

[ussfletcher]

Now this all makes sense. They're trying to appease shareholders...

"Q u o t e: Can ANYONE here come up with a solid business plan as to how this will ever make Activision any money? Honestly, I can't foresee any way this change would do anything but cost their company money.

Because they're integrating with Facebook and expecting Facebook users who aren't subscribers to become subscribers. "

 

[AbAbber2k]

Register under an alias?

 

[ussfletcher]

This is worth some epic lulz

"For those that were not on the forums earlier, when a Blue decided to give out his RL name, just to defend these new changes, here is a break down of what happened:

1. Mr Whipple (aka Bashiok on the forums) gave out his real name.

2. Shortly after giving out his name, many people started posting personal information about him. Obviously more and more post gave more information about his real life (including phone number, address, family members names, etc etc).

3. He then claims its against the rules to post personal details on the forums.

4. The thread gets locked.

5. Mr Whipple had to delete his facebook page, because of the amount of harassment coming his away.


This is just ONE Blizzard employee that tried to stand up and show he wasnt afraid to give away his real name. Its a shame the amount of hate he received because he is actually one of the more likable blues here. The public wanted to make an example out of him, about how bad things can get and how fast it can get there.

Seriously Blizz, do not let this go live. No one should have to deal with this level of harassment, period."

 

[lupi]

This is worth some epic lulz

"For those that were not on the forums earlier, when a Blue decided to give out his RL name, just to defend these new changes, here is a break down of what happened:

1. Mr Whipple (aka Bashiok on the forums) gave out his real name.

2. Shortly after giving out his name, many people started posting personal information about him. Obviously more and more post gave more information about his real life (including phone number, address, family members names, etc etc).

3. He then claims its against the rules to post personal details on the forums.

4. The thread gets locked.

5. Mr Whipple had to delete his facebook page, because of the amount of harassment coming his away.


This is just ONE Blizzard employee that tried to stand up and show he wasnt afraid to give away his real name. Its a shame the amount of hate he received because he is actually one of the more likable blues here. The public wanted to make an example out of him, about how bad things can get and how fast it can get there.

Seriously Blizz, do not let this go live. No one should have to deal with this level of harassment, period."

too much epicness in that to be all contained in just one post.

 

[lupi]

micah whipple- Add to iGoogle
29th most popular search in the past hour.