It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
In case you missed it, Blizzard suspended a pro Hearthstone player by the name of Blitzchung for voicing support for the Hong Kong protests. Here’s why Blizzard’s actions are nothing more than craven hypocrisy, and why, “keep politics out,” is an asinine non-argument.
Comments
MMORPG.com Rules of Conduct
Minor Infraction
Religion and Politics
MMORPG.com is a site to discuss massively multiplayer online roleplay gaming. While users are encouraged and permitted to use our Off-Topic forum to discuss real life and non-MMORPG gaming, threads concerning sensitive subjects such as religion, politics, or ethics are forbidden.
Read more at https://://www.mmorpg.com/disclaimers.cfm
Even as a kid, I remember thinking of McDonald's as being deceptively brilliant and petty. Their ads where literally one young person from every race on planet earth sit around a table to share McNuggets. lol.
I mean... it's ultimately a good message, but we all know that they don't care about anything but money, else their food would be geared towards good health.
So two threads full of comments but author saw a need to create another to rage in? So be it, I'm game.
Let's talk some "common sense" as it is clearly lacking in the article.
Blizzard is a business where most everything they do is designed to increase revenues and profits, which is what their shareholders expect them to do.
The number of customers they'll lose from this in the long run (because most gamers have short memories and / or weak wills) is just a rounding error compared against the potential loss of the Chinese market.
I think most here are aware of the many transgressions of the Chinese Gov't, their businesses (all closely aligned with the Gov't,) and the Chinese people themselves.
Yet many here slagged the recent US tariff efforts against China, almost all purchase Chinese made goods for .... reasons, despite knowing inherently the entire nation lacks the conventional morality most here share.
Yeah, I get it, China is an evil, oppressive regime which needs to be stood up to (hope you all rush to enlist in the military, your country will soon need you) but almost every business in the world is in bed with this devil and I feel it's unfair to single out Blizzard due to circumstances.
Did you know my other job is being an armchair economist? I even have a BS degree in it.
I'm sure the BS part doesn't surprise anyone.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I watch and play games to escape and not deal with real life crap for a while. I don't need my entertainment time invaded by what other people believe is the right way for me to act or feel.
But to the OP, I won't be the one that disagrees with you. What blizzard did was so pathetic. It's against their touted core values as a company (not just their Rules of Conduct). Furthermore they are incorporated in a country built upon the fundamental right to stand up for what you believe in, and they have the audacity to take money from and ban someone (who isn't an employee or representative of Blizzard, rather a customer participating in a promotion) who exercises those rights in which Blizzard has profited off of.
But this whole thing is really interesting because it's really shining a light on what American companies are slimy spineless jellyfish who have 0 values to even put in front of profits.
If I want a world in which people can purchase success and power with cash, I'll play Real Life. Keep Virtual Worlds Virtual!
But I don't understand why the rules prohibiting political discussions on these boards seem to have been put out to pasture.
Is it now open to everyone to discuss whatever political topics we wish? Because I have hundreds of them I would like to raise. They have been piling up since January 20, 2017.
You are opening Pandora's box.
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
Because virtually every other article on here has absolutely zero comments regarding religion, politics, or ethics in the slightest? Interesting. Interesting indeed. These topics are no doubt tricky to handle, but when situations like Blizzard’s suspension arise, it’s worth discussing. Like i mention, literally everything is political.
Yup, I remember a thread when the Division 2 came out where people were making political references and there was a threat to silence them, yet full out editorials are okay. To be clear, I am not necessarily a big fan of the decision, and I love politics. With that said, politics should stay out of games.....always. I've always respected the gaming community, because it's truly the single place where I don't see politics. What a garbage editorial.
Blizzard specializes in video games about orcs and elves, they are not responsible for picking and choosing political sides or for giving you a soapbox on their platform to do so yourself.
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
Couldn't resist getting in on the conversation and some "official" SEO eh? Couldn't simply merge the 2 other threads with the convo eh? Not enough nards to just post an official opinion in those threads eh? Not enough time and manpower to closely moderate these threads yah? Gonna hide behind the whole "this is one persons opinion" eh?
@Xiaoki is absolutely right, whether we agree or disagree with Blizzard.
This is why everything is going haywire in the world right now. HYPOCRISY. PEOPLE IGNORING RULES THEY SET FOR OTHERS.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Freedom
Human rights
Idk what your beliefs are about whatever. Punish a person for those things you will lose.
Sorry but I agree with Blizzard here. While i do not agree with actions of certain countries i do understand Blizzard's stance. This guy used a platform that was company sponsored to project his own thoughts and his actions have a price.
I say a lot of off the wall terrible things at times and people tell me "you can't say that!". My response is simple, I can say WHAT I want WHEN i want as long as i am willing to accept the consequences that go with it. I have paid said consequences in the past and it has cost me but at least I owned up to it and accepted my responsibility in them. Society anymore is used to anonymity so no one is paying the consequences anymore of their actions. This leads people to believe they can say what they want when they want and expect no repercussions. That excuse doesn't work in a business setting and this setting is certainly no different then if he were to go to his job and say things against company policy.
Sorry but if you sign a contract you should adhere to the items within and he did not. His actions had consequences and he paid them.
Hmm I got several warning playing star trek online, and all I said is "Trump may not be as stupid as he appear" I'm pretty sure it's not only exclusive to cryptic. and voila blizzard and also probably most of companies. Until I cited first amendment, US constitution. A lot of company forget that they have violated the first amendment.
I'm personally someone who doesn't like to "read politics in gaming," but unfortunately it's part of our industry - especially when a giant gaming company (who is one of the most important companies in our specific niche, if not the most important) makes a statement like they have, it's one of those topics we really can't avoid.
As far as the forum code of conduct, I would think it's a bit outdated and in need of a refresh. I understand the spirit of the way it's written - religion and politics are dumpster fire subjects that can devolve from thoughtful discussion to outright rage induced baiting - but I don't think we can avoid these discussion. Now I think if it's no longer a discussion, but rather something that has turned from thoughtful speech to hate speech we'll have a problem. But it might be time to revisit these guidelines as the industry itself has changed so much.
You aren't going to see weekly political topics from us, I know how tiring it can be to go from one gaming site to the next seeing nothing but political bias in headlines and such - but something like this, on this magnitude just can't be ignored.
As always, if y'all have issues - shoot me an email and let's talk! [email protected]
Thank you for your passion. Thank you for you words.
I'm gonna interject here and say that the political outrage trolling that was going on by what I consider a troll flash-mob in STO chat on a daily basis over the summer was probably what attributed to your ban; as well as many others who may or may not actually have been there to play the game.
I'm thinking Blizzard may not be the only guilty party here.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Blizzard/NFL what's the difference? Who's worse? Should another country especially a communist one have the ability to pressure and dictate what is said in other countries? GO!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯