World of Warcraft®

Accordning to many web pages that followed what happened when Sara Williams got a ban for LGBT-unfirnedly content when trying to make a commercial for a LGBT-friendly guild, the webpages all seem to say that blizz stated a apology and where planning to soften up the rulebook.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4700754.stm

Now in this forum, in last few days, players have stated that its STILL not allowed to make commercials for LGBT-guilds. Id like a blue post to enlighten this a bit, did blizz not promise actions to prevent rules against harrassment to work AS harrasment, or what happened?

Question now to blue peeps (or other) is: exactly what is the rules, where are the rules and what did get changed after the debate with Sara Williams?

Didn't you learn from the fact the last 2 threads about this were locked?

I think it's just that being gay or something of the sort isn't a big cultural barrier that should be used to separate people in the game.

Ive seen 2 threads discussing racism and LGBT, and threads use to be locked when not having a clear purpose.

If this question, in topic, aint specific enough for you, do please say so and Ill try make it clearer.

Use google.

/thread.

PS. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6037002-7.html this tells you all if you use a bit brain on it.

04/04/2012 14:40Posted by Ghostile

Use google.

Sigh. I have, alot. And I think few wowers have read the rules as much as me, but Im still very unsure what it is that Sara got promised and would like a blue poster on it, or somebody that succeeds in clearifying it better then the 40 articles Ive read now.

04/04/2012 14:43Posted by Indiswe

Use google.

Sigh. I have, alot. And I think few wowers have read the rules as much as me, but Im still very unsure what it is that Sara got promised and would like a blue poster on it, or somebody that succeeds in clearifying it better then the 40 articles Ive read now.

And if you actualy read what I linked, it wasn't the guild, it was the recruitment message.

04/04/2012 14:40Posted by Ghostile

PS. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6037002-7.html this tells you all if you use a bit brain on it.

Read that one too.

"Blizzard has stated that the original incident with Andrews never should have happened and that they will be reviewing policies and procedures," In Newsweekly reporter Alexander Sliwinski wrote, "and having 'sensitivity training' with their 1,000 GMs on staff in North America, Europe, and Korea in the hopes that something like this doesn't happen again."

But, does not show us what happened, how policies where reviewed. No outcome.

04/04/2012 14:31Posted by Indiswe

exactly what is the rules, where are the rules and what did get changed after the debate with Sara Williams?

Let me clarify something first:

1. I am from a conservative country (2nd highest % of Christians in the World, after Vatican)
2. I am a liberal in a conservative country

Now, to go to your question. While I have no issues with gay,straight or whatever other sexuality is "in" currently, I do have an issue with children from 12 years old (while, let's face it, there are kids under 10 who play) seeing anything even remotely close to sexual behavior IN A GAME. Or the "flaunting" of a sexual preference of ANY people (again, be is straight, gay, or whatever) on a trade chat where a kid can look at it.

Imagine if you had an 8 year old kid who plays WoW (again, these things happen) and all of a sudden you see people recruiting for gay/lesbian or whatever guild. First off, he is most likely going to be confused about it and will ask you the question of what it is which then brings YOU to a nasty spot. Is it too early to tell them? Do I lie? ... all the questions that you should not have to ask yourself when dealing with an 8 y.o.

Secondly, if you explain it in a wrong way, you might have influenced the sexual preference of a young boy/girl in the long run making them in turn hate gay/lesbian people and such.

All in all, sex, or sexual preferences, should have no place in a GAME.
If you do have a need to do it, do it in whispers or private channels, not on a public place.

Transmit or post any content or use any language, in writing or orally, which, in the sole and absolute discretion of Blizzard Entertainment, is deemed to be offensive, including without limitation content or language that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, sexually explicit, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, nor may you use a misspelling or an alternative spelling to circumvent the content and language restrictions listed above

From the WoW TOU It's deliberately vague, but I've highlighted 2 key points. They can pretty much decide anything falls into this category.

Imagine if you had an 8 year old kid who plays WoW (again, these things happen) and all of a sudden you see people recruiting for gay/lesbian or whatever guild

Irrelevant since they should not be playing in the first place.

Otherwise you could argue that there should be no violence or sex in 18 rated movies because people under 18 will invariably see them.

As for your other points, my brother came out gay at 11 years old, sexual orientation doesn't have to be sexual.

At any rate the rules are likely not in place to protect children from asking their parents what lesbian means, they're in place mostly to protect the LGBT community from people that would abuse them if they knew their sexual orientation. As was said in the above linked article.

Blizzard defended itself by saying that information about players' real lives can lead to harassment in the game and its warning was only intended to limit such harassment.

I believe that's true and these rules are in place to try and keep the game as friendly and welcoming as possible.

As soon as 'players' become 'lesbian player' or 'christian player' or 'left wing player' it all starts to fall apart due to some people who take great joy in abusing someone just because of their ideals or beliefs, and while Blizzard will ban these people, it's easier and better for all involved if the situation never occurred in the first place, so the rules are a preventative measure.

Look at it this way, you'd rather have to wear uncomfortable gloves when cleaning than get an infection and have to take antibiotics later.

04/04/2012 14:46Posted by Ghostile

And if you actualy read what I linked, it wasn't the guild, it was the recruitment message.

Yeah, she got a warning for harrasment against LGBTs for in a commercial for the guild mentioning the guild was LGBT-friendly. Im assuming thats why blizz thought it well to look over the rules, but, not seen any outcome of it and now when people is speaking in forums as if this didnt even happen, saying you can still get banned for it, then, something is amiss.

And if you actualy read what I linked, it wasn't the guild, it was the recruitment message.

Yeah, she got a warning for harrasment against LGBTs for in a commercial for the guild mentioning the guild was LGBT-friendly. Im assuming thats why blizz thought it well to look over the rules, but, not seen any outcome of it and now when people is speaking in forums as if this didnt even happen, saying you can still get banned for it, then, something is amiss.

probably as likely as swearing on trade channel.

They already got a fuzz over it, they don't want more bad rep in this kinda thing in a world like this.

I don't get it...what does my real life social satus, nationality, haircolour or sexual orientation have to do with the game?

As far as I know , I have only been in LGBT freindly guilds...as I'm sure nobody gives a *** what your sexual orientation is. It...is....not.....relevant

1. I am from a conservative country (2nd highest % of Christians in the World, after Vatican)
2. I am a liberal in a conservative country

Sorry, but this aint really the question i ask. Blizz has already, when one GM one time threatened to ban a player for advertising a LGBT-friendly guild apologiesed and said it would not happen again. Note, the add was not about sex, just saying LGBT-friendly. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6037002-7.html

We do know that blizz said that the GMs action (the ban) should not happen again. Therefor, it must now be ok to post, same as with other guilds, a note saying LGBT-friendly. So, knowing those 2 things and that blizz said they would look up the rules again, I have to agree with Faylanna, the rules are very vague on this. GMs, what say you?

I don't get it...what does my real life social satus, nationality, haircolour or sexual orientation have to do with the game?

As far as I know , I have only been in LGBT freindly guilds...as I'm sure nobody gives a *** what your sexual orientation is. It...is....not.....relevant

This basically, sometimes nationality comes into it from a language point of view, sometimes you may only want to play with swedish people if you can only speak swedish for example.

But the other things are indeed irrelevant!

04/04/2012 14:59Posted by Faylanna

I don't get it...what does my real life social satus, nationality, haircolour or sexual orientation have to do with the game?

If you want to discuss the relationship between ingame life and life outside game, i suggest a own topic for it, otherwise i consider it trolling. Ty.

You won't get an answer from Blizzard, these forums are not a direct line to them, these forums are here for player discussion.

04/04/2012 15:01Posted by Indiswe

I don't get it...what does my real life social satus, nationality, haircolour or sexual orientation have to do with the game?

If you want to discuss the relationship between ingame life and life outside game, i suggest a own topic for it, otherwise i consider it trolling. Ty.

I consider reviving the same locked topic twice, trolling and spamming, but to each their own I suppose.

04/04/2012 14:47Posted by Tinyavenger

Imagine if you had an 8 year old kid who plays WoW (again, these things happen) and all of a sudden you see people recruiting for gay/lesbian or whatever guild. First off, he is most likely going to be confused about it and will ask you the question of what it is which then brings YOU to a nasty spot. Is it too early to tell them? Do I lie? ... all the questions that you should not have to ask yourself when dealing with an 8 y.o.

8 year olds shouldn't be playing the game. I'd make that a bannable offence.

04/04/2012 15:05Posted by Khristo

You won't get an answer from Blizzard, these forums are not a direct line to them, these forums are here for player discussion.

Yeah, Im starting to think so too. Reason why Im posting here is because in game GMs is always saying that "blizzard appreciates thoughts and questions on how to develope the game but not to ingame GMs, instead, post on forums". If blizz could just "come out" more honest about theyre ways :)