Blizzard CEO Lays Gay Guild Issue To Rest

Edge Online reports that Blizzard CEO Paul Sams has responded to the GLBT Guild issue that flared up in World of Warcraft a while back. From the article: "... he again characterized the earlier decision to prohibit mention of real-world subjects in recruiting for guilds as an 'unfortunate mistake,' which only came about because the initial comments weren't properly analyzed before sending a warning. 'It is expected and accepted that players will discuss a wide variety of topics, based on both the game world and the real world,' Sams says. 'Players are free to discuss personal characteristics if they wish, to include their sexual orientations and gender identities.'

Comments

Laid to rest?

[xtieburn]

So Blizzard has backed down on its policy, and this is somehow more free now? I wonder.

Can someone now start a guild that excludes GLBT? Can someone discuss, without being threatening, there dislike of GLBT people without being reported?

Id take a guess and say doubtful. After all GLBT people may find it offensive and thats what the rules are there to stop. Oh but hang on. How is that different to people being offended by GLBT discussion and guilds?

I dislike defending biggots and the intolerant but freedom in these things should be universal else it is nothing but a damaging double standard and a dangerous one at that. As I said in a previous post (One that I got marked as a troll for so im not expecting happy joy joy feelings at this rant.) this is a double edged sword and Blizzard have seen fit to blunt one side of it by saying people cant be offended by GLBT but can be offended by those against GLBT. That is unless they are perfectly fine with anti GLBT sentiments but that opens the flood gates in an entirely different set of arguments.

The rule was simple and ment no one no matter what there thoughts on the issue would have to get bogged down with views on sexuality. I.e. they were perfectly reasonable. Now whether it was Blizzard or this Lambda group handling it badly really doesnt matter. Backing down and then claiming its case closed isnt going to work. I wouldnt be surprised if there was a backlash to this. After all maybe me refering to something bad as gay could be considered offensive enough to report now. While perhaps someone of GLBT persuasion could make lewd sex act refrences but be impossible to report because that would be crippling there freedom. I dont know because we no long have simple universal rules anymore.

Itll probably all be fine. Theyve probably reached a happy balance, but lets just say Im glad Blizzard are only determining freedoms within an online game and nothing more. The biggest problem with this whole debate was that it had to take place at all.

Opportunity!!!!

[rewinn]

1. Set up server where gay and anti-gay guilds can fight it out 2. Recruit all those jerks protesting at funerals 3. ??? 4. Profit!!!! ---- (At the least, it might move some of those jerks out of real space onto WoW, where they can get their butts well and truly kicked!)

New Guild

[infinii]

Applications are now being accepted for the Brokeback Guild.

Re:*sigh* Gotta be Politically Correct in fantasy.

[0racle]

Welcome to the real world, just like making disparaging remarks about people believing in a god is currently ok, welcome and even illustrates that you must be one of the intelligent enlightened in current society. On top of that, you do not have to be a bigot to not want to hear about being gay, peoples political opinions, religious beliefs or whatever when you play a game.

It's a game and people play it for entertainment and relaxation. Leave your problems in the real world where they are your problems, not mine.

Straights-Only Guild?

[alexgieg]

Does this mean I can create a guild for straights and sympathizer only and advertise it on public chat?

This whole subject is completely ridiculous, and Blizzard is making it even more ridiculous. What's next? A Blacks Only guild? Or should we be PC and say African-Americans Only guild, never minding this would exclude non-American blacks from joining it? Maybe that could be followed by a Whites Only guild too. Or would this one be too un-PC?

The whole problem, actually, is GLBTs using their "GLBTness" as a defining characteristic of their personalities. This is as much absurd as a straight proclaiming his straightness as being the important aspect of himself. Sex is just a like/dislike thing, one among many. It's not worth this central role people, specially GLBTs, see in it.

More power to them... Will be modded down I expect

[tod_miller]

I am personally recruiting for my whites-friendly guilds. Its is just some fun you see, we get to sit on the best seats on the bus and get to use different hair salons to other guilds.

I am also running up a few straight-friendly guilds, again, innocent fun, straight people welcome of course.

Then you got you got your KKK friendly clans, your pedo-friendly clans, your necrophilia-friendly clans, your narcotics friendly clans, date-rape clans, horse-sex clans, and my personal favourite, stalker-and-murderer friendly clans.

Why is sexual orientation different to any other facet of society that gives it some magical pervasive power that now forces you to acknowledge it?

"You won't let me spend 24 hours a day shouting to everyone and everyone that my guild is gay, you oppressive monsters!"

I think it is pathetic, and sad that in this world a company can't stand up and say 'no we won't take your plight and pin your banner to our terms of service, and we will not buckle under pervasive embarrassed silence of social grey areas and say that sexual orientation doesn't belong in our game, regardless if you chosen sexual orientation is traditionally discriminated against or not'.

Yes yes mod me down, maybe I am too liberal for you liberal types. Post a picture of Mohammed, yes no problem, blasphem any western religion? Go for it! Here is a statue of *diety* lets all urinate on it!

Decide not to pander to some gay pride group on WOW?

Fuck that! I am putting a 20x82 pixel badge on my website in protest right now! maybe one of those neat 'makepovertyhistory' style banners. And I will like, blog about this, and digg it and maybe it will end up on slashdot!

What do we want? Gay rights on WOW! When do we want them? Now! Why? I have no fucking clue, maybe because gay people are shit at fighting? I don't know!

PS: I heard that in counterstrike, there isn't an option to buy special 'gay' mods for your guns, you just get the exact same guns as everyone else, which obviously isn't good enough, so you should complain about that too. Why stop at haveing special rules to advertise your sexuality if you are gay?

Why not have get the better bus seats? Maybe we should all give way to you on roads? Perhaps you should pay less taxes. (very few people look at costs of gay marraiges from a fiscal perspective, laws, benefits etc, versus the original reason for allocating those tax incentives).

I will shut up now, because it will be too depressing when this gets marks flamebait.

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