Real Names on Official Forums cancelled

Real ID was meant to prevent trolls.

Now, instead they'll just ban them left right and centre and take a real hard line approach. So overall it will work out worse for the trolls (who were the ones mostly against it) but better for everyone else who was worried about it

The problem is that they ban the wrong people many times. I was given a ban from there once for "trolling." I even sent them an email stating that I wasn't trolling and have never trolled and they replied "we determined that the appropriate action was taken." I replied with "how can that be when I wasn't trolling?"

Now, to the bystander, you'd think "well, you didn't think you were, but you were..." but I really wasn't. They mistake too many things for trolling and people who are flat-out trolling have been doing so for years. Heck, there were a couple guys who i've reported left/right for 2 years and they still remain. They go from post to post making cracks at people's gear, trying to pick fights and spamming "LOLUMAD!?" type comments.

Double-standards?

There was a couple good post out there on why this REAL ID crap was a bad idea. I'm reading idiots who are saying " you all are just paranoid that some ethug will come hunt you down. " That actually isn't even half of it. Most of the supporters out there probably don't have important jobs to keep a reputation with, or are probably just idiots who don't understand how this harms privacy.

One of the first things Blizzard kept stressing for years was.."never give your private information to anyone."
Okay? So why change that? Trolls? Yeah right. Sad to say, but even for the trolls it was a security issue.

As far as jobs go...most of them out there know about World of Warcraft!(people who don't play world of warcraft, have this bad image about the game) Do you think if they ran a background search on JOHN DOE and they saw that he played WoW because of a posting he did, do you think that he would get the job? You better believe that he wouldn't. (and if you think otherwise, you are retarded)

What about getting hacked? It would be so much easier to get hacked...if anything it opens doors to more hackers...
"Thank you for calling Blizzard, can I get your first and last name?" Guess what? He no longer has to look for that name...its right in front of his screen no longer marked by asterisk.

Did any of you all hear about the GM who tried to make a point by giving out his real name on the forums? He got found asap. People visited his office, took pictures of his desk..

Here is an actual script of something similar that happened..

Coworker: Hello?
Me: Hello, could I please speak with So-And-So?
CW: Um, sure, hold on.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music::
(a new person, female, answers)
Manager: Hello, this is Kimberly SomeLastName, can I help you?
Me: Yes, I was wondering if I could please speak with So-And-So?
Manager: :ause:: Sure. Please hold.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music, five minute wait::
:Male Voice)::
MV: Hello?
Me: Hello, is this So-And-So?
MV: Yes.
Me: First and foremost, I want to apologize for calling you at work, and I also apologize if this doesn’t make sense, but are you Sikketh, from Thunderlord?
MV: :ause:: Yes.
Me: So yeah, that took me about 20 minutes and it was pretty easy.
MV: Wow. Ok.
Me: Also, just for shits and giggles, is your address ?
MV: yep.
Me: Phone number 555-555-5555?
MV: yep.
Me: I know your parents’ names are Name1 and Name2, I know your room is painted blue and I know you have a cute dog. I know where you were on the 4th of July and I know when you got back. Don’t worry, I’m not a crazy, I’m not going to do anything with it, and I’m not going to post your address or anything anywhere. I just wanted you to know that what I did was very easy and very free, from just your name and toon’s name. You have a good day, and thanks for being a good sport about it.
MV: Hey, I did basically ask for it – thank you. I was wrong about RealID.

Originally Posted by Talthaeran

It may very well still be on on the tables, however.

Aye, I spotted that line too - however:
I doubt they'll use our real names.

My hope is that they'll add some global nickname which, when clicked, takes you to some sort of armory profile
containing all your characters. That might stop some of the spam and misc bullsh--.

Originally Posted by sleekit

there was no point in showing peoples real name because it didn't provide what the anti troll posters want which is accountablity.

that is unless they were advocating some unmentioned action which would affect the named party in RL which is exactly what they have been framing as paranoia when its put forward by others.

as i've said before if blizzard and you as an anti troll poster want accountablity and a sanction that affects people in RL and thus dissuades then from posting crap ask them to link forum and game so that a temporarily or permanent ban affects both.


there are plenty of forums around the internet who deal well with trolls without posting members real names and if this was such a great idea one has to ponder as to why this is practically the first most people have ever heard of such a thing.

some of the people posting here think the posting of real names is not a valid concern. they point to the likes of facebook and get into hypothetical arguments about what might happen with those who disagree and that's fine and understandable because quite honestly this game is for 12 and up and a great many of the people who will be playing simply haven't lived very much.

i disagree with the idea because of a preexisting reason for fostering as much anonymity as possible when i'm on the internet (or anywhere else) and have the full support of the state in doing so and i wouldn't wish the reasons for that on anyone else but the sad fact is most of you will encounter the darker side of life during the course of it and develop a far greater understanding for why privacy is protected under the law.


so to recap this idea didn't provide accountablity unless you advocated the kinds of use of the information you called paranoia from others and a far better idea is to provide a sanction which actually does affect in RL those you are supposedly against (trolls) without raising privacy concerns like linking bans from forum and game together.

none of the "QQ won" comments are constructive and it seems most of you haven't even read what they are moving forward with as an alternative. if you expended as much energy arguing for something that you thought was actually a good idea (like say linking forum and game banning) rather than picking fights with your fellow players (who are not all trolls or stupid so get over it) just maybe you'd actually achieve something.

atm all you are really doing is continuing to be poster boys for why those outside think WoW has a terrible community.

Good post (:

The whole point of trolls having to show their real name is so that they can face real life repercussions or fear facing real life repercussions for the vile things they say/do.

But non-trolls will also have the chance of facing real life repercussions or fear real life repercussions for the things they say/do--even things that are not nasty or hateful. It would have driven not just bad posters away, but helpful, nice posters as well. It would have not just endangered trolls, but non-trolls as well.

Originally Posted by Needalight

Here is an actual script of something similar that happened..

Coworker: Hello?
Me: Hello, could I please speak with So-And-So?
CW: Um, sure, hold on.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music::
(a new person, female, answers)
Manager: Hello, this is Kimberly SomeLastName, can I help you?
Me: Yes, I was wondering if I could please speak with So-And-So?
Manager: :ause:: Sure. Please hold.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music, five minute wait::
:Male Voice)::
MV: Hello?
Me: Hello, is this So-And-So?
MV: Yes.
Me: First and foremost, I want to apologize for calling you at work, and I also apologize if this doesn’t make sense, but are you Sikketh, from Thunderlord?
MV: :ause:: Yes.
Me: So yeah, that took me about 20 minutes and it was pretty easy.
MV: Wow. Ok.
Me: Also, just for shits and giggles, is your address ?
MV: yep.
Me: Phone number 555-555-5555?
MV: yep.
Me: I know your parents’ names are Name1 and Name2, I know your room is painted blue and I know you have a cute dog. I know where you were on the 4th of July and I know when you got back. Don’t worry, I’m not a crazy, I’m not going to do anything with it, and I’m not going to post your address or anything anywhere. I just wanted you to know that what I did was very easy and very free, from just your name and toon’s name. You have a good day, and thanks for being a good sport about it.
MV: Hey, I did basically ask for it – thank you. I was wrong about RealID.

This is a believable story that is backed up by information provided.

Once again, this is Sean-Patrick Fleming...telling you people to go back to the Official Forums, because I'm sick to death of you.

Originally Posted by Lightfist

This is a believable story that is backed up by information provided.

Once again, this is Sean-Patrick Fleming...telling you people to go back to the Official Forums, because I'm sick to death of you.

My bad, didn't realize you owned the forums here. I will head out immediately. Now that those of us with real jobs, and real careers can feel safe posting on the blizz forums.

fking nice

Ya know, it's too easy to say that people opposed to real names on forums are just QQing about crap. I am relieved that the decision was reversed, for now. I am also saddened that a handful of players and posters just don't get it. But hey, maybe those folks really want all sorts of advertising pinpointing them not only in real life (e-mails, USPS mail, web sites, telephone...) but also IN GAME like WoW mails, tells, riding along in Mulgore and seeing a billboard or a skywriter with an ad for a REAL LIFE product courtesy of one of Activision-Blizzard partners.

If the corporations don't know who you are, they can't target you for their latest and greatest product. If the disturbed don't know who you are, they can't come knocking on your door for rolling higher than you did on an epic. If your current or future employers can't Google you and pull up your constructive posts, they can't discriminate against you.

Or would you rather live in a country where, no matter where you go, you have to accede to the demand, "Your paperzz pleazeee..." Not me, thank you very much.

Originally Posted by Needalight

Here is an actual script of something similar that happened..

Coworker: Hello?
Me: Hello, could I please speak with So-And-So?
CW: Um, sure, hold on.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music::
(a new person, female, answers)
Manager: Hello, this is Kimberly SomeLastName, can I help you?
Me: Yes, I was wondering if I could please speak with So-And-So?
Manager: :ause:: Sure. Please hold.
Me: Thank you.
::hold music, five minute wait::
:Male Voice)::
MV: Hello?
Me: Hello, is this So-And-So?
MV: Yes.
Me: First and foremost, I want to apologize for calling you at work, and I also apologize if this doesn’t make sense, but are you Sikketh, from Thunderlord?
MV: :ause:: Yes.
Me: So yeah, that took me about 20 minutes and it was pretty easy.
MV: Wow. Ok.
Me: Also, just for shits and giggles, is your address ?
MV: yep.
Me: Phone number 555-555-5555?
MV: yep.
Me: I know your parents’ names are Name1 and Name2, I know your room is painted blue and I know you have a cute dog. I know where you were on the 4th of July and I know when you got back. Don’t worry, I’m not a crazy, I’m not going to do anything with it, and I’m not going to post your address or anything anywhere. I just wanted you to know that what I did was very easy and very free, from just your name and toon’s name. You have a good day, and thanks for being a good sport about it.
MV: Hey, I did basically ask for it – thank you. I was wrong about RealID.

Could I have a link to that forum post please? I've heard about it once or twice but haven't seen it for myself yet.

Originally Posted by z932074

Could I have a link to that forum post please? I've heard about it once or twice but haven't seen it for myself yet.

Here's the original blog post. Here's where he claims to have found the person. And, Here's the forum post where the person challenges to be found, and then edited the post to say he was found.

Originally Posted by Lightfist

This is a believable story that is backed up by information provided.

Once again, this is Sean-Patrick Fleming...telling you people to go back to the Official Forums, because I'm sick to death of you.

Originally Posted by Battlegrounds

Here's the original blog post. Here's where he claims to have found the person. And, Here's the forum post where the person challenges to be found, and then edited the post to say he was found.

hehehe ofc this guy is lying how can you find someone by their name i know everything about the internet

It'll be back with a vengeance after Cataclysm hits.

You guys are idiots if you dont think that posting real names on those forums would cause a problem. Your name is all a person needs to get your address, your social security number, your phone number, and all that information about your family and loved ones too.

You say babies, i say less likely to be stalked. We live in the real world, time to get back to it.

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

Playing World of Warcraft and other Blizzard games compromises your career?

His career is just awesome.

If you get fired or whatever for playing a video game you must have done something wrong.

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 07:30 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Cronnix

Want me to link several cases where people been killed over a game? That is not paranoia, that is being realistic.

How is that possible? Aren't they all anonymous on the internet? Like on the WoW forum.

I guess if someone really wants to kill you they will find you.

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 07:53 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Needalight

As far as jobs go...most of them out there know about World of Warcraft!(people who don't play world of warcraft, have this bad image about the game) Do you think if they ran a background search on JOHN DOE and they saw that he played WoW because of a posting he did, do you think that he would get the job? You better believe that he wouldn't. (and if you think otherwise, you are retarded)

I wouldn't even want to work there. And tbh you are retarded that you think you won't get a job because you play a video game. If WoW is that one little thing that makes an employer pick someone else over you maybe you should try harder. You clearly did not represent yourself good enough and the employer would have probably found something else why they chose the other guy and not you. Maybe because you smoke sigarettes or maybe because you don't like his taste of music. Maybe because you watch horror movies or listen to slip knot.

You should try to not be ashamed of playing WoW and handle other peoples opinions/reactions about it. It's a lot healthier.

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 08:05 AM ----------

Originally Posted by clumsydwarf

I don't know but a teacher in the next town over was suspended for having a Twitter account so you tell me.

Once again, maybe when you get into the real world, you will understand.

This can only happen in the US. It's also a really cool story to tell, but there were probably also other reasons.

Almost all our politicians in our country use twitter to communicate with people. I really doubt anyone would get fired because they use Twitter.

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 08:14 AM ----------

Originally Posted by gamz247

So basically you advocate violence against mean people. Nice. Real nice.

And you advocate mean people being mean without repercussions. Nice. Real nice.

And why is fear violence and being mean not?

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 08:34 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Crosis

No because some kids rage so hard over not getting a loot they hold grudges for years, trust me i have been a victim of this, while i dont think i would have any physical harm done to me. That doesnt say someone else might not, for example kids get into a fight on the server some kid is borderline pyschotic finds out Phil's name and facebooks him, and finds out Phil is really excited to go to blizzcon so he buys a ticket for blizzcon to confront Phil for taking his thunderfury (even though Phil earned it) and decides hes gonna get a few friends together and mug Phil at blizzcon in the parking lot or further?

RL threats could come from this alot easier then before and it would SCARE people into not posting etc which as i said is terrorism.

You know why they rage and hold grudges and harrass you on the internet? Because they are anonymous, no repercussions. In real life you can actually do something about it. And yes they should be ffing scared to harrass people.

I think it's really weird and I am really sorry for you that you feel terrorised when you are not anonymous anymore. Aren't you terrorised right now since you are so very scared of giving your real name? Only, now you feel safe.

It's the world we live in. It's the reason why we have laws and police/army to protect ourselves from each other. You should never give in on terrorism, because that proves it works and it will happen more and more. Being anonymous maybe protects you a little bit but it's not a solution. Less people will care about what you have to say if you are anonymous and think you are scared.

Victory to the comunity over a ridiculous idea.


GZ every one who took part.

Originally Posted by Ammikaameri

I'd say, victory to the paranoids and to the people who are afraid of the real world.

I'm very much against this, but not for ramifications in the real world.

It's quite easy to discredit someone online. Then learn something about SEO and you can control what people find about said person on the web. Like I said in an earlier post with the help of my college mates I'm able to photoshop a picture of a guy so he wears make-up, has pink hair and wears a dress while being intimate with other men in a gay bar in about 15 minutes.
And depending on the name it can be on top of google and google images in less than an hour. (For very common names this will take more time and effort, not impossible though.)

Originally Posted by Panoramixe

I'm very much against this, but not for ramifications in the real world.

It's quite easy to discredit someone online. Then learn something about SEO and you can control what people find about said person on the web. Like I said in an earlier post with the help of my college mates I'm able to photoshop a picture of a guy so he wears make-up, has pink hair and wears a dress while being intimate with other men in a gay bar in about 15 minutes.
And depending on the name it can be on top of google and google images in less than an hour. (For very common names this will take more time and effort, not impossible though.)

That just sounds fun

Originally Posted by dvn123

hehehe ofc this guy is lying how can you find someone by their name i know everything about the internet

You mean they were both lying? Since there are two people involved. And, if you know everything about the internet, then why are you asking how to find someone by their name? Maybe you don't know everything about the internet?

---------- Post added 2010-07-12 at 03:53 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ammikaameri

I'd say, victory to the paranoids and to the people who are afraid of the real world.

Paranoid/fear does not mean cautious. If I was paranoid, then I wouldn't cross the street. But, since I'm cautious, I look both ways before crossing the street.

Same with the internet. If I was paranoid, then I wouldn't be online. But, since I'm cautious, I don't share my information with everyone online.

finally some sanity

I can't believe how pathetically paranoid some people are. I was giggling to myself myself and wondering if some of the people on the WoW forums live in fear their entire lives of what might happen.