A Letter From CEO Bobby Kotick to All Employees

[Al Gorefiend]

I don't know, man. I'll use gender for the sake of argument because we actually have those numbers: if you have a man and a woman with identical qualifications (which is a bit unlikely, but okay), but 80% of your work force is male (which is the case at Blizzard), then you might argue that being a woman is a unique asset that she has over the man, because she can offer unique insights and perspectives that aren't well represented within the current workplace.

That argument applies to any underrepresented demographic. If 80% of your work force is under 30 and you have a candidate that's 60, they should be given the same sort of consideration.

Having a diversity of ideas and perspectives is the strength of trying to mirror the diversity of society in your own work force, especially when it comes to a creative industry. And especially if you're making a game for a diverse audience.

The person that gets it. Even a great product that is 100% made by the same demographic gets problematic.

I'll give another example that didn't get much press coverage. The company Jagex, behind RuneScape, was historically made by a small dozen or so English gents. The game featured an area based on Saudi Arabia mythology. In one specific area of the desert, there is a town where each and every character was named Ali. Through dialogue and loose referencing, the player can find that everyone named "Ali" is essentially a rip on the real world naming convention of many people in the Middle East being named "Muhammad".

All the NPCs in the city got renamed as Jagex's workforce diversified, and this potentially problematic part of the game was fixed internally by staff, with players not even given patch notes that many NPCs were renamed.

What I'm saying is, Blizzard could have avoided this if they were as diverse and woke as they claimed.

[The Stormbringer]

Are you sure you talking with the right person? Because I haven't started anything, and my last posts on this forum are from years ago, and not about politics or social issues.

The only political leader in Russia worth talking about is Putin and I'm pretty sure he never condoned any such actions.

As for my motivation, its simple really, I hate generalisations like you did, calling a guy who you don't know, a forum troll, just because your media outlets love to blame russians for everything. Such a progressive position indeed.

I mean, Russia isn't exactly known for being very kind or thinking very highly of LGBT, so it's not too surprising he's confused. That said, I haven't found any open statements condoning violence, but I also haven't looked too deeply.

[zorkuus]

What I'm saying is, Blizzard could have avoided this if they were as diverse and woke as they claimed.

How? Black/asian/indian/whatever men can't be part of this so called "bro culture"?

[Video Games]

You're not judging people based on the color of their skin, you're acknowledging that they've been historically and systemically fucked over. Being "color blind" means you ignore all the struggles that they've had to go through, and their parents, and their grandparents.

It's actually ignoring all the struggles they pretend to have on twitter for likes

[Aggressive]

That is why people in the West, mainly the US, think that being a leftist is about defunding the police, diversity or whatever other modern buzzword comes to mind. They never knew what leftist politics are because they never had the chance to witness them and are therefor clueless when it comes to reckognizing them.

I love how people of politics think that leftist and people of the right think that either side is better. When all actuality both sides are pure shit and both sides are nothing but dirty ass bitches. Neither is better then the other and it is not like either side is angels. Both sides are nothing but wolves ready to get over on the innocent for money. Fuck politics. They have no place in video games.............Not even a little.

[Pannonian]

You do realise that the demeaning attitude and ostracisation of them is increasing the risk of this.
There's no reason to use it as its currently used except for self masturbation. But in the end it just creates more victims.

Empathy and sympathy is what's needed for almost anyone that's troubled. Because they probably have lacked it which turns them into desperate people.

Did i demean or ostracise them? I'd argue that i didn't, and i would support any help for them to get out of this subculture. But if they become a danger for society or commit crimes, they should feel the consequences. This is not some disability that is clouding your judgement.

I fully support empathy and passion for them, if they want the help. If they want to stay in their victim world and lash out on it - fuck em. (and this is btw. the same argument i bring for religious terrorists, white supremacists, you name them)

[DingDongKing]

Man, irony is really lost on you...

You know that whooshing sound you had when you read my post? Right.

You know what's easier instead of trying to be an internet smart arse? Be direct. Get to the point.

So either you're be sarcastic in the face of this whole 'omg Blizzard is woke' fracas, or you actually believe it. Put your best foot forward.

[Nimin]

You're not judging people based on the color of their skin, you're acknowledging that they've been historically and systemically fucked over. Being "color blind" means you ignore all the struggles that they've had to go through, and their parents, and their grandparents.

Okay, acnowledged. Now get a move on, and stop crying about being a victim.
Guess what: having a certain skincolor in no way proves that you, your parents, or your grandparents had it rougher than me, my parents, or my grandparents.

Being "color blind" denies the victim card based on stuff that happened centuries ago to people who looked like them - hence why they hate it.

[DingDongKing]

How? Black/asian/indian/whatever men can't be part of this so called "bro culture"?

The man has a point. Blizzard does a LOT of grandstanding, whilst also engaging in corporate shillery AND then having this ugly side of engaging in sexual harassment and discrimination. So what he's saying is Blizzard was ACTUALLY woke and diverse, and not just grandstanding, sexual harassment and discrimination wouldn't exist. And he's right. There's tons of companies that pretend to be diverse and inclusive, but DGAF. Look at Coke. They've gone full rainbow marketing in the West during Pride Week, but if you go to any country LGBTQ rights are non-existent, there is no sign of it. Because they only care about the big fat wads of cash. If they actually had an ounce of courage, they'd go full pride week and more in the countries where LGBTQ rights are an issue. That's the real standing up for diversity and inclusion. The rest is usual marketing and faff.

Okay, acnowledged. Now get a move on, and stop crying about being a victim.
Guess what: having a certain skincolor in no way proves that you, your parents, or your grandparents had it rougher than me, my parents, or my grandparents.

Being "color blind" denies the victim card based on stuff that happened centuries ago to people who looked like them - hence why they hate it.

That is the dumbest fucking take ever. There is a HIGH AS FUCK chance that the ancestors of African-Americans have had it really fucking hard, even going back 50-75 years. So no, 'colour blind' is just an easy way to say, 'I won't treat situations with care and respect, I'll be a dick to everyone'.

[Kumorii]

Did i demean or ostracise them? I'd argue that i didn't, and i would support any help for them to get out of this subculture. But if they become a danger for society or commit crimes, they should feel the consequences. This is not some disability that is clouding your judgement.

I fully support empathy and passion for them, if they want the help. If they want to stay in their victim world and lash out on it - fuck em. (and this is btw. the same argument i bring for religious terrorists, white supremacists, you name them)

Didn't say you did. But you posted in a discussion where its used as an insult to do so. And frankly the term nowadays is widely used as solely an insult. Just used it as an segway to hopefully people stop using it as an insult because it only breeds more victims including those of violence.

[Stormwolf64]

You're not judging people based on the color of their skin, you're acknowledging that they've been historically and systemically fucked over. Being "color blind" means you ignore all the struggles that they've had to go through, and their parents, and their grandparents.

And how will that improve planet earth? People are so fucked in the head these days. Pitying and sympathizing for eternity, will that help anyone? Maybe they can get a whip and take a crack at slavery? will that make their lives any better? No of course it won't. Moving forward hand is what has to be done. Blaming and guilting is a fools endevour and will continue to breed hate in equal measure to the good it attempts to do.

[zorkuus]

The man has a point. Blizzard does a LOT of grandstanding, whilst also engaging in corporate shillery AND then having this ugly side of engaging in sexual harassment and discrimination. So what he's saying is Blizzard was ACTUALLY woke and diverse, and not just grandstanding, sexual harassment and discrimination wouldn't exist.

Yes, I got that part 100%. But how would being more diverse and woke prevent people from doing bad stuff, without sounding like "bad behavior" is only a white man problem?

[Magnagarde]

I love how people of politics think that leftist and people of the right think that either side is better. When all actuality both sides are pure shit and both sides are nothing but dirty ass bitches. Neither is better then the other and it is not like either side is angels. Both sides are nothing but wolves ready to get over on the innocent for money. Fuck politics. They have no place in video games.............Not even a little.

I completely agree. I wish games had never gotten politicised.

[docterfreeze]

In-game changes? What could those be? Is every trace of garrosh going to be removed from the games?

[Unlockmyhrt]

Still no anti-cheat in Warzone

[Ivarr]

You do realise that the demeaning attitude and ostracisation of them is increasing the risk of this.
There's no reason to use it as its currently used except for self masturbation. But in the end it just creates more victims.

This line of reasoning lends credence to the perpetrator's motives and reduces their agency. Society's responsibility is to help the ostracised build resilience, not to curtail society in its ostracisation.

[Sluvs]

And that said who? Those exact women that were not promoted? Are you sure that they indeed are better qualified, or they might be just jealous that they didn't get promoted because of skill reasons, and now cover this with discrimination stuff? This thought didn't occur in you head, did it?

It did. But when the people promoted have a pattern, the discrimination becomes pretty obvious. I mean, are you telling the that the white males in blizzard are ALWAYS more qualified? That would be one hell of a strange coincidence.

[Magnagarde]

Yes, I got that part 100%. But how would being more diverse and woke prevent people from doing bad stuff, without sounding like "bad behavior" is only a white man problem?

They're pretending that diversity always makes things better.

[pacotaco]

That is why people in the West, mainly the US, think that being a leftist is about defunding the police, diversity or whatever other modern buzzword comes to mind. They never knew what leftist politics are because they never had the chance to witness them and are therefor clueless when it comes to reckognizing them.

USA is a good example of what happens when you only have right and more-right for generations. Anything that looks barely as a socialist thing is looked up as the demon.
- Syndicates? NO! Better fight for you're labor rights 1v1 you vs an international conglomerate. I'm sure it'd all be OK. The best thing they have are Unions. They're close but they just fight for their associates (they're closer to guilds than to true syndicates).
- Social security? Nah. Better to care for yourself and if you get ill and have no money to cover the treatment get ready to have a ginormous debt that would be paid until your grandchildren die, or die from that illness.
- Public education? Bah. You don't need education to be a manual worker. What? You want to be an engeneer? Better be ready to be a slave from the bank that gave you a credit to cost the tuition.

And the list go on...
But yeah, beware of the Red Menace.

[Magnagarde]

It did. But when the people promoted have a pattern, the discrimination becomes pretty obvious. I mean, are you telling the that the white males in blizzard are ALWAYS more qualified? That would be one hell of a strange coincidence.

I personally am not surprised that a white dude in his fourties and fifties, who has spent his entire life playing tabletop games, MMOs and videogames in general, gets promoted over Becky that was hired to fill a mandated hiring quota. This pertains to the game development department first and foremost.