Breakfast Topic: When discrimination rears its ugly head
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 29th 2006 at 8:42AM
I play a Shaman as my main, and I've said it more than once to my guild already: as much as I can, I will outright refuse to group with Paladins in the Burning Crusade. I don't care if they are on our side, if they do bring that sweet, sweet Judgement of Wisdom, and if they are really corrupting the light-- a Pally is a Pally. They're my sworn enemy, and that means they have to die (as soon as that shield fades, anyway).And I'm not alone-- Jingle refuses Blood Elves in general on behalf of the entire Horde. And interfaction discrimination doesn't have to wait until the Burning Crusade-- Julious points out that Gnomes seem to get no respect at all, even from Alliance. Hey, I respect Gnomes plenty. I respect them at dinnertime with a fine Durotar wine, usually after they've been grilled or charbroiled.
So where do you land on all of this? Can't stand the sight of some of your supposed allies (I'll just assume you already hate the other faction), or do you think we should all just get along?
Filed under: Horde, Alliance, Gnomes, Paladin, Analysis / Opinion, Blood Elves, Features
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ryan Dec 29th 2006 9:09AM
Who wrote this article? Because seriously... get over yourself. You sound like some little kid who just started the game and picked the Human race because they were the "good guys" and Horde were the "bad guys."
It's just a game and you should consider yourself lucky to get a Paladin in your group. I'm actually surprised you don't play on an RP server... or do you?
priest Dec 29th 2006 9:14AM
Only a fool would take that stance, are you a fool? Remember, it's a game. To *not* take advantage of the addition of Pallys to the Horde is ignorant. And no, I don't have a Pally, I have a priest.
Seriously, it's attitudes like that, that spoil the game. I'd expect it of a 10 year old.
But then, it's you that'll loose out when you can't go on raids or instances with your guild because you refuse to group with a Pally...
Zuty Dec 29th 2006 9:16AM
Wow, QQ.
I play a shaman too, I was upset at first with BC but only because ally get shaman which I got over in like 2 seconds. I love BE, I have a BE pally on the beta server and they pwn. I would not mind having a pally in my group, In fact I think raiding will be easier with both sides getting pally and shaman now.
DÖT Dec 29th 2006 9:18AM
Well done in perpetuating the discrimination...jerk...but, seriously, I agree with Ryan. You should be happy you get a pally at all; you can finally stop complaining about the alliance and their pallies that kick your ass...but wait, you just decide to continue the hate. I don't see any alliance saying, "I hate shaman! I will never play a shaman! /spit on shaman!" Most alliance players look forward to playing a new class...most of them anyway.
Seems to me that the horde is self-hating...
priest Dec 29th 2006 9:21AM
it's actually funny that this topic is called "When discrimination rears its ugly head", because it implies the author does not discriminate when, in reality, he's the problem, not the solution.
BTW, my other comment, nothing against 10 year olds, I was just being stereotypical :)
GnomeLogic Dec 29th 2006 9:38AM
I read the article and agree that there IS some form of discrimination between the groups.... but then there always has been and will be. A friend and I who both like Gnomes can testify that on the Alliance side there are those (particularly NE males) who despise Gnomes because it destroys their "I'm a badass" vision when they see their main walking next to a Gnome who does equally well in combat. I think the same phenomena applies on the Hoarde side now with the introduction of the "swishy" Blood Elves. Even with a set of steriod treatments they still aren't "badass" enough to stand next to some Troll or Tauren in some folks eyes. It is both a blessing and a bane that folks get so into the game that their whims have such weight; but like my Imp fielded by my Gnome warlock says "can't we all just get along"?
hamsammich Dec 29th 2006 9:38AM
I think that anybody who actually gets upset about races in a game needs to step back for a bit and realize that it is, indeed, just a game. Who cares what races are with what faction? Pick a class, and freakin' play it.
Hochi Dec 29th 2006 9:51AM
mike... it´s only a game. how old are you? 15?
*scared*
sam Dec 29th 2006 9:54AM
to be honest, i would of preferred it if the horde was not given paladins and the alliance not given a shaman. sure, both class are ace but it takes away originality from both sides. i dont want to see some blue alien with hooves strutting around with his shaman skills acting like he owns the place, my troll would be sick. and im sure theres some alliance that think the same with shamans and horde getting paladins.
the only thing i can imagine is that there will be a flood of paladins on horde side and a flood of paladins on the alliance side. but in all fairness both are very useful in raids.. i just dont know anymore.. blah!
Shalkis Dec 29th 2006 10:04AM
My character will mercilessly mock Blood Elves and especially paladins, but I'll check my in-character prejudices at the instance portal.
Coincidentally, I also have some Alliance friends that I gank (and who gank me whenever they can), only to have a laugh about it afterwards on IRC.
Hate the character, not the player.
Chris Dec 29th 2006 10:06AM
Mike, hopefully people like you will be the minority and eventually you will realize that you must change your ignorant beliefs and immature behavior.
Mekias Dec 29th 2006 10:12AM
Maybe you guys are taking this too literally. It's a perfectly normal role-playing standard to have a sworn enemy or type of enemy. For Mike's shaman, it's paladins. I know role-playing is something to be looked down upon by the vast majority of WoW players but it's not called a RPG (role-playing game) for nothing.
I know many horde who are rather sadistic and cruel when talking about gnomes. How would they react if the horde suddenly got gnomes on our side? The exact same way that Mike's shaman feels about paladins, I'd wager.
I'm sure Mike himself is fine with BE paladins but if he feels like his shaman is pissed off about it, he would be untrue to that character if he didn't find a way to protest in some way.
Zequel Dec 29th 2006 10:12AM
Ignore the best buffs in the game if you wish. Kings, Salvation, Wisdom, Might - all great.
Kings is the best buff in the game - no contest. Its buff to int is better than AB (on a mage with > 310 int). Its buff to agility is better than a potion on a rogue/hunter. I could go on...
Salvation is HUGE for mages in raids.
But go ahead, be a silly roleplayer.
Monigote Dec 29th 2006 10:16AM
I agree with most of the above... Either you're actually being stupid, or you're just pretending to be stupid. Either way, its stupid.
Bunkai Dec 29th 2006 10:40AM
I've nothing against Blood Elves. Sometimes the most evil characters are also the most beautiful.
However, I am not at all pleased with Blizz's decision to give Pallys and Shammies to the opposite factions. That was the one thing that we could really grow to hate about each other. Horde always bitches about Pallys in the BGs and Alliance always bitches about Shammies in the BGs. That level of entertaining and motivating banter has(or soon will be) eliminated from the game.
Just another way that Blizz has watered down the game in the name of "balance".
Booooo!
Kryz Dec 29th 2006 10:42AM
Umm...it's a game. Grow up. When Palidins kill your RL family, or call you the "N Word" then you can hate them. Until then, you're making the Wow community look like the stereotype of being disconnected from the real world.
Acariquara Dec 29th 2006 10:50AM
"That being said, I do hate those sneaky rogues in the BGs. And I will until I figure out how to beat them."
Death Coil as soon as Stun breaks, dot, dot, dot, fear, shadowbolt. You win! Hahahahaha yatta!
Mike Schramm Dec 29th 2006 10:51AM
Ha. Well you guys are no fun.
Of course I'll group with paladins if my friends are playing them. But seriously, where's my fellow Hordies? Paladins have been so clean and squeaky and so smug for so long that I just know, even when I see them with something besides red text above their heads, I'll feel a little distrustful towards them.
Discrimination in real life is one of the most terrible things you can do. But in the game, I think, it makes things more fun. I guess I should be glad you all are so nonjudgemental :)
Bunkai Dec 29th 2006 10:59AM
My first toon was a NE Druid.
He's been abandoned for some time now, and I roll with a Troll Shammy.
I've made plenty of guild chat claims as to the fact that I will not be grouping with anyone that rolls a Pally, and being an officer of the guild, I've also commented that I will not be sending any Pally a /ginvite.
You're not alone, Mike.
FOR THE HORDE!!!
Tim Engelbart Dec 29th 2006 11:19AM
Most of the responses above her already express the way I feel about your stupid post. As Shalkis states: "Hate the character, not the player."