The GM impersonator
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 17th 2007 at 4:30PM
At first, I thought the same thing Timbal says-- that the player above the GM impersonator was just doing the trick where you add a bunch of spaces after whatever you type, and then write "[2. Trade] <GM>[Mike]: Hi" yourself (the chat window pushes everything after the spaces to the next line, making it look as though it's a legitimate chat message). Old trick, not really funny if overused (or if used as in the pic above), but it has its place.
But then I got confused-- Ohword says he could click the name, and the search actually came up with "0 players total," which shouldn't work, if it's just typed out. Also, his addon timestamps everything, and clearly the GM's line is timestamped, which I'd imagine it wouldn't be if someone was just joking around.
MVP Faizaniel suggests that it's just a player who was accidentally given a GM tag, but does that happen? I'm sure it's not a big deal-- even if this player did get a GM tag, he didn't actually have the power to ban anyone, so no harm done. But a strange occurrence just the same.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bugs, Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sinnersaint Aug 17th 2007 4:42PM
Yeah, there was someone on Norgannon who had this and he was saying all kinds of stupid sh!t in general chat. Turns out it was an accident like this one.
Ellvis Aug 17th 2007 4:46PM
If a GM was in your account to fix something - like restoring gear after you've been hacked, and they forget to turn off the GM tag, you can log on with it on.
That happened to me. I logged to to find all my gear back, but with a GM tag. I immediately petitioned to get it removed. I didn't want anyone to think I was trying to abuse my account when the GM who restored my gear left it on. It took a coule hours, during which I got a lot of curious tells from passerbys, but, eventually, the GM who responded was very nice and removed the tag for me.
Ltw Aug 17th 2007 4:48PM
I play on Horde side, Frost Wolf and there was someone putting it on his name and taking it off again, claiming it was a hack that he was doing (I have a time stamp like in the picture above). It would show him talking without it, then he had it, it was gone, then he had it again.
Lokse Aug 17th 2007 5:24PM
This is so not news.
Makrakken Aug 17th 2007 5:52PM
@4
This is not a news page.
This is a blog that concentrates (mainly) on the World of Warcraft MMORPG (and the odd other Blizzard game).
If you're looking for news, may I suggest http://www.bbc.co.uk.
If you're looking for World of Warcraft news, go visit the WoW US or WOW EU home page.
Otherwise, stop moaning.
Zuty Aug 17th 2007 7:08PM
I have been doing this since launch.
I am always [Jesus]
~Zuty
Corrodias Aug 17th 2007 6:04PM
This is news.
Varus Aug 17th 2007 6:15PM
Ah, the chat trick. Always fun, although didn't think anyone fell for it anymore (it *is* really old, old trick).
robodex Aug 18th 2007 1:26AM
Someone on horde side on my server once got a 3-day suspension because he logged in with a GM tag on and, instead of reporting it, visited Ironforge and talked to the alliance. Apparently he was unattackable and it was a pretty awesome time until some party pooper reported him :(
Kyrra Aug 18th 2007 2:13AM
@7
You should fully read the post and the comments so far... it's not a chat trick...
Hokuto Aug 18th 2007 11:42AM
Happened to me TWICE to have that tag, on two different chars.
I got two deleted chars (lv60) restored, and somehow they got the tag before their name. I couldn't get rid of it and anyone could see it on every chat (including whispers, that could be VERY misleading).
Since I didn't want to get any punishment, I messed with a couple friends then reported myself to a GM, that promptly got rid of it :P