Ron Paul supporters plan rally in Azeroth
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 27th 2007 at 5:00PM
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul's internet regiment has come to World of Warcraft-- a group of his supporters are planning to form a guild on Whisperwind and do a march from IF to Stormwind (which means they'll probably be Gnomes or Dwarves, which is too bad, because I liked the idea of "Trolls for Ron Paul") on New Year's Day at 8:30pm EST.Now, we here at WoW Insider are politically neutral when it comes to Warcraft, so we won't advocate joining these guys (and we also won't advocate forming a "Horde for Hillary" guild to oppose them). But we are 100% in support of bringing widescale opinion expression of any kind into the game itself, so this should definitely be a fun event.
As always, if you go, take pictures and send them to us. And if you hear about any other political rallies in World of Warcraft this coming election year, let us know about those, too-- we'd love it if a presidential candidate (any of them) somehow got some extra buzz just because he (or she) was able to get out "the Orgrimmar vote."
Thanks, Paul!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Expansions, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Extremitus Dec 27th 2007 5:09PM
Errr sorry but if warriors arent allowed to march under threat of a ban to protest something they dont agree with, I don't see why political people should be able to without similar reprisal.
DurWrathi Dec 28th 2007 2:31AM
It's an interesting idea. First off, the notion that we can keep the virtual world and real world separate is deluded at best. The virtual and real will continue to bleed over into each other more and more over time. Blizzard and other companies can try to clamp down on it, but it's about as effective as the RIAA trying to stem the tide of copyright infringement. A 2 foot barrier cant stop a 50 foot wave, no matter how hard that barrier tries. Economic and social bleed over already occur, and politics is simply another facet of both.
Second, the understanding of the law in prior responses is incorrect. The first amendment limits federal and state power, and Blizzard is neither. That said, state law that protects assembly might protect gatherings in virtual places of public accommodation. Blizzards EULA and TOS are legally binding in the sense that any private contract is: it defers to the law. If the EULA, TOS, or Blizzard's actions were found to be at odds with state or federal law, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Private property rights are indeed powerful, but hardly absolute. The real legal issue here would be under what state laws, if any, a virtual world is governed.
Third, I would challenge the assertion that this is a bad thing. I certainly agree that any sort of political demonstration shouldn't be disruptive to the extent that it cannot be ignored (ie: server crash, terrible lag, etc). But if its just a march of gnomes with people expressing an opinion, does it really do you any harm? Someone above said politics isn't fun. I certainly disagree. Politics is a hobby for me, just like Warcraft is. Don't those who enjoy politics have an equal claim to have fun with it in a virtual world, as much as you have a claim to have fun in that same world in a different way? So long as both parties respect one another, and don't go out of each others way to disrupt one another, I fail to see any harm done.
Bindulax Dec 28th 2007 6:19AM
replying DurWrathi:
I'll try to keep this short. Sorry for any misspellings, english is not my native language.
Considering that my hostmother is part of the american civil rights movement, which is under close observation by the national security for decades (does anybody ever notice the irony of that?), it may be small wonder that i do not have a high oppinion of republicans. But as it seems every country gets the president (or whatever kinds of statesmen) they deserve. Myself, being a jewish descendant undenominational german, i tend to have a sceptical look at things anyway.
Maybe from half a globe away things tend to have a different look, but considering the republican policy in general, which often is conservative at best, and its results in the new modelled security state of america with questionable christian practices, america under republican lead seems no less dangerous and out of controll to me than the so much feared "rouge countries".
Republicans try to give themselves a look of a modern and fun to be with bunch, disguising their bourgeois style under a modern coating, alluring people with their alleged coolness and the next thing you know, you're wearing a silver ring-thingy and you're off to war in the next best country that doesn't do what america wants them to. Let's not even talk about international environemental questions. An don't forget: God made you, not some strange kind of evolution.
I really do hope that this rally will not be approved by Bliz as much as i hope that any recruitement for suicide bombings would not be approved either.
I do not think that supporting a warmonging party by giving them a platform for recruitement in a manner as stated above is moral in any way. These malicius propaganda has nothing to do with respect anymore. What's going on out there is another cold war. No need to let it get into this game as well.
Temperateness is the way to good co-existance.
But there's no need to let yourself be utilized in any way.
Matt Dec 28th 2007 1:38PM
Bindulax:
Your opinions are interesting, but they are nothing more than opinions. The fact that I disagree with you on nearly every point is immaterial to the fact that as long as these people aren't breaking the ToS, your opinion of what they wish to do is entirely irrelevant. Whether you agree with the Republican party or not (and you seem to be an extremely misguided individual when it comes to American society, which is neither here nor there in this situation), they have a right to hold a march as long as it does not interfere with Blizzard's rules. Just because YOU disagree with them does not mean that Blizzard should put the kibosh on this.
dudemanjac Dec 28th 2007 2:34PM
Maybe I'm not up on my politics, but what are you even talking about?
Bindulax Jan 1st 2008 5:41PM
@ Matt:
Of course I am aware that some of my opinions are not shared by a majority - which is a pity - and certainly some of the issues I criticize (most of which i do not state here) are not resulting from republican decisions allone.
Yes, you are right, as long as the ralley does not violate the ToS, Blizard does not have to do anything against it.
What I did was simply stating my opinion on the matter, which is that this is immoral. Just like an Army sponsoring an Egoshooter or Toy-lookalike Handgrenades and Mines.
@ dudemanjac:
What I am talking about is trustworthy information about "men in black" (of course not movie-like, but for the sake of understanding) taking pictures of the participants of civil rights movement sessions, stating "mind your own business" when asked for the reasons, US booksellers reporting about beeing constrained to passing on their customer information to governement institutions. About Bush not signing Kyoto Protocol and blocking the Bali conference from getting any real results while on the other hand claiming a more environement friendly policy. About not neutraly enough supporting a near east peace sollution between israel and the palestinnians while on the other hand fighting terrorism with weapons restrictions where more intensive developement aid and non-religious education and most of all equal economical chances would be needed to win the hearts of the people in the countries concerned.
Of course these (and more things that remain unstated) are matters that could be controversially discussed for ages without actually finding any agreement, and I have given my vote to people smarter than me to discuss them for me.
I'm just not into trying to gull "future voters" into my party in front of schools (as an extreme rightwing political party in my country does, which in my opinion should be prohibited as well) or, as in this case, in Games.
I don't mind anybody walking their Chars together from a to b, but please - do this in the spirit of friendship, comeradeship or similar, not for politics.
Bindulax Jan 2nd 2008 6:37AM
weapons AND restrictions of course..
Hank Dec 27th 2007 5:11PM
Yeah, let's all support someone who doesn't like our current civil rights. Not like our current president has done enough damage to the constitution. WTF Checks and Balances?
raldes Dec 27th 2007 5:13PM
LOL at mike, managing to insert his preferred catch phrase in to the picture, nice!
Mort Dec 27th 2007 5:14PM
wtb raid on this march like the funeral march!
I think it will mirror Ron Paul's chances of winning the primary...
apan14 Dec 27th 2007 5:16PM
Oh Boy, if a in-game funeral can become a gank fest. This march will probably set a new standard.
Charlie Taylor Dec 27th 2007 5:15PM
I'm on whisperwind, and while I'm personally leaning towards Obama I'm definitely showing up to this if anything just to get screenshots. Should be pretty interesting.
Avelon Dec 27th 2007 5:18PM
Games and politics should be separate, I know Paul is popular, and some of his ideas are interesting, but I get in wow to get away from real life, I really don't wanna see this happen. This mirrors goldspammers in the general annoyance factor, as I can be sure this will involve yells and /2 spam, just like the Ron Paul Raid that happened on Shattered Hand.
dudemanjac Dec 28th 2007 4:06PM
Excpet that you know when and where it's going to be. If you don't want to take part in it, you just don't go. Why are you trying to pretend this your own little sandbox where you can keep out the kids that wear glasses?
Politics are everywhere. I actually like that it is being brought to this forum in this way. Whether you like him or not, it's important for people of all ages to get involved and interested in politics and the goings-on of our nation.
And at the end of the day, if you decide that a silly little virtual march that brings a little attention to a political campaign is too real for you, you don't have to be there.
briker Dec 27th 2007 5:22PM
Dammit, why do the Paulnuts have to choose my server?
I only approve if they turn on their PVP flag so I can kill the lot of them. If they are gnomes, it's just that much better.
Oh - and Ron Paul...
AHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHHAHAHAHAHHbreathAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
Cort Dec 27th 2007 5:52PM
Same here, Briker. They had to pick my server. Of all the rotten luck.
todbodman Dec 27th 2007 5:27PM
Why bring real world politics in-game???!!!!
I log-on to escape having sound bites shoved down my throat 24-7.
innajunglestylee Dec 27th 2007 5:29PM
Ron Paul? Bah, Sean Paul for President!
SirFWALGMan Dec 27th 2007 5:41PM
I totally disagree with you. Warcraft is a separate world. I would support someone running against Thrall in elections or something like that but who is the Ron Paul Gnome? I have no preference for candidates yet but this march is stupid.
Hoggersbud Dec 27th 2007 5:35PM
Whisperwind is a PVE server, so for all of those hoping to Gank?
You're SOL. Ain't nobody going to flag.
And of course, it could be construed that disrupting this political rally would be a civil rights violation that might well be a federal offense. I doubt you'd get a US Attorney to act, but you might find some bored attorney who wants to make a name for themselves filing a suit.