European weekly maintenance: 10th June 2009
by Lesley Smith 
Jun 9th 2009 at 9:00PM
Welcome to Wednesday in Europe. While the Americans are still sleeping and dreaming of that next boss kill, it's a brand new day and, with it, a bunch of rolling restarts to boot. Yes, rolling restarts: it's a different kind of maintenance this week. We'll be getting fifteen minute warnings before the restarts take place between 5:00am and 7:00am CEST so do bear that in mind when you start that wee-small-hours-of-the-morning raid in Ulduar. The rest of the downtime is forum and website-side with both going offline between 3:00am and 5:00am CEST.
So it's a relatively painless bout of maintenance this week, one I fully intend to sleep through. If you're looking for something to read on the bus to school or the commuter train to work, then Daniel W. has plenty for your to browse through. Personally I think it's just an excuse to post that Sailor Moon kitty form although I freely admit the anime fan in me is currently screaming loudly for my own senshi makeover.
Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Europe
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Charlie Jun 9th 2009 9:41PM
Not a "Zomg wtf why are you posting this" post, but an honest question.
Are there really a fair amount of Europen players who read this site? I'm generally curious, i always figured it was mostly US people.
Agerath Jun 9th 2009 10:07PM
There is a world that exists outside of your continent.
Hard to believe, I know, but there it is.
Adam Holisky Jun 9th 2009 10:16PM
We have a significant amount of EU readers that we are looking to provide support for, and Lesley and these posts are part of that support process. =)
Janaa Jun 9th 2009 11:33PM
From reading comments on many posts over the months, a significant portion of the readership appears to be EU-based and a fair number of Oceanic-region readers as well. It would probably be fair to say the majority are NA, however.
Nick S Jun 10th 2009 2:09AM
Agerath, do people from outside North America really think North Americans go around utterly ignorant of the existence of the rest of the world? It seems very much that way from comments on this blog and elsewhere.
It may perhaps be true that the average American is less informed about the EU than the average European is about America, and that's not a good thing. But for the web-savvy people who are likely to read this site, I suspect news of one or two seats in the EU parliament going to the Pirate Party is just as relevant as Obama's latest restaurant visits.
Aggrajag Jun 10th 2009 4:14AM
Charlie: Aside from the realm maintenance posts, name me one other US-only post that would be no use for EU players?
We can even visit BlizzCon, we can even get the MountainDew companion pet (I have 7 of them) we, you know, play EXACTLY the same game as you.
dAnixx Jun 10th 2009 10:13AM
I'm European. Thank you for this post! ;)
Also, the european account management page says:
Our account management pages are currently unavailable.
Please check back later.
Thank you for your understanding.
When will it be back up? :S
Agerath Jun 10th 2009 10:36PM
@Nick S:
It's not so much knowledge of European current events that is lacking from the average American, but a general appreciation of foreign cultures and outlooks.
Indeed it seems as though this is a concept utterly lost on many of them.
There are many NAs, of course, who keep up to date with Euro news and watch BBC America, but still see Europe as some quaint backwater.
It's very subtle and quite possible imperceptible to other NAs, but you are quite well known for it here in the EU.
Americans tend to lug their culture around with them rather than allowing themselves to immerse. This is true both on the innernet and in real life.
I'd say it's a pretty fair generalisation, on the whole; intelligence doesn't seem to be a factor. I think it's just a cultural thing.
I'm sure it's not something Americans set out to do, or anything--by and large comments like the above seem pretty genuine and not intended to offend.
We don't care all that much...just an opportunity for some ribbing.
Oddly the Canadians seem to be less affected by this, for whatever reason.
Forgive spelling/grammar; its late and I'm on the blackberry.
c3-p0 Jun 9th 2009 10:11PM
ummmm hehe its still 7 here in CA its not really "bedtime"
and why is there no update for our maintenance area 52 is down along with several other servers
Task Jun 9th 2009 10:33PM
That one happened suddenly and out of nowhere. And more than likely it will be down (my server is on that list) for the rest up and including the rolling restart.
Well at least I can catch up on some shows that I've missed out on the past few months.
Tumleren Jun 9th 2009 11:19PM
Oh damn, I was just hoping to go into a heroic, while finishing this math-paper for exams.. At 5:20 AM.
I'm so tired :(
elvirabarker Jun 10th 2009 10:20PM
Down for over 2 hrs. I need to get a life.
Extrox Jun 10th 2009 5:52AM
@ Aggrajag and Agerath
You guys reek of the "Zomg, ignorant American!" stench.
If you weren't so blind as to TRY and pick apart his question you'd realize he has very valid reasons for assuming that.
This column (EU Maintenance) is fairly new compared to the US one. The Guildwatch article has just recently been picking up with EU guilds and the like, for a long time it consisted 90% of US server based guilds.
To most people, that implies a larger NA readership or a failure on the websites side to provide for it's Europeon audience. Either one is a very valid assumption.
So please, when you start talking trash about someone asking an earnest question at least make sure you have a valid reason to. Frankly, you guys look like nothing but trolls.
Extrox Jun 10th 2009 6:30AM
@ Nick S.
I really don't foresee there being a huge difference between EU knowledge of America and vice versa. I find that it's largely a myth. I think most people who claim to have knowledge of the US are those who use blanket/common sense knowledge... or look to Hollywood for their information.
My pet peeve has always been this: people gripe because a lot of Americans aren't extremely knowledgeable about other countries, yet if you were to take the same amount of space those countries take up and superimpose it on the US. I highly doubt you'd find many other countries who could provide adequate information as to the culture of each state, the laws of each state, or even name the state(s) that is covered up by their own nation/area.
http://goeurope.about.com/od/europeanmaps/l/bl-country-size-comparison-map.htm
Someone might point out that of course we know it, we live in the country. I personally find this completely false as well. Most people live in a State and might make trips to the states surrounding them every so often. Those who vacation might go further.
I used to live in San Antonio before we moved to Indiana, that distance alone was 1110 (about 1786 kilometers) miles and that's even shaving off about 50 miles (that's based from Louisville, KY to San Antonio, TX) which is roughly twice the distance of Paris to Barcelona. The culture between the two states is completely different as anyone who has visited the two can tell you.
Just because people read in the news that "countryX" is doing something doesn't mean they're worldly in the least. There are quite a few I'm sure who are legit, but I have a feeling the two above are far from it.
TL;DR: I think most Europeons are probably just about as bad off as we are in regards to knowing each others culture and such. Long story short, neither side has much right to act snotty.
Agerath Jun 10th 2009 11:00PM
It's not really about knowledge, though, as much as it is about the approach one takes re: the subject.
We don't care whether you know how many arondissements there are in Paris, or what country Bucharest is in so much as being able to immerse yourself in European culture without taking over.
An example: It's so insulting to read about someone who just 'went to Europe'. What does that mean? Yeah, you can argue that the states are analogous to the EU as much as you like, but it isn't gonna wash.
You can call me a snob if you want. I can see why someone with a limited knowledge of world history would begrudge a guy of having some pride in a continent that has been really at the forefront of modern history.
Europe is a continent with thousands of years of history, consisting of tens of countries in a relatively small space, each with cultures, languages and histories that stretch back into the mists of time.
Comparing Paris and Barcelona, two cities with entirely different historical and cultural connections--neither of which are even in the same country--to San Antonio and KY speaks volumes and only serves to illustrate my point.
Clearly you have never been to these cities, or else have failed to immerse yourself whilst in them, instead seeing everything as though filtered through your own culture.
You can get as indignant as you want, but the histories of two capitals from which enormous dynasties were launched, the repercussions of which are still being felt around the world--as well as being CAPITAL CITIES and important cultural/business hubs seem slightly more relevant to citizens of the world than that of an 18th century frontier town founded by puritans, hmm?
Do I think Americans are stupid?
Of course not.
Do I think the average American incapable of approaching subjects relating to world culture without resorting to--im sure--unintentional belittlement or patronization due to an inability to separate what IS from what they have been told it SHOULD BE?
Certainly.
But I don't begrudge you of it; we did the same when half of the atlas was coloured in bright pink. It's entirely natural for a superpower to be slightly derisive of its neighbours.
I'm sure I'll proofread this tomorrow and groan audibly.
Three cheers for crackberries.
Arednel Jun 10th 2009 7:23AM
Nice to know it's an easy week for us. I'm looking forward to getting home from work and relaxing by playing, it's a busy day for me today!
Calavera Jun 10th 2009 7:39AM
I think these EU posts are nice to have here, being a EU player.
And capital idea for EU topic: Battle-bots in Europe
Catch it while it's hot!
Retropally Jun 10th 2009 8:22AM
If anything we need more EU
In fact, I see more people saying they're EU than American. Then again, most Americans probably see Europe as a state more than anything.
Ok, cheap shot..I know :P
Extrox Jun 10th 2009 3:13PM
I agree, more EU would be a good thing for the site. The only reason I went on my rant above is because of a few idiots I come across on boards who go on and on about it. The two above just got ripping and roaring about it =(
Anyone who sees you all as just a State is crazy, heck, it's pretty much assumed, in the states, that the EU will overtake us in no time in regards to stability and the like (Economy, relations, etc.).
So rest assured, we absolutely look at you like the world power you all are =)