Here's my feeling about this, free speech and word meanings...

If I know a word is offensive and you use it without or with knowing a definition which allows for you to argue against some sanctions, you have still offended me. Using the word rape when concerning a person, usually is indicative of a sexual nature. I have also never heard anyone use the term for gay to describe a bundle of sticks...they have always said 'bundle of sticks'.

As far as free speech...in a public arena, it is truly free, as long as it's not liable. How free? Burning flags, urinating on flags, holding up your middle finger to a police officer and calling politicians names are all forms of freedom of speech, as long as they are in a public space, or in your home. However, this is a controlled atmosphere we pay to enter. Just like signing up for a forum, playing on an online game allows administrators to be the 'gods' of the realm. Your speech is not protected by any rights or freedoms, as you are in their world.

To extend this, curtailing arguments against this on an internet site, you cannot say anything on someone's site, but you are free to say whatever you like on your own. Your ideas and beliefs are protected, but not the arena or venue for those ideas and beliefs.

Report people that make offensive comments. It 'might' be a case of cultural mistakes (certain words incorrectly translated during a group by a member), or might be a simple mistake. In those cases, the person is warned, but nothing else. If someone is indeed, running around, purposes making offensive comments that are not tolerated by Blizzard, the support team will handle them.

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