Like everyone else, I have my likes and dislikes about this new feature:

Likes -

1. I like the idea of being able to talk to people across games.

Dislikes -

1. Yes, I completely trust my real life friends, even with my life. And, the people, in which I'd choose to confide my Real ID info, would be worthy of such trust. At the same time, I do not -want- anyone to know my battle.net ID. It's supposed to be entirely private, isn't it? No one is supposed to know it. Not even my spouse, as far as I've been informed. (this is ridiculous, but still) So, why would this be the name that I would need to give, to befriend anyone for anything WoW related?

2. Even though I, of course, trust the type of friends with whom I'd share my Real ID info, I still don't want my first and last name plastered anywhere. If Aim forced me to have my real name plastered in my buddy list, I'd be so confused and shocked. As it is, I use an old version of aim, because of all the bloat. My real life friends know my address, my real name, my prom date from senior year. They know my life. But, that doesn't mean I want any program, online, that has my real name just sitting there. It's just an uncomfortable and unnecessary way of doing things, in my opinion.

3. I trust my real life friends, entirely. But, that does not mean I trust every friend they have, entirely. I know that my friends' friends will not be able to see or know my login e-mail. A lot of people mistakenly think this is so, but it's not. Only the people you add, yourself, or whom add you, will know your login e-mail. It won't be displayed, after the fact, either. Your login e-mail will not be displayed, at all.

BUT, your friends' friends will see your first and last name. Because, as it stands right now, your friends' friends can see everyone on their friends' list. Lol.

Example: If I "Real ID friend" my friend Sally. And, she Real ID friends her friend Johnny. Johnny can now see my full first and last name on Sally's list. And, if he wants, he can send me a friend request. I can, of course, decline that request. But, it doesn't change the fact that he can see my full name, or that I'm now in the awkward position of him knowing that I exist and just don't want to befriend him. Yay.

This whole real name/battle.net ID thing seems to be leading to the fact that it can eventually integrate Facebook. I don't think that the whole Facebook thing will be necessary or required, but I think that these ridiculous workings are due to that fact.

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