Rumor: Blizzard employees' real life names will not appear on the Real ID forums [Updated]
by Adam Holisky 
Jul 7th 2010 at 4:00PM
So here's what we know:
- Bashiok / Drysc posted his real life name yesterday and had his privacy violated by people posting maps to his house, his parents' names and (potentially incorrect) cell phone numbers.
- We have seen multiple reports of WoW players who have called up Blizzard's support line and spoken with representatives who've told them blues will no longer be using their real names in the new forums.
- Josh, a Blizzard phone rep, said that Blizzard employees "cannot risk having their personal lives compromised by in-game issues."
- Blizzard blue representative Rygarius locked, but did not delete nor deny, a thread on this.
- WoW.com has emailed PR contacts within Blizzard for comment, and has not heard anything back.
Update: Wryxian is referring people back to the original blue post language about the change. However, we're still hearing from phone bank representatives that Blizzard has changed its mind about blue posters.
Update #2: According to Nethaera, they're going to stick with their original plan and have blue posters use their real names. As to why other parts of Blizzard are saying something different (WoW.com has verified what other parts of Blizzard has said), it appears they're having some internal communication issues.
Filed under: Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 27)
Brouck Jul 7th 2010 4:02PM
What's good for the goose apparantly is not good for the gandar?
Hollow Leviathan Jul 7th 2010 4:08PM
I don't think Blizz has their internal story straight. What about Vaneras confirming in this post that CMs WILL be using their real names?
http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=13816838971&pageNo=1#18
They cannot, cannot exempt blues from real ID for safety concerns and then leave us out in the cold. Their privacy is not more important than ours!
Netherscourge Jul 7th 2010 4:09PM
So Blizzard is willing to expose all of us, but they won't expose themselves?
HYPOCRITES!!!!!!!
Seth Jul 7th 2010 4:12PM
The funny thing is, that no one mentions. Most of the names are already in the credits of the game...
Qot Jul 7th 2010 4:12PM
How do we know that Shadowlass's account of her discussion with "Josh" is honest, accurate or official?
Zohra Jul 7th 2010 5:44PM
@Netherscourge
Agreed! They don't want their names posted now? And they think WE do??
VioletPheonix Jul 7th 2010 4:20PM
Seth, the names may be in the credits, but that is a list of people who were on the team at that time. You can't say these people are directly responsible for this decision, or haven't moved on in the months and years since the credits were published.
Zanathos Jul 7th 2010 4:21PM
"They cannot, cannot exempt blues from real ID for safety concerns and then leave us out in the cold. Their privacy is not more important than ours!"
Sure they can. They're targets. The average person is not.
Mutak Jul 7th 2010 4:24PM
"They cannot, cannot exempt blues from real ID for safety concerns and then leave us out in the cold. Their privacy is not more important than ours!"
They aren't - you can choose not to use your real name on the forums by not posting in official Blizzard threads and/or not posting at all. They cannot make that choice - it's their job.
Knob Jul 7th 2010 4:28PM
What the hell makes them so special? They are actually confirming that it is unsafe to have real names posted on the forums and then going ahead and putting it on us anyway? What makes them think they can get away with such blatant hypocrisy?
Joseph Smith Jul 7th 2010 4:29PM
The credits also don't list every forum CSR as far as i've noticed, just the Dev team.
Ysaric Jul 7th 2010 4:30PM
@Mutak
Sure they have a choice. They can choose to work there or not, or choose to work in that position or not that requires that they post.
Or Blizzard can do the smart thing and nip the PR disaster in the bud by admitting this is a stupid change and finding some less scorched-earth mechanism for lowering the troll quotient in the forums.
RichardCyphr Jul 7th 2010 5:30PM
@Murtak -They also have a choice, they could find a new job. I know it isn't ideal, but I don't think it is fair to make us use our real names, and not hold them to the same standards.
I think this move by Blizzard is amazingly stupid, Over the last decade plus I have built up my own online identity, separate from my real name, but still a name that I am known by on many forums and online communities. There are some places that I register with a different FAKE name because I don't want it relating back to my normal handle. I most certainly do not want my real name associated with the game. When I Google my real name, I find a ton of public information about myself, when I Google my online handle, I find information related to my more personal affairs, I don't need them changing that by associating my real name with anything.
The last thing I want is to be talking with a client or potential employer and having them bring up me playing WoW because they checked into me. I know that I have the option to NOT post on the official forums, but why take that away from me? Protecting our real information online is something that has been preached ever since the net came into being, and no one should, basically, force us out of that shell.
Mutak Jul 7th 2010 4:36PM
@Ysaric
To put this as kindly as i can, i think you lack perspective on this issue.
The choice of not posting on the official forums is not even in the same league as choosing to quit your job.
GhostWhoWalks Jul 7th 2010 4:38PM
@Ysaric:
"Sure they have a choice. They can choose to work there or not, or choose to work in that position or not that requires that they post."
Yes, because the first thing someone is going to do when put in a difficult situation is quit their high-paying and stable job, especially in this economy. And not, you know, ask for a compromise from their employer.
Azizrael Jul 7th 2010 4:42PM
"We will be posting in the new style forums, and because choosing to post in the new forums means that you display your real name, we too will display our real name. "
- Wryxian, EU forums, about ten minutes ago.
Source: http://blue.mmo-champion.com/t/13816838128/battle-net-update-upcoming-forum-changes/
Klaudandus Jul 7th 2010 4:43PM
After Bashiok, I'm sure Blizzard was deluged with "if you post my real name, I quit" statements from employees.
Which, of course, makes Blizzard's implementation not just stupid, but hypocritical as well. They apparently recognize the hazards associated with the violation of privacy, but still believe that you shouldn't have the same rights as, say, their employees.
Muse Jul 7th 2010 4:44PM
This is probably why Ancilorn left: Knew this was coming.
Kylenne Jul 7th 2010 4:45PM
@ Ysaric: Look, I'm not one of these people that hollers, "but they make so much MONEY why can't they do _____?!", by any means. But WRT this issue, at least, it really does seem like the answer's been staring them in the face for several years now: hire full time, paid moderators to monitor the forums. If major old media websites can manage this, why not a tech-savvy org like Blizzard?
Of course, with an operation as large as the WoW forums, it would probably cost them a lot more money than the Real ID "solution", and not push their new social gaming paradigm in the process. So I'm not holding my breath. I'm just really hoping all of the bad PR makes them reconsider this. I've seen negative reports about this decision on the Consumerist and even the Beeb's website, for pity's sake. This has gotten a lot bigger than just the gaming blogosphere.
Faulken S Wulf Jul 7th 2010 4:45PM
@Mutak
To not post on the forums or have your name exposed is EXACTLY the same as picking a job that exposes you or don't. It's risk versus reward: If they want the money but not the risk they are in the wrong job.
There's simply NO fucking reason Bliz should be playing by a separate set of rules then the rest of us. Not one. If they feel they are in jeapordy because of this change then THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE THE CHANGE.
It isn't rocket science.