Comments on: [Updated] Blizzard makes plans to conduct largest internet social experiment ever

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:55:58 +0000

Jamie: Thanks! Appreciate the compliments. I’m going to quote you on my straight to DVD release of WWMD.

Squeakyfoo: You quoted yourself when you said “it’s no big deal”. I didn’t say that. I said, to paraphrase, it’s not as big of a deal to me since I already post on multiple forums with my real name (and, as you stated, I’m a white male. I’d also argue I have a very comon name, so that helps me blend in too. I like to think, though I know it’s not true for anyone determined enough). Heck, I run a web site that has half of my real name in it and I’m pretty sure the internet knows my personal details. I’m not challenging people, I know it’s out there. I don’t like it, but I don’t know what to do about it. All of that said, I don’t go around on web sites and so on calling people horrible names and being a general asshole. Unless they deserve it. So it’s not as big a deal to me to have my real name out there.

By: Squeakyfoo

Squeakyfoo — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:55:42 +0000

It’s easy to say it’s no big deal when you have a fairly common name and are a white male. If you’re a minority or a woman and attempt to post on the forums, you will be abused and trolled and harassed. The simple fact is that there are a lot of socially inept retards on the internet, especially in WoW that think treating women like shit is perfectly acceptable (despite the fact that they have never and will never touch a woman). To say “it’s no big deal” is just ignorant.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:36:19 +0000

Good writeup. This is really something that you’ll have to take the long view to find as a net positive, but it could be worth it to do so. It seems like it’s a huge cultural change but this could be quite the catalyst for that change.