Battle.net RealID to include RL names w/forum post

[Zeli]

forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=25626109041&sid=3000

I used to use the official WoW forums. Guild recruitment and advice and the server board, but I won't be doing that any more.

Yes, it is a big deal. No, I don't think I'm going to have my identity stolen, stalked, killed and my body used in an odd religious ritual or anything like that. The problem I have is that I simply don't want my real name on forum posts. While it's easy for people who know me in-games to know my regular gaming handle and find out these dorky things about me, these people are either not people I know in real life or they are people I really really know and trust in real life. They are not my professional colleagues and associates. My coworkers, even if they know I game, would never find me and my gaming ramblings because they don't know my gaming handle(s).

This takes my personal hobby and makes it public. Blizzard is not Facebook. In fact, Facebook and my gaming life are not even the same people. In rare cases I have entrusted gaming people with my Facebook info, but those are individual decisions I have made... not Blizzard. Even if the forums are full of helpful respectful people after this change, I'll still never post there because I won't want my name on those forums.

And I'm on a podcast regularly. I know people from game can find me if they want to, so it's not that I'm afraid of that. It's more that my RL casual/professional acquaintances would have a very easy way to tie me to my gaming life. I exhibit unprofessional behavior because I am in an environment where it is acceptable and anonymous. I'm sure there are lots of people, less out there than me, that are uncomfortable with this enough to simply never use the forums there.

It's like my fun-filled-teen-movie just got pregnant... The crushing weight of responsibility strikes again.

[Solvanirn]

This is my main gripe to with it Zeli. Not mainly because I am worried about people yanking my ID off the interwebs, but because I feel it invades my privacy. Yet another reason added to list NOT to buy SC2.

Diablo III though...why do you taunt me so?

[Rer]

This is a HUGE deal, and I can't help but feel Activision played a big part in this. I'll still buy SC2, but I won't be anywhere near their forums, period.

[Blue Kae]

I agree and it's the one thing I haven't seen much focus on. People seem to forget that HR and hiring managers use Google to research perspective hires, and regardless of how much progress video gaming has made in the last 10 years in getting accepted into main stream culture, there's still a stigma attached to it in the professional world.

That said, I haven't touched a Blizzard game in at least six months, so I'm on the sideline for this whole debate.

[tehden]

I think you outlined perfectly why this is a huge problem. There's a reason I don't use my last name on the nets, and work is a huge part of that. People are entitled to their privacy, and stripping them of that is almost never a good thing. Personally, I will never use a service, forum, or anything of the sort (Facebook included) that requires me to publicly release my full name. It's simply not an option. Way to go Activision/Blizzard!

[Rer]

I just fail to see the point in this. Anonymity allows people to fully voice their thoughts and opinions without fear of repercussion. Sure, this leads to trolling and flames, but why should we have to post our real names just because Blizzard is so #$(&ing lazy that they can't moderate their own forums? Hire a few kids fresh out of college and can this idea, fast.

[Slurm]

I guess I'm the odd man out on this. I don't use any behavior online that I wouldn't use in real life. I'm also of the mindset that I wouldn't want to work in a position that would force a certain way of thinking upon me. People where I work know I am a huge dork, I flaunt it because it's who I am. I can still be a big gamer nerd and do my job professionally and my boss and the entire office staff know that.

I DO think it's a dumb move overall though. I realize that others want to keep their personal life and their online life separate and I respect that. Blizzard should to.

[tehden]

Jul 6, 2010 15:45:40 GMT -5 Slurm said:

People where I work know I am a huge dork, I flaunt it because it's who I am. I can still be a big gamer nerd and do my job professionally and my boss and the entire office staff know that.

As a side note to this, I'm not worried about my co-workers: I'm worried about my clients and customers. My name is pretty much pasted all over everything I do, and my personal life is none of their damn business.

edit: I can't fucking spell today.

[Aberrant]

I too do not want clients to know much about my personal life. In my job, I have to set an example for people (I know!).

I have had some teen clients who know I play video games, and they have tried to find me on facebook, and repeatedly asked for my Xbox or PSN name. That is a bit easier, as I can simply not friend them if they were to find out that stuff.

However, this system as I understand it would mean that I HAVE to avoid their forums.

[Rer]

How is Technical support "optional"? That's another stickler for me. Maybe I'm just overreacting *shrugs*

[Maeve]

What is the purpose in placing your real name on the forums? I'm sure they have some rationale, yet I can not begin to imagine what that is. And why anyone thinks it is a good idea.

I'm totally a closet gamer. If my mom knew I did podcasts, she'd have a good old fashioned conniption fit. She heard me talking in Skype once and was convinced I would be stalked and dead soon. True story!

Mom aside, I also would not want my colleagues, patients or families to know that much about my personal life. It's enough I let you all know...

[Pazzolupo]

I'm with Slurms. I act the same way no matter if I'm at work, school, or online. You get nothing but Paz--I mean, Jonathan Sugrue, when we hang out or chat. Plus, I'm never really on the forums anyway so that helps in my not being phased by it.

I get it though, not everyone can do with the open-ness of this. All for different reasons. I'm not in that boat though. ;D

[Maeve]

Yeah, wait until you are a pharmacist and you get that first Oxy abuser that you called and ratted out to his multiple docs for doctor hopping/shopping and get his supply cut off. Welcome to the world of wanting to keep your private life separate from professional life.

Less to do with me behaving differently with different groups of people and more about a right to privacy. However, it is your choice to post on the forums or not I suppose, therefore protecting your privacy.

I do not post things that I would not say in person and do not use the relative anonymity of the interwebz to act like a general douche like so many. But I still would not like my real name floating out there on a website for a game with millions of subscribers.

[Rer]

tinyurl.com/256gja2

[Pazzolupo]

Jul 6, 2010 16:49:29 GMT -5 Maeve said:

Yeah, wait until you are a pharmacist...

I am not currently going to school for pharmacy anymore, I switched to Computer Science.