Important Update at the Bottom!
Blizzcon has come and gone. It’s amazing that Blizzard continues to host such an amazing event. I’m not sure any other development company could pull off something of this magnitude. I went on a nerd-gasm based roller coaster ride as information was released and rejoiced as some of my game friends got to meet each other in person and further develop relationships. I wish I could say I wasn’t green with envy that I was at home for this one.
Unfortunately, the convention this year ended with such a sour note that the only thing worse has been the Community Managers reaction to the situation. Those who follow my twitter account know well my thoughts on this. As I was writing the first draft of this post, I was given a link to the following blog article:
http://piercing-shots.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-would-rather-not-be-making-this-post.html
I started not to publish this at all, but I do believe in Burke’s idea that “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one.” As a community, we must stand up and be counted in opposition to such a horrible presentation.
I understand where the CM staff is coming from, but that doesn’t make it right or even palatable. I suppose it’s hard to hold them accountable while senior members of the company propagate such hate. However, Community Managers should be well versed in how to contain an unfortunate situation and cool tempers before they flare. Instead, they chose to add fuel to the fire.
This situation has everything to do with homophobia and hate being openly supported by one of the most successful companies in the entertainment industry. Had the slurs been racially directed, I can’t imagine you would have aired it as part of the ceremony.
In the Online Petition to Blizzard, user N T states the following:
This has nothing at all to do with Horde vs. Alliance. This has everything to do with homophobia being publically supported by one of the most successful companies in the world. Had the slurs been racially directed, this would never have aired. Hate speech is hate speech, period, no matter who it’s aimed at, and Blizzard is acting hypocritically at best by condoning any form of it, most especially by thinking it perfectly fine for this to be shown in front of millions of viewers, present and virtual. Saying things like, “It was bleeped out,” is just another way of saying, “Censoring it made it okay to say,” and brushing off concerns with phrases such as, “It’s just a joke, can’t you take a joke?” is the same thing as saying, “As long as it’s not directed at me or anyone I identify with, it’s cool.” At this rate, Blizzard might as well be openly supporting those who bully LGBTQ youths into committing suicide.
It’s disturbing enough to see how widespread the use of homophobic slurs as synonyms for “bad” is; it’s heartbreaking to see one of my favorite companies actively parading its support for it, then defending its employees’ use of it on the one hand while punishing customers’ use of it on the other.
I couldn’t say it better myself.
The topic and potential ramifications stretch far beyond the virtual world. Please don’t write this off as a bunch of nerds upset that someone dissed their in-game faction.
[I welcome mature discussion on this topic, but I maintain the right to delete those who I feel are posting simply to further sling insults.]
Update:
A couple hours after posting this, Mike Morhaime had the following letter published. It is very difficult to admit when one is wrong. It’s even harder to make the apology public. Thank you, Mike. This one feels heartfelt.
Dear members of the Blizzard community,
I have read your feedback and comments about this year’s BlizzCon, and I have also read the feedback to the apology from Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain. I’d like to respond to some of your feedback here.
As president of Blizzard, I take full responsibility for everything that occurs at BlizzCon.
It was shortsighted and insensitive to use the video at all, even in censored form. The language used in the original version, including the slurs and use of sexual orientation as an insult, is not acceptable, period. We realize now that having even an edited version at the show was counter to the standards we try to maintain in our forums and in our games. Doing so was an error in judgment, and we regret it.
The bottom line is we deeply apologize for our mistakes and for hurting or offending anyone. We want you to have fun at our events, and we want everyone to feel welcome. We’re proud to be part of a huge and diverse community, and I am proud that so many aspects of the community are represented within Blizzard itself.
As a leader of Blizzard, and a member of the band, I truly hope you will accept my humblest apology.
– Mike Morhaime
President, Blizzard Entertainment
