Blizzard Forums To Display Real Name

[x3sphere]

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-16659" title="blizzard1" src="http://x.exophase.net/images/2010/07/blizzard1.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="298" />
Blizzard plans to ditch the guise of anonymity on its official discussion forums, announcing that future posts will soon be displayed alongside the user's real first and last name tied to their Battle.net account.

This comes as part of an effort to "improve the quality of conversations and make the forums an even more enjoyable place for players to visit," the company noted in a statement[...]

Continue reading: Blizzard Forums To Display Real Name...

 

[El Diablo]

I can't believe they are doing this. Looks like I won't ever be posting on any of their forums again once this happens.

 

[Adiuvo]

I don't get what the big deal is. It's just a name, and for the majority of people there's a large amount of others who share the same name.

If you do a Google search on my name it's not until it goes into Google accounts where you actually find the real me. And as for that, there's nothing on there at all that I don't mind sharing.

 

[Joey]

I can't believe they are doing this. Looks like I won't ever be posting on any of their forums again once this happens.

So, I guess it works then, huh?

 

[FrozenIpaq]

Privacy would be my first concern, but Facebook has pretty much taken the crown there. For some people who don't want their name on the internet (I can think of a few people) this could be a problem and deter them away from posting anything - all you need is a name and birthday to help steal an identity.

 

[Joey]

Privacy would be my first concern, but Facebook has pretty much taken the crown there. For some people who don't want their name on the internet (I can think of a few people) this could be a problem and deter them away from posting anything - all you need is a name and birthday to help steal an identity.

Even if I didn't own a computer, my name and birthday are readily available, so this isn't an issue in the least.

The fear of revealing our real identity on the internet came from the late '90s, when people didn't really understand the internet. I remember when I was really young, I was trying to make an e-mail, and my dad (who still is computer illiterate), told my not to use my name. We all know that's ridiculous now. It was around the same time people were afraid to buy things online... The idea of giving anybody your credit card number online was terrifying.

Both ideas are ones we all drudged up because we were dealing with technology, and a social change we didn't understand, and couldn't really control.

Fact is, I'm 100% for this. Anonymity isn't good for society. I went to the post office today. I didn't tell the lady at the counter that my name was "DFSVegas". Not only does having a pseudonym allow you to be abbusive in a manner you wouldn't be in a face to face context, it causes people to be mistrustful of people they often times talk to daily. I'm on a first name basis with a few people I've met since I've been apart of PSP Updates, and any sites that followed in it's wake, but for the most part, I don't know or really trust most of the people I talk to on here. And that's not an indictment of my own personallity, I just don't feel like I know a person. How can you feel like you know a person who you only know as (for example) "PSPHax0r"?

Honest relationships can be as, if not more important than the information that the internet affords us.

Should the internet be a separate life from your real one, or should it be an extention? When I was 17, I just wanted a place I could be a dick. Now? I'm trying to forge friendships. That starts with giving my real name, and it ends with me being me.

Blizzard seems to agree with me. If you want to go into a public forum, and express your opinion, then do it. But being forced to divulge you identity will cause people to be more civil, and hopefully more constructive. And lets be honest, are gamers not the least insightful and constructive people on the internet?

I look forward to seeing a little maturity and honesty, assuming other communities decide to follow suit. It's a good step forward.

 

[El Diablo]

WoW Riot | WotLK, Wrath of the Lich King, WoW, World of Warcraft, Arena Season 5

So Blizzard are now making it so instead of showing your character on those forums, it'll instead show your real name with the option of attaching your char name too it (no option of not showing your real name).

Now I think it's fairly safe to say that this is perhaps the dumbest idea that anyone has ever had ever.

To alleviate people's concerns, Blizzard employee Bashiok decided to say his real name on the forums, his real name is Micah Whipple

World of Warcraft - English (NA) Forums - Will Blues also post with their real names? Post #16

So say hi to Micah Whipple

Address:
473 Avenue B
Lakeport, CA 95453-6032

Phone Number:
(707) 263-0190

Age:
28

Family:
Kimberly K Whipple, age: 54
Jason Stephen Whipple, age 34

It looks like he's staying in the same house as his mother =[

Free People Search | WhitePages
PeopleLookup People Search - Public Records, Background Checks More.

Oh btw, here is his facebook too:

Micah Whipple | Facebook

Music
Honeypie, Closed Heart Surgery, The Sound Of Animals Fighting, White Stripes, Tool Band, Radiohead, Disorient Express, The Mars Volta, The Unhandled Exceptions, As Tall As Lions, The Dear Hunter

Movies
*Big Trouble in Little China*, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Disney Pixar

Television
The Daily Show, Samurai Champloo, Tim and Eric Awesome Show: Great Job!, Freaks and Geeks, 30 Rock, Human Giant

I think we can all see what a great idea this is going to be.

 

[Bran]

Aw man, Bashiok is cooler than I ever expected. I thought he lived in a house with is grandmother and would listen to Lincoln Park. His musical choice is in fact not terrible.

Personally I'm totally for this... Obviously, since I already supply you freaks with my home address and I'd give you any other information you want about me (Other than my bank account and SSN obviously).

 

[MenaceInc]

WoW Riot | WotLK, Wrath of the Lich King, WoW, World of Warcraft, Arena Season 5

meh, it depends on the persons name I guess. my real name is fairly difficult to get information on but my username is fairly easy.

 

[Adiuvo]

WoW Riot | WotLK, Wrath of the Lich King, WoW, World of Warcraft, Arena Season 5

I'm wondering if that's even the same Micah Whipple. That the thing you never know with looking up someones real name, since human beings aren't exactly unique in that regard.

 

[slicer4ever]

well, in my experiance, even having a username can lead people to find profiles, simply because of things like: "facebook.com/(username)" is the same they tend to use on their forums, but i do agree, this well make it easier to discover people, for example, just a test on your name menace: http://www.facebook.com/MenaceInc was i correct(looks like it, UK/newry location)?

 

[Adiuvo]

Good point. You can find mine using that trick as well, and I would guess most people's accounts.

 

[MenaceInc]

well, in my experiance, even having a username can lead people to find profiles, simply because of things like: "facebook.com/(username)" is the same they tend to use on their forums, but i do agree, this well make it easier to discover people, for example, just a test on your name menace: http://www.facebook.com/MenaceInc was i correct(looks like it, UK/newry location)?

Yeah, that's right but privacy means that important information like phone number and whatnot is only shared with friends. Also, I don't go accepting just anyone when I get a request
Other personal info though has been posted in the #wtf channel on dark-alex.org/malloc.us in the past so anyone with logs and who would be so inclined could probably find my info that way if they wanted

 

[Joey]

WoW Riot | WotLK, Wrath of the Lich King, WoW, World of Warcraft, Arena Season 5

So the issues is that Blizzard posted his name, and not that all those websites have all his info?

What is the issue here, that your WoW buddies are going to find your Facebook?

And why do you think your name is a secret? I could randomly type this guys name into Google, and find the same info.

You're basically embarrassed about the shit you've put on the internet, and you're afraid people are actually going to associate it with you. Right?

 

[PSPHax0r9]

How can you feel like you know a person who you only know as (for example) "PSPHax0r"?

:cry:

I'm Brian! I'm 19, live near Philadelphia, my username is satirical, I have lots of allergies, and I like music. Can we be friends ?

But yeah I agree with everything you said, the guise of anonymity breeds more distrust than honesty.

 

[Bran]

The main point is that it's really easy to figure out your personal information even if you don't tell people your name.

User Name > Real Name (Via Facebook or a simple google search will fix)> Phone Number/Address (White Pages Search or again google)

 

[slicer4ever]

i smell an oncoming shit storm on blizzard forums over this=-)

@Menace, i was simply trying to point out the ease it is to get a real name/profile from just a username, i'm sure if someone was seriously interested in finding you, facebook isn't the only place that keeps your stuff, like you said, u've posted your info over irc openly, so theoretically, ur info could be tracked down fairly easily depending on if anyone uploaded those logs somewhere or not.

also, i'm surprised that with facebook becoming so promenint on multiple sites through it's "Like" button, that no one has exploited this to get people's user info/passwords(i.e a fake like button, which pretends to ask for your username/password)

 

[Bran]

:cry:

I'm Brian! I'm 19, live near Philadelphia, my username is satirical, I have lots of allergies, and I like music. Can we be friends ?

But yeah I agree with everything you said, the guise of anonymity breeds more distrust than honesty.

Not enough information! I don't fully trust you!

This is I, more than you'd ever want to know.

I'm Brian S Yehl. I'm 23 and I live in a townlett apartment at 402 North Crooks Road, Clawson MI, 48017. My username is based on sequential keyboard combinations and my birth date which is March (3) fifth (5) nineteen-eightyseven (7). I work at IAC Warren, Frazho plant, on the passenger side visor assembly of the new Jeep Cherokee. I'm allergic to tree and grass pollen. I'm trained in IT and Graphic/Web Design. I like experimental music and satire. My favorite games are Metal Gear, Metroid, and King's Field/Demon's Souls. My favorite movie is Blade Runner. I love the shows Stella, Flight of the Concords, and Sunny in Philadelphia.

 

[El Diablo]

So the issues is that Blizzard posted his name, and not that all those websites have all his info?

What is the issue here, that your WoW buddies are going to find your Facebook?

And why do you think your name is a secret? I could randomly type this guys name into Google, and find the same info.

You're basically embarrassed about the shit you've put on the internet, and you're afraid people are actually going to associate it with you. Right?

No, not at all it has nothing to do with that actually. I don't troll forums or spend all day posting shit all over the internet, but when I do post something I shouldn't be giving every single person who looks at it my personal information. You have an option, a choice to give someone your facebook or your real name so they can find you, and have the option of accepting it or not. You don't have any choice in this and it's just given to everyone. Why should everyone have access to my name and be able to find other information from it?

Also, if you even bothered to actually read it, previous posts made on Blizzard forums will not display peoples real names, so even if I had posted a bunch of garbage as you'd like to assume, none would be "associated with me". Thanks though.

 

[Craig Fairfax]

Privacy would be my first concern, but Facebook has pretty much taken the crown there. For some people who don't want their name on the internet (I can think of a few people) this could be a problem and deter them away from posting anything - all you need is a name and birthday to help steal an identity.

Facebook doesn't even have my real name, yet it suggested you as my friend. I'm still baffled how it knows I know you.