RealID to show Real Name - WoW, SC2 ...

mart981 · 7 Jul 2010 at 20:26

It's easier to find out where someone lives when you have their full name as opposed to their gamer tag? Would have thought that was obvious

Jokester · 7 Jul 2010 at 20:37

Borrish said:
What does tracking him down prove anyway? You're far more likely to get beaten up / killed by someone you've annoyed on the bus or whatever but you don't go around covering your face just in case do you.

It's not just about being murdered by a pyscho, but it makes it very easy for someone to carry out any sort of vandetta against you, whether it's signing you up for dodgy websites, sending you spam mail, phone harrasment or anything else you can think of if you know someones name, address and phone number.

Rroff · 7 Jul 2010 at 20:53

Borrish said:
What does tracking him down prove anyway? You're far more likely to get beaten up / killed by someone you've annoyed on the bus or whatever but you don't go around covering your face just in case do you.

Tracking him down wasn't really the point... point is someone using a "real" name online can cause all kinds of problem, from merely changing how people deal with you, to unintended consequences to potentially innocent people on the rare - but does happen - occassion someones goes postal.

Tefal · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:08

Borrish said:
What does tracking him down prove anyway? You're far more likely to get beaten up / killed by someone you've annoyed on the bus or whatever but you don't go around covering your face just in case do you.

yes you are less likley to receive physical harm, but with a few minutes effort you can have someone address and phone number on every dodgy spam list and junk mail list send a few thousand pounds worth of takeaway crap to their door and grief them with minimal effort and zero comeback.

After all some wow freak calling you up and threatening your mum/you/spouse/children is going to **** with your head.

Viperbane · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:27

I am not surprised that it happened. But I am also glad that Blizzard is taking it this far to stop unwanted flaming and self important forum posters who have little to say or try to talk to themselves to seem more important (in who's eyes I wonder).

Blizzard is wielding a lot of power, but is it enough to stay strong against this privacy issue?

Tefal · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:28

Viperbane said:
I am not surprised that it happened. But I am also glad that Blizzard is taking it this far to stop unwanted flaming and self important forum posters who have little to say or try to talk to themselves to seem more important (in who's eyes I wonder).

Blizzard is wielding a lot of power, but is it enough to stay strong against this privacy issue?

You know you're the type of poster who will be burned by this right?

Viperbane · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:30

Yes, I am ready!

Seriously I like the Real ID idea and just love (after 5 years in the WoW forums) the fact that I can now see who the *censored* is that is mocking me or calling me names!

Tefal · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:33

And will you be ready when said **** has sent you £200 of piza and takeaway food and there's several very angry delivery men demanding money?

Or when they've called the police and told they saw you drag a screaming woman into your house?

or when some guy starts phoning you and threatening you over the phone?

If you're ready is everyone else who lives with you ready to have some guy claim he's going to kill/rape them call the out of the blue?

doiks14 · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:36

I certainly hope they're not serious about this one... and I hope there is a law of some sort that gives you the right not to give any of your details out to anyone (I'm pretty sure there is) unless required.

Tefal · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:37

doiks14 said:
I certainly hope they're not serious about this one... and I hope there is a law of some sort that gives you the right not to give any of your details out to anyone (I'm pretty sure there is) unless required.

Yes but you will agree to their conditions when you sign up.

The data protection act only protects you if you don't give permission.

doiks14 · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:39

So they'll actually force you for your permission to give your name out to everyone to be able to play online?
I fail to see its purpose..

Viperbane · 7 Jul 2010 at 21:42

Coming originally from Sweden I have very little concern about "privacy" as in Sweden you can find out just about anything about anyone (including the King, the Princess that just got married and yes even her new husband).

As long as you take care of your details and is security minded enough nobody will be able to order you pizza, make fake deliveries etc to any greater extent than they already are today.

Jokester · 7 Jul 2010 at 22:01

I think some people are completely missing the point, WoW is completely full with complete social rejects that if you cross them harrass you in game, this now gives them the potential to also do it in real life.

Viperbane · 7 Jul 2010 at 22:07

Cannot ever claim that I have come across that many complete social rejects in the game, they are however a lot more visible on the official forums.

Strife212 · 7 Jul 2010 at 22:36

doiks14 said:
So they'll actually force you for your permission to give your name out to everyone to be able to play online?
I fail to see its purpose..

It's only for the forums

CaptainRAVE · 7 Jul 2010 at 22:36

Just read this on the BBC news website. Seems like a dangerous move.

doiks14 · 7 Jul 2010 at 22:38

Strife212 said:
It's only for the forums

Doesn't affect me then... so no more whining from me

Rroff · 7 Jul 2010 at 23:08

CaptainRAVE said:
Just read this on the BBC news website. Seems like a dangerous move.

BBC News said:
One World of Warcraft player, Jim Brand, contacted BBC News to say how disappointed he was over the change...
..."I work in a charity and deal with governments officials. If they do a search and see I am a gamer, it could affect my employment prospects"

he'd better hope they don't read the BBC website

CaptainRAVE · 7 Jul 2010 at 23:12

Rroff said:
he'd better hope they don't read the BBC website

He couldn't have been THAT bothered by it :rolleyes:

- or just not very intelligent!

I did enjoy this part:

Mr Brand said that one Blizzard employee posted his real name on the forums, saying that there was no risk to users, and the experiment went drastically wrong.

"Within five minutes, users had got hold of his telephone number, home address, photographs of him and a ton of other information," said Mr Brand

Borrish · 7 Jul 2010 at 23:37

Tefal said:
yes you are less likley to receive physical harm, but with a few minutes effort you can have someone address and phone number on every dodgy spam list and junk mail list send a few thousand pounds worth of takeaway crap to their door and grief them with minimal effort and zero comeback.

After all some wow freak calling you up and threatening your mum/you/spouse/children is going to **** with your head.

But almost anyone you meet in real life could do the same thing yet they don't. People do indeed act up on the internet but almost all of them would stop at actually doing anything to you in real life.

Like I said, if someone REALLY wanted to track you down they could no mater how much effort you went to. Your identity is already all over the place.

I guess this is all a bit of a pointless discussion really anyway. Blizzard aren't going to force you to use your real name so i suppose the forums will be full of people called "Joe Bloggs1".