I agree with people that removing anonymity in an online game can expose people to risks. But a lot of people in here gave the excuses that games are an escape for them, i place away from life. Does that FORCES you to act bad and be mean towards other player? I don't mean quitting on your dungeon group but acting like a douche and insulting. If when you escape from life by playing your favorite video game you feel the need to be harsh and mean with everyone it's a sign that there is a problem somewhere else.
I can say for my part that i play video game to get away from normal life, and it's ok but when i play i don't go around insulting people freely just because they ask a question or because of sex/gender/orientation/beliefs.
So if we want this to get better we need better rules in game, people need to learn that hey if i say that his mom is a %#$@?!&$, i'll prolly get banned three days and wont make it to my arena team or raid stuff. Or a simple thing as a user score, showing people like this guy acts like a douche since he started or this guy never had problem with the staffs.
We just can't continue to play those game with those kind of people and i wouldnt mind loosing 12k kids and older person not able to behave like normal person. And those advocat of the "let's do nothing" are probably the first to act as described before in this post. I'm not afraid of such implementation in a game since i know i have done nothing wrong.
Everyone that is in favor of removing anonymity should change their avatar to a picture of themselves, their forum names to their real names and put their personal information in their signatures.
Then we can see how well removing anonymity actually works.
Works at what? How would we tell if it was?
What he is saying is that if that were in effect, there would be no forums.
Everyone that is in favor of removing anonymity should change their avatar to a picture of themselves, their forum names to their real names and put their personal information in their signatures.
Then we can see how well removing anonymity actually works.
Works at what? How would we tell if it was?
What he is saying is that if that were in effect, there would be no forums.
I'll do this. I wouldn't give my address or personal information, but I'd surely give my photo, location, age, and full name.
My name is Eric Syntax Jordan, I'm 26, and I'm a game developer who lives in Modesto California, and here is my photo.
I still think you're all [insert expletive that would cause me to get beat up in real life] LOL
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I can’t speak to the future society, but I can say that losing web anonymity would be liable to create more problems for law enforcement agencies than solve cruddy game behavior in the times in which we live. The kid in the op’s example may get face stomped but the guy that did it would be in jail and rightfully so. We live in a society of law that protects someone’s right to speak over the put-upon’s right to respond…
For better or worse.
I am too a point where verbal assault needs to be made a more serious crime. People seem to think they can say anything and not be held accountable in any way. They’ll just call the police if they get whipped and you’ll go to jail.
As a society we can’t even safely handle something as simple as Craig’s List without it turning into a tool for serial killers.
Let’s bring it to WoW next… O.o
I can see the CSI rip already aftera string of kids turn up dead for winning PVP matches with pink shields.
Hehe, good show Emergence. Still you have to agree that it would be pretty barren if everyone had to put in their information.
It is certainly not a good idea to give out information, BUT...
There is a growing (practically criminal) norm forming (especially among young people) where anonymity and technology are causing great harm to others without any accountability. This needs to stop.
Perhaps a series of brutal murders spawned from facebook comments where teenagers bash each other over facebook and assume they're safe, and then their victims retaliate in real life, because of how easy it was to find out their information, it will send out enough nerdrage in the universe to make society actually do something about this cyber-bullying which is on the verge of exploding. Not that I condone these potential actions, but that anonymity (especially with facebook) isn't as protective (anonymous) as people seem to think.
How many people have already lost their jobs, marriages, or friendships over the fact they think posting their personal thoughts or events during the day on facebook for all to see?
----
Status Update: "My boss is a moron. I hate my job."
You're fired!
----
"Sorry Jim, I can't hang out today because I have to goto a funeral. Maybe some other time."
Status Update: Hangin out with my best friend Aaron, out at the lake enjoying the sun!
----
I have bullied others (usually jerks or people who refuse to reason) and I have been bullied. I have seen internet people gang up on my loved ones to bully them, making the person feel isolated, hurt, and "ganged up upon" with no one saying anything to defend them. The likelihood of someone telling others to not bully someone online is very slim, and becomes slimmer with every bully who joins in. (Ignorant) or what I call "lower thought" people believe that whatever the majority is doing is the right thing, and anyone who is ganged up upon deserves it. This includes even if the victim being bullied is being attacked by a large group of KKK members solely because of their skin color. Doesn't matter. "Majority Rules" when it comes to these "lower thought" people's morality.
Sadly, it's actually in psychological research that "most" people (not sure what that exactly means, besides that the majority of people, which could be anywhere from 34% to above) are stuck at a moral reasoning level likened to that of a teenager (13 or 16, I forget...) That's right... most people stop developing their moral reasoning at ages 13-20ish...so it is NOT inaccurate to say others think like a teenager.
This moral reasoning is that those "in charge" (Police, Government, Leaders, Famous People) are always morally correct and that one's own focus is to "be a good person" by following the commands of these people, the laws of society, and to go along with the popular vote. It is literally a moral reasoning level of "Everyone else is doing it, so I should too." How sad...
I might do a bit more research on this topic to find out the statistic's percentage or evidence to suggest that most people (and how many are "most people") are stuck at this level of moral reasoning and never move on from it.
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
This is a failure of an idea, but not for the reasons people are afraid about.
Google your name. Your full name. You're not going to be the only one that shows up, even if you think your name is unique. I'm not the only person with my name, not even in my own neighborhood. Playing a game and having your full name show up isn't going to stop you from being anonymous, that's a silly idea. The only way to remove anonymity is to give information about that person that's unique only to them, which is an invasion of privacy.
Furthermore, there are a lot of people who are gamers, who you wouldn't expect to be gamers. Lawyers, doctors, military, etc., and none of those people want their employers knowing how much time they spend in WoW. Looks bad.
Nerd-raging because you were ganked or someone was an asshat to you in a video game is not a proper reason to demand everyone's privacy be invaded. I think someone needs to be reminded that it's merely a game. I get irked when I see people say stupid things, sure, but I'm no more demanding they release their private information than I'm demanding you, who suggested it, post your information right here right now. Funny, that was missing in your initial post.
Honestly. You're going to run into people you don't like in every facet of your life, grow up and learn how to deal with them maturely. Genocides, plagues, war and strife in the world but people are pissed because someone told a 'your mom' joke. Priorities. /sarcasm.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
Furthermore, there are a lot of people who are gamers, who you wouldn't expect to be gamers. Lawyers, doctors, military, etc., and none of those people want their employers knowing how much time they spend in WoW. Looks bad.
LOL!
Maybe it needs to happen solely to show society it's not bad.
No offense, but especially if you're a Doctor or successful Lawyer, I seriously doubt you'd have these problems. Also...almost everyone plays WoW...so you're more likely to get a promotion at your job helping power level your Boss during work hours!
Just kidding...and I'm sure the older generation currently in power is still very conservative and...for lack of a less insulting word...ignorant / redneck...so I'm sure it actually probably isn't a great idea to let others know you play games. Like enjoying the color Pink will cause your boss not to promote you, even if nothing you own is pink.
I feel sorry for anyone and everyone who has a boss who is what I would call an "old timer" which is fancy words for ignorant redneck, even if their neck is pale white or money green.
The ignorance of 'Bosses' in the work place is astronmically unfair for most people
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I don't dislike young people, but I am realistic. Young people (even in their 20's) are perhaps the dumbest people on the entire planet, making the worst most illogical decisions possible. It took me until 23 to even mature my brain enough to no longer be a completely disabled monkey, and I developed faster than average. EEP! Some people don't mature until their 30's! And I'm not talking about not being immature (a 40 year old is fully allowed to be an immature jokester online-- they are still mature) but more along the lines of the development of their brain...specifically their rationality and mental reasoning.
Not cool, I thought we were friends :P
well being immature and being an absolute d-head, in my opinion, is different. There are different levels of immaturity, immature can be play jokes on people, pranks, laugh, and such, but all in good humor and such. Being 19 myself (or 20 at the end of the year ), sure I admit I'm immature at times, and certainly have made bad decisions, but not to the point start going to around ingame trolling people or berating them. Game is a leisure activity for me, I just want to have fun playing a game, and having fun does not require me to demean anyone else, it defies the whole point of MMORPG, or a community by performing anti-social behaviour.
As for rationality and mental reasoning, I honestly don't think it is related to age, they come to education. I don't mean education as in needing a phD to be rational, but in how you educated yourself in your conducts, to be considerate and such. Older people have an advantage to be rational and mature simply because they have more time and exposed to more experience to develop mentally, doesn't mean younger people can't be mature as well.
so yeah, I do take slight offence on how a lot of older game players look down on younger players, sterotyping that they are all immature trolls, spamming forums and chat channels with Justin Bieber and Rebeca Black.
Age shouldn't be a criteria to judge people, but only act as a guideline.
How much WoW could a WoWhater hate, if a WoWhater could hate WoW? As much WoW as a WoWhater would, if a WoWhater could hate WoW.
Everyone that is in favor of removing anonymity should change their avatar to a picture of themselves, their forum names to their real names and put their personal information in their signatures.
Then we can see how well removing anonymity actually works.
Brilliant idea. Put your money where your mouth is, so to speak. I agree.
Google your name. Your full name. You're not going to be the only one that shows up, even if you think your name is unique. I'm not the only person with my name, not even in my own neighborhood. Playing a game and having your full name show up isn't going to stop you from being anonymous, that's a silly idea. The only way to remove anonymity is to give information about that person that's unique only to them, which is an invasion of privacy.
Actually, if you google my sister's name, she's the only person with that name in the entire world, apparently. I have a couple other friends who have names that are similarly unique.
If I google my FULL name, then I'm definitely the only person with my particular name. My middle name is weird AND misspelled (Blame the US military for that).
Also, you're apparently a very bad stalker. I've tracked down people with relatively common names.
Uh, not that I'm a stalker, I just... know how to do it. :T
I've known people who have been stalked iRL because of things online. Ever watched the Guild? That one guy showing up at Felicia Day's doorstep? That's not too far off from what I've known people to do RL. Internet people are freaky, and sometimes way more clever than you would expect. Why make it easier for people than it already is?
If somebody is going to stalk me, I want them to work hard at it, not have it handed to them on a silver platter.
well being immature and being an absolute d-head, in my opinion, is different. There are different levels of immaturity, immature can be play jokes on people, pranks, laugh, and such, but all in good humor and such. Being 19 myself (or 20 at the end of the year ), sure I admit I'm immature at times, and certainly have made bad decisions, but not to the point start going to around ingame trolling people or berating them. Game is a leisure activity for me, I just want to have fun playing a game, and having fun does not require me to demean anyone else, it defies the whole point of MMORPG, or a community by performing anti-social behaviour.
As for rationality and mental reasoning, I honestly don't think it is related to age, they come to education. I don't mean education as in needing a phD to be rational, but in how you educated yourself in your conducts, to be considerate and such. Older people have an advantage to be rational and mature simply because they have more time and exposed to more experience to develop mentally, doesn't mean younger people can't be mature as well.
so yeah, I do take slight offence on how a lot of older game players look down on younger players, sterotyping that they are all immature trolls, spamming forums and chat channels with Justin Bieber and Rebeca Black.
Age shouldn't be a criteria to judge people, but only act as a guideline.
Nah, you're cool.
Every now and then you'll find someone who has developped quite well compartively.
There are people who surpass Level 2a or 2b before they even become an adult! I put absolutely no boundaries on young people, with the exception that they be at least 19ish. Heck, I'll even allow a 17 year old (if they grew up in a very realistic/harsh environment and are exceptionally well developed) to be considered awesome, although that's stretching it. Honestly, I'd classify there to be 3 type of minds (relative to age) which would be teen, young adult, and adult. Young adult being 17+ (depending on how fast they develop) but the younger in that bracker, the less likely. I've known some very developed 19 year olds, but also A LOT of absolutely god-awful 19-30 year olds.
Also, even if our brains don't fully develop until we're in our early to mid 20's, it doesn't mean a 19 year old can't have a brain which has developed past that of most adults.
So if I think you're a fool now, just wait until you're 25. Then you will be 10x smarter, and if you're already smart now...that's really really awesome and certainly a compliment to yourself.
Honestly, getting older is like increasing your power level. (Yea, I was a huge DB / DBZ fan, lol...) but I'm not joking! Every year, you feel more powerful!
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I am against it because now that you know fireguy76 is william hotlz from west virginia you can harrass him in real life
or that bumblebee88 is suzie maynard you can now stalk her
The big reason why I don't think that the whole "real name" thing will work is how do you prove you are bob jones?
I mean you cant use credit cards cause if one is stolen a false name would be attached to that file.
Also same for people who are under 18 and thus parents use credit cards.
Otherwise the only true proof would be social security numbers with licence etc faxed to the game company; but who is goign to offer that kind of info to a game?
I may be wrong but I don't see a way that this can truly be implimented.
I don't dislike young people, but I am realistic. Young people (even in their 20's) are perhaps the dumbest people on the entire planet, making the worst most illogical decisions possible. It took me until 23 to even mature my brain enough to no longer be a completely disabled monkey, and I developed faster than average. EEP! Some people don't mature until their 30's! And I'm not talking about not being immature (a 40 year old is fully allowed to be an immature jokester online-- they are still mature) but more along the lines of the development of their brain...specifically their rationality and mental reasoning.
well being immature and being an absolute d-head, in my opinion, is different. There are different levels of immaturity, immature can be play jokes on people, pranks, laugh, and such, but all in good humor and such. Being 19 myself (or 20 at the end of the year ), sure I admit I'm immature at times, and certainly have made bad decisions, but not to the point start going to around ingame trolling people or berating them.Game is a leisure activity for me, I just want to have fun playing a game, and having fun does not require me to demean anyone else, it defies the whole point of MMORPG, or a community by performing anti-social behaviour.
Funny, because I love pranking/trolling people sometimes in MMORPG's. Especially if I'm bored, or haven't in awhile. Although I don't demean anyone unless they demean someone else first, as I pick my victims randomly (for pranks) or specifically because they're nasty trolls themselves (for trolling).
As for rationality and mental reasoning, I honestly don't think it is related to age, they come to education.
Honestly, I don't know what causes someone to develop morally (so I guess I agree with you, it boils down to life experiences) but the human brain doesn't fully develop until your mid 20's.
However, the same researcher who said that many people never reach past the mental reasoning of a 13 year old, also stated that the rank above it is reached at age 16, and the level above it is reached at average 20+, and the rank above that the same. So a 16 year old is FULLY capable of having a higher level of moral reasoning than a 60 year old who stopped at 13.
Interesting research when it says some 16 year olds are at a higher level of thought than many adults (the adult's entire lives).
I don't mean education as in needing a phD to be rational, but in how you educated yourself in your conducts, to be considerate and such. Older people have an advantage to be rational and mature simply because they have more time and exposed to more experience to develop mentally, doesn't mean younger people can't be mature as well.
so yeah, I do take slight offence on how a lot of older game players look down on younger players, sterotyping that they are all immature trolls, spamming forums and chat channels with Justin Bieber and Rebeca Black.
I actually enjoy younger players over older ones. They actually know how to have fun...
Of course, I used to be a youth pastor, so I'm great with younger people, they absolutely love me, and to be honest...
Who else are you going to find to help you prank a friend or joke a stranger? :P
Also, the younger they are, the more likely they'll do things you wish you would do, but are too old for (like some seriously bad pranks, lol...)
Really though, younger people know how to laugh and "CHEESE IT!!!!!!!" when running away from a mob laughing their asses off "DUDE THEY ARE RIGHT BEHIND US! RUN!!!!!!!!!!" and how to add the dramatic flare to MMORPG's.
Older people seem to be entirely lacking in imagination, unless they are 'RPers" which then they are overly intellectual professional writers who are absolutely boring beyond boredom.
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
Anyone watch that episode of Big Bang Theory where some guy hacked Sheldon's WoW account. They just had the character name and were able to track his IP address, than his address, than his name... then the girl Penny beat him up.
I'm sure it would have been way easier if they could have started with his real name.
Venge
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad.
Anyone watch that episode of Big Bang Theory where some guy hacked Sheldon's WoW account. They just had the character name and were able to track his IP address, than his address, than his name... then the girl Penny beat him up.
I'm sure it would have been way easier if they could have started with his real name.
Venge
Yea...I find it really odd that people think they are anonymous right now.
Honestly, there are thousands of people fully capable of finding out ANYONE here, grabbing all information and eventually tracking them down to the exact person.
Then one day at a Panera Bread, some random stranger says,
"Hey, aren't you GokuTwentyThree from Earthdawn server on MMORPG#3?"
"Yea..how do you know that?"
"BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE YOU STOLE THE SWORD OF A THOUSAND TRUTHS FROM!
*the gunshot rings throughout Panera Bread as the sullen nerd falls to the floor, grasping his vegen apple*
"Johnny!!!! Why did you kill him!?!? He's my boyfriend!!!!!!"
"He too away my life. So I will take away his!!!"
*Jessica's coffee cup falls to the floor, spinning around as it tips over, spilling out its brown content. Jessica's body thuds against the floor, the pool of her blood slowly oozing towards the spilt coffee."
"Blood and Coffee. My new favorite."
*The Killer leaves Panera Bread as the last of Johnny's breath leaves his body. His mind wonders, "But...but...I was... anonymous..."
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I don't think making this change to a current MMO would change the behavior of people that others determine "bad" at all. I don't even think that the people behaving this way even care or would acknowledge that their behavior is bad. It would more than likely intensify as people learn to play the system, and the one's that are innocent will pay again and the guilty will somehow get away with even more immunity.....as usual.
I don't think fear is a valid excuse not to do it unless it's an already existing community, or an underage one. I don't think fear should be used to force behavior or a change in behavior either. I think that is worse than most game behavior in alot of ways. Its borderline creepy.
Give the players the tools. Unthinkable!!
Stop expecting devs to solve "our" issues, even if they created them. If you don't like bad behavior, end it with whatever tools are available in game. Here's a tough one for you themeparkers....create content to counter behavior. I know right. Better than being little snitches and helpless victims. SAVE US DEVS!!!
OR....OR.....demand developers make a different game already. One that preferably isnt in direct opposition to the very thing that makes it an MMO,(all the people) and save the realID for a game that incorporates it, and enhances the experience for all. Not as a punishment. That's just not cool, it's not what people pay for atm.
This more than likely has nothing to do with bad behavior, like pirates have little to do with anti-pirate solutions, like item malls have little to do with gold farmers. Agenda, my love...
See you in the dream.. The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
I think the OP might give more creedence to his plea by posting on the forum with his real name.
Ya know if ya want everyone in the room to get naked ya gotta set an example. /lol
And ... I play WoW with parential controls enabled (did it to block the "Real friends" ... or whatever it was called when bliz tried it). I left it on tho cause seing $%$#%$ rather than whatever they were saying pleases my sensabilities. And I am not a teen and have not been one since Haight Ashbury LOL
Raise your hand if you've had someone threaten to find you and kill you or kick your ass over something that's happened in a game. I bet there's a lot of hands going up. I'm one of the most laid back, go with the flow kind of guys you'd ever meet. In 12 years of mmo gaming, I've never been banned or even warned for bad behavior. I can count on one hand how many times I've even gotten into an argument with someone ingame. Yet, I've been threatened countless times during pvp. There are crazy people out there. Anonymity is not there to protect the bullies and allow them to get away with abnoxious behavior. It's to protect the innocent people from the crazy people, simple as that.
It seems to me taking away anonymity only does the opposite of what you think it will. It will gives the bullies and crazy people more power to harrass the innocent ones. Now they know who you really are.
Who do you think would be scared off by having to use their real name? 14 year old brats wouldn't. Mature adults with a good job who would rather their employers not know that they play online games in their free time might, though. Think that would lead to a better community?
or maybe the employee finds out that his/her boss is playing mmos in his office instead of supervising the work.... lol
I can't think of anything I would like better. I mean, it's a lot of fun when you're out with friends at a club or bar or where ever and some guy just won't get a clue and go away in RL, but the chance to have virtual strangers show up at my door because one time I was polite to them in game would just be swell. That wouldn't be dangerous at all. Moron.
There are alot of people with something to hide. Gotta ask yourself, what are you ashamed of?
Famous people plays games as well, if you were a famous actor or actress, having free time to play a game, would you want to deal with a bunch gamers harassing you with 10 thousand questions? like paparazzi outside your door isn't enough?
How much WoW could a WoWhater hate, if a WoWhater could hate WoW? As much WoW as a WoWhater would, if a WoWhater could hate WoW.
There are alot of people with something to hide. Gotta ask yourself, what are you ashamed of?
Why do you assume we have something to hide that we are ashamed of? Maybe it's the fact that my bosses are all kool-aid drinking Christians who think gaming is EVIL and would preach at me for it? Or that if I like to shoot virtual people in my free time maybe I will do it at work and thus maybe they need to let me go now and then who is going to pay for my kid to go to private school? Well my wife, she makes a lot more than I do but the point holds
Comments
I agree with people that removing anonymity in an online game can expose people to risks. But a lot of people in here gave the excuses that games are an escape for them, i place away from life. Does that FORCES you to act bad and be mean towards other player? I don't mean quitting on your dungeon group but acting like a douche and insulting. If when you escape from life by playing your favorite video game you feel the need to be harsh and mean with everyone it's a sign that there is a problem somewhere else.
I can say for my part that i play video game to get away from normal life, and it's ok but when i play i don't go around insulting people freely just because they ask a question or because of sex/gender/orientation/beliefs.
So if we want this to get better we need better rules in game, people need to learn that hey if i say that his mom is a %#$@?!&$, i'll prolly get banned three days and wont make it to my arena team or raid stuff. Or a simple thing as a user score, showing people like this guy acts like a douche since he started or this guy never had problem with the staffs.
We just can't continue to play those game with those kind of people and i wouldnt mind loosing 12k kids and older person not able to behave like normal person. And those advocat of the "let's do nothing" are probably the first to act as described before in this post. I'm not afraid of such implementation in a game since i know i have done nothing wrong.
What he is saying is that if that were in effect, there would be no forums.
I'll do this. I wouldn't give my address or personal information, but I'd surely give my photo, location, age, and full name.
My name is Eric Syntax Jordan, I'm 26, and I'm a game developer who lives in Modesto California, and here is my photo.
I still think you're all [insert expletive that would cause me to get beat up in real life] LOL
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
Hehe, good show Emergence. Still you have to agree that it would be pretty barren if everyone had to put in their information.
I can’t speak to the future society, but I can say that losing web anonymity would be liable to create more problems for law enforcement agencies than solve cruddy game behavior in the times in which we live. The kid in the op’s example may get face stomped but the guy that did it would be in jail and rightfully so. We live in a society of law that protects someone’s right to speak over the put-upon’s right to respond…
For better or worse.
I am too a point where verbal assault needs to be made a more serious crime. People seem to think they can say anything and not be held accountable in any way. They’ll just call the police if they get whipped and you’ll go to jail.
As a society we can’t even safely handle something as simple as Craig’s List without it turning into a tool for serial killers.
Let’s bring it to WoW next… O.o
I can see the CSI rip already aftera string of kids turn up dead for winning PVP matches with pink shields.
It is certainly not a good idea to give out information, BUT...
There is a growing (practically criminal) norm forming (especially among young people) where anonymity and technology are causing great harm to others without any accountability. This needs to stop.
Perhaps a series of brutal murders spawned from facebook comments where teenagers bash each other over facebook and assume they're safe, and then their victims retaliate in real life, because of how easy it was to find out their information, it will send out enough nerdrage in the universe to make society actually do something about this cyber-bullying which is on the verge of exploding. Not that I condone these potential actions, but that anonymity (especially with facebook) isn't as protective (anonymous) as people seem to think.
How many people have already lost their jobs, marriages, or friendships over the fact they think posting their personal thoughts or events during the day on facebook for all to see?
----
Status Update: "My boss is a moron. I hate my job."
You're fired!
----
"Sorry Jim, I can't hang out today because I have to goto a funeral. Maybe some other time."
Status Update: Hangin out with my best friend Aaron, out at the lake enjoying the sun!
----
I have bullied others (usually jerks or people who refuse to reason) and I have been bullied. I have seen internet people gang up on my loved ones to bully them, making the person feel isolated, hurt, and "ganged up upon" with no one saying anything to defend them. The likelihood of someone telling others to not bully someone online is very slim, and becomes slimmer with every bully who joins in. (Ignorant) or what I call "lower thought" people believe that whatever the majority is doing is the right thing, and anyone who is ganged up upon deserves it. This includes even if the victim being bullied is being attacked by a large group of KKK members solely because of their skin color. Doesn't matter. "Majority Rules" when it comes to these "lower thought" people's morality.
Sadly, it's actually in psychological research that "most" people (not sure what that exactly means, besides that the majority of people, which could be anywhere from 34% to above) are stuck at a moral reasoning level likened to that of a teenager (13 or 16, I forget...) That's right... most people stop developing their moral reasoning at ages 13-20ish...so it is NOT inaccurate to say others think like a teenager.
This moral reasoning is that those "in charge" (Police, Government, Leaders, Famous People) are always morally correct and that one's own focus is to "be a good person" by following the commands of these people, the laws of society, and to go along with the popular vote. It is literally a moral reasoning level of "Everyone else is doing it, so I should too." How sad...
I might do a bit more research on this topic to find out the statistic's percentage or evidence to suggest that most people (and how many are "most people") are stuck at this level of moral reasoning and never move on from it.
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
This is a failure of an idea, but not for the reasons people are afraid about.
Google your name. Your full name. You're not going to be the only one that shows up, even if you think your name is unique. I'm not the only person with my name, not even in my own neighborhood. Playing a game and having your full name show up isn't going to stop you from being anonymous, that's a silly idea. The only way to remove anonymity is to give information about that person that's unique only to them, which is an invasion of privacy.
Furthermore, there are a lot of people who are gamers, who you wouldn't expect to be gamers. Lawyers, doctors, military, etc., and none of those people want their employers knowing how much time they spend in WoW. Looks bad.
Nerd-raging because you were ganked or someone was an asshat to you in a video game is not a proper reason to demand everyone's privacy be invaded. I think someone needs to be reminded that it's merely a game. I get irked when I see people say stupid things, sure, but I'm no more demanding they release their private information than I'm demanding you, who suggested it, post your information right here right now. Funny, that was missing in your initial post.
Honestly. You're going to run into people you don't like in every facet of your life, grow up and learn how to deal with them maturely. Genocides, plagues, war and strife in the world but people are pissed because someone told a 'your mom' joke. Priorities. /sarcasm.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
LOL!
Maybe it needs to happen solely to show society it's not bad.
No offense, but especially if you're a Doctor or successful Lawyer, I seriously doubt you'd have these problems. Also...almost everyone plays WoW...so you're more likely to get a promotion at your job helping power level your Boss during work hours!
Just kidding...and I'm sure the older generation currently in power is still very conservative and...for lack of a less insulting word...ignorant / redneck...so I'm sure it actually probably isn't a great idea to let others know you play games. Like enjoying the color Pink will cause your boss not to promote you, even if nothing you own is pink.
I feel sorry for anyone and everyone who has a boss who is what I would call an "old timer" which is fancy words for ignorant redneck, even if their neck is pale white or money green.
The ignorance of 'Bosses' in the work place is astronmically unfair for most people
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
Not cool, I thought we were friends :P
well being immature and being an absolute d-head, in my opinion, is different. There are different levels of immaturity, immature can be play jokes on people, pranks, laugh, and such, but all in good humor and such. Being 19 myself (or 20 at the end of the year
), sure I admit I'm immature at times, and certainly have made bad decisions, but not to the point start going to around ingame trolling people or berating them. Game is a leisure activity for me, I just want to have fun playing a game, and having fun does not require me to demean anyone else, it defies the whole point of MMORPG, or a community by performing anti-social behaviour.
As for rationality and mental reasoning, I honestly don't think it is related to age, they come to education. I don't mean education as in needing a phD to be rational, but in how you educated yourself in your conducts, to be considerate and such. Older people have an advantage to be rational and mature simply because they have more time and exposed to more experience to develop mentally, doesn't mean younger people can't be mature as well.
so yeah, I do take slight offence on how a lot of older game players look down on younger players, sterotyping that they are all immature trolls, spamming forums and chat channels with Justin Bieber and Rebeca Black.
Age shouldn't be a criteria to judge people, but only act as a guideline.
How much WoW could a WoWhater hate, if a WoWhater could hate WoW?
As much WoW as a WoWhater would, if a WoWhater could hate WoW.
Brilliant idea. Put your money where your mouth is, so to speak. I agree.
President of The Marvelously Meowhead Fan Club
Actually, if you google my sister's name, she's the only person with that name in the entire world, apparently. I have a couple other friends who have names that are similarly unique.
If I google my FULL name, then I'm definitely the only person with my particular name. My middle name is weird AND misspelled (Blame the US military for that).
Also, you're apparently a very bad stalker. I've tracked down people with relatively common names.
Uh, not that I'm a stalker, I just... know how to do it. :T
I've known people who have been stalked iRL because of things online. Ever watched the Guild? That one guy showing up at Felicia Day's doorstep? That's not too far off from what I've known people to do RL. Internet people are freaky, and sometimes way more clever than you would expect.
Why make it easier for people than it already is?
If somebody is going to stalk me, I want them to work hard at it, not have it handed to them on a silver platter.
Nah, you're cool.
Every now and then you'll find someone who has developped quite well compartively.
There are people who surpass Level 2a or 2b before they even become an adult! I put absolutely no boundaries on young people, with the exception that they be at least 19ish. Heck, I'll even allow a 17 year old (if they grew up in a very realistic/harsh environment and are exceptionally well developed) to be considered awesome, although that's stretching it. Honestly, I'd classify there to be 3 type of minds (relative to age) which would be teen, young adult, and adult. Young adult being 17+ (depending on how fast they develop) but the younger in that bracker, the less likely. I've known some very developed 19 year olds, but also A LOT of absolutely god-awful 19-30 year olds.
Also, even if our brains don't fully develop until we're in our early to mid 20's, it doesn't mean a 19 year old can't have a brain which has developed past that of most adults.
So if I think you're a fool now, just wait until you're 25. Then you will be 10x smarter, and if you're already smart now...that's really really awesome and certainly a compliment to yourself.
Honestly, getting older is like increasing your power level. (Yea, I was a huge DB / DBZ fan, lol...) but I'm not joking! Every year, you feel more powerful!
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I am both for and against this idea.
I am for it for obvious reasons that you stated
I am against it because now that you know fireguy76 is william hotlz from west virginia you can harrass him in real life
or that bumblebee88 is suzie maynard you can now stalk her
The big reason why I don't think that the whole "real name" thing will work is how do you prove you are bob jones?
I mean you cant use credit cards cause if one is stolen a false name would be attached to that file.
Also same for people who are under 18 and thus parents use credit cards.
Otherwise the only true proof would be social security numbers with licence etc faxed to the game company; but who is goign to offer that kind of info to a game?
I may be wrong but I don't see a way that this can truly be implimented.
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
Anyone watch that episode of Big Bang Theory where some guy hacked Sheldon's WoW account. They just had the character name and were able to track his IP address, than his address, than his name... then the girl Penny beat him up.
I'm sure it would have been way easier if they could have started with his real name.
Venge
Yea...I find it really odd that people think they are anonymous right now.
Honestly, there are thousands of people fully capable of finding out ANYONE here, grabbing all information and eventually tracking them down to the exact person.
Then one day at a Panera Bread, some random stranger says,
"Hey, aren't you GokuTwentyThree from Earthdawn server on MMORPG#3?"
"Yea..how do you know that?"
"BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE YOU STOLE THE SWORD OF A THOUSAND TRUTHS FROM!
*the gunshot rings throughout Panera Bread as the sullen nerd falls to the floor, grasping his vegen apple*
"Johnny!!!! Why did you kill him!?!? He's my boyfriend!!!!!!"
"He too away my life. So I will take away his!!!"
*Jessica's coffee cup falls to the floor, spinning around as it tips over, spilling out its brown content. Jessica's body thuds against the floor, the pool of her blood slowly oozing towards the spilt coffee."
"Blood and Coffee. My new favorite."
*The Killer leaves Panera Bread as the last of Johnny's breath leaves his body. His mind wonders, "But...but...I was... anonymous..."
If being a developer means being quiet, mature, well-spoken, and disconnected from the community, then by all means do me a favor and believe I'm not one.
I don't think making this change to a current MMO would change the behavior of people that others determine "bad" at all. I don't even think that the people behaving this way even care or would acknowledge that their behavior is bad. It would more than likely intensify as people learn to play the system, and the one's that are innocent will pay again and the guilty will somehow get away with even more immunity.....as usual.
I don't think fear is a valid excuse not to do it unless it's an already existing community, or an underage one. I don't think fear should be used to force behavior or a change in behavior either. I think that is worse than most game behavior in alot of ways. Its borderline creepy.
Give the players the tools. Unthinkable!!
Stop expecting devs to solve "our" issues, even if they created them. If you don't like bad behavior, end it with whatever tools are available in game. Here's a tough one for you themeparkers....create content to counter behavior. I know right. Better than being little snitches and helpless victims. SAVE US DEVS!!!
OR....OR.....demand developers make a different game already. One that preferably isnt in direct opposition to the very thing that makes it an MMO,(all the people) and save the realID for a game that incorporates it, and enhances the experience for all. Not as a punishment. That's just not cool, it's not what people pay for atm.
This more than likely has nothing to do with bad behavior, like pirates have little to do with anti-pirate solutions, like item malls have little to do with gold farmers. Agenda, my love...
See you in the dream..
The Fires from heaven, now as cold as ice. A rapid ascension tolls a heavy price.
I think the OP might give more creedence to his plea by posting on the forum with his real name.
Ya know if ya want everyone in the room to get naked ya gotta set an example. /lol
And ... I play WoW with parential controls enabled (did it to block the "Real friends" ... or whatever it was called when bliz tried it). I left it on tho cause seing $%$#%$ rather than whatever they were saying pleases my sensabilities. And I am not a teen and have not been one since Haight Ashbury LOL
If Ya Ain't Dyin, Ya Ain't Tryin
There are alot of people with something to hide. Gotta ask yourself, what are you ashamed of?
I am posting in one of the greatest Internet Sarcasm threads out there. lls
Real Idea puts people in Danger Never going to happen
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
Raise your hand if you've had someone threaten to find you and kill you or kick your ass over something that's happened in a game. I bet there's a lot of hands going up. I'm one of the most laid back, go with the flow kind of guys you'd ever meet. In 12 years of mmo gaming, I've never been banned or even warned for bad behavior. I can count on one hand how many times I've even gotten into an argument with someone ingame. Yet, I've been threatened countless times during pvp. There are crazy people out there. Anonymity is not there to protect the bullies and allow them to get away with abnoxious behavior. It's to protect the innocent people from the crazy people, simple as that.
It seems to me taking away anonymity only does the opposite of what you think it will. It will gives the bullies and crazy people more power to harrass the innocent ones. Now they know who you really are.
or maybe the employee finds out that his/her boss is playing mmos in his office instead of supervising the work.... lol
I can't think of anything I would like better. I mean, it's a lot of fun when you're out with friends at a club or bar or where ever and some guy just won't get a clue and go away in RL, but the chance to have virtual strangers show up at my door because one time I was polite to them in game would just be swell. That wouldn't be dangerous at all. Moron.
Famous people plays games as well, if you were a famous actor or actress, having free time to play a game, would you want to deal with a bunch gamers harassing you with 10 thousand questions? like paparazzi outside your door isn't enough?
How much WoW could a WoWhater hate, if a WoWhater could hate WoW?
As much WoW as a WoWhater would, if a WoWhater could hate WoW.
Why do you assume we have something to hide that we are ashamed of? Maybe it's the fact that my bosses are all kool-aid drinking Christians who think gaming is EVIL and would preach at me for it? Or that if I like to shoot virtual people in my free time maybe I will do it at work and thus maybe they need to let me go now and then who is going to pay for my kid to go to private school? Well my wife, she makes a lot more than I do but the point holds