This is from a statement from the World of Warcraft developers that they are pleased that the new discussion has intensified further at this point:ᲡSocial contract“It will be available in the game with the release of patch 9.2.5. Two almost offensive words for some ears, which many gamers perceive very badly. But what is it? And why is this opposition so accentuated?explain in this article.
The social contract: what else?
The World of Warcraft Social Contract is simply a short set of codes of conduct that you must accept and uphold if you wish to set foot on Azeroth. It is intended that each player can play WoW with complete peace of mind, so as not to expose themselves to various atrocities that some other players may cause for various reasons (trolling, harassment, hatred…).
In fact, it’s a kind of version specifically dedicated to WoW. End User License Agreement What everyone should get to start the game. The only difference is that the social contract is very short, concise and completely understandable for everyone. It specifically explains what kind of behavior players can expect on Azeroth. It is also in everyone’s interest to know them, because following these few rules means that the player exposes himself to clear and direct sanctions for their violation.
An amusing and very logical anecdote: if you choose “to give upInstead of receiving a WoW social contract, the client automatically closes. You must agree to these rules to enter the game, otherwise you literally have nothing to do!
opposition expressed
While some members of the community seemed to be taking the news very well, others chose to resist. The reasons given are often very similar: censorship andThe end of freedom of expression“. In a broader sense, these are usually terms like “I woke up“Or”vocalism“Who were among the protesters of this new contract?
Because of this, this contract has been criticized for imposing a mentality on players that some don’t like. Indeed, there is a segment of society that defends its right to say and do what it wants, regardless of the subject and the approach chosen. While Blizzard now categorically and unequivocally opposes so-called “toxic” behavior, some believe much of it is “trolling” or, at worst, a few misplaced jokes.
The most extreme of these statements is defended by their authors, citing the fact that Blizzard was recently taken to court for treating certain employees this way for a long time. For them, if the company behind the game committed such a crime against its employees, then it would be justifiable and acceptable to do so in the game: after all, who would they teach in social life? The players?
However, beyond the fact that these players are often described as “conservative”, there is also a significant part of the community that points to the game’s stark lack of moderation. gaming experience of one or more players without any additional risk. Who hasn’t encountered a player on the battlefield who deliberately picked against his own team, at the expense of, say, 14 other teammates?
Thus, according to this fringe of society, this social contract would be Blizzard’s way of getting rid of the existence of such behaviors, because according to them, it is enough to obtain a few lines before renewing them. Vile activity on Azeroth as usual.
Our take on the WoW social contract
Let’s be clear: we think the WoW Social Contract is one of the biggest changes to World of Warcraft since its inception. As such, it’s clear that it can allow players to succeed in the MMORPG they’ve enjoyed for the first time since 2005. It’s just the method and practice that’s more contentious for us here.
The integration of such an arrangement actually pushes the door. No, it is not normal to insult another player. No, it’s not right to spread hate speech. No, trolling or harassing players is still unacceptable. Who else takes it seriously? However, its clear and easy integration into the game above all demonstrates Blizzard’s strong will to fight against these behaviors: players know that they will no longer tolerate them in World of Warcraft. While the End User License Agreement had already described these issues, they were rarely read (and understood) as previously mentioned. The behaviors to avoid in the game were therefore essentially based on everyone’s common sense.
But if this agreement is socially promising, it is its implementation that makes it difficult for us. Despite numerous reports and many players failing to take action to report players en masse, it is highly unusual for your Virtual Attacker to ever be punished for your violent abuse or deliberate destruction of your Legendary Key. In addition, many players no longer even display very questionable nicknames or behaviors, especially in Classic. We give you the opportunity to learn the name of this guild in Firemaw on Wednesday, May 18, 2022:
Of course it makes you smile at first glance because the word is amazing. However, it quite clearly delivers a message of hate. And these words do not refer to “vocalism”: homophobia is a crime, punishable by law. How can the name of this guild save more than 24 hours in 2022? Are these players really bad intentions or just a joke? Hard to say, a name change would probably have been appropriate at first, followed by a ban in the event of a repeat offense.
Hateful behavior and speech are aplenty in World of Warcraft, and it wasn’t always an insult to those who felt nostalgic for a while.We watched Game Masters live in-game“The game itself was once inspired by very questionable elements, some of which were removed in patch 9.1.5. It is therefore a huge effort that Blizzard must make to clean up the game: for a “toxic” player, how many neutral or passive players are there left?
And precisely: This new in-game social contract comes with patch 9.2.5, many new reporting options! It’s hard to say if these changes will have a real impact on the game, in fact, everything will depend on Blizzard. If the penalties are greater and less difficult to pinpoint that a player like League of Legends is misbehaving, then it will undoubtedly be very lucrative in the long run. Otherwise, nothing will change. Also, in our opinion, a policy of low tolerance should be applied: Blizzard should strengthen its players, not take a banal and absurd excuse for this crime: nothing justifies hatred; You are hated, you are banned.
Finally, when it comes to the downsides of this minor fix, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t affect the vast majority of players. It’s very unlikely that someone will be banned after changing for a little too severe irritation or heated discussion with a player in a fight. A little mischief is completely human, the repetition of such behaviors or excessive words and actions will be more easily and violently approved. Searching for a player “soft“Although it’s not very smart, it probably doesn’t fall into the category of hate speech. On the other hand, to attack (by attacking ethnicity, sexual orientation or the law) to redo him or hurt him personally. … literally a matter of dosage!
One can become very angry without deep disrespect or hatred. This is exactly what the social convention of World of Warcraft reminds us of, a regulation that we encounter everywhere, even in your company or any public place. For those who can’t imagine that, they’re probably not in Azeroth anymore, and that’s good.
Source : Millenium
