borghe said:
you are absolutely correct that people shouldn't be doing this type of thing. but in lieu of people using common sense and refraining from "preaching" (i.e. spouting off ideas that have no place in this context) there SHOULD be rules set by blizzard against it. I do agree that warning someone over this behaviour is stupid. Just go to them and say they can't openly advertise a GBLT guild the same way someone can't advertise an all caucasion guild or an all republican guild.
I don't fucking care about this point in the slightest. I play wow to occassionally escape from all the stupid bullshit in real life. I don't need all that same stupid bullshit dragged back in the game because some group is trying to make a statement. and let's not gloss over the fact that that's exactly what this was. as others have said, you could make a guild advertising "no intolerant dickheads" and reached the same goal. Instead they specifically made mention of GBLT to pull their bullshit into the game and say "WE'RE [insert social category]!! LOOK AT US!!"
I really don't understand why you feel the need to be vitriolic on this issue.
Been practical about it, MMORPGs are social constructs... you can wax lyrical about how it should be this or that, while ignoring what it really is... but the reality of the matter is, people are going to be talking about themselves, their lives. It's just natural.
Besides, more than anything else, the explicit formation of GBLT friendly social groups is just to get away from the concerns of real life; where you can gather in a comfortable social environment, rather than having to deal with people offending you by using fag or other similarly hateful words as an epithet.
that does not address the real issue at hand.
When the real issue at hand is the ongoing and unjust prejudice that is not only ingrained, but still been reinforced within our culture... then, neither does the simple policy of pretending it doesn't exist really address that issue.
In the meantime, even if it isn't their job to go out of the way to solve social problems, they can be at least accomodating and understanding of the circumstances and needs of their customers.
Ultimately, it is upto the customers to vote with their dollars by leaving, but given the time and emotional investment players typically have, it's not a preferred solution... I don't think it's a preferred solution for Blizzard either.