Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests • Hacker News Board

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#41

Post by PavlovsCat » Fri, Oct 11, 2019, 8:37 AM UTC

rjf72 wrote: post #38

PavlovsCat wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brian Kibler put it very well: http://bmkgaming.com/statement-on-blitzchung/ > I do think that Blizzard was correct in issuing him a penalty for his actions. They do not want to set the precedent for their official broadcasts being used as political tools. The players agreed to particular rules for behavior, and he violated those rules. [..] > All that having been said, there are additional factors at play here. The…

Here is the video [1] with complete context. Unfortunately I've yet to find a complete translated transcript. But from what I've read (from potentially unreliable sources) the casters said 'Go ahead and say those 8 words and we'll wrap up here. There's nothing else to talk about. Let's lower our heads.' He then said 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time' while wearing a gas mask. Guessing that's 8 words in Mand…

Thank you so much for that! And I agree, even though I do support the protests in HK in their five demands, there is no need to exaggerate or cut away context, ever, and it happens habitually. Yet, trying to be fair, just adding very relevant information, often gets one put onto a "side" and treated accordingly. This, too, needs to be resisted.

> Constructive criticism and self-criticism are extremely important for any revolutionary organization. Without them, people tend to drown in their mistakes, not learn from them.

-- Assata Shakur

> These people don’t see that if you encourage totalitarian methods, the time may come when they will be used against you instead of for you. Make a habit of imprisoning Fascists without trial, and perhaps the process won’t stop at Fascists.

-- George Orwell, http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Animal_Farm/english/efp_go

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#42

Post by PavlovsCat » Fri, Oct 11, 2019, 8:38 AM UTC

Xelbair wrote: post #35

PavlovsCat wrote: post #25

Why not "punish" them by criticizing them, or boycotting them? Even "review bombing" sucks, but abusing the GDPR, that really sucks. I'm very much in support of the protests, I think what Blizzard did was shameful, and I loved seeing the hundreds of memes on their subreddits. I'm not completely against civil disobedience and some tasteful vandalism. But still, that doesn't mean anything goes at the drop of a hat, the…

I am not punishing them with GDPR requests. I am really curious what they do have on me, especially now that they start to expand greatly into chinesee market. I don't even play their games any more as they all turned into bland pulp.

I was referring to the article, not you :) I think it's totally fair to be reminded that hey, actually, what do they have on me and not hold off until the "punishment" is over, but then what I said obviously doesn't apply to you per se.

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#43

Post by paperskull » Fri, Oct 11, 2019, 9:18 AM UTC

PavlovsCat wrote: post #25

Why not "punish" them by criticizing them, or boycotting them? Even "review bombing" sucks, but abusing the GDPR, that really sucks. I'm very much in support of the protests, I think what Blizzard did was shameful, and I loved seeing the hundreds of memes on their subreddits. I'm not completely against civil disobedience and some tasteful vandalism. But still, that doesn't mean anything goes at the drop of a hat, the…

How is this an abuse of GDPR? I own my data and have the right to withdraw my consent for a company to store and process that data for whatever reason I want. If people no longer feel like they want Blizzard to have their data they have the right to withdraw that consent. What part of this is "abusing" GDPR? The law is working exactly as intended.

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#44

Post by paperskull » Fri, Oct 11, 2019, 10:16 AM UTC

ShorsHammer wrote: post #12

ngcc_hk wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What both ways? Freedom of speech and speak out of belief is core to humanity for quite some times now. Money not an excuse to violate it.

So anyone providing a platform owes you "free speech"?

No but they are not entitled to customers and they have the right to express their dissatisfaction. Just as China can threaten Blizzard with no business unless they kowtow, customers from other countries can threaten Blizzard with no business for giving in to China's demands.

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#45

Post by vegan_zaddy » Fri, Oct 11, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

PavlovsCat wrote: post #41

rjf72 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is the video [1] with complete context. Unfortunately I've yet to find a complete translated transcript. But from what I've read (from potentially unreliable sources) the casters said 'Go ahead and say those 8 words and we'll wrap up here. There's nothing else to talk about. Let's lower our heads.' He then said 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time' while wearing a gas mask. Guessing that's 8 words in Mand…

Thank you so much for that! And I agree, even though I do support the protests in HK in their five demands, there is no need to exaggerate or cut away context, ever, and it happens habitually. Yet, trying to be fair, just adding very relevant information , often gets one put onto a "side" and treated accordingly. This, too, needs to be resisted. > Constructive criticism and self-criticism are extremely important for…

[dead]

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#46

Post by vegan_zaddy » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 12:09 AM UTC

s1artibartfast wrote: post #33

vegan_zaddy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with you, we should not tolerate intolerance. Why should Blizzard have to tolerate someone else's views? They are perfectly within their right to deny someone an association or a platform whose views that they do not agree with.

China is within its rights to demand Blizzard censor content. US user/viewers are within their rights to criticize and boycott them. Blizzard is within its right to change their policy or ignore the criticism.

Are they demanding that Blizzard "censor content" or is Blizzard trying to stray away from politics? I don't think there is anything wrong with Blizzard stepping in to say "no you can't use our platform, our company to promote this message" a message that's REALLY divisive amongst their user base.

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#47

Post by _8j50 » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 3:14 PM UTC

_8j50 wrote: post #11

How about offering jobs to blizzard employees? Might work better in the long term and a good PR move. But food for thought here: can America win when fighting both Russia and China at the same time? They say Germany's mistake in WW2 was fighting America and Russia simulta eously. My opinion is to stop fighting Russia, let them have their way with non-NATO eastern europe and central Asia so long as they steer clear of…

Weird,would love to know which part of my comment caused all the downvotes.

Re: Punishing Blizzard for anti-HK partisanship by flooding it with GDPR requests

#48

Post by s1artibartfast » Sun, Oct 13, 2019, 8:29 PM UTC

vegan_zaddy wrote: post #46

s1artibartfast wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

China is within its rights to demand Blizzard censor content. US user/viewers are within their rights to criticize and boycott them. Blizzard is within its right to change their policy or ignore the criticism.

Are they demanding that Blizzard "censor content" or is Blizzard trying to stray away from politics? I don't think there is anything wrong with Blizzard stepping in to say "no you can't use our platform, our company to promote this message" a message that's REALLY divisive amongst their user base.

>Are they demanding that Blizzard "censor content" or is Blizzard trying to stray away from politics?

I expect there is some of both. Fear of government intervention and fear of public backlash in China.

I agree it is very understandable that blizzard would want to be apolitical and discourage divisive speech. The question is what to do once the speech has occured, because now blizzard is in the hot seat where their response can be REALLY divisive.

I personally think the response was overly putative, especially the firing of the hapless hosts. Especially so, given that 90% of their business is outside of asia, and only a fraction of the remainder is in China.

The question remains where customers will accept blizzard drawing the line. They would be equally within their legal rights to restrict streamers, game chat, or out of game speech.