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Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

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Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#11

Post by calcifer »

orisho wrote: post #8

Title is clickbaity. They did it for a political protest during an official Blizzard tournament stream, not for actions on his own stream or something. He put on a gas mask and called for liberation of HK. I'm with him, but I definitely see why Blizzard has the rule in place, and it would not be right to overlook this - they would then have to be OK with others doing other protests. Blizzard should not pick a side.

> Blizzard should not pick a side.

Not picking a side is siding with the status quo, which is Chinese oppression in Hong Kong.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#12

Post by Rainymood »

While I agree with the sentiment that is being expressed here (i.e. it's "wrong"). I can't help but think about the fact that he ... simply broke the rules. There is a clear clause in the ToS that states basically "You are working for us. If you say anything that can damage our reputation, we can cease working with you." Which, to me, makes a whole lot of sense to have as a clause.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#13

Post by Iv »

> Blizzard has ruled that Hearthstone pro Chung "blitzchung" Ng Wai will been removed from Hearthstone Grandmasters, following the player's call for Hong Kong's freedom during a post-match interview. Additionally, Blizzard has stated that it will no longer work with the two casters who appeared in the now deleted broadcast.

https://www.pcgamer.com/blitzchung-removed-from-hearthstone-...

I am a huge starcraft 2 fan. But from now on, I'll refrain talking about it. Boycott Blizzard. They support Chinese censorship.

I am so sad. That was a company I really loved.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#14

Post by ajuc »

orisho wrote: post #8

Title is clickbaity. They did it for a political protest during an official Blizzard tournament stream, not for actions on his own stream or something. He put on a gas mask and called for liberation of HK. I'm with him, but I definitely see why Blizzard has the rule in place, and it would not be right to overlook this - they would then have to be OK with others doing other protests. Blizzard should not pick a side.

> Blizzard should not pick a side.

You cannot "not pick a side" in a situation like this. Blizzard clearly picked Chinese money over human rights.

They behave rationally as a company, but I hope they will still lose on this. The fact this is a rule changes nothing - they created that rule.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#15

Post by orisho »

calcifer wrote: post #11
orisho wrote: post #8

Title is clickbaity. They did it for a political protest during an official Blizzard tournament stream, not for actions on his own stream or something. He put on a gas mask and called for liberation of HK. I'm with him, but I definitely see why Blizzard has the rule in place, and it would not be right to overlook this - they would then have to be OK with others doing other protests. Blizzard should not pick a side.

> Blizzard should not pick a side. Not picking a side is siding with the status quo, which is Chinese oppression in Hong Kong.

Not picking a side is not allowing political discussion, no matter who you (or they) perceive to be right. Coincidentally, this is also the choice that makes most sense to a corporation which stands to lose a lot from picking a side. Players will likely respond to sensationalist reporting of this case, but forget about it soon after, while the Chinese government is not gonna go easy on Blizzard picking the other side.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#16

Post by x220 »

orisho wrote: post #8

Title is clickbaity. They did it for a political protest during an official Blizzard tournament stream, not for actions on his own stream or something. He put on a gas mask and called for liberation of HK. I'm with him, but I definitely see why Blizzard has the rule in place, and it would not be right to overlook this - they would then have to be OK with others doing other protests. Blizzard should not pick a side.

[flagged]

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#17

Post by vkou »

calcifer wrote: post #11
orisho wrote: post #8

Title is clickbaity. They did it for a political protest during an official Blizzard tournament stream, not for actions on his own stream or something. He put on a gas mask and called for liberation of HK. I'm with him, but I definitely see why Blizzard has the rule in place, and it would not be right to overlook this - they would then have to be OK with others doing other protests. Blizzard should not pick a side.

> Blizzard should not pick a side. Not picking a side is siding with the status quo, which is Chinese oppression in Hong Kong.

Which is exactly how sports leagues operate, be they FIFA, the Olympic Committee, the NFL, the NBA...

If you expect them to be the high water mark of social justice, you're going to be deeply disappointed.

(Meanwhile, various tech firms have been criticized for picking a side, or allegedly picking a side in social conflicts over the past few years... Damned if you do, damned if you don't, apparently.)

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#18

Post by x220 »

cheeze wrote: post #10

Companies are spineless and will do pretty much anything for money. We've seen it from the NBA, Blizzard, Disney, and the like. The fact of the matter is that if you want to do business in China, you have to be open to censoring things that they don't like.

They're whores. They'll do and say anything for money.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#19

Post by x220 »

Rainymood wrote: post #12

While I agree with the sentiment that is being expressed here (i.e. it's "wrong"). I can't help but think about the fact that he ... simply broke the rules. There is a clear clause in the ToS that states basically "You are working for us. If you say anything that can damage our reputation, we can cease working with you." Which, to me, makes a whole lot of sense to have as a clause.

He didn't damage their reputation. Blizzard shot themselves in the foot.

Re: Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest

#20

Post by ajuc »

vkou wrote: post #17
calcifer wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Blizzard should not pick a side. Not picking a side is siding with the status quo, which is Chinese oppression in Hong Kong.

Which is exactly how sports leagues operate, be they FIFA, the Olympic Committee, the NFL, the NBA... If you expect them to be the high water mark of social justice, you're going to be deeply disappointed. (Meanwhile, various tech firms have been criticized for picking a side, or allegedly picking a side in social conflicts over the past few years... Damned if you do, damned if you don't, apparently.)

Blizzard is much more directly supported by money from its customers, it's very easy to boycott online games provider.
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