Blizzard bans player from Hearthstone following on-stream Hong Kong protest • Hacker News Board

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

#41

Post by ajuc » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:41 AM UTC

chii wrote: post #30

x220 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

During nazi Germany, the corporation indeed did not pick a side (ala, IBM's equipment was used to do data processing for the holocaust). But, it's too far to say that they (IBM) was pro-holocaust.

> But, it's too far to say that they (IBM) was pro-holocaust.

Only because it's inconvenient.

Hitler wrote what he wants to do with Jews in Main Kampf. There were lots of exiles from Germany before WW2.

Supporting such a regime with hardware makes you morally at fault exactly like building a crematorium in Auschwitz. In fact - many people building stuff for Germans had no choice - help or die. IBM had choice and decided to help for money.

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

#42

Post by bmarquez » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:41 AM UTC

x220 wrote: post #22

orisho wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

But nearly every large company in America engages in political discussion when they talk about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. I think that's a good thing, but it's clearly not the case that these companies shy away from making progressive statements.

It doesn't cost large companies any money to make feel-good progressive political statements on social media.

However when it conflicts with their pocketbook, they stay quiet or internally oppose them (example: Zuckerberg trashing Warren for antitrust and privacy issues).

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

#43

Post by x220 » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:43 AM UTC

chii wrote: post #40

x220 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Pro-making money is not pro-holocaust.

[flagged]

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

#44

Post by AmericanChopper » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:44 AM UTC

x220 wrote: post #19

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.

I’m sure allowing this wouldn’t do much for their reputation as a company that wants to trade in China. Not everything has to be a forum for political speech, and trying to force everything into being one is just a deceptive way of trying to force your views onto others.

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

#45

Post by x220 » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:45 AM UTC

vkou wrote: post #39

x220 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I think to an American organization, it's far more relevant to resist fascism, bigotry, and violation of the rights of in America, then to worry about how China administers Hong Kong. But, ah, that former would be 'political', and 'picking a side', and 'controversial', because you see, ~half the country thinks (rightly or wrongly) that those things aren't a serious problem. I leave considering what ~half of mainland…

Blizzard is an international company with a ton of customers outside the US

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

#46

Post by ajuc » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:46 AM UTC

chii wrote: post #40

x220 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Pro-making money is not pro-holocaust.

Lots of people were selling information about hiding Jews to Germans for money or for saving their lives.

Was that "pro-holocaust" or "pro-money"?

A lot of people were working as guards, maintenance personel, etc at death camps. Were they "pro-holocaust"?

In the end if you helped to make death camps work and had a choice to avoid doing so - you're at fault.

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

#47

Post by x220 » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:46 AM UTC

chii wrote: post #37

x220 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But nearly every large company in America engages in political discussion when they talk about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. I think that's a good thing, but it's clearly not the case that these companies shy away from making progressive statements.

That player has forced blizzard to appear as though they endorsed the protesters. Being protesters for freedom, they ironically did not respect another (unrelated) entity's freedom to choose.

The freedom to oppress is no freedom at all

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

#48

Post by lmedinas » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:47 AM UTC

jimbob45 wrote: post #35

At this point, Blizz must be hoping that the bad publicity is better than their current no publicity. Hearthstone is the #14 title on Twitch as I type this out and prominent players have noted how much less viewership the tournaments consistently get. Also Tencent owns a portion of Activision Blizzard. That would be my guess for who is pulling the strings behind this specific incident.

I think Blizzard wants to make a statement and being strict about politics have no place in their games... Honestly i would be surprised if any gaming company would allow that, independent if the Player is right or wrong.

With respect to Twitch placement, since when Twitch is a benchmark for number of Players in a game worldwide ? HS lost momentum because of the greedy economy of the game and because other games surged.

Another source for the subject: https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/10/in-post-game-interview-hea...

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

#49

Post by dang » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:50 AM UTC

x220 wrote: post #47

chii wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That player has forced blizzard to appear as though they endorsed the protesters. Being protesters for freedom, they ironically did not respect another (unrelated) entity's freedom to choose.

The freedom to oppress is no freedom at all

Could you please stop posting unsubstantive comments/flamebait to Hacker News?

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

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

#50

Post by jimbob45 » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 7:50 AM UTC

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.

Esports used to be entirely privately-run one-off events where authoritarianism like this wasn't possible. This new era of centralized esports hasn't really paid off for anyone but Riot and even they readily admit that their esports department loses money.