I've been sidestepping writing about this issue for some time, since it's bound to generate some controversy here and I hate bringing publicity to bad people. But as the topic keeps popping up again and again, particularly on roleplaying servers, it might be time to bring it out into the open.
An erotic roleplaying guild that now spans two realms has been accused of defending pedophiles and engaging in extreme sexual situations without any way to verify that their members are above the age of 18. While the guild in question says it has been reported many times and is not violating policy, and that minors joining an ERP guild are being poorly parented, Blizzard has forcibly disbanded the guild -- only to have it reform under a new name. There might be some disturbing content following the cut, so click at your own risk.
Abhorrent Taboo was mainly a Hordeside RP guild on Ravenholdt, but recently expanded to an Alliance auxillary on Blackwater Raiders. The guild leader posted a somewhat hostile "welcome message" on the BWR forums: "Role-playing is legal. Even if you are role-playing something that would be considered deplorable and highly illegal IRL, it's still just role-playing and isn't subject to any form of disciplinary action. Negative publicity is still publicity. Make a Digg or website about how sick we are. Report us to PervertedJustice. All it does is bring in more members. In fact, the Digg the guy on Ravenholdt made about us was so effective, several people signed up for WoW just to be in our guild. The bottom line is: We're allowed to do what we do on any server we please and no one can do anything about it."
Now, most RP servers are okay with ERP, if a little squicked out by it -- serious roleplayers tend not to like being thought of as cyberers. But AT has a history. As reported by TenTonHammer and then Dugg, AT's leader has talked about pedophilia in a positive way in guild chat. The exact quote is "I want to defend us, but I also want to defend the pedosexual community." The guild leader notes that she was talking about pedophiles who don't actually molest children and that she hates kids herself.
After AT opened their BWR auxillary, a 25-page thread sprung up and was deleted about AT's intentions. AT's recruitment policy, which was reposted onto the BWR forums from elsewhere, stated: "NOTE: Be advised that we frequently ERP in guild chat and often engage in even potentially offensive kinks such as (Extreme) Ageplay, Bestiality, Child Birth, [something that is censored by the WoW forums so I can't tell what it is], Watersports, or any other kink those playing may wish to explore. If you are easily offended or upset by others using kinks you may not personally enjoy, this is not the guild for you. Furthermore, we are a guild based on freedom of love and sex. Monogamy of any kind runs counter to this, and so, all sexually exclusive relationships are prohibited." They add that officers should enjoy ageplay and bestiality. There have also been insinuations, denied by the guild leader, that AT is purposefully lax in checking up on the ages of applicants, and a poster from Ravenholdt says that the guild solicits new players in chat channels without informing them of the purpose of the guild.
As a result, there have been several posts in the Customer Service and Suggestions forums asking that Blizzard do something about extreme ERP. Basically, the opponents say that since Blizzard lets minors in the game, they are responsible for protecting them from unsafe environments, and that AT is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Supporters, or at least non-opponents, say that AT is only engaging in fantasies, that ERP doesn't actually hurt people, and that it's close to impossible to keep minors from joining a guild if they really, really want to.
It looks like Blizzard has come down on the side of the opponents, as Abhorrent Taboo has been forcibly gdisbanded. "This matter is not one Blizzard takes lightly in any way, shape or form, and we do not wish to have this topic continue circulation," wrote Blizzard employee Verrith. " ... Let it finally be said that we appreciate those of you who brought this particular issue to our attention and that we will continue to follow up with this matter in the future to ensure the safety of all parties concerned." However, the members have reformed as Vile Anathema.
I'm torn on what side of the fence to fall on about Blizzard's actions. I'm highly creeped out by "ageplay" in a video game where it's impossible to verify actual age, and the guild leader's posts do seem like they're actively seeking out controversy. But fantasy isn't reality, and I'm not entirely comfortable about the precedent this sets. What do you think about this situation?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
9-17-2007 @ 10:48AM
Matt said...
Their raids must have been...interesting...
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9-17-2007 @ 10:56AM
Tom said...
They should only be allowed to recruit if the age of the applicant is verified, but that isn't possible. It seems they have found loopholes in the ToS and I hope Blizzard fixes them quickly.
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9-17-2007 @ 10:58AM
Lummox said...
LOL @ #1. 25 to 40 (old guild, must have been around pre-TBC) sexually charged ERPers... Makings for a cyber 0rgy over Rag's limp hammer.
The solution for Blizzard doesn't even really need to be that difficult. The system knows your age when you sign up. Blizzard can mandate birthdays being put into a person's account settings (whether you lie or not is up to you). Then when guild's create accounts, then can be a flag set for explicit content, much like many social networking websites. This would prevent underage people from joining a restricted guild. Sure, that's all voluntary, but if Blizz finds that ERP guild did not set their explicit flag, they could set it for them.
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9-17-2007 @ 10:59AM
Ahoni said...
Is their ERP limited to guild chat?
Does it spill over into party chat when there is a person outside the guild there?
Do they /ginvite without filling out an app?
Guess it all depends. Got no problem with the ERP idea and all their "fantasies" even if they skirt the lines of good taste and legality.
I am free to enjoy whatever sexual fetishes are legal in my country. Doesn't give me the right to enjoy them in anything other than the privacy of my own home. As soon as you do that, you start losing your "rights." A Blizzard server is not the privacy of your own home. Tread carefully.
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9-17-2007 @ 10:59AM
Erica Olson said...
Even though I find it personally repugnant, if you're a legal adult you should be allowed your kink as long as it doesn't involve minors or unwilling parties.
Unless and until they can guarantee an "over 21-only" server this sort of thing shouldn't be allowed. I'm sure there are plenty of other places that they can get their kink where there's no chance of minors getting involved. Of course, if one is a pedophile, then they want the minors involved.
As to the fact that it's bad parenting to allow your child to have unsupervised access to the internet, yes, this is true. But that's not to say that we shouldn't stop it from happening.
GJ Blizz for disbanding them. Now they'll have to keep on the lookout for them reforming again and again and again under different names.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:01AM
Hooper said...
@1 agreed. I imagine raid chat would look alot like:
"Can I roll on the Feather Duster of the Monkey?, it'd go great with my Tier 9 Maid of the French set!"
"We do have a soulbone up don't we?"
"Leeeroooooyyy Jeeennnnnkinnnsss"
"Whats the cast time on a Disclothing ray?"
"Oh my god he just put that in her."
"Atleast I'm not chicken."
Or something.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:02AM
Keith said...
I'm usually against censorship but I believe Blizzard is absolutely right here. They own the servers and if they disagree with what's going on, they have every right to take action. These people can find a chat room as opposed to a video game that kids might be playing. It is irresponsible of these people and they should be mature enough to know it. Good work Blizzard -- I'm sure these people will be at it again soon -- just ban them.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:04AM
Sylythn said...
The only thing that really confuses me is - why WoW...it's $15/mo to socialize and participate in ERP when you could be doing that on IRC channels for free. It's not like the WoW engine gives you access to anything graphically that falls in line with ERP actions - so where's the benefit?
It just seems like AT, now VA, would have a lot less hassle doing their thing in other venues.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:07AM
Katiya said...
Thats terrible. I really hate when people trump their "right" to anything in the face of someone else. Sure you have the right to have your fantasies - but don't bring it into an environment where kids are present.
You have the "right", but also a "duty" to society to exercise those rights responsilbly.
These are shock tactics from people who should really know better. Well done to Blizz for disbanding them - I hope they follow it up in any new incarnations these people create. A strong message that they should keep that sort of stuff to their websites/chat rooms and out of wow is needed. Hope I never cross paths with them on my wow server.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:09AM
Paw said...
If soliciting to known adults, I don't see a problem, so long as the potentially offensive chat stays within the guild chat. Solicitations in-game to others to joins should not be permitted. These people likely know who the core members are from real life, and thus they can verify each other, and thus accept new members thereby verified in real life to be consenting adults. There is no other way to confirm the true age of the person, thus in-game guild invites and solicitations should not be permitted. They should police themselves. Failing to do so, and despite what the guild leader thinks, Blizzard should dissolve the guild. Blizzard should make it clear to the guild leaders that any verified solicitation in-game for new members will result in forced disbanding.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:10AM
odds87 said...
Honestly, and I thought this freakshow stuff was kept to the realms of Second Life.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:10AM
Guidinglight said...
Bunch of sick cray f*cks if you ask me. If I was blizzard I would monitor their guild activity, logging everything coming in a out of the guild. If anything brings up a flag I would report it to the authorities. Blizzard is walking a fine line here. I would assume the justice department could hold Blizzard liable since they are in control of the enviornment they are providing.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:12AM
him said...
I have to say that squicked is a fantastic word and I will now use it frequently.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:13AM
Theadrick said...
Based on the quotes by the guild leader, it's obvious that they are just trolling for attention and controversy anyway. If they wanted to just stay low profile, they probably could have... but it's obvious to me that the gl has a chip on his/her shoulder and simply craves and relishes the attention.
Personally I hope it comes back and bites them in their collective asses irl.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:19AM
Lenny said...
Someone should tell these folks about Second Life, and leave our world alone. Even though what they say they do is "harmless" this could evolve into something very bad.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:27AM
Juneau said...
@12, as the GM said himself, role-playing is perfectly legal. The authorities can't do anything about what is said in guild chat, even if it is extremely paedophilic.
But yeah, it is Blizzard's server, they can do what they want. This guild shouldn't be doing this sorta thing in a place where there are alot of minors. I don't personally have any problem with what they're doing, whatever floats their boat, I guess. I just have a problem with where they're doing it.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:27AM
anonymoose said...
This isn't about free speech--Blizz owns the forums and servers, they are not a public entity, we do not have the right to do whatever we want, whenever.
The real issue is that fantasizing about sex with children, which would include rp in wow, is pedophilia. Normal, reasonably adjusted individuals do not find the idea of sex with children exciting, and do not need to fantasize about it. Pedophiles do.
Anyone who is confused about this point needs to run, not walk, to their nearest counselor and get this worked out. God help you and us if you have children, or if you work with them.
Seriously, I have no clue why this should even be paraphrased in this article as "I'm not sure what to think." You should clearly be glad that a guild that fantasizes and rps about pedophilia and recruits minors has been disbanded. What is wrong with you?!
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9-17-2007 @ 11:42AM
Prauche said...
@ 17
Keep your God outta my WoW please.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:44AM
actualSLuser said...
Actually guys, We don't need or want them eather... We have already banned gambling, Ageplay, and griefing. Furries, Watersports, and sh****ck is your problem now.
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9-17-2007 @ 11:52AM
Bastiaan said...
@6 Pure Win!
Every time I read the "Leroy Jenkins" line I laugh harder!
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