How sad. Next are you going to join the thought police?

No one like a tale tail.

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” – George Orwell

Can mere offense constitute racism, harassment, or hate? As tasteless as I find the name, that is not sufficient grounds for the name to be forbidden. Just because we disagree with or are offended by something does not mean we should seek prohibition of it. Institutionalized systemic racism is one thing, an individual’s personal opinion is quiet another. The first is fair game for regulation by the people; the later can never be regulated in any legitimate free society.

Before we form up a thought police and seek to regulate right and wrong, perhaps we should consider the virtues of our current system. For all its flaws, an open and anonymous internet has its merits as well. For every racist, there is a political dissident; for every sexist, an informer; for every lunatic, an intelligent blogger. We cannot have an open and free internet, or society, without being occasionally offended. Ultimately, we gain far more than we lose in this transaction and while the cost is regrettable, it is one I am easily willing to pay. I can ignore morons for the ability to express and share any idea with any fellow human near instantaneously across the globe.

WoW is Blizzard’s property, and as such they can do what they will and regulate what they see fit. But it would be a grave mistake on the part of Blizzard, or this community, to seek to silence those we disagree with or are offended by.

Boo hoo. OMG someone made fun of a historical event..get over yourselves. Having a team name "Rosa Parks stole my bus seat" is off color sure, but its along the same lines as "George Washington got my cherry tree". Its just a joke, stop trying to be so politically correct and tight arsed. If it offends you that much, cry a little tear to yourself and snuggle your teddybear for a bit, that should make you feel better.

You know what kills me about the comments on this is that there's no room in most people's minds for a middle ground. Most of the comments that follow either want the offenders burned at the stake or think that people like myself are trying to bring about the reign of Big Brother. Am I offended by the name? Yeah, a bit. Do I want the perpetrators to be perma-banned from the game and their computers confiscated. No.

I understand that for the most part names like this are made just to get a rise out of people. I just really don't care to see stuff like this in the game I pay $15 a month for. Also, since it's against Blizzard's naming policy, I feel perfectly justified in reporting it. If I wanted political or social commentary, there's a slew of websites out there that cater to that need.

Come to think of it Rosa Parks would fight for the free speech to have such an arena team name.

I may not like what you say but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.

Durwathi,

Quoting George Orwell is all well and good I guess - after all, Hitler/Goebbels-style mass-hate demonstrations are all well and good in the name of free speech and right of expression if you happen to be a member of the majority. I'm not so sure jews, slavs, blacks and so on in 30s Germany were too keen on cheering on the nazis' right to hatemonger and beat people up, trashing their property and even killing them.

However, WoW is NOT an arena for debate, OR free expression. It's a commercial venture, and freedom of whatever don't apply there so just forget about pointing at the US constitution/bill of rights etc. Rather, Blizzard themselves sets the rules, and rightfully so. The game is meant to be safe and enjoyable for everybody, including minorities that are often targetted by slurs - or worse - in society at large.

If you disagree with this basic standpoint you're always at liberty to quit giving Actizzard your monthly tithe... :P

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Voltaire

Regardless of how unfortunate and distasteful the team name I don't think simply banning the name will eliminate the problem. The team name is a manifestation of racism or simply insensitivity, not the other way around.

Faar, are you really comparing the right to free speech with the "right to beat people up, trash their property and even kill them."? I fail to see how those are the same.

Hey, it's Blizzard's policy, and I happen to agree with it.

I'm perfectly fine helping them enforce it, even though I did do a nervous laugh upon reading it the first time.

(BTW, you're right to free speech is trumped by Blizzard's right to run their software/company how they want)

With some topics, the tone simply doesn't matter. It is the issue itself that deserves respect.

And everyone understands that the tone gets lost, and must think of this when doing acts these kinds of things.

Okay, we have some ignorant people in the thread so let's get a few things straight. First off, as I alluded to, ignorance is no excuse. No one can walk around in a Nazi uniform and be excused. No one can use racial slurs and be excused, simply claiming that it's some sort of protest against political correctness. If you act like a bigot, as far as I'm concerned, you're a bigot.

As far as George Washington chopping down a cherry tree being the same the same as the Rosa Parks reference....uh, what? Did Washington chop down the tree because he was white? Did race ever play a part in that, come one, even in the slightest? Now if Rosa Parks stole your seat, then you would have been white, and thus entitled to the seat since Rosa Parks was black, and thus undeserving. Anyone see the racism here? If you don't, well...you're ignorant or a racist, it's not my job to figure out which.

is it racist if I say Bush don't know how to lead a country because he is white, or if I say the other way around like Obamma don't know to lead a country because he is black. You would not be angry over me saying something about white, but if I say something about black then I'm racist?

is it racist if I say Bush don't know how to lead a country because he is white, or if I say the other way around like Obama don't know to lead a country because he is black. You would not be angry over me saying something about white, but if I say something about black then I'm racist?

@ number 5

You can do all of the things you wrote and absolutely "be excused" I can walk down the middle of Skokie Illinois with a Nazi uniform flying a flag with the iron cross on it. Any why is that? Because the constitution says I can.

I do not advocate any of these actions, but I think as journalists, you need to defend the right that gives you your jobs. If you don't like the arena names, character names, you don't have to play. You can protect yourself from those things. (Yes I know its a well beaten horse of an excuse but unfortunately its the truth) Until Bliz decides to ban the name, there is nothing wrong with it unfortunately.

I don't think you understand your example about Skokie. The Constitution specifies that the government will do nothing to impede free speech. In no way does it say that Blizzard or WowInsider have to promote it. So, if the GMs of Blizzard find it sufficiently offensive, they are in no way compelled to allow it. Blizzard regularly bans names that are offensive, and players that have crossed acceptable boundaries, that is their right.

"You would not be angry over me saying something about white, but if I say something about black then I'm racist?"

Yes then you would be racist. Reverse racism is largely a myth. Most people would laugh at what you said about Bush because it would be seen as comical not true. Kind of like the use of the word "honky". It's about the class/power structure of our society.

This is a good article about it http://www.raceandhistory.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1024893033,80611,.shtml

It is all USA bullsh*t. Racism, sexism, ... People have opinions and noone can deny them having those opinions. People express their opinions and noone should be able to deny that either. You might find people offensive and thus loose your respect for them, but punishing people for their opinions or for expressing such opinions in a public forum is just unfair.