Firstly, I want to point out that I don’t know either of these people involved. I’m posting this because I want you guys to share your thoughts on this matter, and possibly for a moderator to confirm/deny if this is appropriate conduct (for future reference). I realise that this topic could get out of hand, so please be sensitive about the topic at hand and explain your reasoning well.
I encountered a fierce “debate” this morning in map chat. It all started when a player posted a short question in German in map chat.
Another player then came along and said that this person should speak in English, and that he blocks everybody who doesn’t speak in English. He says that people who set their game client to English (which then includes you in the English language chat filter) should only speak English, because it’s rude to speak another language other than English. His explanation for this, in this example, was because speaking German excludes many people from the conversation, and that by applying your game (as a German speaker) to the English client removes your right to speak German in map chat.
(For those who don’t know, there is a chat filter which filters language depending on what language you choose to run your client in. People who apply a filter for English in the chat window only would only allow people using the client in English to show in their chat).
On one hand, I understand his reasoning. He chose the English filter so he didn’t have to see other languages, but because there are “loop-holes” in the system, he does. He also has the right to block anybody he sees fit.
However, imho I don’t think it’s appropriate to advertise that blocking (and discriminating) on the grounds of language is ok, or to tell somebody that speaking their native non-English language is rude.
Is it verbal abuse for somebody to tell another that they shall block you because of what language they speak?
Thoughts? Have you guys experienced any discrimination? What about your experiences of co-operation between speakers of different languages?
*EDIT: I’ve edited the title of the post to be more appropriate to the topic we’re discussing and the direction that it’s heading
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