#22 - May 24, 2009, 5:57 p.m.
Q u o t e:
1) how can you punish somone for something you have a "filter" for? all it requires is a push of a button?
How "can" we? Or "why" do we?
We are able to identify the use of profanity via specific tools allotted to the Game Master department. These tools grant us access to certain in-game records including unfiltered chat.
We choose to penalize for the use of profanity as it's presently not a behavior appropriate for the in-game world. The presence of an optional filter does not change this fact. Your acceptance of our Terms of Use tells us you agree with this philsophy or, at the very least, are willing to acquiesce to those rules we've established and whatever consequences may follow as a result of breaking them.
Q u o t e:
2) How can you also punish someone for something that even on your own box at retail has a rating "that may change during online play" and even puts on the box"some strong language during play may be used"?
The box I'm looking at says "T for Teen/Content rated by ESRB." This rating applies to actual game content. Below that rating, another label reads "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB."
The moderation of those "online interactions" so falls to Blizzard Entertainment.
Q u o t e:
3) If it really is such a bad thing about the language, why not have the "filter" always on? make it perm. thing?
The Mature Language Filter is a feature aimed at assisting those individuals who do not wish to see language deemed inappropriate for the
World of Warcraft. It is not a means of absolution.
To expand: Permanently enabling such a feature would not remove profanity from the in-game world and thus would not remove your ability to be penalized for its use. If you were to use a profane word and such a filter were to catch it, it would not "take back" your contribution; you would still have used profanity and one of our policies would have still been violated.
Just think of this way: Even though profanity is rather commonplace, it is not universally accepted as a means of public communication. It's thus important to remember that the
World of Warcraft is shared—and not just with your friends or buddies, people who likely see eye-to-eye with you on what language is and is not appropriate, but with millions of other players from hundreds of different countries, creeds, and cultures who might find your preferred four-letter words insulting and demeaning. To keep this game as fun as it possibly can be, you've got to think globally and respect the individuals with whom you interact. Refraining from using profanity in public chat is one way of doing this. :)
