Can a GM ignore Blizzards rules?

Q u o t e:
So I reported a player a while back about having a name that violates the terms of service yet I see him running around 2 months later with the same name.

Now is it my understanding that GM's may openly ignore the rules set forth by Blizzard for whatever reason they feel like and not have to enforce them?

It may seem like a stretch but there are some rules like cheating/hacking they have to catch in the act because hearsay is not a good enough reason to take action but a name doesn't change.

I just was curious about this...

You realize that it was possible to make a polite and not snide inquiry regarding this situation, yes?

Regardless, I'm unable to locate a petition originating from this account on the subject. Can I ask the name and realm of the character from which you submitted this report? Perhaps I can shed some light on this matter.

Q u o t e:

Oh I know not saying they have special treatment but more or less when they are being a GM at Blizzards HQ are they allowed to only enforce specific rules or ones they feel are important.

Well, first, our Game Masters do indeed enforce all rules according to our policies. While a certain amount of judgment is necessary in most situations, we strive for consistency.

Our focus is on dealing with offensive harassment and naming, first and foremost. Naming policy is also enforced much more strictly on our RP realms, and is treated a bit more loosely on other realm types, in deference to the conventions our players have developed over time on those realms. As always, the ultimate decision regarding any policy rests squarely in our hands.

I apologize if you found this situation frustrating though, and I hope that you'll continue to contact us when you are confronted with a potentially inappropriate name or an offensive behavior.

Q u o t e:


One thing you'll want to do is when you are looking at the Forum Index is to click the little drop down box in the upper right corner and select "Latest Reply". This will re-sort the threads so you only see threads that people recently posted in.

This should help prevent necro-ing threads in the future. :)

Quite so. It's always better to raise a matter of this nature via a new thread than it is to 'necro' an old thread.

Q u o t e:
Anyway, this really isn't the place or way to call GMs out for a decision you don't agree with. You might want to start with a calm and clear email to [email protected].

[/quote]

Ultimately, this too is true. As this is a 'necro' thread, I'll be locking it up now. I want to emphasize that I do recognize your concerns, and I welcome you to address them by sending a detailed and constructive email to [email protected].