Seems reasonable that they don't want to allow players to push their politics using the official Blizzard streams. They are free to do so in their spare time.
What do you think Blizzard would do if some guy wore a MAGA hat in an official stream?
They interview the player/person, what they stand for is their own prerogative. It isn't up to Blizzard to dictate what people should think or are allowed to say on issues such as human rights. It is their right to ban someone for what they deem 'misconduct' though, so yes they are in their rights doing what they did here.
They will also have to deal with the consequences of that decision, a lot of people are cancelling their subscriptions and deleting their blizzard accounts.
This will probably not impact them much, but hopefully there will get big enough that it does.
"Human rights" = politics. Blizzard can choose what they broadcast using their streams. I'm sure if someone decided to wear a tshirt with a fasces in it you'd agree... but since this is on the other side of the spectrum of politics, you disagree. Honestly, very short-sighted.
Not Blizzard, but in pro Dota, one of their champions, PPD, was wearing his MAGA hat with no repurcussions during last election cycle. Valve is also pretty bad about bootlicking Chinese authorities, so I don't think this comparison works.
Make Azeroth Great Again [0]? You could by them at https://shop.esfand.tv/ before, but it’s currently under construction (the website’s <title></title> still has it in the name).
Into your message is built the assumption that all "politics" is the same.
That's not the case. And further, pretending that oppression and fascism and ethnic cleansing is the same as fighting against those things, because oppressing and murdering people is just another "politics" and not something special, is by itself pro-fascist and evil stance.
>Into your message is built the assumption that all "politics" is the same.
Not really: there are politics I agree with and politics I disagree with. That doesn't mean that I believe Blizzard should give a loudspeaker to those who agree with me. I think that's stupid because it could turn against me at some point. Some people seem not to think ahead.
It’s reasonable from the perspective of maximising profit, sure. And it’s true that they’re (as far as I know) consistently applying a rule they set out a long time ago.
But that doesn’t make it the right decision, morally. Sometimes rules should be broken.
> Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.
BigJ1211|6 years ago
They will also have to deal with the consequences of that decision, a lot of people are cancelling their subscriptions and deleting their blizzard accounts.
This will probably not impact them much, but hopefully there will get big enough that it does.
mwyah|6 years ago
wallace_f|6 years ago
tareqak|6 years ago
[0] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=494dkjXL3p4
glogla|6 years ago
That's not the case. And further, pretending that oppression and fascism and ethnic cleansing is the same as fighting against those things, because oppressing and murdering people is just another "politics" and not something special, is by itself pro-fascist and evil stance.
maxehmookau|6 years ago
Don't say things like that on HN. They don't like it...
mwyah|6 years ago
Not really: there are politics I agree with and politics I disagree with. That doesn't mean that I believe Blizzard should give a loudspeaker to those who agree with me. I think that's stupid because it could turn against me at some point. Some people seem not to think ahead.
atroche|6 years ago
But that doesn’t make it the right decision, morally. Sometimes rules should be broken.
ryanlol|6 years ago
Have they ever enforced this rule in the past? If not, it's difficult to speak of consistency.
diveanon|6 years ago
Unlike China.
jackvalentine|6 years ago