Often viewed tl.net but never had an account/posted on the forums - registered just to comment on this.
I think this is truly a disgrace on Blizzard's part - I'm from the UK and yes indeed, I understand why they have such rules regarding political statements on their platforms and so on, but this is quite an exceptional situation, as an American company they should support along with the rest of the free world the plight of the Hong Kong people right now - and be willing to give a by-ball to a young man native in Hong Kong is is right in the middle of & affected by this crisis currently. The Chinese communist party have brought stooge politicians in to Hong Kong who are more concerned with doing what they want than what the people of Hong Kong want, and are trying to work their way into control of Hong Kong and take away their free autonomous democratic rights and way of life. We should all use our positions of influence to stand with them against this evil if, and one thing we can do is at the very least hold the companies in our own countries to account when they fail to do so.
Blizzard clearly have no moral integrity whatsoever in this instance, it's like if Hearthstone was around in the 1940s and they censored a Jew on their platform from complaining about their plight with the upcoming Nazi regime in Germany. Yes, there are rules but they should at the very least not seek to appease the wrongdoings being committed against the Hong Kong people, they must publicly apologise and revoke the ban issued to this young gentleman, and return his prize money.
Sad as it is to say this, I think a boycott of Blizzard's products and services would be appropriate until they act as such - and those of us who feel strongly about this ought to contact Blizzard to ask them to do what is right on this matter.
Blizzard should not be afraid of losing market share in China - if they want to operate in this way they'll lose a lot more market share from their customers in the West who won't want anything to do with a company seeking to appease the oppressors of innocent people around the world just to keep certain markets open for their business.
On October 09 2019 16:17 CxWiLL wrote: Rule is rule, Blizzard did according to their competition rule book. Blitzchung did offend viewers from mainland China by what he said. I don't think it is a bad move for blizzard to keep away from this. Regarding of such rule, FIFA and Olympics do also have similar rules to keep them away from these political trouble.
I really don't think 'every voice matters' has anything to do with international politics, blizzard is only a gaming company after all.
BTW I know it is stupid to show up in such thread with Chinese tag, considering the opinions on this topic in western community is super onesided. But I think people are overreacting nowadays.
What Blizzard did was not "keep away from this" Blizzard made a statement with this. Keeping away from it would've been not responding to it.
It's pointless to talk about right or wrong, good or evil. It's just about consequences. To me, it seems that western fans are boycotting Blizzard by uninstalling everything while Chinese fans are trying to save Blizzard by sending money, although their games are under Netease management. Who would win? I don't know. Maybe next year Blizzard will be purchased by Netease and start to make MOBA games on mobile only available to China if this continues long enough. Well, maybe just a funny thought.
There are only two types of governments, democracy and dictatorship.
Dictatorships are inherently evil or they would not work. Democracies may elect evil leaders (Trump) but at least we can get rid of them in the next election.
Companies are mostly neutral. They are governed by greed. A good company would sacrifice money in order to do the right thing. Unfortunately, those companies are rare, and Blizzard is not one of them.
On October 09 2019 16:20 Destroya5 wrote: Often viewed tl.net but never had an account/posted on the forums - registered just to comment on this.
I think this is truly a disgrace on Blizzard's part - I'm from the UK and yes indeed, I understand why they have such rules regarding political statements on their platforms and so on, but this is quite an exceptional situation, as an American company they should support along with the rest of the free world the plight of the Hong Kong people right now - and be willing to give a by-ball to a young man native in Hong Kong is is right in the middle of & affected by this crisis currently. The Chinese communist party have brought stooge politicians in to Hong Kong who are more concerned with doing what they want than what the people of Hong Kong want, and are trying to work their way into control of Hong Kong and take away their free autonomous democratic rights and way of life. We should all use our positions of influence to stand with them against this evil if, and one thing we can do is at the very least hold the companies in our own countries to account when they fail to do so.
Blizzard clearly have no moral integrity whatsoever in this instance, it's like if Hearthstone was around in the 1940s and they censored a Jew on their platform from complaining about their plight with the upcoming Nazi regime in Germany. Yes, there are rules but they should at the very least not seek to appease the wrongdoings being committed against the Hong Kong people, they must publicly apologise and revoke the ban issued to this young gentleman, and return his prize money.
Sad as it is to say this, I think a boycott of Blizzard's products and services would be appropriate until they act as such - and those of us who feel strongly about this ought to contact Blizzard to ask them to do what is right on this matter.
Blizzard should not be afraid of losing market share in China - if they want to operate in this way they'll lose a lot more market share from their customers in the West who won't want anything to do with a company seeking to appease the oppressors of innocent people around the world just to keep certain markets open for their business.
I am not angry about Blizzard forcing the rules. I think video games are better without politics. I am angry about them for punishing stream cast. Chinese banning games is a cancer, but nobody can expect anything more from them. Blizzard punishing casters who are not guilty of anything is a cowardness.
Also, I don't believe that western audience will give a shit about that enough to boycott. But maybe it's just my unjust low opinion on humanity in general...
On October 09 2019 16:27 jy_9876543210 wrote: It's pointless to talk about right or wrong, good or evil. It's just about consequences. To me, it seems that western fans are boycotting Blizzard by uninstalling everything while Chinese fans are trying to save Blizzard by sending money, although their games are under Netease management. Who would win? I don't know. Maybe next year Blizzard will be purchased by Netease and start to make MOBA games on mobile only available to China if this continues long enough. Well, maybe just a funny thought.
It's pointless to talk about right or wrong, good or evil? Really - do you know that if you are in China and you speak against the Chinese government, like many human rights lawyers, or are a Christian or so on which they don't like - you will be oppressed in every way and very likely "disappear" with no trace - i.e. be murdered and tortured on order by the Chinese communist parties' forces. And the same could some be coming to the previously democratic and free Hong Kong - hence their resistance. How would you an authoritarian regime to take over control of your country?
I don't think it's pointless to talk about such things, or to support people fighting against such things - I think if we don't we should hang our heads in shame. If a company that we support in our own country punishes someone for speaking out against this then I don't think we can simply ignore it and carry on as if nothing has happened. Blizzard must be held to account for this, some way or somehow, if they refuse to apologise and to reverse their stance on this they deserve to lose massive trade and I hope the US government/lawyers go after them.
3. The riots and terrorists in Hong Kong do not seek freedom of speech. They seek freedom of making crimes and separation by force. They burn subway and banks, loot shops, block airport, and attack police, tourists and random people on street. If anyone want to support such actions, I assume that they are no difference with 9/11 attackers.
I have not yet heard of the protesters seeking profit in "burn Subway and banks and loot shops" . I have seen people with umbrellas taking down posts with facial recognition cameras. Perhaps happily living in a country that tracks your every move, that gives you "social credit" if you comply with communist party rules is now the modern idea of "not being a terrorist", and I missed out on the change..
For profit or not, burn subways, loot shops and attack polices make them riots but not your normal protesters. Thing are getting really ugly these days in HK. What kind of dystopia sci-fi illusion do you have on China? There is no 'social credit' here. We have the similar credit system your credit card company give you.
I'l quote my post from the WoW thread which predates this by 9 hrs since we didn't have a dedicated topic
On October 09 2019 06:32 Cyro wrote: Biggest Blizzard news headlines in a long time: A hearthstone tournament winner expressed their support for the hong kong protests in his winning interview, in response blizzard withheld all prize money + banned him + fired the interviewers + deleted tournament VODs.
It's exploded on social media since, all blizzard games and even some general news sites. I'm sad to see that they'd go through such lengths to support human rights abusers.
Blitzchung later told Inven Global it was his "duty" to speak out about the Hong Kong protests.
"As you know, there are serious protests in my country now," he said. "My call on stream was just another form of participation of the protest that I wish to grab more attention. I put so much effort in that social movement in the past few months that I sometimes couldn't focus on preparing my Grandmaster match.
"I know what my action on stream means. It could cause me lot of trouble, even my personal safety in real life," he told the publication.
On October 09 2019 15:19 abuse wrote: You say mixing up sports and politics is frowned upon, yet, Blizzard is allowed to be as political as they want. Do you know that in the Overwatch league the Taiwanese team isn't called Taiwan but "Chinese Taipei" and the players are not allowed to even use their own country's flag because Blizzard doesn't want to kiss up to China to enter their market, and China thinks Taiwan is still their territory.
And south tirolean athletes are forced to compete under the italian flag, and there's the organizer's egalitarian ads in soccer matches and so on. Of course, sports are used for political agitation, but that doesn't make adding to it less bad.
First off, South Tyrol isn't a country(not recognized at least). Taiwan is. Second, you're just proving my point here. Organizations can do whatever the fuck they want, both in my case and yours, and see no consequences. It's time for the shit to stop and to give consequences. Saying "Free Hongkong" after winning a tournament is not comparable to the shit that they've been doing and did now. Even fired the casters who literally said nothing.
Frankly though, with this, Blizzard know what they're doing. I doubt they give a single shit about the western market anymore. They've been put between a rock and a hard place here, and they're literally killing their western image to try and get access to China, and if they do, they'll make billions. Blizzard is, time and time again, choosing to abandon the people who used to love them and are still the ones supporting their scummy business, by literally not giving a shit about them anymore, and trying to move to China. And that's their choice, but fuck them for that.
Please list all the countries that officially politically recognize Taiwan. Please do so. Because only few officially recognized Taiwan, many have there embassy and some political/trade agreements but officially they don't recognize Taiwan as a standalone country. So, because I am obviously one of the misinformed, please list those countries.
For profit or not, burn subways, loot shops and attack polices make them riots but not your normal protesters. Thing are getting really ugly these days in HK. What kind of dystopia sci-fi illusion do you have on China? There is no 'social credit' here. We have the similar credit system your credit card company give you.
I have not seen reports of protesters being violent on large scales or the sake of violence. Chinese government has it's own definitions. If you are wearing a face mask: Terrorist. If you are on the street: Criminal Terrorist. If you throw back a tear-gas grenade : Murderer.
30 years ago China killed thousands of their own citizens in cold blood in Tienanmen Square, and if things don't improve they will do the same in Hong Kong. If that happens Blizzard will have blood on their hands.
On October 09 2019 16:11 pzlama333 wrote: If anyone want to support such actions, I assume that they are no difference with 9/11 attackers.
Are you Americans all like that? No, it's not even REMOTELY comperable to 9/11. I do not question the rights of the chinese gouverment to the Hong Kong, but compering a rioters with clear political statement to a terrorists who did mass murder with primary intention to kill as many people they can just to send a message they want war is geting too far.
By his logic, his own country was founded by a bunch of terrorists... This is the problem that we have so many people in the world who are totally brainwashed by different types of propaganda and act like sheep instead of standing up for what is right and just.
Its the same with this topic. A guys stands up and publicly supports people who want to improve the life and well-being of all the people in Hong Kong. Instead of being commended for his bravery, he is penalized by a company who are trying to kiss the "oppressing" country's ass to earn money... And that same company is doing the same as this guy does, but just for their own benefits. It just all makes me sick :/
Blizzard is hypocritical. Claim (Hides Behind) the "Seperate Politics and Sports" rule.
But what Blizzard did IS very much a statement. A warning or maybe even a DQ for Blitzchung would be to "seperate politics and sports". But they went fully nuclear. A DQ without price, followed by a ban AND on top of it firing the commentators? This is a political statement in itself. If you criticize the Chinese government you get punished severely, your livelihood will be ruined. But not only that. If you see someone criticize the government and you don't actively step in to defend them (like the interviewers) you will also get punished.
This is extremely evil and I am done with Blizzard's games.
On October 09 2019 16:55 Solar424 wrote: If that happens Blizzard will have blood on their hands.
Yeah... you Americans are apparently all like that...
No wonder that a stupid things like a wattermelon T-shirt in video games are a cause of online shitstorm, if you can go from one extreme (comparing rioters to mass murderes) to another one (blaming banning a player as a cooperation in potencial atrocity.)
I have not yet heard of the protesters seeking profit in "burn Subway and banks and loot shops" . I have seen people with umbrellas taking down posts with facial recognition cameras. Perhaps happily living in a country that tracks your every move, that gives you "social credit" if you comply with communist party rules is now the modern idea of "not being a terrorist", and I missed out on the change..
Please list all the countries that officially politically recognize Taiwan. Please do so. Because only few officially recognized Taiwan, many have there embassy and some political/trade agreements but officially they don't recognize Taiwan as a standalone country. So, because I am obviously one of the misinformed, please list those countries.
3. The riots and terrorists in Hong Kong do not seek freedom of speech. They seek freedom of making crimes and separation by force. They burn subway and banks, loot shops, block airport, and attack police, tourists and random people on street. If anyone want to support such actions, I assume that they are no difference with 9/11 attackers.
I have not yet heard of the protesters seeking profit in "burn Subway and banks and loot shops" . I have seen people with umbrellas taking down posts with facial recognition cameras. Perhaps happily living in a country that tracks your every move, that gives you "social credit" if you comply with communist party rules is now the modern idea of "not being a terrorist", and I missed out on the change..
For profit or not, burn subways, loot shops and attack polices make them riots but not your normal protesters. Thing are getting really ugly these days in HK. What kind of dystopia sci-fi illusion do you have on China? There is no 'social credit' here. We have the similar credit system your credit card company give you.
I have not yet heard of the protesters seeking profit in "burn Subway and banks and loot shops" . I have seen people with umbrellas taking down posts with facial recognition cameras. Perhaps happily living in a country that tracks your every move, that gives you "social credit" if you comply with communist party rules is now the modern idea of "not being a terrorist", and I missed out on the change..
Please list all the countries that officially politically recognize Taiwan. Please do so. Because only few officially recognized Taiwan, many have there embassy and some political/trade agreements but officially they don't recognize Taiwan as a standalone country. So, because I am obviously one of the misinformed, please list those countries.
This is my point, why are people angry at Blizzard when they should be angry at US government? Blizzard is just following the government. And it's not just US, Canada? EU? C'mon, all these people are angry at Blizzard for what?
The lack of stances taken by progamers is a bit saddening. I understand the unwillingness to put livelihood at risk, but this is massively egregious move by Blizzard, and should not remotely be tolerated.
This is going to suck massively, especially since I've just gotten back into sc2 and have been having a great time. And it probably won't have any effect other than making myself feel better, but I'm uninstalling Blizzard launcher today. I will not support a company that acts unacceptable towards its own players and fans to appease an authoritarian country.
On October 09 2019 16:11 pzlama333 wrote: If anyone want to support such actions, I assume that they are no difference with 9/11 attackers.
Are you Americans all like that? No, it's not even REMOTELY comperable to 9/11. I do not question the rights of the chinese gouverment to the Hong Kong, but compering a rioters with clear political statement to a terrorists who did mass murder with primary intention to kill as many people they can just to send a message they want war is geting too far.
By his logic, his own country was founded by a bunch of terrorists... This is the problem that we have so many people in the world who are totally brainwashed by different types of propaganda and act like sheep instead of standing up for what is right and just.
Its the same with this topic. A guys stands up and publicly supports people who want to improve the life and well-being of all the people in Hong Kong. Instead of being commended for his bravery, he is penalized by a company who are trying to kiss the "oppressing" country's ass to earn money... And that same company is doing the same as this guy does, but just for their own benefits. It just all makes me sick :/
It's funny to me how what you believe in is "Just and Right!" without second guessing, while everybody who believes differently is "brainwashed by propaganda" and "act like sheep". Where do you get your information? How do you know that they report the truth, and that opposing reports are wrong?
EPT
