4 ms·

I value WoW more than I value human rights.

by ahbyb 7y ago

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
chance_state 7y ago
You and millions of others in the West, sadly.
- ahbyb 7y ago
  It's good that you say this because most people see my comment and just flag it. I'm simply saying the obvious, and probably the majority of people in the West feel the way I do. I think it's appropriate to have a contrarian point of view posted here from time to time, instead of the echo chamber this website usually is.
  - vocatus_gate 7y ago
    Couldn't be more wrong. I deleted my account the moment they did that. Human rights are more important than a video game. There's plenty of other games to play from companies that don't actively support oppressive regimes.
    - okatsu 7y ago
      I agree with you but your individual account deletion doesn't really prove him wrong that he and others value their convenience over other people's rights. I've actually yet to even meet another gamer in person who cares at all.
  - chance_state 7y ago
    >It's good that you say this because most people see my comment and just flag it. I'm simply saying the obvious, and probably the majority of people in the West feel the way I do. Right, I agree. Can I ask though: do you seriously value the pleasure you get from playing WoW more than sending a (tiny) message that you support human rights? That idea is actually pretty disgusting to me, and I'd have a hard time carrying on a conversation with someone face-to-face if we went down that road, but I am genuinely curious if you can expand on that more.
Shivetya 7y ago
I do not agree with the down vote for an honest statement, even if made in jest, conveys the major problem with human rights. people are more than willing to support human rights so long as it does not change their own behavior or alter their lifestyle. it is not just the corporations here we need to hold accountable, we need to hold our elected officials to the task. the corporations are going to be bend to whom cost them the most money. if the US Congress suddenly slapped legal restrictions upon these companies they would have to make a choice or make one differently. the other reason to go the route of government to change behavior is that people in general are more comfortable having changes in their lifestyle and behavior handed down to them. Sad but that is how many operate and more so if they see other people also being required to change.
- gouggoug 7y ago
  I think it's probably also downvoted for another reason: it's a new profile created 12 days ago, it appears green, and so at first sight this is just a troll. Now looking at his other comments, it does seem like this account is legitimately new and wasn't simply created for trolling. Thing is, this comment brings nothing substantial to the conversation, nor does it try to create one. So, it might be "an honest statement" but that's all it is, which I'd think goes against the HN guidelines.
- gpm 7y ago
  I downvoted and flagged GP. It has nothing to do with the idea behind the comment, and everything to do with how it was delivered. As delivered, it's flame bait, and unlikely to lead to a high quality discussion.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
friendlybus 7y ago
I don't think that's a fair comparison. There isn't any direct evidence that punishing Blizzard is going to result in more human rights for more people, so the comparison is a bit off. Changing Blizzard's mind is one thing and is kind of vaguely possible, changing Xi's mind is another. Buying or not buying WoW subscriptions is unlikely to change the root problems, if you value human rights in a foreign country even a little.
- CharlesColeman 7y ago
  > Buying or not buying WoW subscriptions is unlikely to change the root problems, if you value human rights in a foreign country even a little. There are actually two root problems here: 1. Human rights violations in an authoritarian foreign country. 2. Successful efforts by that foreign country to export some of its domestic censorship practices using its economic might (by encouraging corporations to voluntarily enforce some of its censorship policies to avoid economic reprisals). Actions against Blizzard will not help with problem 1, but will help with problem 2.
  - friendlybus 7y ago
    Yes but #2 applies to everybody wanting to sell into the US market as well. Who is going to make Hitler references, use gendered language, avoid having a Code of Conduct, spread 9/11 truthers or be racist, sexist, ect and expect to sell in that market? Blizzard is not some fringe conspiracy theory group or a pack of journalists or a stand up comedian. It's a global megacorp that stays the f out of politics when it loses them money, like every other giant megacorp. This is political theatre.
swebs 7y ago
Eh, maybe before Cataclysm.

I value WoW more than I value human rights.

by ahbyb 7y ago

I value WoW more than I value human rights.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

chance_state 7y ago

You and millions of others in the West, sadly.

ahbyb 7y ago
It's good that you say this because most people see my comment and just flag it. I'm simply saying the obvious, and probably the majority of people in the West feel the way I do. I think it's appropriate to have a contrarian point of view posted here from time to time, instead of the echo chamber this website usually is.
- vocatus_gate 7y ago
  Couldn't be more wrong. I deleted my account the moment they did that. Human rights are more important than a video game. There's plenty of other games to play from companies that don't actively support oppressive regimes.
  - okatsu 7y ago
    I agree with you but your individual account deletion doesn't really prove him wrong that he and others value their convenience over other people's rights. I've actually yet to even meet another gamer in person who cares at all.
- chance_state 7y ago
  >It's good that you say this because most people see my comment and just flag it. I'm simply saying the obvious, and probably the majority of people in the West feel the way I do. Right, I agree. Can I ask though: do you seriously value the pleasure you get from playing WoW more than sending a (tiny) message that you support human rights? That idea is actually pretty disgusting to me, and I'd have a hard time carrying on a conversation with someone face-to-face if we went down that road, but I am genuinely curious if you can expand on that more.

Shivetya 7y ago

I do not agree with the down vote for an honest statement, even if made in jest, conveys the major problem with human rights. people are more than willing to support human rights so long as it does not change their own behavior or alter their lifestyle. it is not just the corporations here we need to hold accountable, we need to hold our elected officials to the task. the corporations are going to be bend to whom cost them the most money. if the US Congress suddenly slapped legal restrictions upon these companies they would have to make a choice or make one differently. the other reason to go the route of government to change behavior is that people in general are more comfortable having changes in their lifestyle and behavior handed down to them. Sad but that is how many operate and more so if they see other people also being required to change.

gouggoug 7y ago
I think it's probably also downvoted for another reason: it's a new profile created 12 days ago, it appears green, and so at first sight this is just a troll. Now looking at his other comments, it does seem like this account is legitimately new and wasn't simply created for trolling. Thing is, this comment brings nothing substantial to the conversation, nor does it try to create one. So, it might be "an honest statement" but that's all it is, which I'd think goes against the HN guidelines.
gpm 7y ago
I downvoted and flagged GP. It has nothing to do with the idea behind the comment, and everything to do with how it was delivered. As delivered, it's flame bait, and unlikely to lead to a high quality discussion.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

friendlybus 7y ago

I don't think that's a fair comparison. There isn't any direct evidence that punishing Blizzard is going to result in more human rights for more people, so the comparison is a bit off. Changing Blizzard's mind is one thing and is kind of vaguely possible, changing Xi's mind is another. Buying or not buying WoW subscriptions is unlikely to change the root problems, if you value human rights in a foreign country even a little.

CharlesColeman 7y ago
> Buying or not buying WoW subscriptions is unlikely to change the root problems, if you value human rights in a foreign country even a little. There are actually two root problems here: 1. Human rights violations in an authoritarian foreign country. 2. Successful efforts by that foreign country to export some of its domestic censorship practices using its economic might (by encouraging corporations to voluntarily enforce some of its censorship policies to avoid economic reprisals). Actions against Blizzard will not help with problem 1, but will help with problem 2.
- friendlybus 7y ago
  Yes but #2 applies to everybody wanting to sell into the US market as well. Who is going to make Hitler references, use gendered language, avoid having a Code of Conduct, spread 9/11 truthers or be racist, sexist, ect and expect to sell in that market? Blizzard is not some fringe conspiracy theory group or a pack of journalists or a stand up comedian. It's a global megacorp that stays the f out of politics when it loses them money, like every other giant megacorp. This is political theatre.

swebs 7y ago

Eh, maybe before Cataclysm.