Breakfast Topic: Should guilds police member names?
by Robin Torres 
Jan 14th 2009 at 8:00AM
Vinna asked in the comments to yesterday's Breakfast Topic, "How do you feel when a guildmate makes a character with a questionable name, i.e. offensive/borderline offensive?" After all, your name appears above your guild name, so should guilds be policing their members' alt names?We already know that unless someone reports a name, it doesn't get changed. We also know that there are some extremely offensive names out there. So, if you are in a guild you want to stay in and someone makes an alt with a name that offends you what should you do, if anything?
Vinna's solution was to quietly report the offending name, which I think is a good one. The player could have been reported by anyone and this method avoids confrontation. On the other hand, it won't prevent the player or other guildies from trying again.
Another solution is to have a guild naming policy to uphold the reputation of the guild. But this could get messy, with people having to decide what to censor and what is acceptable. Censorship is always a touchy subject.
My favorite method is patience. Guildies who think offensive names are funny often have other issues that respectable guilds are unwilling to put up with and then bye bye offending guildie. Or the amusement value of a questionable name may run out and the guildie may change the name without any interference.
I know someone who named an alt after a porn star, which really irritated me. After a couple months of playing this character, he ended up turning himself in. He also got a funny story out of it because he had to make the GM google the name before he got the free name change.
Do you think guilds should police their members' names since they are representing the guild as a whole? What methods, if any, does your guild use to do this?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Breakfast topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Justiice Jan 14th 2009 8:15AM
In regards to an offensive toon name, I would not allow it into my guild. I run a family oriented guild and it would break the rules policy we have.
Rioriel Jan 14th 2009 8:13AM
I can't particularly comment too much, as I play on an RP server so I'd naturally expect the vast majority of characters to have a policy-adhering name. But what winds me up, probably above all else, is the utter lack of imagination some people seem to possess. Or not possess. Whatever works,
Frostytraps, the hunter. Stealthystab the rogue. Dkmage the... well I think he's a paladin actually but it's STILL REALLY FRIGGIN STUPID.
I can forgive those who can RP (*coughretconcough*) their name as a nickname using flagrsp... Juliu "Fleetfoot" Magnoro, the stealthy human rogue, for example.
It's a completely irrational hatred, and some guildies call me out on it now and then when I launch into a tirade against Manlock the Human warlock, or Shamano, Beasttamer, Frostpewpew, Blindtwink, etc. GAH. RAAAAAAAAAGE.
I want to kick these people in the nuts.
Malacia Jan 14th 2009 8:14AM
I think you're missing the point.
Rioriel Jan 14th 2009 8:17AM
Seems I distracted myself from my own point, heh. Yes, if I was a Guild Master then I would refuse to accept any character into the guild with a policy-breaking or offensive name.
Our guild has a 3-vouches-and-in poliy with new recruitment, and I've refused to give people the nod based purely on them having a stupid name.
ChiperSoft Jan 14th 2009 4:55PM
I am right there with you. Nothing as annoying as seeing yet another variation of a LOTR character name. People have no creativity at all.
Recently my realm has been plagued with people renaming characters to variations on "Dora" after they get their Explorer title.
It's not clever, people, it's just stupid. And the fact that so many are doing it shows just how not-clever it is.
SINisterWyvern Jan 15th 2009 7:31AM
maybe I need to switch to an RP server so people stop thinking I'm an a-hole about stupid names. I report any and all I can that are against the policy but blizzard doesn't care unless it's offensive.
They don't care about 3 word phrases (which are in the policy) or stuff like MaxximoArthas, or Arthus, or Arthaas, etc.
Tumleren Jan 14th 2009 8:20AM
Since I'm not in a big guild (go !), I can't say what my guild's policy is. But you know.. If -you- find it offensive and really don't like it, report it or maybe just talk to the person (don't complain, just talk about it).
If you don't find it partricularly offensive, or think it is offensive to some people, but not you, then don't do anything.
If the guild rules state that an offensive name isn't allowed, then yea, talk to the guild master or an officer, or again - talk to the person in question.
I don't get offended by names, but haven't got one myself.
Tumleren Jan 14th 2009 8:20AM
I don't get offended by offensive names, and don't have one myself*
Brightwing Jan 14th 2009 8:24AM
The best policy would be to have guild rules that govern the names that people can have. A carbon copy of Blizzards naming policy is a great start.
Sarg Bjornson Jan 14th 2009 8:22AM
You were "irritated" because someone named an alt after a porn star??
Wow, that really IS being oversensitive...
Cleoselene Jan 14th 2009 9:27AM
I have to agree... unless you're on a roleplaying server, I think getting irritated by an alt named after a porn star is a bit oversensitive. It's certainly not on the level of a racist/prejudiced name.
Julie Ashton Jan 14th 2009 9:50AM
Not to mention rather hypocritical if you actually recognized the name
jam Jan 14th 2009 11:19AM
Yeah, unless it was a RP server, you're being way too sensitive.
Cabcru Jan 14th 2009 11:50AM
"recognized the name"? Bit of a ridiculous thing to say. I know of genocidal world leaders by name but it doesn't make me hypocritical to object to their actions. It's perfectly easy (in this day and age, especially) to know of a porn star without ever seeing a frame of their work. It hardly tags you as being some kind of life-long fan.
Saelorn Jan 14th 2009 11:54AM
While the name itself might not be offensive, it is a real world reference and thusly in violation of the naming policies.
I don't report names that offend me, since my sensibilities are only one among many; I report names that are in violation of the established policies, since those are the rules everyone agreed upon during the terms of service.
I usually file about 10-20 reports per night.
Sarg Bjornson Jan 14th 2009 12:00PM
Thanks, Batman, our city is much safer with you around....
Kakistocracy Jan 14th 2009 1:52PM
I don't know what newspaper you read, Cabcru, but mine has more articles on genocidal world leaders and their activities than it does about porn stars. Also one typically involves consenting adults, the other doesn't, though I won't say which is which.
And though at first i object to your comparison regarding name recognition (on the grounds that that is a somewhat ridiculous claim to make), given the number of people killed over a fair space of time by any character, genocide isn't even that far off. I know my character has slaughtered entire villages for quests. I have even waited for the next "generation" to appear, and killed them too.
skreeran Jan 14th 2009 8:22AM
No, they shouldn't. I pay 15$ per month to play this game, and any offense I commit is between me and Blizzard. Guilds should take the player, not the character. If the guy's an asshole with an offensive name, boot him, if he's a good player and/or generally good guy (whichever one you prefer), take him despite the name, and let Blizzard handle it. If you really want to get into the other person's business, submit a report yourself, and then let Blizz decide what should happen there.
Ahoni Jan 14th 2009 11:25AM
"No, they shouldn't. I pay 15$ per month to play this game, and any offense I commit is between me and Blizzard. "
Are you the only person on your server? Then it isn't just between you and Blizzard.
Amaxe Jan 14th 2009 11:46AM
I agree with Ahoni.
It's not between you and Blizzard. If you join a guild, it affects your guild.
It also affects people who see your name on the streets