I'd like to take some time to speak with all of you regarding our desire to make the Blizzard forums a better place for players to discuss our games. We've been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums. As a result of those discussions, we've decided at this time that real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums.

Sweet!  They fixed it! 
 
EDIT:  The people have won and Activision can go suck it. 
EDIT 2:  GB is hella late with the news on this.  >.>

A vocal minority didn't like it? That means a silent majority liked it? Thats one of the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Yay!

Privacy is golden.

Sigh... 
 
Like I said in the forum post, I don't like that they reversed it.  It would have really cut down on trolling.  If people want to get your real name...  they will get it.  Annoymus has proven that time and time again.  
 
There is no right to annoymusity on the internet.  All it does it make people dicks.

Personally, I don't know a single person who was in favor of using their real names on the forums.

Don't immediately discredit it as a "sorry attempt".  
 
For one, it worked. Second, they were making a point about how ridiculous it would get once people got other people's real names. The amount of info you can get from your local property appraiser, and clerk of court's website is staggering. It's free, and easy to get all the details on virtually any adult in the United States these days. I do it all the time for work.
 
There's a reason why people don't use their real names all over the internet.

Since I found out who MattBodega really is I have installed fibre optic cameras in his shower. We go live tonight at 11.
 

THESE CHANGES ARE FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. THEY ARE PROTECTING YOU FROM  SICK BASTARDS LIKE ME. AND HS21. 

Although it sounds good in theoryby making people more responsible for what they say and their actions, using your real name could've made for a lot of creepy situations

Great. Now dicks can hide behind their usernames again.

LOL what a bunch of whiners. It works perfectly fine on iracing.  Heaven forbid people be responsible for their own actions.  makes sense though it is WOW we are talking about.

I think those guys who posted Blizzard's employees information did a great job.  They deserved it to be backfired.

" I think those guys who posted Blizzard's employees information did a great job.  They deserved it to be backfired. "

" Since I found out who MattBodega really is I have installed fibre optic cameras in his shower. We go live tonight at 11.
 

THESE CHANGES ARE FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. THEY ARE PROTECTING YOU FROM  SICK BASTARDS LIKE ME. AND HS21. 

  Mostly HS21... "

You can look up the real names of most blizzard employees.  Ghostcrab isn't known as Ghostcrab across the world. 

sounds like the internet tough guys have won again. now if only if they could talk to girls as well as they can bitch on forums...

Eh, I never did get the freakout.  Unless you advertise the state you live in at least how would anybody find you?  How would stalkers know what Jane Monroe from the thousand others.  I'm not really sure it would have helped forum dicks be less dick-like anyway for the same reasons.  Knee-jerk reactions all around.

" @Sweep: Mostly HS21, that sick fuck.I didn't really care if people knew who I was.   "

It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it: 
 
Christopher Hedy 
 
That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something.

Well, that's stupid, but I guess it isn't a surprise either.

Had it not been Blizzard, the backfire scene would have been uglier.
The people who try to defend for Blizzard are out of their mind.  What would you do if every other forums or things like Xbox Live start using your real name? 

I think Penny Arcade, the post they linked to, and the ensuing Hitler video summed it all up pretty nicely....though I never post on the forums to begin with, putting up folk's real goddamn names doesn't sound very kosher to me....

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

Blizzard already has every ones info.  If they wanted to cut down on troll, they just need to use the banhammer faster.  Make a universal forum ID that ties to your account, clicking on it reveals all characters on the persons account.
 
I don't troll the forums, I post some times to help people out, but if my name was going to be attached to it I would stop.  And honestly, real names wouldn't stop trolls.  Some guy named John Carter can troll just as much as DEATHXXKNIGHTXX because he has a common name.

" @ch13696 said:

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

I just found all your credit card numbers. "

Blizzard's idea would have been too dangerous. I can't even imagine what real-world trolling would be like, but I have to think that providing your real name is the first step. It's just too dangerous for people. Although, I like how they are at least acknowledging the trolling issue and are exploring ways to cut down on it. Heart's in the right place, just not the head.

" sounds like the internet tough guys have won again. now if only if they could talk to girls as well as they can bitch on forums... "

" A vocal minority didn't like it? That means a silent majority liked it? Thats one of the stupidest thing I've ever heard. "

I am all for the Real ID and disappointed that they chickened out. 
 
My name Is Cason Dotson by the way.

RealID in game is fine, but having it compulsory on the forums seemed a bit, I don't know, it would make me uncomfortable though...that's if I ever posted on the forums, which I don't, so I guess I don't really care either way!

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

When I mention RealID to a few friends, they immediately showed their disgust and contempt. 
 
I am more than surprised that a few people here show the opposite reaction. Brad M. also seems like this issue was placated by a vocal minority..

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

  @_Horde said:

" Great. Now dicks can hide behind their usernames again. "

@BradNicholson

A vocal minority didn't like this idea.

I have no idea who thought Real ID would be a good idea. Like I couldn't just make a fake name and still troll the forums? 

GTFO, this was an incredibly stupid idea from blizzard and any and all advantages were by far outweighed by the fact that making private info easily accessible for anyone is dangerous.

I like the thought behind the original move, but I think some of the creepy privacy issues probably outweigh the considerations. I do feel that there should be greater accountability for the things some people decide to say on forums. Maybe we'll move past the days of the internet tough guy/psychopath, but one has to wonder how.

 People have to deal with stalkers in real life too."

" @Meptron said:

" sounds like the internet tough guys have won again. now if only if they could talk to girls as well as they can bitch on forums... "

I think you'll find that regular, non-tough,  female WoW players are more happy that Blizarrd backed down than anyone. "

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

" @ch13696 said:

" It doesn't matter if you use you real name or not. I'm pretty sure those Blizzard employee info is fake. They're just trying to scare people so they can get away with talking shit like they always do. And to prove it:  Christopher Hedy  That's my name. Go ahead and try to do something. "

http://www.facebook.com/chrisdhedy    It's quite possible you put a fake address there for lulz, but otherwise everyone can find your address. I don't want random WoW trolls finding my address, but that's just me. "

C'mon everyone! Big party at Chris's place!! Woot Woot!!!

The article says vocal minority, but frankly it was a vocal majority.  The entire gaming internet was on fire over this one.

This was a terrible idea. 
 
Making people attach their names to what they say sounds good at first blush, but then you realize that for every troll forced to use their real name, there would be 1000 good users who would have had to compromise their privacy in order to keep posting.
 
  @ch13696 said:

"Yeah I had to use an old address because my ex got into my Facebook and threatened to have some dudes come down to my house to do some shit. So uuummmm yeah. Try to figure out my new address. Lol. I'm pretty sure it won't happen. "