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

The question that went unanswered was how would using your actual name make you any more accountable in the forums?  Blizzard had the right to ban anyone from the boards they found problematic whether or not they were using their given name or an onscreen name, so why make people reveal their actual names?  It only invited trouble I think especially with the stories you hear about attacks against players over in-game disagreements.  And, isn't it illegal to require minors to reveal their true identities?  Maybe not, but it's still something every internet safety lesson warns against. 
 
Pure and simple, it was a dumb idea and I'm glad they scrapped it.  I blame Bobby Kotick for all this mess. :-p
 

Great, there goes a good attempt at accountability.

I think you mean 'in asuccessful attempt to prove a point'.
 
The Blizz staff clearly weren't happy about the outcome of posting their real ID, so they shouldn't be trying to force it on paying customers.  They now appreciate this too it seems.
 
In the end I suspect it came down to how unnecessarily vulnerable it made Blizzard.  If something did happen - something made easier by this policy - then Blizzard would come out of it looking terrible, especially after how strongly they were warned by their own community.  Why take that risk?

" Great, there goes a good attempt at accountability. "

Great news. For anyone still unsure why the real IDs were a terrible idea, you can check out this amusing, but very valid video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiauaGbxipA

" Great, there goes a good attempt at accountability. "

I don't currently play any Blizzard games or frequent their forums, so I'm probably out of turn in commenting on this whole debacle.  Still, I think that Blizzard had some serious balls in proposing this change.  It's no secret that internet anonymity guises much of the douchedom prevalent across the interwebs.  I think removing it would've made for an interesting experiment.

shame about them backpedaling about this.  I think it would have been fascinating, if only as a grand social experiment.

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.  I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

at least they listen to their fan base.

If Blizzard was that worried about trolling on their forums they would employ their huge user base and make members administrators to help moderate their forums, not come up with some convoluted idea that if someones real name was displayed it would stop them from abusing someone.
 
If they want people to be accountable then ban them if they keep stepping out of line.
 
Pretty much every other forum on the internet utilise their user base to moderate their forums which not only ensures more people keeping an eye on the forums at all times but also brings the community together as those moderators would be members who are online often.
 
Still doesn't change that RealID is going to be used in-game anyway, so any personal information they gather from it can still be sold for targeted advertising.

" @Keenblaze said:

" @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. "

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. "

Glad they changed their minds on this. I'm sure there are a lot of moderators and such who would not like their real names out there.

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.  I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

The thing is. it was BEYOND stupid what the user did. To purposely go out and post a dude's PERSONAL info just to prove a point? They are doing the very thing that they dont want to happen to them. If that happened to any other user, they would flipping table and possibly looking into pressing charges or else. You don't prove a point by being a jackass. You prove it, by being intelligent and engaging in intelligent discussion. "

"   @_Horde said:

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

I say dealing with forums dicks is a small price to pay for a little privacy.
It's funny that people got so concerned when Blizzard employees started having their information put out there for all to see (bullshit or not), but users who would like the same sort of privacy are "out-of-line"?
 

@BradNicholson

said:

A vocal minority didn't like this idea.

 I'm normally fine with the guy's articles (a fan even) but I'll be damned if this one isn't over-the-top with his personal opinion - I get the impression that Brad N was very in favour of this new Real ID thing?

Anyone stop and think that maybe that "vocal minority" may have consisted heavily of female gamers and people with kids? As a father, the more ideas like this that get crushed the happier I am. "  

A vocal minority didn't like this idea.  

  Really? A vocal minority? Did Brad even bother researching what the community had to say on this matter? Even the Penny Arcade guys posted that it was a bad idea. The only people I saw that seemed in favor of it were people who already post on blogs with their real names. Would Giantbomb work if we all had to post under our real names?
 

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.    

 I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

"

A vocal minority didn't like this idea.  

  Really? A vocal minority? Did Brad even bother researching what the community had to say on this matter? Even the Penny Arcade guys posted that it was a bad idea. The only people I saw that seemed in favor of it were people who already post on blogs with their real names. Would Giantbomb work if we all had to post under our real names?
 

"

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.  I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

The thing is. it was BEYOND stupid what the user did. To purposely go out and post a dude's PERSONAL info just to prove a point? They are doing the very thing that they dont want to happen to them. If that happened to any other user, they would flipping table and possibly looking into pressing charges or else. You don't prove a point by being a jackass. You prove it, by being intelligent and engaging in intelligent discussion. "

" @Jacob816 said:

" Great, there goes a good attempt at accountability. "

And an easy way for internet detectives and stalkers to harass and stalk people. "

Is this a news item or a poor editorial piece?  It's hard to tell.  
 
At any rate, if I go to a website and act like an ass, someone can ban my account or ban my IP.  It's how it has always worked, and it works fine.  Giving someone's real name to someone who has a personal issue with them is like saying it's better to have vigilantism than a police force. 

The reason they backpedaled is because a mod posted his name to show it was safe. People then posted his full name, address, phone number, pictures of his house, details of his wife and children and other personal details.

This was a very stupid move on Activision's part. I hope they never try something like this again.

" @mutha3 said:

" @Jacob816 said:

" Great, there goes a good attempt at accountability. "

And an easy way for internet detectives and stalkers to harass and stalk people. "

And an easy way for law enforcement to track down stalkers and offenders. "

Good, now learn your lesson and don't try to do it again in a years time.

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.    

 I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

Seriously. Also, the "vocal minority" part smells like bullshit. I have a hard time believing that anyone thought RealID was truly a great idea.  "

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

" @OneManX said:

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.  I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

The thing is. it was BEYOND stupid what the user did. To purposely go out and post a dude's PERSONAL info just to prove a point? They are doing the very thing that they dont want to happen to them. If that happened to any other user, they would flipping table and possibly looking into pressing charges or else. You don't prove a point by being a jackass. You prove it, by being intelligent and engaging in intelligent discussion. "

Wait how is it personal if a simple google search brought it all up. Sorry mate the internet is not private.  Was it still a jerk move? yes.  Still isn't personal if you voluntarily put it on the net. "

I'm glad they did that, even though I don't use the Blizzard forums. I intend on keeping Google search results for my name blank, since I have an unique name. I'm not approving how cowardly idiots think they can act however they wish just because they can remain anonymous on the internet, but certain people wouldn't want to make their opinions/name/sex/sexuality available for everyone to see or find out, and they have a right to do so.

I, for one, embrace the coming fascist police state, cause I'm one of the good ones.

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.  I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

They are doing the very thing that they dont want to happen to them.

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

" @sithy said:

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

You made yourself sound stupid for saying that and directing hate for no reason.  It can mean that the "silent majority" you're talking about just was not fully against it or did not feel strongly enough to voice it.  Think before you start making  a dick out of yourself about how someone phrases something.   "

LOOOOOOOUUUUUUD NOISES

People got way too bent out of shape about this whole thing. As if all a hacker needed to steal your private information, is your name. Bullshit paranoia. Just an excuse to be assholes.

" 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. "

" People got way too bent out of shape about this whole thing. As if all a hacker needed to steal your private information, is your name. Bullshit paranoia. Just an excuse to be assholes. "

" People got way too bent out of shape about this whole thing. As if all a hacker needed to steal your private information, is your name. Bullshit paranoia. Just an excuse to be assholes. "

"at this time"

I don't play Wow...but if I did I'd be right there with that minority.

" @Apathylad:   It's still a 'vocal' minorty. 70% Of the WoW players doesn't even use the official forums, so they don't care. Like me and most of the people i know in-game for example. :) "

" @MichaelScott said:

" @atomic_dumpling said:

" There was an uglier side to the rabble, as documented by VG247 and Kotaku. Some users began throwing out personal details of Blizzard employees, phone numbers and the like, in a sorry attempt to prove a point.    

 I strongly disagree with the implication that this was some sort of sorry perverted vendetta. You know, I could just as easily check up on a certain Brad Nicholson. I bet you would be thrilled to read every detail of your private life. "

Seriously. Also, the "vocal minority" part smells like bullshit. I have a hard time believing that anyone thought RealID was truly a great idea.  "

I have a sneaking suspicion that of the 12 million subscribers a relatively small portion has seen the forums, a smaller portion has posted on the forums, and a smaller portion has an opinion on that. "

Saying something comes from a "vocal minority" is a very poor debate tactic.  It's right up there with using "some people say" to make an outlandish claim while ducking personal responsibility, and the "slippery slope" fallacy.
 
Any complaint can be said to be coming from a "vocal minority" and suddenly the burden of proof is on your opponent to prove otherwise?  No, screw you, that's not how it works.
 
Let's try an example we should all be able to get behind.  A "vocal minority" of GameSpot users feel that Jeff Gerstmann shouldn't have been fired from GameSpot.  This would be "technically" true, because most people who use GameSpot don't even have forum accounts and never gave their opinion on the matter.  Does that suddenly mean Jeff Gerstmann SHOULD have been fired from GameSpot?  After all, everyone who complained about it was just a vocal minority.