wow TechRadar: "Shadowlands Will Begin a More LGBTQ+-inclusive Future for the Game"

[Kthanid 1]

To everyone who's got their respective underwear in a twist about inclusivity.  Grow the hell up.   It's 2020,  Gay, Bi, Pan, Asexual, and Transgender people exist and play the game.  The representation might just be "PC virtue signaling" to you but to them, to them it's about being seen and heard and validated.  So put on your adult pants, have some empathy and accept that not EVERYTHING in WoW has to be about your cisgender heterosexual life.   

[Raggedyman 5]

9 hours ago, Vaereye said:

Why pander to this. That is so far from anything the game is about. Blizzard needs to keep political things outta WoW

how is having LGBTQ+ characters pandering or political? LGBTQ+ people exist, simple as that.

Get over your ego and accept that including a great breadth of experiences doesn't negate yours. especially when it's still the dominantly represented one.

[Raggedyman 5]

5 hours ago, Halock said:

I actually do feel Mathias and Shaw are a bad pairing, and it adds to my larger trouble that I'm struggling to find what is interesting about gay characters. What it adds.

What do straight characters add?

[Tarnen 1]

Politics must end at Blizzard or our money will go away. Some boycott, like Diablo Immoral backlash, would be a good message.

[leapingshadow 50]

10 hours ago, Senou said:

I for my part am against this, since I dislike the idea of such themes being shoved down my throat all the time. It is so static and made up, just for the story purpose. I generally let people have their own ideas, thoughs, opinions and whatever there is but I also want a part of this freedom for myself. That said if you really want to make this topic matter, make it more important. A lot of peopel won't know about this and a lot of people will forget about it once Shadowlands is over.
I wouldn't dislike the idea if blizzard created a character who's important to the entire warcraft universe. Maybe some gay lead character, or something similar and make it more important to a part of the characters story rather than just creating it for the sake of saying "Oh, yeah there's a LGBTQ- whatever character in the game."

Edit: Maybe even some cross- race relationships. Yes we had Lor'themar and Thalyssra but they're both elves. Imagine a tauren and an orc or something which differs in design even more. Maybe create a hybrid offspring which becomes more important later in the story, like some sort of heir to a leader. I don't know.
 

You mention you dislike "such themes" being shoved down your throat all the time, but you say that as if you aren't realizing that people who aren't straight have had same-*filtered* marriage and relationships shoved down their throat for the entirety of this game's history. Do you not care about how those people feel?

Also, I very much liked the chemistry between Shaw and Flynn, I think most people will agree that was far from forced and worked quite well. To bring it back to your original point, it's far from forced down your throat. A character literally exists that you CAN ask, you don't have to, about how they changed. Where is the force-feeding?

The way you mention that you "let people have their own ideas, thoughts, opinions and whatever there is" implies that you were the one making that decision, as well as the fact that you want freedom for yourself. Nothing is being taken from you though, a character you didn't know the status of has been revealed to have a certain sexuality, I don't really see the issue, this should be a "oh, cool." and forget it. The way your post reads is how I've heard closeted homophobes speak in the past, just saying.

[leapingshadow 50]

9 hours ago, Borgoff33 said:

the first quote is just complete bullshit 2 ppl that never had anything to do with each other till BFA stop the bullshit

Would be sort of hard for Flynn to have anything to do with Shaw before BFA considering he was made IN BFA. Think about what you say before you say it.

[VictorVakaras 83]

Blah, I couldn't care less either way. Just don't ever make another BFA. Thanks.

[Ravenclaw89 27]

9 hours ago, Halock said:

I actually do feel Mathias and Shaw are a bad pairing, and it adds to my larger trouble that I'm struggling to find what is interesting about gay characters. What it adds.

To the game? The same as a straight couple: it could be a something or be nothing.  And yes, I honestly feel Shaw + Valeera were more real.

To the gamers? It could be all. It's not my case, but imagine a LGBT+ person who struggles in real life and plays WoW, find that the game they love  recognizes them and represent them. It is important the representation. Now, we should have a main character not only hidden quests/stories. We shouldn't be hidden. 

[Vorguz 33]

Tbh, im all for including LGBTQ+ in the game, as long as it is done good. Keep the political stuff out of the game.
My favourite fictional universe by far is Warhammer 40k. Is it political incorrect? Yes. Do i want the Empire of Mankind to exist? Hell no. Does it make good storys? Yes. As you see, not everything has to be politically correct to make a really good universe. Just as long as it is clear, that it is fiction and not reality.
 

Edited October 6, 2020 by Vorguz

[Borgoff33 101]

2 hours ago, leapingshadow said:

Would be sort of hard for Flynn to have anything to do with Shaw before BFA considering he was made IN BFA. Think about what you say before you say it.

the only one who should "think about what you say before you say it" is you since what i said is 100% true since blizz is acting like they have known each other for years

[Arcling 898]

There is usually one point that is somehow being overlooked in these discussions. Companies don't care about any sort of representation. If they are introducing such characters, it's usually done because they believe it has potential to appeal to different audiences (money). Also, because it's good PR. If they genuinely cared about representation, why they haven't introduced these characters, let's say, 15 years ago? They are only doing it when it's popular and safe (and they are still pretty late, considering some other companies).

That's why to many people it may come as pandering and somewhat disrespectful. Especially something like "oh, btw, this character has been bi all along". Just some throwaway line. It was similar with Overwatch, when they've revealed Soldier 76 to be gay something like 3 years after release, and only outside of their game, so they wouldn't have to deal with censorship in some countries. That being said, even some straight relationships have been rather poorly presented. Aggra was only introduced out of nowhere, so Thrall could have kids, she has like zero personality and character development.

Edited October 6, 2020 by Arcling

[Arcling 898]

16 minutes ago, Tarnen said:

So as i said, Blizzard is doing politics, promoting racism to next level beside sexism:

Some of these posts are from few years ago, whether they changed their views, no idea. Maybe not, but it sounds like typical narrow and dumb viewpoint, especially to someone outside the USA. Like believing that there is one specific group of people who invented racism.

Edited October 6, 2020 by Arcling

[Stan 5,240]

Hey, everyone, please, remember to keep the discussion civil. I had to hide a lot of hateful/inappropriate comments and replies that quoted them. It is completely fine to agree or disagree with the subject, just make sure to express your thoughts without hurting anyone.

[Arcling 898]

11 minutes ago, Stan said:

Hey, everyone, please, remember to keep the discussion civil. I had to hide a lot of hateful comments and replies to these comments. It is completely fine to agree or disagree with the subject, just make sure to express your thoughts without hurting anyone.

I see that post with Twitter screenshots has been removed. Was it considered hateful? Those were opinions of actual authors, not of a poster. They are all public anyway.

Edited October 6, 2020 by Arcling

[Tarnen 1]

5 minutes ago, Arcling said:

I see that post with Twitter screenshots has been removed. Was it considered hateful? Those were opinions of actual authors, not of a poster. They are all public anyway.

My post again:

So as i said, Blizzard is doing politics, promoting racism to next level beside sexism:

[Tarnen 1]

And, a spoiler alert:

Weaponizing LGTB community, like Blizzard does, it's the real LGTBphobia and its sexism.

Has anyone played Spellforce 3? There is a homosexual dwarf. Have you seen complaints? No? It was because THQ simply added it as part of the story, without using it as a weapon of political propaganda.

[Tarnen 1]

25 minutes ago, Arcling said:

I see that post with Twitter screenshots has been removed. Was it considered hateful? Those were opinions of actual authors, not of a poster. They are all public anyway.

Stan is deleting every single time my post, and  he has also deleted my message pointing out that true lgtbphobia is what Blizzard does.

Has anyone played Spellforce 3? There is a homosexual dwarf. Have you seen complaints? Not? It was because THQ simply added it as part of the story, without using it as a weapon of political propaganda.

Edited October 6, 2020 by Tarnen

[Ragingwolf 310]

1 hour ago, Tarnen said:

And, a spoiler alert:

Weaponizing LGTB community, like Blizzard does, it's the real LGTBphobia and its sexism.

Has anyone played Spellforce 3? There is a homosexual dwarf. Have you seen complaints? No? It was because THQ simply added it as part of the story, without using it as a weapon of political propaganda.

Just out of curiosity are you from anywhere of the USA?  I'm not trying to pick a fight I'm trying to be civil with a simple discussion and convey empathy.  If you are then over the course of 2020 you know of how the nation responded to BLM.    If you know and understand BLM then you know that the American History is a dark one that has several issues throughout the decades that dated back to the time of the Colonies.  It is through this History where voices were silent and actions over looked and zero apologies given for any atrocities that were committed or any formal recognition.

As for the writers twitter posts in your previous post they haven't yet crossed the line and started attacking players per say but only stated their own opinions.  We don't have a Jessica Price and Peter Fries issue where both writers were dismissed after being let go by Arenanet for their twitter posts that were deemed as, "attacks on the gaming community."  If Blizzard feels it necessary they can deliver those writers the same fate.  So I'm not inclined to stand up against this small addition to a story in a game.

[Vlad 411]

1 hour ago, Tarnen said:

Stan is deleting every single time my post, and  he has also deleted my message pointing out that true lgtbphobia is what Blizzard does.

We had an internal discussion and I've unhidden your posts. I hope that this conversation can remain civil; if it does we will allow it to continue. Please be nice to each other.

[Senou 40]

13 hours ago, leapingshadow said:

You mention you dislike "such themes" being shoved down your throat all the time, but you say that as if you aren't realizing that people who aren't straight have had same-*filtered* marriage and relationships shoved down their throat for the entirety of this game's history. Do you not care about how those people feel?

Also, I very much liked the chemistry between Shaw and Flynn, I think most people will agree that was far from forced and worked quite well. To bring it back to your original point, it's far from forced down your throat. A character literally exists that you CAN ask, you don't have to, about how they changed. Where is the force-feeding?

The way you mention that you "let people have their own ideas, thoughts, opinions and whatever there is" implies that you were the one making that decision, as well as the fact that you want freedom for yourself. Nothing is being taken from you though, a character you didn't know the status of has been revealed to have a certain sexuality, I don't really see the issue, this should be a "oh, cool." and forget it. The way your post reads is how I've heard closeted homophobes speak in the past, just saying.

Well I'm afraid you did not understand the point of my comment then. The essence I was talking about is not the fact that this topic is represented but rather tossed aside to a character hardly anyone will care about. Still blizzard uses this small character to make such a huge wuss about having a LGBTQ- Character in their roster to make people who also identify as such happy.
Imagine if Anduin was gay. Imagine if Jaina came out as transgender. THAT would make a change. Imagine a new main character for the story being part of this. Something like that will not happen, because it would force them into a political opinion.

And to end this comment: I'm not homophobe. My best friend is homosexual and I don't care at all. I went to his wedding and we used to sleep in the same bed when we were drunk. Nothing happened and he's still my best friend. Maybe you should try to put more attention into reading comments rather than writing out an answer.