Don't Thread On Me
July 12, 2010
Real ID proposal dropped. Score one for the angry mob.
AZEROTH – Ninjas, griefers, gold farmers, level-one trolls, and other low-lifes are breathing a sigh of relief at the news that their real identities will remain private, for the time being. Last week, lawmakers killed proposed legislation—the newest piece of the comprehensive "Real ID" initiative—that would have required all citizens of Azeroth to reveal such private information as their non-alias names, correctly spelled with standard characters and accurately traceable to their owners. The proposal met immediate outrage from a vocal majority of players and NPCs, who depend on such anonymity to conduct a wide range of underhanded affairs.
"Oh wow, that would have sucked," says one level 20 Defias Thug. "Piracy, thuggery, brigandry, and just plain-old standing around in loose circles with your masked friends just doesn't work when people know your real name and such. Bad enough my gang gets camped every day by lowbie questers. I don't want those guys coming by my house after work, digging through my mail for stray masks."
"So true," says another, identical-looking level 20 Defias Thug, whose name was leaked during an early trial of the Real ID system. "When I'm not aimlessly roaming the hills at work, I expect to be able to hang up my mask, relax in my shed, and snuggle my wife and rabbit—both of whom should also remain anonymous."
The most noteworthy privacy violation to have come from the Real ID trials involved the low-life community's Gnoogle stalking of a prominent proponent of the law, resulting in the publication of the official's street address, home phone number, marital status, bank alts, talent specs, loot table, food allergies, and other personal (albeit trivial) details. No doubt the embarrasing leak contributed to the proposal's demise.
"Don't mess with a douchebag, son," says Thug. "You'll get the ... nozzle."
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