An erotic roleplaying guild that now spans two realms has been accused of defending pedophiles and engaging in extreme sexual situations without any way to verify that their members are above the age of 18. While the guild in question says it has been reported many times and is not violating policy, and that minors joining an ERP guild are being poorly parented, Blizzard has forcibly disbanded the guild -- only to have it reform under a new name. There might be some disturbing content following the cut, so click at your own risk. ...READ MORE AT http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/09/17/blizzard-disbands-extreme-erotic-roleplaying-guild/
Thanks Kitch for sending me the article. You know, it's interesting because we all assume somewhere on an RP server, risque behavior is going on. I even caught that one couple in the basement of the SW Cathedral. But for the most part, you kind of assume it's these little individual affairs that are going on.
But apparently, in some cases, we have the full on communities. The way I see it, it's like open-sex channels you'd join in the days of mIRC. But there's a twist of course because we're dealing with an MMORPG. It's not just a community of sex-chatters. As we all know, when you interface in an MMO, it's so much more different than just chat channels.
There's a body associated with it, there's a gaming history associated with it, there's a real static community that you perceive. Even though it's anonymous, when you get into the level 50+ area, you kind of have an established identity. People start to know you.. from questing and raiding and pvp. They know you from the AH, trading, enchants, general chat..etc.
So I guess the debate the article brings up is about the "moral" responsibility of Blizzard, parents, and our WoW Community. My question is....are we talking about a guild made up of level 1 alts? It doesn't seem like it since it sounds like they actually raid. I'm in total support of this group's rights if you can have a Level 70 Orc Warrior lead a raid in Gruul's layer one night and then a group orgy the next.
But I have a huge problem with it if it's just a bunch of level 1 anonymous alts soliciting cyber sex to anyone they can get their hands on. It's like that whole youth and sex. For me, if you can proudly walk across the cashier register holding a box of condoms in your hands, you're probably ready for sex. If you're ashamed and hiding it, you're probably not ready.
The responsibility debate is always a huge one..especially with the amount of risque things you see on tv and movies these days. You would seriously think that we were a community of sex addicts. But we're actually very prude as a community when it comes to openly discussing the topic with our peers. "it's private" And yeah, some sex should be private.
But at the same time, there's nothing wrong with open sexuality. I'm in total support of any community that's completely comfortable in their sexual lifestyle.
The question is...where do you draw the line?? This is the first time I have ever heard about "Ageplay". And it seems a bit dangerous to me. Okay, who hasn't tried the school girl/teacher fantasy bit? But what if it goes beyond that and into, you pretend to be a 13 year old boy, I'll pretend to be a 40 year old married man with repressed sexual desires?? And in the online world, how easy is it to say "I thought he was just pretending to be nine years old"
I don't know. I obviously have no solutions. The technological age has really added an extra fence parents have to put up around their kids. And it is still the parents responsibility to try and keep their kids safe as long as possible.
Any guild that openly recruits in general chat for members has a high level of anonymity of its members. And I suppose that's where Blizzard saw the real danger of the guild. Children do play this game. Not all parents perk up their ears when they hear the whisper chime go off like Starman said in a previous cast.
There's nothing wrong with sex between consenting adults. In fact, we probably need more of it. But I guess I don't really blame Blizzard for taking the extra precaution to protect its younger users. I hope the ERP guild reforms but takes from this ban some kind of responsibility about protecting kids from its membership....in a decade or so, they can join..but not until then. :)
