okay, now I am totally confused... on my role playing server, I have had two character names forced to be changed (one character was a gnome named Speedbump) because someone reported me, so I decided, I will test the policy and look for a really offensive name. I found a name that was 2 words and the last word in the name was 'doggy'. I found it offensive (and it is clearly two words put together which breaks policy) and I found that it broke the WoW naming policy for role playing servers...

I have seen many people have to change their name when they just had two words put together (I cannot give examples because I am not allowed to post character names, which defeats the purpose of being able to show absolute proof)

Well, I got an email this morning, and this is what the GM wrote...

****

Greetings (EDIT),Recently, you contacted us in regards to a particular character name or names that you felt violated our posted naming policy. I would like to thank you for taking the time to keep World of Warcraft enjoyable for everyone.Due to the nature of the name(s) reported, the decision has been made not to change it. Please remember that it is at the sole discretion of Blizzard Entertainment whether or not a name is changed, and any policy is subject to revision at any time. Our goal is not to police all names in the game but rather to keep the environment free of names that are clearly offensive.Thank you again for the report, and we hope that you continue to bring to our attention names that you believe are offensive and violate our policies. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in World of Warcraft!Regards,(edited out GM name)Game MasterBlizzard Entertainmentwww.worldofwarcraft.com



Customer satisfaction is a top priority here at Blizzard Entertainment, and we would like your feedback on the level of service you have received. Please feel free to provide such feedback at the following web address: http://us.blizzard.com/support/survey.xml?i=2439&d=12/27/2007%206:13:33%20PM&t=(removed)(@(removed)


****

Pardon my confusion but what is up with that? To me it says, we can make you change your name if we personally do not like it, however we at blizzard do not have to follow the policies that we created.

Now, the 2 names I had to change were in no way offensive and I even posted on this forums asking what was so wrong and an GM told me basically 'sorry, its the rules," but now I am told that Blizzard does not have to follow the rules and they can be selective.

So, I am sorry to say, but anyone who has a name changed, and if the name is clearly not offensive in anyway, you need to know it was a judgement call and nothing more.

If a GM would truely like to know the name I reported, please feel free to email me as you all have my email address. Basically, if the GM likes you, you will not have to change your name, but if the GM doesn't like you or tons of trolls (or a guild) reports your name, you have to change it.

Sorry if I am a tad emotional but I am. Either follow the rules or don't, but at least let your agenda be known.

/sadness

There are a number of misconceptions present in the arguments you're positing, Sierra, but I shall do what I can to dispel them in turn to further your understanding of the matter, and your comprehension of our policies, insofar as it's possible for a player to achieve such cognizance. :)

First and foremost, allow me to clarify for you that what qualifies as "offensive" is, at least in part, contingent upon the type of realm on which the name exists; the guidelines to which character names must adhere are often significantly more stringent on Role-Playing realms than they might otherwise be on a PvE or PvP realm, especially in regards to modern-day references. I see that the two names you've had changed in the past fall into this category; somehow I doubt that speed bumps were necessary (or even in existence) in the days of horseback travel, for example.

Secondly I'm sorry to say that the name you decided on as a litmus test for our Naming Policy was chosen under false assumptions, namely that any name with "two words" is considered a violation of policy; surely, if this were the case, Magni Bronzebeard and Cairne Bloodhoof — and these are only two of a myriad of names — would be subjected to an affront to their proud heritage never before known to their respective clans.

In much the same way, your "____doggy" example, while perhaps not adhering to the tenets of good taste, is no more a "partial or complete sentence" in and of itself than any number of perfectly legitimate names. Allow me to offer a reminder that, in order to breach our policies, such a name must possess some semblance of a predicate — that is to say, the action taken by the subject of a sentence — to be considered.

I shall not deny that, on some level, changing a character name relies on a judgment call by a human being; contrary to popular misconception, we are not mindless automatons, and do have the ability to think critically and hold beliefs of our own. This is not to say, however, that players are at the mercy of each individual Game Master's whims — we work within the framework of our policies, regardless of our personal opinions regarding the propriety of a given name, and thus all players are promised equitable treatment in accordance with our internal guidelines.

Nor, though, do we slavishly adhere to said policies to the point of eschewing common sense; they exist as a foundation for the actions taken, but extenuating circumstances can be taken into account. The long and short of it, Sierra, is that changing names is not nearly so haphazard or subjective a task as you seem to believe. While the discretion is ultimately ours to exercise, that doesn't mean our decisions are arbitrary.