Re:Blizzard Cancels Overwatch Event
by vbezhenar on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @08:09PM
(#21265571)
Is it considered acceptable to push your political agenda on an unrelated events? For me it looks strange and out of place. Now punishing people for that might be too harsh. But if every sport event will turn into political debates (imagine US and RU sportsmen arguing with each other), it'll be bad and free speech has nothing to do with it IMO.
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Blizzard did this first; set the stage for mixing politics with video games. Blizzard hosted and promoted a LGBTQ+ event in Overwatch, and much like Mei is being used by HK, Blizzard are using Tracer as a representative of the LGBTQ+ community.
That the event was not done in Russia and China, and that Tracer has a different sexual orientation in those countries, is quite telling.
The only difference is that the LGBTQ+ political statement had the effect of boosting their revenue, whereas the HK statement may have the opposite effect.
It's a complicated issue. This historical event and all the differing opinions about it might be relevant - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salu...
Indeed - platforms like post game interviews are not platforms for political views. However, it is naive to believe that Blizzard would have reacted anywhere near as strongly to any political statement not related to China.
The inappropriateness of Blitzschung's actions does not excuse Blizzard far less acceptable reaction.