Dear Wyrmrest Accord,
In playing this game and posting in various World of Warcraft communities, we will encounter thousands of other players who share different experiences and come from vastly different backgrounds.
The community within Silver Circle is no different. For 15 years of playing World of Warcraft, throughout all our iterations, leadership has endeavored to build an inclusive environment, welcoming people from around the globe with diverse backgrounds, orientations, talents, ideas, and beliefs. We see this level of diversity as more than just policies and practices. Inclusion is the heart of our guild mission.
Differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and background bring vibrancy to our environment. As an open-door community, our ability to understand and embrace these differences in a multicultural world is critical to our goals and helps us connect with people. As part of our mission, leadership tries to tackle social conflict issues through mediation, communication, and learning. However, there are certain behaviors that we simply cannot condone. We do not tolerate language that is hateful, obscene, sexually explicit, or racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable. We do not condone behavior that is intentionally harmful to others or makes others uncomfortable. In an online world, we also acknowledge the severe detriment of cancel culture and its potentially toxic, life-altering, or deadly ramifications.
In July 2020, a member of our leadership team vocalized a lack of understanding and support towards the LGBTQ+ community and devalued the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. This went against many of the core values we strive to uphold for ourselves, the guild, and our place in the World of Warcraft community. Disciplinary proceedings in the form of removal from leadership were prepared in response and it was addressed with the officer in question, who chose to voluntarily step down from the guild position and cease playing World of Warcraft altogether - as of July.
As a guild of people who prominently support LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and inclusivity, those of us on the leadership team deeply regret the sense of betrayal and hardship this has caused. Additionally, we are deeply grateful to those who have come forward with messages of relief and additional information regarding the officer’s past conduct, and I would like to personally apologize for any instances where anyone in the community or within the guild felt that they could not voice their concerns to other members of the leadership team, due to our proximity to this officer. I would like to reiterate and make it clear that Silver Circle’s leadership team is not in a glass bubble or on a pedestal, and though we work hard to hold each other accountable for our leadership and decision making, we promise to do better. It is exceedingly helpful when we are notified about anything that could have been missed, so that we can take necessary and immediate action. We rely on honest player reports to make sound decisions, but acknowledge that sometimes it can be difficult to provide ample details or evidence when issues arise. Regardless of the length of time gone by or the quantity of details provided to us, the leadership team will take as much investigative action as possible to address concerns we receive.
The bottom line is that we want World of Warcraft and Silver Circle to be a fun and safe environment for all players. We strive to create an environment that provides all members with a comfortable place to call home in World of Warcraft. But we want everyone who engages with the guild to feel just as welcomed, safe and valued as our members do. As such, members of the Silver Circle leadership team are always available to talk and address concerns in confidence, and we will take necessary actions to ensure that our environment remains a fun and safe space for all.
~ Feyawen
Shaha lor’ma! I’m glad to know that night elves have a home in your heart too! And you will certainly see many of us in Ardenweald!
Silver Circle’s open recruitment will be undergoing a hiatus until after the launch of Shadowlands! 