For what that is? An RP group actually required players to verify their identities via their Google accounts. This one is new and fresh for me and also a ‘Hard NO!’ . Giving out Google account data to those who you don’t know AND ALSO most likely does not have your best interest in mind is a super bad idea in and on every possible dimension. Yet, 37 players showed as being in said group thus have given out their Google account info. The justification for requesting said info was age verification for which Google does not necessarily do so on account creation. Moreover, if an RP group lead needs age and identity verification, it is likely the type of RP probably breaks Blizzard’s TOS on what is allowed to be posted to chat and in-game IMs.
Uh.
…You mean verifying if you’re not a bot? I’m not too sure what you mean besides. Google docs and other things are often used for RP things like menus and such.
This was not swapping or using docs. This was actual account verification. Really, no mods or external plugins are required for RP.
I think it’s fine to have very stringent standards for RPing with someone, up to and including google verification.
I also if you do have very stringent standards for RPing with someone, you should make peace with not RPing with a lot of people very often.
Identity verification to interact in a video game is stupid. If you really need to vet someone to that extent just to play pretend, then congratulations, you’re officially In Too Deep.
We live in a world where we’ve got algorithmic pattern generators writing essays that are then fed into algorithmic pattern generators to see if an algorithmic pattern generator wrote it.
I have to imagine in a culture like the RP community someone has decided to jury rig a algorithmic pattern generator to be a stand in for a real person, and they’re using interactions with it (a la the Chatbots of old) to refine the “personality”.
I guess if this group wants to have that layer of vetting, that’s their prerogative.
There’s plenty of RP out there, all of which doesn’t require anything like that, which is why I was a bit puzzled at first! If you don’t want to hand out that data to hang out with them, by all means don’t!
I’m not trying to be insensitive to the realities that some people face in online communities, especially when stalking, harassment, and bigotry are real problems. I can see how verification of one’s identity could be seen as the perfect solution to combating these issues and protecting your people. I can only say personally that I would be turned off by that requirement, and I’d subsequently have a negative opinion of any group that requested I comply with it.
Interview me. Ask me probing questions. Feel free to even add me as a battle tag friend. I’m more than happy to connect via regular methods. You don’t need to know my name.
The other kicker was a player begged me to put her on ignore after explaining the true danger of handing out your Google information, even if it is just to verify identity. This is due to the nature of what the Google account is used for including, primary email linked to services such as IRS, your job, stored payment info…need I go on… Suffice to say, I just told the gal, “I am just getting off WRA for the day and playing my other toon so that is as nuclear as it gets!!”. Of course, if she wants to put me on ignore only to drive herself crazy watching my characters speak without words, more power to her 
FYI, some of my posts are still show Sadgati in her pre transfer state instead of Sadgati@Moon-Guard
I generally avoid any invasive probing about IRL me. I’m not like an insanely private person, I share stuff about myself all the time but there’s usually a line when it gets a bit weird. Google account verification is weird to me but I’ll respect someone’s boundaries if that’s what they want to do.
I mean, that’s why you keep burner accounts? It should be basic internet privacy 101 and there’s programs and tools you can use to add another layer of privacy that allows you to make filler emails on sites to alleviate concerns of hacking/leaks etc
IRL vetting also kinda gives me TERF vibes like you need to “make sure” someone is who they say they are (i.e. those rare guilds that require voice interviews) you will, in the vast majority of cases never meet the people you interact with on this game, much less the people you participate in casual walk up RP with.
The only name and identity that should matter is what they present as a character in the world and who they say they are. This is World of Warcraft, not Fort Knox. Anything else is simply invasive.
I wouldn’t say it’s invasive. Invasiveness has a compulsory element.
It’s totally fine to find that to be an unreasonable boundary. But it’s totally fine for someone to put up that boundary. I think it’s a little hasty to jump to villainous motives.
This has been a thing for ever, when it comes to RP in WoW (and I expect other games/places).
1 - I don’t care what you want to RP as, how you want to RP, where you want to RP, etc etc.
2 - That said, it doesn’t mean I have to accept and be a part of your RP.
I pay my subscription fee. I am going to set boundaries on how I spend my time and who I spend it with.
The gmail thing might help with some sort of age verification if they are into some darker / adult themed RP, but at the same time you can still get a free gmail address I think? So, I’m not sure that’s going to accomplish for them what they want.
I’m not sure, either. And it’s not my job or my inclination to be sure!
What two Orcs, two Elves, one Orc and one Elf or two Orcs and two Elves do behind closed doors is no business of mine.
Other races–check first.
Here is how giving out your Google account can go very, VERY wrong!! The raid or RP lead now has your IRL name, age, and gender. Armed with that information, they can in a New York minute, obtain your address, phone number, email, and possibly place of employment. From there, all they need is your social security/ITIN. Now they open an Amazon, Best Egg, or Micro Center account. Using YOUR personal information, they spend $3,000.00 on a really cool gaming rig via Affirm using your name and credit. Six months later, your car dies and needs repair or replacement. Due to a recent charge off, you can not solve your transportation issue needed to get to work. What happens next is either the bank or you end up holding the bag. Take this from a horse’s mouth, someone who in real life managed a big box retail store for 10 years and small airport retail for another 10 years prior. Moreover, if an age verification is really required for an RP event, it is likely the content violates Blizzard’s TOS on what should be posted to in-game chat and IMs to begin with.
I’m assuming all this is about the event that required a signed consent form because of 18+ content? If that’s the case, there’s an easy way to avoid it - just don’t go to the event.
I will tell you that it doesn’t matter whether someone has your Google info or not - if someone wants to find you, they will. When I first started playing WoW, I made a secondary Google account with fake info, second Facebook with fake info, wouldn’t tell anyone my real name, city I lived in, anything about my family, etc. Because I’d already had someone from a forum RP tell me who I was and exactly where I lived.
I thought I was being safe.
And then someone in WoW managed to find me, find my real name, my place of work, and other details. They put them onto a fake wedding invitation that they sent to my house.
If that was me, I would get a lawyer pronto! It would suck but a cease and desist drafted up by a law firm would tell the other person that the possibility of either criminal or civil suit may result.
I’m sure I’ve posted enough info on the forums here that if someone wanted to find me, they could. I keep pretty guarded (I mentioned an early WoW stalker I had) but I’m not as guarded as I used to be.
Bold of them to assume my google account uses my real information. Or that I only have one gmail.
That is absolutely maniacal.