Very true. But it made the rules much more clearer and up front, and Blizzard is enforcing them much stricter and more consistently. And with the rules up and front and center, so is the ability for abuse in it.
The system is very automated, and reports for small offenses an upset party can abuse, which in the past they might not have been so inclined, either because back in the day the GM’s and service representatives were more involved, or the fact people thanks to the contract are more aware of exactly what excuses they can use to back up a report, real or imagined.
So, in essence, while yes, the rules have NOT changed… Their representation, their enforcement, their degree of application, and the system around them, has. So that means reports and punishments DO happen more, then they did in the past. Thats what gives the illusion of the impressions something in the TOS changed.
Ergo, chat to some is seeming more sanitized and less interesting or… Lets say, ‘colorful.’ Me personally, I feel mixed about it. Its cleaner, nicer, less hostile, and controversial ‘Usually’. But its lost a bit of luster, everyone’s quieter, cautious, and rather mistrusting too. So its not all bad, or good.
The message limit in general chats really hurts casual conversation.
Every so often, even on my medium pop realm, an actual conversation will try to start up but it’s quickly limited by the message limits.
That and gameplay mechanics which discourage social chatting, such as m+ (no time to chat in those), really limit the opportunities for organic conversations.
The new social contract wasn’t really any different than the old, it just made it pop up so you had to look at it and agree to it.
People were complaining that people aren’t social anymore in this game for a long time. I’ve talked to people just recently in Zereth Mortis while farming for old mounts.
If you are getting actioned because of the social contract, maybe you are saying things that make people not want to respond to you.
It’s because most “social” talk ends up being political or folks ranting about issues they dislike. There are enough avenues in life to discuss those with people who care what you think. Not every space needs to be an outlet for one’s world view, but there’s always someone trying to be a colonizer, ya know.
I’d bet the vast majority enjoy their time in Azeroth because it’s an escape, and we like to keep it that way.
It’s not like folks are discussing lore or crafting recipes.
And honestly, having been there, the open-world social aspect of Warcraft went down the crapper all the way back in '08. I’ve had Trade chat blocked for 15 years, except for when I forget to do it on a new character. If I want to talk, I’ll join a guild.
I was referring to the “real” non-gaming world. Everyone runs the risk of offending anyone for any reason at anytime when you’re forced to interact with the rest of society.
I’m at a point where I feel I shouldn’t use terms like “ma’am” or “sir” when punching in an order during lunch at Burger King. Because, we’re at a point where you shouldn’t “assume”
Does the social contract apply to my groups entirely of my own characters? I really wanna be able to read them the riot act when they do something wrong. Shame them into leaving.
I am aware, I am talking about the several outside factors that could give off the impression that the contract was a change of existing rules. It wasn’t, but alot of factors around it and its perception and implimentation and enforcement have.
mass socializing decreased as far back as late cata.
